The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-12-28
A Confession on Nc. 70.

walked up and down the country depot platform.
waiting for the arrival of the train which was 70
lake him home to his own parish. He had been
away giving mission in parish whose pastor was
an old classmate in his long ago seminary DAYS.
The mission had been extraordinarily successful
and the meeting of the old friends long parted
had been event in the somewhat uneventful life
Of a country pastor. Pleasant as had been this
break in the rather monotonous career. the good
priest was nevertheless anxious to get home and
be once more among his own parishoners and his
books.
Is the train on time tonight"
No, Father. She's thirty-five minutes late
Since these heavy rains set in they have to be more
careful for fear of washouts" and the onerator
and station master (for the speaker held both DO
sitons), turned to his instrument and became for
the time oblivious of the presence of the priest
who then continued his walk up and down the
platform. Several people had gathered on the
platform, patiently waiting for the express train,
among them a young Irishman who immediately
attracted the priests attention.
The glow and enthusiasm of the mission he had
Just finished was still with Father Ridsdale and
be Immediately addressed the young man.
Good evening, Pat"
"Goodevening, sir-good. evening, Father"
said the person addressed.
Going to travel"
Yes, Father I'm going down the line"
Been to confession lately, Pat" said the Fa-
Their suddenly. With priests instinct he saw at
once that his chance acquaintance was Catholic.
Mono, not lately, Father"
How long since, Patl'
"A good long time, Father"
"A bad long time, rather, Ell! But how long
is it, Patl"
oh, long time, Father"
But how long!7
'Bout-seven-years," came the unwilling ac
Snowledgment
oh! Pat; apd your old mother, every night say
ing her beads for you that you. her boy. NAV be
faithful to his God and to his churcht'
The chance shot had struck home Father
Rdsdale knew human nature well, and Irish ma
ture better. Pat Sweeney's warm heart was
touched, and the priest he had struck the right
chord The young man hung his head. and there
was something very like tear on his cheek Just
then the express came laundering into the depot
and everybody made rush for the cars.
Tome on, my SON. said the Father. and Pat
followed him; and they sat down together. The
conductor looked surprised that gentleman in
black should prefer seat in the workingmans car
rather than in a more luxurious compartment but
ne said nothing as he took his ticket.
When they were left alone, Father Ridsdale be-
gan again on the question of confession. He saw
mat the young man beside him was of naturally
good disposition, and learned that as a section
and on the railway, he was thrown into rough and
frequently bad company With an aspiration to
70 convert his soul
Long and earnestly he talked to the young man
ana tried to arouse him to a sense of the danger
" ms state, but with apparently little effect.
fous that have been dead for so long are not vvi-
'lel all at once except In special Still the
priest did not give up. He knew that there re-
named but three quarters of an hour before their
Journey would come to an end.
!, Look here, my son, promise me this, that for
."e love YOU bear your old mother you will turn
over new leaf and straighten out matters by a
Sood confession"
he Father knew enough of the young man
IgIeaay 10 be sure that if he made promise to
.ae priest he would certainly carry it out, and he
unset had great confidence in the promises of
l0r Divine Lord to the Blessed Margaret Mary
at those priests who cultivate the devotion to the
oaeTsd Heart should be able to move the most
hardened sinners
r Rat would not give the required promise, and
aayner ddsdale then took from his pocket a
"spq!ar Of the Sacred Heart.
,, u You will not promise to do this you will at
-'s .D 40 one thing for me; will you not, Pat"
hat is that, Fatherl"
& Jgsi wear this scapular always in honor of the
Sacred Heart"
al Sweeney's faith was not dead. He nodded
snr took the scapular and with an almost
+0i.cal motion put ii TO his lips and then put it
Ill, ms upper vest pocket After this the priest
a4ed silent for several minutes, earnestly,
n -'dlF praying for the young mans conversion
,r,,i peter life. In less than half an hour he
vorii arrive at his destination, and Sweeney
Io,lo get off five miles further down the line.
6 5, the big Honey Greek bridge
wac -1nu sweeney OF what was he thinkingl He
bad 1n"ontedly silent and now his thoughts flew
vbor % the feast of the Sacred Heart years ago
good ne had made his first communion. How
Wba. ana pure and earnest he was then. And now!
ont y change! Then he remembered his going
QoicLi. work, and his first glass of whisky and
ieinsn cause Of all his unfaithfulness to his
ootles That had brought him his bad |