Letter from Mobile: Death of Sister Mary Alphonsus

No sooner had she entered the community here, than she began, by her amiable disposition and truly Christian character, to endear herself to the Sisters of the Convent and to win the affection of the children of the school.

It was whilst in the faithful discharge of her religious duties that she contracted a severe cold, which soon developed itself into pulmonary disease, and which eventually caused her death, an untimely death. Youthful in years, holy in virtue, she breathed her last, resigning herself into the hands of her Creator, who interred her the following day in the little cemetery attached to the Convent, amid the prayers of the clergy, the tears of the children, and the sighs of the good Sisters over the death of the deceased. [...]

Among the first-class literary institutions of the land stands the Convent of the Visitation, Mobile; yet we are sorry to say that it is not patronized as it deserves. Why, we are at a loss to account. That it is not the fault of the good Sisters that their services are not appreciated we are convinced, for there are few, if any, of these academies that can equal it in ability and talent, while the balmy air and pure water of their chaste retreat of learning is all that could be desired for the invigorating of a feeble or the preserving of a healthy constitution. Whilst you have institutions of learning in your midst deserving of home support, we would respectfully recommend to all your good citizens who wish to send their daughters away from the dust and turmoil of an over-heated city, the Convent of the Visitation, Mobile, as one of the first academies in America for young ladies, convinced that no pains will be spared by the good Sisters to [...]