The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-02-16
AP0STOLATE OF A NEWSB0Y
Concluded.
Sc called softly.

ne nurse called softly.
''Fatherp
| went into the inner room
Willie was conscious. weak but smiling.
I'm SO glad Father" he faltered ~ think
am pretty sick, but Pm so glad you came"
motioned them to leave, and | heard Willie's
cOnfesslonl He wanted to receive Holy Com
munion. So I left and returned soon with the
Blessed Sacrament and the holy oils He received
Holy Viaticum, and | anointed him. Then he lay
peaceful and quiet with his eyes closed The door
of the next room open and long crimson
CLEANS of light came through and lay on the white
counterpart and the pillow, except where the lit
lie head had rested There was utter silence except
his difficult breathing. The nurse moved about
nolselessly. Her look at of who felt
that her ministrations were useless, although she
smiled at Willie.
Father" he whispered, did Granny return
your quarter"
"That's all right, Willie. If she hasn't she will
You are going to Heaven soon don't bother about
anything but the thought of our Lord, whom you
will soon see!" Then a thought struck me. willie
what did you do with the quarter | gave you"
He looked me squarely into my face: Father"
he said with difficulty, 81 gave it to somebody who
needed to ride in the than | did; you
know you told me, by loving others better than
yourself by giving your life to help Others could
be a martyr. Father, that night / nearly froze, [
cold walking home, and when the icy air
stopped my breath and the blood came / prayed
God would make me a martyr, but ] only tainted"
Something rose up in my throat and choked
me. Here then was the secret of the money The
boy had given his car-fare to somebody. had tried
to walk home over the frozen river and his weak
lungs had given out. He was dying now from the
effects of his charity. Yes. the blood-red sunset
foretold the death of the martyr.
He died that night in his innocence and self
conservation. The last look of the big brown eyes
was on the crucifix held in my hand
/ had High Mass the remains, and at his
funeral / spoke of the noble act that caused his
death. There were many in the church. for his
peculiar little history was known by number who
had noticed him.
Before had time to remove the vestments, an
old man tottered into the Sacristy.
"God forgive me. Father" he wept Il was the
one who unknowingy caused that boys death |
was at the corner waiting for the car that Tues
day night. / only had nickel with me, and | was
so cold l dropped it into the That boy came
along and / asked him to look for it. He stopped,
and looked, but the came so quick that there
wasn't minute, and l begged him to hurry. He
slipped a coin into my hand and ran off in anotRr
direction | thought it was my nickel, until l got
into the car when / found it was new quarter. i
was terribly surprised, and since | could not
get him out of my mind. ! would have frozen to
death if had not got into the cars that night for
it was bitter cold, and walk slowly. To think that
I should have happened on his funeral Mass, and
learn that he gave up his little life for me" and
the old man wept out loud.
Yes I said solemnly for my heart deep
ly moved. 'he gave up his qittle life for you! A
martyr only twelve years old"