Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-05-16
They Buncoed a Priest.

Tuesday made a vistim of Father
Ariens, of the st. Joseph's Catholic
Church, to the amount of $1,000 cash,
and left Il baby on his hands. A
week ago, as Father Ariens sat in the
library of his residence, on Catharine
street, the door-bell rang, and the
servant ushered in two well-dresSed
men, one of whom, after few mo
ments' silence, explained that he was
in most serious trouble, and that he
had come TO the minister a. the only
person who could give him good
counsel. He had been married two
years, and as he and his wife could
never agree, they had decided to sep
arate. 1t was not this fact which
troubled him, but he was the father
OF bright and beautiful child, whose
future, if left with its Protestant
mother, almost drove him 70 despair.
He wanted the little one TO be brought
up in the faith of the Catholic Church
and implored the priest to take the
child and care for il.
Father Ariens admitted that the
father was right in his wish 10 have
the little one reared Catholic, but
believed it would not be wise 10 in
terfere in quarrel between husband
and wife, especially when the wife
was not OF the Catholic faith. He ad-
vised the stranger, for whom he bad
the most profound sympathy, TO send
the child to some friend, pay for its
support, and attend personally 10 its
religious education. The wretched
parent insisted on placing the boy in
the hands OF Father Ariens, but the
priest was obdurate, and utterly re-
fused to have any hand in the matter.
When this final decision was given
the father departed with tears in his
eyes, followed by his companion, who
had said but few words during the in
terview, except to endorse what his
friend had told the priest.
After the men had gone, Father
Ariens falt troubled over the case, but
concluded that he had done right in
refusing to take the child or 10 inter
fere. He believed he would hear
again from the detected father, and
resolved TO adhere 10 his decision.
In this conjecture he was right, and
on the next day, at the edge of even
ing, the servant announced that the
same gentleman who had called the
previous evening was in the parlor
and desired just a word with the
priest. When Father Ariens entered,
the father looked more wretched than
before and wept. phe warm-hearted
priest offered good counsel, and said
he would do all that was in his power
to relieve the unhappy parents,
though he could not take the infant.
The father appeared relieved, and
said he had an interview with his
wife, who agreed to release her claim
on the child in case it.could be turned
over to the priest, SO that she would
be sure of its receiving good care and
an education. He offered the priest
81 900 in cash to provide for the child :
wants in early life, and said money
would be forthcoming when needed.
Father Ariens gave the proposition
a few moments careful consideration,
and then replied that the only thing
he could suggest was that the child
be turned over TO the sisters IN charge
of st. Joseph's Convent, in Hartford,
together with the $1,000, and II the
father so wished he would attend TO
the matter personally, and make sure
that the babe was properly cared for
The visitor was pleased by this prop
osition, and showered all manner OF
blessings on the head Of Father
Ariens. He then made this PROPOSE
ton, which the unsuspecting priest
agreed to in every particular.
On the following morning, which
WAS Sunday, his wife would bring the
baby to the priests house, and in the
afternoon he, the father, would arrive
with a trunk containing the child
clothing and 1000 in cash. The
money they would leave with Father
Ariens, and on Monday they would
come again and accompany him to
Hartford, where, in the priests pres
ence. they would pay the officials oil
St. Joseph's Convent the $1,000 for
the childs support, or Father Ariens
could pay it over with his own hands.
AT any rate, they would leave the
money with the priest until the NOR
row as a guarantee OF their good
faith. The father suggested, now
ever. that Father Ariens leave the
81 900 In the trunk at home with the
clothing intact, and take $1,000 oil
his own money 10 mana tns "iiicia''
knowing that he had the money safe
at home. There was no intention oil
doing anything crooked in the matter
only the money in the trunk would
be in hard silver and small bills, and
if the priest had that amount in large
bills il would be simply a matter oi
convenience. Father Ariens saw nc
objection to this, and readily consent
ed.
On the following morning a lady
dressed in black called at the
parochial residence and left bright
boy baby, about a year old. The
housekeeeper received it, and asked
no questions, az she had been instruct
ed by the priest. Ia the afternoon
carr age was driven TO the door, and