Old family; or, The Setons of Scotland and America

5io AN OLD FAMILY. [a.d.
mv first resolution of becoming a Catholic on the 22d of July,
Saint Mary Magdalene's day, in the little chapel on Saint
Mary's Mountain. On that day the pastor of two happy
souls I was ardently attached to, offered up the Divine Sacri-
fice of the Mass for my conversion.
" September 24th. Day of the Blessed Virgin Marv.
Received my First Communion. On the same day made a
renewal of my baptismal vows, and was entered in the Sodal-
ity of the Sacred Heart. Hour of adoration, seven o'clock in
the morning. On Tuesday, the 25th, made my second Com-
munion, and was entered in the Sodality of the Rosary of the
Blessed Virgin Mary." Mrs. Seton briefly completes the
narrative in her Dear Remembrances :
" Harriet's last communion on the Feast of the Expectation, iSth. Dec.
1S09, 'All peace and love,' she said ; ' Hear the beating of His heart in the
garden of Gethsemane. See how they scourge Him ! Oh, my Jesus, I suffer
with Thee. Why will they not bring Him to me? My Jesus, Thou knowest
that I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee.' "
She died on December 23, 1809, and was buried under the
spreading branches of an oak-tree, a few hundred yards from
the Community house and school, in ground which had been
chosen for a graveyard. She would, doubtless, have joined
the Sisters had she lived, and the blessed inmates of Saint
Joseph's have always considered her one of their own.
VIII. Cecilia Seton. " Born the 9th August 1 79 1 in
Hanover Square, New York, baptized the 3rd Sept. 1791, by
the Rev'd. Dr. Moore, sponsors — Louis Simond, Anna-Maria
Vining and Mrs. Wilkes, wife of Israel Wilkes."
Cecilia grew up a lovely child; and, as the youngest, she
was the pet of the family. Her mother died when she was
only a year old, but two years later she found a second mother
in her brother William's wife. The first of the many notes
and letters which I have found passing between Mrs. Seton
and her sister is this one:
* William Seton's Familv Memorandum.