Under North Star and Southern Cross

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907. Excerpt: ... notice of such small fry as myself for instance!' So the jolly, good-natured old gentleman rattled on, half in jest and half in earnest. I learned afterwards that he and Doctor Morrant were old friends, or rather old chums. They had known each other all their lives, had been at the Edinburgh University together, and had never lost sight of each other in the hurry and bustle of life, as many poor mortals do lose sight of their early chums, to their mutual great sorrow and loss. The banker had known of Morrant and his wife sailing on a romantic voyage of discovery, but never dreamed that more would come of it than had come of many an adventure which he had known to start in search of pirates' hidden gold, and such wild quests. The careful old financier at once advised that the treasure should be sent to the Mint, appraised, and coined into sovereigns. This was accordingly done. There was very little alloy found in the doubloons, and the bars were absolutely pure gold. When all the coining was completed, there were returned to the bank five hundred and twenty thousand shining, brandnew sovereigns, as pretty a sight in the way of actual money as one could behold. M Then Doctor Morrant began what was his life-work thereafter. He purchased four acres of land where stands the 'St. Dorothea Waifs and Strays Home' to-day, and proceeded to build the beautifully arranged structure which you saw. When the whole was completed to his satisfaction, he put the management into the hands of a Mother Superior and ten Sisters of Mercy of the Order of ' My Lady Saint Dorothea of the Sea, ' a name which he quickly induced the church to adopt, the doctor being a Catholic himself, besides being a man of position and influence. The ground and buildings cost one hundred thousa...