The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1906-12-22


window curtains stir, then part and child's bright
face, quickly followed by another. appears Then
the door opens and tall fair woman whom we al
once recognize as Marys ni other, with the two chill
dren i'll the rear, admits her daughter and gro.
tesque companion. who arel bounding up the steps
On entering, Jack gances bewilderinglv around
and contrasts the warmth and cheerfuness of this
bright cosy place with his own cold and gloomy
home.
After the preliminaries of introducing her new
ly found friend to her father, mother and two lit
tie sisters. narrating his sad story and rubbing his
little red hands, as they stand before the fireplace
they all sit down to supper. Although the different
dishes are very simple, though nourishng. Door
little Jacks mouth fairly waters at the sght of the
warm fresh edibles and he does ample Justice to all
the food.
After supper, the attention of all is drawn to
the youngest girl tot of two years who climbs
down unaded from her chair and edging to the
little fellow. in stacatto treble says: won't 90
be brudder OATS gone to heaben long long
agop
Eyes, my darling he'll be your little brother
says Mrs. Atherton, taking up her babe in her
arms and kissing the rosy lips of the little one as
the big tears roll down her cheeks for the death
of her frst-born, her only SON some three wears
before is still fresh wound in her fond heart.
She then leaves the room and going into the
dUIlc, gently unlOckS niue trunk and. tpndpriV
smoothing out the folds, selects from her dead bows
wardrobe little blue overcoat and pair of home
made mittens. Then as gently she locks the little
trunk and soon the new "brudder' is attred in his
warm raiment and is ready to sell the remainder of
his papers in the street.
After he is gone draymaA is telephoned for
and the little trunk with all but few of its pre-
cious contents. besides basket buIging out with
good things are waiting to be taken to the little
house down past the WOODEN mills
The bell at St. Marys is pealing forth the mid
night hour as little Jack Harper rushes into the
miserable hut he calls his home With am "Hurrab
mother! See what I've GOT he straightens up
and proudly glances alternately from his coat and
mlttens to his mother, who, with a pleasant puz-
zled expression her wasted face turns round
from her kneeling position before little trunk
with its half emptied, carefully folded contents
on chair at her side
And see, mother" he continues his eyes I'M
dergoing another sudden change. Then, going over
to the table, which large unexpected baske.
rests, he turns his pocket inside out and there rolls
out on the boards, with a imgng noise, many
bright coins with one bright 80 cent piece among
them.
The bells cease ringing as the angels sang on
the first Xmas night: GLORY be to God in the
highest and peace on earth to men of good will"
Outside is heard the tread of passers-by on the
crisp SHOW, IHe sld1nnl1ng OF doors and the
of Xmas carols in the street
Let us now take peep into St Marys. Fr. c..
robed in richest yestments is singing Midnight
Mass. while twenty little acolytes are around him
The organ peals forth its varied harmones The
voices of the singers blend with those of the an
gehc choir, informing the eternal Hosannas And
lying on bed of straw, is the Christ Child with
arms outstretched as if to clasp all humanity to
His BOSOM
The tinkling of little bell announces the COM
ing of our Lord. The words of conservation are
whispered; the miracle of transubstantiation is
wrought by the living echo of that first loving voice
and 10. what was bread is God The Eucharistic
banquet is ready and there, among the guests. at
that festive board kneeling in an expected attitude
is little benefactor Mary Atherton, the pride
of St Marys. Few there are in this vast assembly
whose lives have not been bettered, whose burdens
have not been lghtened and whose cares have not
flown with the sunshine of her presence.
I'LL.
Twnty years pass by 1t is Xmas Eve and ST
Mary's is crowded again. The altar is dazzling
with white flowers amid blaze of hundreds of
lights. The Christ Child smiles again from his
little crib The bell rings and all the bells ring
and take up the anthem, GLORY be to God in the
highest and peace on earth to men of good will"
The vestry door opens and tall dark haired
young priest comes out on the altar, while another
twenty altar boys surround him.
Just as the last notes of the organ die away and
the Hosanna in Excelss is waited on the clear cold
morning air. Father Harper fingers to say an Ave
He has said it these many years for his little
angel friend, Sister Mary Teresa who first turned
his thoughts to the higher life, by her sweet char
ity, on Xmas Eve just twenty years ago-Agnes
MacTntyre in Western Catholic Review