From Convent to Conflict; Or, A Nun's Account of the Invasion of BelgiumMarie Antoine, Sister
History
From Convent to Conflict; Or, A Nun's Account of the Invasion of Belgium
Marie Antoine, Sister
Couvent des Filles de Marie (Willebroeck, Belgium); World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Belgium
Next morning, Sunday, Feast of All Saints, found us out in the deep
waters of the channel, but the sea still remained calm. At half-past
seven o’clock we assisted at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, offered up
in one of the ship’s parlors.
When the service was ended we returned to our rooms, where in a few
hours we were all undergoing severe attacks of seasickness.
When again we walked the deck it was to inhale the invigorating salt sea
breeze and admire the wondrous waste of waters with the clear blue sky
above, and in the depths reflected a most beautiful picture, “Sunset on
the Sea.”
A day or two later we encountered on board, a Belgian woman en route for
Illinois, where her daughter was living. She had only sufficient money
to pay her passage to New York City, and, being unable to speak the
English language, was in great distress. The necessary sum was donated
by a Catholic clergyman of Massachusetts, by a Belgian gentleman who was
on board, and a lady of the “Committee for the Protection of Travelers.”
All needful information was given, and when we arrived in New York City
she was safely placed on the midnight train for Illinois.
Thus ended a short but fascinating mission among the Belgian refugees in
England. Thus ended the troubles, trials and sorrows of three months in
“The Great War.”
May the gory cloud soon disappear from the eastern skies and never,
never darken the gold and azure of our own American horizon.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transcriber’s note:
The contents of pages 14 and 15 were printed in reverse order. This has
been corrected.
Page 14, ‘honered’ changed to ‘honored,’ “like their time-honored
forefathers”
Page 20, ‘discused’ changed to ‘discussed,’ “in which are represented
and discussed”
Page 27, semicolon inserted after ‘peacemakers,’ “the peacemakers;
“Blessed are the”
Page 33, double quote inserted before ‘Shrine,’ “or “Shrine of Our
Blessed Lady”
Page 95, ‘soldeirs’ changed to ‘soldiers,’ “to depart, the soldiers had
returned”
Page 105, ‘greatets’ changed to ‘greatest,’ “multitudes who, in the
greatest haste”
Page 117, ‘adjoinig’ changed to ‘adjoining,’ “in the refectory or
adjoining rooms”
Page 119, ‘almsot’ changed to ‘almost,’ “in an almost dying condition”
Page 125, ‘obilged’ changed to ‘obliged,’ “would be obliged to ride”
Page 129, ‘Bom’ changed to ‘Boom,’ “back of the Boom street”
Page 136, ‘callar’ changed to ‘cellar,’ “others in the cellar, returned”
Page 150, ‘Russel’ changed to ‘Russell,’ “Southampton Row, Russell
Square, London”
Page 153, ‘Which’ changed to ‘which,’ “which seems to resemble”
Page 158, full stop changed to comma after ‘Mercier,’ “Card. Mercier, of
the Archdiocese”
Page 161, ‘woman’s’ changed to ‘women’s,’ “in the women’s department
during”
Page 167, ‘remians’ changed to ‘remains,’ “We saw the remains of the”
Page 172, double quote inserted after ‘doors?,’ “down our doors?” One
old lady”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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