Catholic men and women. The children, almost without exception, were
docile and obedient, venerating the sisters in charge, and quick to
respond to their slightest word. Among the girls was one to be
especially remarked, from her face and its habitual expression.
Indistinguishable from the others in general appearance, it was only in
glancing at her countenance that one thought to look at her a second
time with close attention. She was not handsome, or even pretty,
although not by any means homely; but her face was almost transfigured
by its expression of earnest piety and goodness, remarkable in one so
young. Quiet and sedate as was her habit, she was ever ready to enter
freely into the fun and play of the other children; but even in the most
absorbing frolic, if any one became hurt from too much roughness, she
was the first to be on the spot to comfort the suffering one and to ease
its pain.

Apolinaria Lorenzana (for so the child had been named by her guardians)
had become the object of the love of the entire asylum, and of the
sisters in charge of it, in particular. She was looked up to with
respect, almost adoration, for her piety and devotion to all religious
observances; and the sisters never tired of whispering to each other,
prophesying what good works she would do during her life, led and taught
by the Virgin as she most certainly was. The parting from her was a sore
one to the sisters, more so than to Apolinaria herself, great as was her
affection for them; but, in spite of her youth, she was already filled
with her work in the new land to which she was going; and she was almost
the only one of the little group of children to look forward with joy to
the new life.

With fair winds, and under bright skies, the ship sped on her course,
and, at the end of three weeks, cast anchor in the bay before the town