The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-03-10

IN DV tne young ruflanS, and ChaC u
would never make anything of them
but under his fostering illustrations
the "young rufians" grew into honest
workingmen, and, in some cases, blame
less priests. At the outset OF the Ia
bnrs he undertook Don Bosco was me
at every step by great material Difficult
ties; be was very poor himself, and ht
found no one willing to give MIN gra
tuitious shelter foi his little ones. 81
last ne was successful in hiring for q
nominal sum an olt5 barn in that sam,
suburb Of Voldono in which he ended
his days. Az altar was erected at ons
end OF the shed, and to give All idea o!
| the humbleness Of the arrangements, il
is related that on one occasion, when
| Don Bosco had invited tha bishop oi
| Turin to utllclate liz the barn, that dig
! nl5ary OF the church had to remove his
mitre before ascending the altar steps
as the ceiling was too loM to admit OF
his wearing it. Yet ten years later, on
the very spot where thaJ !owly begin
ning was made, 8 large building and a
church stood completed, accommodate
ing ZOO children, who were housed,
clad, ted and educated by the gentle
shepherd; ten years more elapsed, and
in 1866 the number Of rescued waits had
risen 10 500; q new home was founded
at Alexandria, aud from many parts ct
the land Came petitions tor a similar
boon. Today the Lifts long labor Of Den
Bosco has attained It's full truition; his
work is complete, it is ia the hands of
priests trained by him, who, accepting
she rule Of st. Francois de Sales, under
the name OF Saleslans, go all over the
world bent on the same mission, re-
claiming, receiving. educating young
children and founding new homes
Oue hundred thousand little human
beings have been brought up entirely
gratuitiously, tirsJ throughout Italy,
then in Spain, France and America,
notably al Buenos A.yres, wilels the
Italian contingent is most Numerous.
And CHS prcdlgious Opera di Don
Bosco'' Was accomplished by single
man; no donations OF inherltances ever
came 70 him; flonl uay to dsay hs begged
FOR his little ones, sol!citing aims,
mindful! 0nlY for the present hour, leav-
ing the morrow for Providence, and if
at times III sore straits, yet his sublime
Mast and unyaiylng faith has ever met
its reward. Don Bosco Was aot an
orator, neither had hs THAT imposing
personal appearance which attracts aud
fssclnales. His person was home}y,
bis features plain and even vulgar, his
speech haltlng, his small eyes frequently
Yelled and dim; but, us lie said Aiu1self.
he would sos better when he lid not
look. 70 connteracb these defects, he
had the ardent charity and divine per
severance of heart tuu soul which
made him a!l influential. l1e begged
for l1ls Waits with slow, gentle but re-
slstless perglnaclty. YOU must glve,''
he said, ''tor the baker refuses To give
NE any more credit, and to morrow my
Wlll have nothing TO eat.
And somehow They al gave, even Rat
azzl, oven Victor Emanuel, hlgn and
low, gentls and simpie-theY ali gave.
Don Eosco WAS credited throughout
Italy with uhe gift OF second sight, OF
prophecy aud OF miraculous cures. He
was frequently seat for even among
higher classes. to lay his hands on a
lying child aud bringlI back TO health.
The simple lnlnded priest would refuse
1t first, saying that 1ud alone saves The
:lch aud sometimes doctors help him;
,ut he generally allowed hinseif to be
oel suaded on the secret plea that if he
lid not cure the little patient he would
It least earn little help for his own
charges. However, early in his career
II beuevolence Don Bosco did perform
! miracle, and very startling one. He
.sked RataZzl, then minister Of state.
@ allow him to take out for one whole
lay 200 youthful criminals detained in
he prison of Turin. Rarazzi consented,
aging that he would send an escort of
large police force. Bosco refused to
axe even one single constable, declar.
ng that he would hold himself respon-
ib,e for all the prisoners, and his re-
utation had already reached so extra
rdinary height that his request was
ranted on his own terms. On the ap-
ointed day he came for the boys. took
hem into the Royal park at Moncalieri,
Ome miles from the city, treated them,
them, conversed with them,
nd at nightfall brought them back to
ae prison gates in well-disciplined
anks; not one was missing, and they
ad not plucked a flower or damaged a
hruo in their rambles. His influence
YER the eight hundred inmates of the
'oldoccO Home was such that he was
ever known to punish one of them.
I'D they would gladly have died for
i'm. Nor was his prestige confined to
1ildren; men as little resisted the
omely apostle as children, and he