The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-11-21
A REMARKABLE STORY.
STRANGE INCIDENT n THE LIFE OF A
MISSIONARY PRIEST.

y correspondent who signs himself
'Philip Quarles' sends to the Bazaar
JoluRcl the following strange story:
The subsequent experience of Father
McB--, as related 10 me by my friend. was
even more strange than the first. One night
in November, he had gone TO bed early, as
the weather was very cold, and toward dark
a heavy rain had set i'm. which rs the night
wore on changed to han and sleet. The bed
room was on the ground fiO0r-iudeed, the
house consisted Of but one story. Somewhere
in tie small hours of the night, Father Nc
B was awakened ont Of a heavy sleep by
what he supposed To he "a tapping ON the
windOw-pane. lie listened intcntly. but
heard nothing save the beating rain. After
a few moments he fen asleep, when once
more the sound was repeated. and this time
NE called out "WhO is there %" 4 voice,
which seemed 10 be that of boy OF wO-
man, replied a woman is dying at Smith
son Post -office-cOme at once for Gods
sake - There was no miStakinC this sum-
mons The priest arose, threw on some
clothing, and opened the door. Come in"
he called out, ''and l viii be with You in a
moment. No answer. "llaVe You two.
horses % he asked in a louder voice. Come
in, come in, out of the storm. " Still no an
swer. Having dressed, he lighted lantern,
and again opened the door. Up and down
the road, around by the foot-paths, near the
stable, he looked i'm vain-there was no one
to he seen.
Now, Smithson Post-ofice Is eighteen
impossible that any one should have come
from there ON fOot-utterly 50 that they
should have gone back on this terrible night
without waiting for hun 10 accompany them
The good priest delibemted for a few mo
mcntS. and began TO think himself the victim
of practical Joke. But .his idea was
scarcely tenabe. He kneit down and asked
the assistance of Heaven. Il will 90 in the
name OF God" he said, as lac arose from his
knees.
1t did not take many minutes to saddle his
horse and don a waterproof coat, and, in
half an hour from the time De first heard the
tapping on the window pa ., he was on his
way, the tears and proteStaI 'OnS Of his good
Old hOuSekccper Notwithstanding. y hard
ride of four hours, through mud and storm,
brought him to SmithSou PoSt-Office, which
consists of two or three houses and the same
number of Shanties near the railroad. lie
saw a light in one of the latter and Knocked
at the door. Ii was opened by a man in his
ShiTt-SleeyeS, who held q candle i'm Lis hand
and thrust il into the face of the visitor, a. b.
said 'NhO are We, in Gods NAME, a.
where do We come from 2''
Il am Catholic priest, was the rc' s..
Did you send FOR me-
Did we send for ye, Father" answered
the man: did We send Tor ye2 shure We
bad no one TO send, but the poor woman in
side has been calling for We since midnight.
when death struck her Come i'm, Father,
come in. D." The priest followed the poor man
into an inner room, where woman was ly-
ing, newborn infant beside her, and three
small children sleeping on mattress ON the
floor.
Father - she cried out i'm a trembling
voice, extending her cold hand, welcoming
him with eyes which death was slowly seal
ing-"FatheT, l sent my guardian angel for
1 We, and lie brought We, praise be TO Almighty
. God -
''Shure, we thought il was Tayin' she was,
said an old woman. who was seated ln front
of the fire, "when she was drOnm' To herself
all night, Bring him, good angel, sweet an
gel - she'd say
The priest saw 10 time was to be lost in
hearing the Wom1u's confession Her story
was soon told, and she died almost imIuedi-
ately after the last S1cramcHts were admin
iSterct
The man maintained positively That no
/ one had been sent for Father AIcI--. They
I had no friends were the only Catholics in
the place. The daughter OF a piOU~ Irish
mother, his wife had kept her faith and piety
1 burning aS bright in thaJ deSulate spot as
when she went regularly 10 the Sunday Mass
: and her monthly confession in the home OF
her giTlhOOd. They had not seen priest for
months. She had always prayed that she
might not die without the last ministratiOns
OF the Church.
Father NIcB- firmly believed that he had
a supernatural visitant that night, and So did
his friend. Father A 1 tell the tale as ID
was told to me. Nothing Is impossible with
God and his ways are not our ways