The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-01-12

they listened eagerly while the1gathr anticle- rolled
forth in full chorded swell of harmony and while
they listened their pallid faces flushed for very JOY
and their hearts were lifted and attuRed to lofty
prayer.
'Suscept Israel puerm SUM, recordatus mis-
ericordiae suae"
at sounds so beautiful on earth. what must it
be in heaven" murmured Harry.
As they stood in rapt attention there appeared
al the door of the chapel the form OF child. The
light seemed to fall full upon his features His hair
was long; unlike theirs. it very fair in color,
and sparkled in the light though II shot with
gold. His eyes were large and full of tenderness
His features singularly delicate and marked
with a strange beauty. As he advanced toward the
brothers there a smile tender and subdued upon
his face, a smile the like of which the two lads had
never seen before. The child was a stranger to
them. and yet when they caught that smile, they felt
that they were meeting dear friend
welcome, little boy" said John: Il am John
and this is my brother Harry"
With a gesture of winning grace the newcomer
took the eagerly extended hands of the two broth
ers and pressed them gently to his bosom. Again
he smiled
you look like my mother" said Harry. gazing
frankly into the blue eyes that met his in a glance
of love.
$50 you do" added John. only she was dark
and YOU fair But it is the oolS When mother
used to tell Us of the dear little Infant her face
looked like yours. Tell us your name little friend"
Call me ntJe Drotncr. my brothers., answered
the child III voice so musical that al Its sound all
that lovely and exquisite in the thoughts and
memories of Harry and John seemed to vibrate in
answering harmony.
You shall be our brother from now Oh" said
John. Shall he not, Harry"
"1es, assented Harry; I'VE like you to be with
US. John and | before you came were listening to
the singing of the Magnificent. and it made US feel
so happy, but that you with us ! feel a
thousand times happier than | did when ] was lis
tening to the song. SO You must be brother.
1t is easy for to think it. for you look like
dear mother. And row. little brother, do you know
anything about Christmas .
at is the day | love-" answered the child.
"Then you must talk to us about ii" said John
Tell us the story about the birth of the dear lit
tie Jesus, added Harry, eagerly, And be to
bring in the angels"
Little brother" told the sweet story the old old
story He told it 5 though he himself had been an
eye witness. Presently the child ceased to speak,
and as though it had been preconcerted signal.
every bell in the monastery broke into gladstone
chiming strange light burst through the floor of
heaven, and from the chapel came the voices of the
monks solemn but jubilant singing the Adeste Fl
deles. Al dkas they concluded the stanza with
Fenite Adortmus Dominum, the light in the heav-
ems seemed to spring and SILVER as though il were
living thing, till in few seconds the whole sky
was glorious; hen in full burst of harmony there
fell upon the ears of the lads the songs OF the an
gels, music such as the great masters had never
even imagined tThe heavenly strain ceased as sud
denly as il had segun and in the silence and night
that succeeded little brother" stood gazing his
transfxed companions.
"Oh. thank you, thank you" cried John. Come
with u.s. now, little brother and we shall visit tie
dear little Jesus
As they went toward the chapel their strange
visitor said III must 90 away soon
Then we shall go with YOU" cried John.
NO, myibrother, not yet Whittier go You
cannot co.
"Yes, we can said Harry, confidently; we
know that where you are everything will be as it
should be. and so want to go, too.
But very soon YOU are to serve the Christmas
Masses of Father Bernard"
"That is true" assented Harry, "and we would
not miss these Masses for anything But after that
you must come for us, and then shall go home
with you"
The child smiled and said: Yes tomorrow I
shall return. and then you shall come home with
me-
They entered the chapel and fell upon their
knees in prayer that ecstasy. An hour had
passed when trembling hand touched the kneeling
brothers They turned and saw the aged prior bot
the child had disappeared.
On tiptoe, obedient to the prior's signal they
left the chapel
''My little Ones he said. reprovngly you
should have been in bed this long time"
ooh but if you had heard the way our little
brother told mammals story" said Harry, You
would have felt like praying forever. 1t was beau
tiful.G
Eyes but it unkind of our little brother to
slip away added John. Besides, he promised 10
take us home with him tomorrow"
'Of whom you talking" asked the prior.
The brothers told their story with animation
| and eagerness The prior listened very silently
Suddenly the brothers looked at each other in
great perplexity.
isn't it strange" exclaimed John. at was all
so beautiful. and now ! cannot think of one word
| he said
'Nor T. said Harry; "and then all that music;
ii was so nice and so easy, and now I can't
imagine how it sounded"
The prior's face had grown very serious He
looked at his nephews with reverence and awe.
/ my dear little Ones" he said after a moments
| thought "did your little brother promise to take
you to his home tomorrow"
"Yes, Father" cried both in chorus.
The prior paused again-a strange light came
into his eyes. 90. my God" he exclaimed. "can it
be! My children, desire to go home with your lit
al