The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-10-26
THE TWO MOTHERS.

Ii was night in the little matched house by the
roadside. The last cart had creaked on It's home
ward way, and silence had fallen on the house. 81
ence broken now and again by the sharp cry of
child in suffering.
group in the kitchen gathered around the
smouldering turf embers and talked In subdued
voices Over all these lay the hush of expectation
that comes before a death. The neighbor women
had been IN and out all day, but now, as the time
grew shorter they had left the mother with the
child alone, but for her old mother, who sat on
creepy stool by the hearth, and watched both with
eyes of suffering.
When the child cried the young mother drew
sharp breath though she endured intolerable suf
fering in silence. They saying down in the
kitchen that the baby too young to have laid
hold upon her life, but to her he was as much
human personality, loving and understanding her
as though he were man and old.
oh" she said, when once again the child had
cried; IF he is not TO live, would I keep him to
suffer! Oh, why must he suffer- he who has never
Known sin ~
The old mother made no answer to tAe unan-
swerable question.
Pray Jewel" she said, "there is great power in
prayer Many child have I seen given back that
was farther gone than he"
IF prayer would keep him l should never do
anything but pray again." said the childs mother,
but no spark of hope lit up her hopeless eyes
"Whsht, dearie, whisht. Pray that the will Of
God may be done in regard to him."
i cannot pray. What am l to say to Alick
when he comes back and asks me for his SOM"
"He viii comfort you and love you better be-
cause of what you suffered without him"
Il was alone in the terror before he was born.
! was alone in my agony, but afterward l had the
child. Now | shall be more alone than any woman
IN all the world"
The old mother WINGED.
You had your father and me. You were our
darling before you ever laid eyes on Alick McCar-
thy and his fine red coat"
The girl did not seem to have heard her She
was watching the tiny face on which the shadows
were growing darker.
He is easier, ] think"
The pain is leaving him. acushla" said the old
mother. her eyes full of deeper pain.
His breathing is easier Oh what it would be
# he could live. | think l should die with JOY"
Pray. childp
Mother, God is powerful and kind. Do you
think if / could give him the child that he would
give him back to me! 2"
~lf he saw it was good, child He can do bet
Ter for him than you If he takes him. it is in
But he cannot want him as L do. / would rear
nm TO be good man."
Her eyes prayed for hope to be given her. The
I'D mother came out of her corner and looked at
The child
Give him to me for Bit and do you go to the
",tar IN the other and pray. Rest if you can,
mid ! am troubled about you, for it's only
e" weeks since you left your bed Give him to
me: VIII call if there is any change"
lhe young mother let the child be taken from
her knee He still lay quietly, without a, moan In
ne dark room adjoining one little star of light
galyered. 1t was the lamp before Our Lady's altar
The statue glimmered Whitley above it. There
was handful of flowers set on each side in poor
l''ie vases. The arms of the figure were out
stretched bengnly, and the head was bent little
forward
sense Of rest and quietness came over the
Young mother. She lznct at the foot Of the statue
ana rested her check against the linen altar cloth
III the whitewashed wall death watch was ticking
ll'noton0usly. She put her hands to her ears to
A1ot out the sound and began to pray.
Now that the suffering child was no longer be-
lore her, She prayed with passion She reached out