Life
fl. 1850; Catholic Irish-American novelist.
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Notes
Maureen Murphy, ‘The Irish Servant Girl in Literature’,
in Writing Ulster, No. 5 (1998), pp.133-47, quotes: ‘excellent
specimen of the Boston Irish Catholic young women who do the work in families
or otherwise labor hard for their bread. They have done more for the interests
of religion in Boston, taking their means into consideration[,] than all
other classes put together. They have built St. Mary’s church; they
have built every church in Boston. The charity of [141] the Boston Catholics
is proverbial. Ot be sure, in ages of faith, it would not be regarded
as extraordinary, but in these times, it deserves great credit. And these
girls have done more than their share of the good work which has given
such a name to Catholic Boston. No one has ever called upon them in vain.
they will often give more than they can afford and their generous hears
make theym feel half disposed to apologize for giving so little. And,
in truth, a girl of this class often gives actaully more to pious purposes
than some men who are not poor. She thinks she can afford a dollar. He
thinks it’s hard times and give fifty cents. The Catholic young woman
needs no monuments; their monument is a church in every quarter of the
city.’ (from John O’Brien or the Orphan of Boston, Boston:
Donahoe, 1850, p.206; here pp.141-42.)
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Princess Grace Irish Library (Monaco)