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

tutlng for glass; wherein no preparations for the
morrow are made, wherein jealous poverty allows
no Xmas cheer to enter
[ wonder how many little boys and girls yea,
how many grown up boys and girls, give the less
fortunate thought in the midst Of turkey, plum
pudding nuts, candy and all the good things of the
Xmas dinner.
Truly. the words of the poet, Moore: MANS
nhumanity to man makes countless thousands
mourn, may be applied to many of us. apparently
good pious Catholics, if we may receive such an
appellation, without charity, that great cardinal
virtue.
Now come with me up State street. past the i'm
mense city hall, with its deep corices and artistic
frescoes, It's four-faced giant towering above US,
telling far and wide the time that waits for
past the red brick deserted looking cathedral of
st. PauFs side and the massive stone post
office the other-where one by one the swinging
door admits the anxious crowds outside.
Let us leave behind us the turmoil of the city,
cross the street car tracks and go down Maple
nue., where on either side the elegant homes of the
rich rise in grandeur
What a typical winters scene lies before us I!
See! through the naked trees are the brown stone
walls of ST. Mary's and now the spire surmounted
by a glistening cross comes in view. The snow
covered spruce trees bordering the walk scin-
tillating with their icy pendants dazzling in the
The vestibue door is open. Let US enter. 4
solemn hush prevails, for here only faint echo of
the distant noises of the street breaks the sacred
stiffness of this temple of God.
Rehearsal over some twenty little choir girls,
for few moments, fervent aspirations make be
fore the Blessed Sacrament In twos and threes
they rise from their kneeling posture, pass down
the long aisle and out into the street. until all are
gone but the little choir angel Mary Atherton. who
lingering beneath the sanctuary lamp, the forget
me-not of God, for few moments more keeps our
Lord company. Five-ten-ffteen minutes pass
with opd baoJ
still prays
Quite impatient. her little bosom friend tip
toes up and softly lays her hand upon her shoulder
The kneeling girl turns around and whispers quiet
ly: I'm sorry | kept you waiting. Ruth, but if
you in a hurry don't wait for me. | wish to
say few prayers to make some poor, sad one
happy for Xmas"
"A right Mary; I'll not wait for you. then. >
As the lovely face turns again to the altar, lit
tie does the happy, thoughtless Ruth dream of the
efficiency of those few prayers-of the number of
souls those few AYES will bring to God
She joins the happy group outside the church
and they go laughing and chatting down the street
Meanwhile Mary finishes her prayers and with
light heart leaves the church
A binding snowstorm is raging, but she, cares
nothing for that. The air Is frosty The pink on
her cheeks has deepened into a carnine At short
intervals while she runs she shields her face, with
her little white muf from the singing blast that
forms a Pimbus of her golden curls
She hs only two more blocks to go and She is
home. She knows her little sisters are waiting for
her. She almost sees their little faces and dim
pied hands waving to her from the window waen a
newsboy. rushing up her. calls out at the top of
his voice: "The Xmas News Miss, only penny
Miss"
She stops and feels in her purse for the fifty
cents her mother gave her that morning Then
come thoughts of her own pleasant home; the tur-
key, cakes, nuts and candies she compares with the
az +1o Il. I
face before her. The little fellow trying to warm
his fingers with his breath, he holds the bundle
of papers under his arm touches responsive chord
in her heart. Again she feels for the coin and
slipping it into the little mfortunates hand says:
buy something nice for Xmas, little boy"
"Thank you Miss Here's your change" he
calls after her, while fumbling among the coppers
in his pocket.
Keep it all; it's only little Xmas box" she
calls back. her face beaming with happiness
"Oh, thank you" again he cries. won't my
sick mamma be glad when she sees this! N.Y. I'm
awfully glad myself" he candidly admits when he
unbuttons his coat and places the treasure in an
inner pocket
She stops. tender chord in her heart is
touched. Suddenly change comes over her fea-
lures. Her face, wreathed in smiles but a moment
before, now is full of sympathy. In an instant
she is back with the little fellow Stands endeavor-
ing to button his ragged coat as quickly as his be-
numbed fingers will allow, and with tears in her
eyes passionately exclaims:
is your poor mamma really sick, and does one
of your sisters wait on herr"
yes, she is always sick, but she has only me-
Here the sad blue eyes drop as slowly his fore
finger points to his bosom.
"Oh, hear! I'm sorry, but never mind" she
continues, her face Frightening up again 'AIy
mother and I will make you happy, oh! it's 5
o'clock, for there's the whistle. Come with me for
supper, Our house is just down here little piece"
indicating by turning her head to one side the di
rection of her home.
Ugh! It's getting cold. Come on" she urges
so suavely prettly Struggling her shoulders, clos
ing her fists and Tightening the muscles of her
arms, that little Jack Harper does not hesitate
He explains that he does not go home for sup
per, for he lives away down past the wooden mills
but always takes little lunch which to keep from
freezing he puts in an inner pocket.
"And now I'll keep it for breakfast" he CON
tinues, delighted with the prospects of few pen