The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-05-31


tient and quiet. The comfort and kind
ness which surrounded his cot puzzled
his little brain, it was so different to
the misery to which he was accus-
toned. He listened Wonderingly to
Sister Winifred'S gentle voice telling of
the love of the Sacred Heart for little
children. and how Jesus used to take
them in his arms and bless them and
say: Suffer little children to come to
me. for of such is the kingdom OF
heaven"
Gradually Rody began to lose his
sense of loneliness. He knew God
cared for him and watched over him
even more tenderly than his own long
lost mother.
One day when Sister Winifred asked
him where she should send for his ia
Their and mother, he replied, raising his
sweet face in amazement: They are
dead long agor' he said sobbingly. 81
have been working for myself ever so
long"
Poor little mite murmured the
nun. God loves you all the better for
being poor and lonely; you are one oil
his favorite little ones!'
AS she spoke faint flush stole into
the childs cheeks. for those words
awakened in his childish heart pangs
of keen. remorse, and he felt a great
fearless sob rise to his throat. The
sad recollection, like a painful picture,
rose before him that he had been bad
boy: he had forgotten God; he had
stolen; and, oh! what would mother
say if she knew all? And as the
thoughts crowded on him Rody cow
cred his head with the blanket to hide
his grief.
Needless to say, Sister Winifred's
visits to Rody's, bed were very fire.
quent He was such a friendless and
forlorn mite" she felt strangely drawn
toward him. He was always very shy
and reserved when she spoke to him,
and yet she was convinced he regarded
her as a great friend. 1t was very true
that Sister Winifred had not spent ten
years nursing little boys in vain. Lit
tie by little it grew on her that Rody
was restless; some secret trouble must
be weighing on his mind. She must
win his confidence and bring him re-
lief
One wild evening, when the wind
was sobbing and moaning pitifully
around the city hospital, Rody seemed
more disturbed than usual.
Are you weary and tired of the bed,
darling?" asked Sister Winifred, laying
her hand gently on the child's throb-
bling forehead. For moment Rody
was silent, while the wind outside
mercilessly beat against the window
panes and shrieked through the key
hole. All. it reminded him so much of
his last night in the streets and that
stolen shilling!-
Sister Winifred.''' he cried, in broken
accents. Sister, Winifred, 1 want to
ask you. to ask you so many things
that my head is aching with the
thoughts of them!''
Il am listening, Rody," the nun an
swered, gently.
Sister Winifred,7 he cried, where
am [? Has the place anything to do
with a prison? You know l should be
in prison,"
mo, Rody, no.. You are in the hos
pital, a place for good little boys who
are sick" answered the num- Rody at
once raised his confiling eyes to the
sisters sweet face, while his cheeks
gloWed like scarlet and his lips quiz
7ered as he saidf hn1riedly:
II am glad it is not a prison: but,
Sister Winifreds~T am not a good boy.
l stole shilling the night came here.
Oh! / was so sick and tired that even
ing, and the money tempted me! I've
been thinking of it ever since, and to-
night"-but Rody did not finish the
sentence; he buried his face in his lit
tie wasted hands and he. sobbed aloud
Don't cry, my poor little Rody,"
whispered the nun, softly. HYou are
very sorry for stealing the shilling. and
Jesus will forgive you. He knew him
self what it was to be poor and lonely.
Rody; pray to him and he will comfort
you and he will have mercy on you
Does he know how hard / tried to be
honest? How badly l wanted money
When [ stole?" asked Rody.
Indeed he does" answered Sister
Winifred. Our good Jesus is always
watching over US, and he knows every
thing
Then 1 won't find it so hard to ask
his PARDON the child said. He'll re-
member how hungry and sick / vast S
Poor Rody, Had he been ever so
eloquent he could never have described
half he went through since his mothers
death, and yet he felt very guilty in
deed. He had been tempted sorely. but
all he seemed to remember was that
he had stolen.
By degrees Sister Winifred learned
from Rody the story Of his life. how
happy he had been for those first few
years with his idolized mother. then
his sorrow and loneliness in the city
tenement house, and, lastly. lis bitter
struggle to earn a living in the streets.
1t was sad tale, but it is the tale of
many of our cities and towns, for as a
rule there are many dark days and
heavy rainfalls in the lives of our city
waits.
Sister Winifred, I'll never forget TO
love God again, not even if / live to be
ever so old" the child would cry. with
his eyes full of tears and with cIasped
hands.
Would you find it very hard to die.
Rody?' Sister Winifred asked one dav
Rody looked startled. ITO dep he
repeated.
Yes, Rody"
The tears trickled down the child's
cheeks as he said, sobbingly:
i never thought of dying, Sister" he
SAID, and turned his face to the wall
An hour later, when Sister Wjnifred
came to her little favorite's cot. he took
her hand. and, drawing her over to
him, he whispered:
Il won't be sorry to die if God
wishes it, only, only used to think of
living and being very good. to paw back
the shilling and to make up for all the
time l was bad
Il understand, Rody darling the
nun answered, as she wiped away her
own tears. You wish whatever God
wishes"
Yes, Sister" the child answered.
firmly. That is what 1 mean.'
One bright morning, when the sum
beams fell softly across the neat white
cot in the childrens ward, Rody re-
ceived his last holy communion. DIR
ing his lingering illness the kind Sis
ter had nrepared him for co,,eossiA.