The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-14

spectators. and they drew back while
Bridget comforted her.
Hush, Kathleen. Hush, lamb! Don't
cry, me darlint. Yes are here in the
arms of love-in arms that have ached
with their Emptiness for tin years! And
sure. lovey, ye're the image of my Kath-
leen! What is your name, sweetheart,
tell your mother?'
my name it'll Dolly; but my papa called
me Little Thaint Thunthine." the child
answered treasured by this oceanic love.
Little Saint Sunshine
Little Saint Sunshine! Holy smokes"
These and half dozen other exclama-
tions burst from the hirsute lips of the
cloudy circle of giants revolving at dis
tance from this tiny luminary.
"Kape still, We shpalpeens,' said Bridget,
as the child shrank into her arms. Your
big voices scare her. Lave her to me till
1 comfort her. Little Saint Sunshine!
Mother of God! but you'll prove that in
this household. Come to me arms. All,
ye're bread to the hungry, water to the
thirsty
And comfort her Bridget Donovan did
comforted her until the child's heart
warmed with love and joy.
DOly SdlQ at last.
Hungry are we and thirsty. darlint? OF
course we are Well. sit we down in your
little chair. Come, Mike! Come byes!
Be good now and quiet They're not bad,
nor dangerous, lovey, though they are big
and homely. You shall have them all I'M
der your thumb, lamb" Bridget said and
Mike and the boys saw a lost light come
back to her face and felt that a long
closed vein of humor had opened once more
in her sad heart.
With an immense clatter of chairs this
king of Bashan and his family of giants
drew up around the groaning table, Dolly
sitting aghast at fhe noise, close under the
protecting wing of Bridget.
If she had come to this scene with her
appetite jaded and her digestive apparatus
destroyed, and her nervous system a wreck.
she might have experienced emotion OF
admiration and envy. as she saw these
great, healthy animals sit down to their
''feed"-father, mother, sons, and that tall,
thin, pure-faced. silent, boyish Parson,
who did not seem like the rest. She
smiled at him as he quietly took his place
beside her.
But Dolly's observations were confined
by her necessary limitations to another
realm. And what astonished her was to
see these strange beings no sooner seat
themselves at the table. than with forks
and knives brandished like swords and
spears, they attacked the bacon, the ''po-
taties," the chicken, the bread and every
thing else that loaded Bridgets bountiful
table.
Here was something incomprehensible.
This could not be harmonized with Little
Saint Sunshine's philosophy at all. Never
in her life had she seen people break bread
without blessing"
She gazed from one to another. but par
ticularly at Mike, with a look of utter in
credulity-not criticism, not rebuke, but
just incredulity.
With what little analytical power she
possessed she tried to solve this problem
| but gave it up at last and determined
that, although there might be reasons for
emitting this sacred act for them, there
| could be none for her.
And so, without apology or conscious
| bravery, but with something very like a
noble heroism after all, the little con-
| fessor folded her dimpled hands, bowed
| her golden head until her hair swept
around it like the veil of a nun, and in a
| SOFT inaudible voice offered her thanks to
| God.
The effect produced by this simple act
seemed out of all proportion to its size.
| A thunderbolt or earthquake could
| scarcely have startled these people more.
| They dropped their knives and forks and
| gazed at her in such awe they might
| have felt had they come upon the Mother
| of God at her prisons.
The worst of the lot was Terry, whose
| friends declared that he had never known
| the fear of God man, and whose love
| of fun was always betraying him. No
| sooner did he comprehend the nature of
/ the act than he burst into a peal of laugh
/ ter.
| "Sence." Numbered Mike, bringing his
/ fist down on the table until every dish
/ ratified, his eyes blazing with that look of
wrath which no chile or man had ever
/ yet faced without terror.
| A hush like that of death fell on the
| group around the table and Dolly leaned
/ close to Bridget.
| Mother" said Mike, 1.-The voice of prayer
| has never been heard at this table: but, by
| the Eternal, IL this child has prayer in
her heart, neither Mike Donovan nor child
| of his shall quench it. Say that prayer
| out loud, Little Sunshine"
Dolly looked timidly into the eyes of
| Bridget, then at the Parson, who was