The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-10-12
THE ENTERTAINMENTS AND COLORADO CATHOLICS OCTOBER H. 1907

W
uncle to continue their conversation.
When Mrs. Carey joined in with her
customary grumblings at Maurice (she
had become incapable of talking on
any subject save his shortcomings
Eileen commenced sobbing, and the
good woman, who was in reality the
soul of hospitality, was obliged to take
refuge in silence, less she might hurt
her visitor too keenly.
Eileen was up betimes next morning;
and when Mrs. Carey came down in a
dirty blouse and skirt much in need
of mending, the sight of a spotlessly
clean kitchen. a bright peat fire, and
girl in a Holland frock and large
apron putting the finishing touches to
neat breakfast table, on the center
of which stood bowl of fresh-plckeo
roses. caused her to retrace her steps
to indulge in her mornings ablutlons,
brush her still beautiful hair, and
change her untidy garments. Maurice
appeared soon after, unwashed ana
unkempt, and, at sight of him, Eileen
said sweetly
Uncle, dear, would you mind greatly
washing and tidying yourself before
YOU sit down to breakfast? 1t will
be ready in a minute, but L must tidy
the little ones first" and she went on
LAYING the youngsters without getting
a spot on her own frock, so deft was
she.
Mrs. Carey blushed a little as they
sat down to the meal when Maurice
remarked "Ehl Faith, Nancy, but
you're lookin' as young as the day
we were spliced,' but she enjoyed the
compliment. nevertheless, and forgot
to mention such a thing as fault of
his during the meal.
All day Eileen worked like a brick,
busting, scrubbing and cleaning. She
was very tired, but she would not give
in. There were three bedrooms up
stairs which had not been busted or
swept for years. The task being be-
yond her delicate strength, she bribed
a neighboring girl to come in and help
der; and in a few days the whole
house was transformed.
So was Maurice; yet not quite re-
formed. Sometimes he stayed in dur
ing the evenings. AT other times he
had scarcely swallowed his evening
meal when he was off to his old haunt.
Mrs. Carey gave vent to sarcastic re-
marks anent the girls effort during
his absence; but, when he returned,
she forgot to grumble as of old. The
sight of his Inundated, shamed face
disarmed her anger. and she only re-
tender kindness towards her before the
demon at the crossroad began to lure
him from his home. His lapses did
not dishearten Eileen. She knew she
had got in the thin end of the wedge,
and she had full hope of driving it
home in time. As a neat, tidy home,
well-cooked meals, and clean children
became the rule rather than the eX-
ception, the temptation to stop indoors
and enjoy the pleasures of home life
grew on Maurice, and oveTmastered
that other temptation which had hith-
erto been irresistible. After Eileen's
visit had lasted some months, he
startled her one day, as they walked
together to mass (watChing his wife
and pretty little ones some yards on in
'front.', by calculating:
LAS sure as God is in heaven, it
wasn't love of drink made me take it.
The house used to be that thronged an
dirty an the children bawlin' an
crying-an'-the short and the long of
it was. l used to run from it all But
don't say a word to your aunt. Shes
the best woman in the world, the best
wife a man ever had, but she used
not rightly understand things. That's
all"
Its the way you've bewitched us
ALL" Mrs Carey said later on.
Indeed. no. aunt" answered the
girl. II have only been experimenting
with my favorite theories. Good prac-
tees are more profitable than turning
stones. Eth. aunt?'
God bless you, ashore. Twas He
sent you to US. But-youll stay over
the six mdnths-a year, maybe?"
"A bailiff and twenty Deelers
wouldn't get me out until Uncle Maui
rice is perfect, quite perfect" answered
Eileen, laughing; but there were tears
in her aunt's eyes-tears of happi-
ness.-N. F. D. in The Irish Messenger
of the Sacred Heart.