Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-11-17
RED-LETTER DAY.
AN ARTISTS EXPERIENCE AT TWO VIRGIN
IA MISSIONS.

SUMNER STUDIO, FISHERS HILL, VA,
Oct. 29.-It was a ''red-letter" day, for
our monthly Mass was to be said at Stras-
burg Junction, on the B. & o and our
first thought on opening our eyes in the
morning was one of thankfulness that the
day was fire.
On our return to Virginia last spring, af.
ter our winter in Florida, we found that
young priest we did not know had come
to assist our good Father o. Reilly in the
missions, and every month Father R. A.
Drake has said Mass for us, until this day
we were told Father J. B. O'Reilly was
himself expected. A brisk walk of three
miles brought us to the house, only to find
that the priest had not come the night be-
fore, as usual, and it was feared he could
not be able to get here in time; something
had delayed the train that should have left
| Winchester at 3 O. clock in the morning, and
| it would not arrive there until nine. How
ever, news came from the telegraph effice
that encouraged us to wait and hope, and
in tho meanwhile the faithful gathered in.
| One family came in a body-father, moth
er, SOD, and daughters; later the youngest
member Of our church came in his fathers
arms, a bright, handsome little colored ba-
| by, and the proud mother looked on while
the still prouder father, giant fellow,
carefully unwrapped his minute son and
disclosed to view the little dark face, smil-
ing sweetly. The child became at once a
centre of attraction to those not already too
deeply absorbed in the great family Bible,
with its splendid engravings of scenes in
the Old and New Testaments.
| At last the roar of the train was heard,
and as it neared our door we crowded to the
windows to see if the priest had come, and
saw him standing on the steps of the car,
as smiling as though he had not been waiting
from three o'clock in the morning for a
chance to come TO us.
"Had the train been little later should
not have Gomez he said. II should have
thought you would all he gone home again."
That made us value the privilege of hav-
ing Mass all the more, because we had SO
nearly been deprived of it.
| "WiIl there be time to go to confession
before Mass?" one asked in doubling tones.
"Oh, plenty of time" Father O'Reilly
said cheerfully, as though all time were be-
fore us, and there was not the least hurry
about anything.
Some one smiled as though some one else
had been hoping for an excuse, but it was
not SO, and nearly every one received the
Sacrament of Penance (and those who were
IdstiuS IlOiy OOuuuuulOuJ, oVou uOWH u
the small boy; the very small girls and the
little dark baby were excused. How good
the little fellow was! How still he had
been until Holy Mass began, and then he
lifted up his infant voice, and ''goo" ed,
and crowed and preached all through the
services and sermon. Heevidently thought
it was all done for his sake, as indeed it wai
as much as for any other member of the
church, and his innocent prattle and lively
interest reminded us of the dear Lord, now
about to be offered up as holy Sacrifice OIL
the altar, who, when not more truly among
us on earth, though more visibly SO, ha6
said: "Suffer little children to come unto
Me, and forbid them not, for of such Is the
kingdom of heaven"
Father O'Reilly preached simple bu
beautiful sermon on the raising from the
! dead of the only son of a widow-a sermon
} that deeply touched the hearts of som'
there who mOurned loved one lately lost
, The next day was Sunday, and as ther,
! was to be Mass at Woodstock, Va, and a,
it was eleven miles by the county road
, and the way unknown to me, rose yer,
! early, dressed by lamp-light, and started
) out at the first gray light of dawn. OnI,
t after had walked some time did the sui
! slowly climb over the crest of the Blu
> Ridge Mountains and light up the valley
. 1t was soft, misty October morning, will
4 the Sunday quiet brooding over all nature
i except that the birds opeued their littl
lthroats to pour fortktheu melody of prais