Litchfield enquirer., 1833-12-26
[Hr REauEsr.l
THE LITTLE CATHOLIC BOY.
~ e. = -

Try, well educated, but tney were DigOted
Catholics, the mother having spent the ear
ly days of her fife in nunnery.
Being reduced TO poverty by a series Of
misfortunes, they left their native land for
America, and settled in St. Louis. Short
ly after, their youngest child died, and the
father was soon called to follow it, leaving
the bcreaved mother and two helpless chill
.dren, entirely dependent on the charity Of
strangers. She soon after left that place,
and with such assistance as she could gain
on her weary way, at length reached New
York, where she had. connections but
they were unable to render her any impor-
tant assistance. The children were placed
in the Orphan Asylum, and the mother
commenced learning trade, by which she
hoped TO be ables in few years, to sup
port herself and children. But owing to
the want of that careful attention to which
the children had been accustomed, and the
great change in their habits, they both be-
came sick. The mother applied to her
priests for aid, but in vain. From no source
could she obtain the least assistance, and
was at length obliged to enter the hospital
herself, that she might administer to the
wants Of her children. At Ills tinre, re-
lative in New-Hayen heard Of their nnfor-
tunate situation, and kindly offered TO take
the children, until their mother should be
able to provide for them. They according
ly came to this place eight months since
The boy was eight years of age, the little
girl FIVE. t.i ao5 @ a
They had received no religious instfuc<
ton, knew nothing about the Bible, or the
true God salvation was as strange to them
as to the Greenlander or the Hottentot,
when first proclaimed to them. We might
naturally expect therefore, that the heart
of this little boy would be fully set in him
to do evil, and such was the fact. He soon
recovered from sickness, but he was such
an adept in sin, it was feared that nothing |
could be done for him, and that he must be
sent back to the hospital. His friends,
however. perseyered in prayer for him, and
in giving him advice. This he at first
sco6fed at, but in the course ola few months
he began to listen with pleasure to the adj
monitions of his friends, and was at length |
persuaded to attend one of the Sabbath |
schools.
From this time, the change in his feel
ings became more and more manifest till he |
left us. Such was his HUMILITY, Ahat he
thought himself unworthy to be called a
Christian, and never spoke Of himself as
such, yet he was sure that he loved his Saw
ior more than ell things else-and when
asked if he thought himself a Christian,
would reply that he loved God.
He was anxious for the welfare Of his
schoolmates, and whenever they did wrong,
would reprove them by telling them that it
was displeasing to God, or that he would be
angry with them. He would take every
suitable opportunity to speak Of l'is Saw
ior, and looked upon it as great privilege
to be the friend Of God. Whether engag-
ed in his studies or in his childish sports,
lin which last he seemed to take very little
pIeasure,) all his thoughts appeared to be
fixed on things above.
Once on his way to Sabbath-schoof, he
saw in a lane two men gambling, ne went
up to them deliberately and said, Sirs,
don't you know that God don't like to havc
you do so on his holy day?' They BIAS
phemously replied, that they played by
special permission of God, whom they had
seen the evening before. Nothing daunted
by their impiety, he answered in very
oOiGhIH HSdHHcTs NO SESs you Udte never
seen God, but you will soon see him in
judgment, when you will give an account
of this mornings work. The men soon
left their wicked sport.
Many similar facts might DO named.
showing the fearlessness with which he adj
vocated the cause of the Redecmer.
He was one day left at home alone
when his friends returned they found him
in tears, and on inquiry ascertained that he
had been reading the life Of John NJ. Mead,
and all tho forenoon had been crying TO
God that he might be made as good boy
as the one of whom he had been reading.
He would almost daily collect as many of
his mates as no could induce to come. and
hold prayer meeting. On some OF these
occasions his mates went for the purpose
Of ridiculing him-he would tell them,. in
such cases, that God saw them, and il was
wicked to pretend topray while they were
thinking Of something else. He would then
pray most earnestly that God would show
them how wicked their hearts weTey and
bring them to repentance. Such was the
solemni,y of his manner land such the fer
vency Of his prayers on these occasions
that all went away ina more serious frame
Of mind than they came.
Reading, one morning, Christ's miracle
of hoal:cxv sho s;ck ha observed that Chriaf