The National tribune., 1903-06-11

hard? If fade the whole av ye the hard
Winter through! If l pit tiannels on ye!
If make a gentlemin of me lad, and lave
him the store, and the house and the
stocking?"
Toms face. gone white, hid itself in his
hands.
If it's jokin' ye are, Mr.. Garrett, it's
sor' poor fun to meself. If We spake IN
earnest me good wishes ye have-and III
pay ye, I'll pay ye. As to the colleen"
The pause finished his sentence eio-
auently. Mr.. Garrett grabbed the door
knob. Good day to yez," he called back
Send to the store for what ye ned-wel ii
not be cryin' for the gold. It's long
lane widout bend, bonny bye"
The bonny boy sat for long time
pulling at his pipe, staring hard at the
floor When he spoke his voice had not
quite regained is CHEEKY ring, but 1t was
confident and steady. He could not do
widout his mother, acushla. Wen lave
him wild his mother-St. Stephen be kind.
Sure, may be all will be well yet, if we
do the will O. God-blessed be his name!
But Winter set in with unexampled
severity that year. 1t found them penni-
less, shivering in their threadbare Sum
mer garments. Tom continued his hope
less search for work, and Kathleen and
Honor washed, scrubbed, did anything
and everything. 1t was bad enough at
the best, but when little Patsy sickened,
and lay moaning, not knowing them, then,
indeed, the shadow heightened, darkening
all the land.
pneumonia" DR.. Moore said briefly.
"Our little lad has been too much ex-
posed, has not been properly nourished. l
will not give you false hopes-it is going
to be hard for him."
1t was hard. For days they hung
above the little bed in speechless anguish
of spirit, doing what they could. And one
day they hushed their tears to watch each
gasp and struggle. oh, yes, it was hard
That day they were all sure that Patsy
was going to die, but he fingered on into
the next, the Sabbath. The bells Of st.
AIMS smote them, the sunshine was a
mockery. In the morning Father Ryan
and two sisters from the Home came,
bringing warm blanket and wine. They
anointed the little body and said the
prayer for the dying, but still Patsy did
not die. His father would not let them
take the pillows from beneath his head.
'Kape him while 1 pray" he sobbed.
'.Kape him while pray!"
Behind the house, in the cold, he hum.
bled himself again. Mother Of God.'
not in this way. l confess me me sin
the sin of love! The fault is mine. The
little wan was the dearest, SO ye do be
takin' his brother. Spare the child, spare
the child Thin will l break the proud
heart of me; thin will l yield me will tC
the will Of thy dear Son, who bore me
stripes"
Some one was kneeling with him. He
put out his arm and drew Honor close
"Mavourneen," he whispered, 'go say il
at the blessed Feet! Rim ye to st. AIMS
beyant-pray the prayer there. Pray fol
our Patsy, dear as the two eyes av us
Wen pit the sin away-w'll pit the sir
away-the sin O love. Pray, Honor
pray wild your clane lips-pray! Oul
Patsy's on the bank, wild the two feet Of
him a-sldin' overf'
So Honor sped away on the wings o.
love, to sob out her story in the warn
ear of divine compassion. She prayed 81
earnestly, with such steadfast faith, sh'
arose comfOrted, and ran back through
the graying twilight with peace in he
!. heart.
Her father met her at the door, will
upraised, cautioning finger. Hes slapin
. now," he said softly. 1.-The doctor ha
been, and says the turn is past. Wei
kape him. glory be to Him foriver ant
iver-and He has me vow."
| From that hour Patsy began to i'm
, prove. The day he sat up for the frs
! time big Tom declared the miracle ant
opened his heart to his wife Kathleen
= She listened. She went on washing, no
: lifting up her head. Long since tn
7 shadow had paled the roses of her cheeks
e They were ashen gray now-poor wind
swept flowers of destiny!
e "Tll be washing his little duds" sh
( said, after that death silence. "Hono
: will want to give Mrs. Garrett's baby he
e bright beads, and doubtless it's yoursel
e will let him have the shaving mug-of
l. has he cried for tito play wild"
i Tom nodded, thrusting his hands deepl
into his pockets. 'This day week." h
p said in a choked voice, and went ou
= closing the door behind him.
:. The very day Stevie went away In Mr.!
e Garrett's carriage Tom found work at tn
g Van shops-steady work, with chance Q
/, advancement. There was no rejoicing
o however. The little house was as sileI
/. as on that other day when the bells q
r st. Ann tangled on their hearts.
:. But Mrs. Garrett had her playthinl
It her hearts desire. and the coming of tn
S hope long deferred was as the tree OF lif'
It Garrett was equally delighted. He mad
a hundred excuses to leave the store tha
S day. He went home at an hour appointe
d to see Master Stevie In his bath-th
:, cunning thing! And he was called In I
Y assist in an effort to induce the youn
;. hero to accept a bottle, with brand ne'
n - A~~Q. .s.h. .Nasv v1oI Ll.