The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-12-28

little pay and less respect, and what prospects he
had at one time entertained It was all too bad
too bad! Then there were the O'Rourke boys.
They were section hands, too and yet they kept up
the practice OF their religion Then his mind re-
verified to his old mother. WE'LL at all events he
had, every month, sent her part of his wages That
was in his favor
Father" said Pat, timidly with a certain
shame-facedness, "do you think it likely that my
old mother prays for me every night?"
The question was a simple one but there was
pathetic earnestness in the voice that at once
told Father Ridsdale that there was change of
disposition
''Why, Pat there is a moral certainty that she
does"
'And do you think those prayers do me any
good
do any good! Of course they do"
"Wen, I've just been thinking that I'm
pretty hard case. l haven't been to mass or con-
fession for seven years. and
rs not Gods mercy infinite. One word,
sigh up to heaven and the evil can all be undone."
"If | thought 1 could-if l we're in church
now-Id-confession," mumbled poor pat
Father Ridsdale saw there was no time to lose.
Reckoning the conductor, he slipped dollar into
his hand
'Give me the key of stateroom for half an
hour-be quick" he said.
The conductor looked at first surprised, and
then noticing the Roman collar of the priest
look of intelligence stole over his face"
This way, sir" he said
Come, Pat" said Father Ridsdae
Pat Sweeney followed in dazed sort of way
half reluctantly, half willingly
Locking the door of the stateroom, and drawing
the curtains, Father Ridsdale said "Now, my
son, kneel down at that chair, and | will sit here,
and will help you make your confession"
And Pat, with the help of the jealous priest,
made his confession with tears of conjunction
and gratitude. When it was over the priest with
in ne baO fba NIT
penitent, and after this and few brief acts IF
thanksgiving we're over he found that he had four
minutes to spare. 1t was an express confession,
but none the less earnest and sincere for the I'M
usual circumstances in which it was made With
hearty hand-shake and blessing, the priest
stepped off the train minute later, leaving Pat
on the steps OF the car with bright face and a
lighter heart 1t had been blessed journey for
him.
Father Ridsdale had scarcely Invested himself
of his travelling clothes and donned his cassock,
and had sat down to his tea table with sigh of
comfort at being home again, when heavy and
rapid knocking was heard at the front door.
Come Father, come quick"
whats the matter" said the priest, as he ran
to the door.
"The express is down at the Honey Greek
bridgebridge-at least the engine and one car
There had been a washout there this afternoon and
the first span gave way. Hurry, Father. Take the
first hand car. The men will pull you up there.
It's only three miles I'm going for the DOCTOR"
and the messenger started off at a run
The priest took the holy oils and to the
railroad track and was soon rushing into the
blackness of the night In a few minutes the
hand had brought the priest to the scene of the
disaster, which of great confusion The
moving lanterns and torches showed the blanched
faces and trembling figures The through coaches
we're at the end of the train, and we're not dera-
ed but many of the passengers bruised and
cut by broken glass A hurried glance told the
priest that there was nothing of immediate impor
lance to be done there, and he to the front
of the train. Here there were many broken limbs
and much moaning and shrieking. The engineer
lay dead under his engine at the brink of the
creek. The fireman had escaped with broken
leg. He had jumped in time to save his life. The
priest gave general conditional absolution to all
and Immediately looked to the more serious cases.
Father Ridsdale looked anxiously among the
stricken crowd for his recent companion of the |
journey. Pat Sweeney could not be seen in the |
vicinity of the upturned coach.
"Pat Sweeney is it, Father? The boy we took
to the stateroom awhile agone. Ye needn't mind !
about him. Father for if he's killed he's all right,
and if not, why it's about the same, for he'll be all
right for whatever ye did to him in the stateroom
Of the next car, he came to his seat the happiest
man in the train All! sure there he is, pinned
down by the car roof. Sure he must be past the |
lelp we can give him..
Taking a light, the priest went to poor Pat. He |
was seriously injured and pinioned down by the
ear.
leave me, Father, and see to the Others first.
Thank God l don't need ye bad they, thanks
be to your reverence"
All saw that death was only matter of min
ties, and Father Ridsdale Immediately admins
cred extreme JUNCTION. The sufferers face was
sadly contorted by the agony he undergoing,
yet there was on it look of JOY and peace.
"God-sent-you Father, to-hear-my con-
rass;o,, cold diving how
Il think SO, indeed, and don't doubt my son,
hat he sent me on the train especially for this
purpose to answer to the prayers of our poor old
mother"
"Yes-yes. Thy kingdom come. Into Thy
lands-my spirit" were the last words that Pat
Sweeney uttered. In a minute more he was dead.
When the old Widow Sweeney arrived
after at the scene of the accident and saw that
he life had been crushed out of her son, she was
.lr.1.s+ f-a-,+;c and 1I1,cor,solahle