Evening journal., 1908-12-14
BIRDS COME AS If
ANSWER TO PRAYER
AIight on Shoulders Of Chill
dren at Grave Of Bishop
Curtis in This City
CARDINAL REGARDS
IT AS A MIRACLE

ACCORDING 70 bhilulnl' htNeHhltNrt
what Cardinal Gibbons said he regard
ed as both manifestation and a miracle
attended an act Of piety OF two little
girls at the grave OF Bishop Alfred Curtis
in the yard OF the Convent Of the Vista
ton in Wilmington. when. after prayer
two sparrows descended upon tho should
crs OF the children and remained voiun-
iarlly with them until set free by the
sisters in charge Of the orphanage to
which the girls belonged.
Mother Alexandria. superior OF the
onvent OF the Visitation confirmed the
story OF the incident. While she did not
call It miracle. she regarded It as most
unusual.
The matter was reported 10 Cardinal
Gibbons at Baltimore. and he exhibited
great interest In It, Beyond saying that
he considered It manifestation and q
miracle he refused to discuss the occur
renee.
Still another report, which has not
been called 70 the cardinals attention, la
related OF the restoration OF the sight or
a Baltimore child after prayer by Bishop
Curtis and for a return OF vision, but
nothing could be learned OF II to-day.
Story Of the Children.
the birds descended so gently follows:
w7nfie wandering through the Visitation
Cemetery they observed several birds
fuuer1ng through the grounds and were
seized with a longing TO capture them.
SISTER said to put salt on their tails"
said one OF them: but not having any
salt with them the little girls had TO rely
upon the nimbeness OF their legs.
For long time they pursued the birds
around the many tombstones. At last
they became weary and almost despaired
Of the capture.
LET US pray that we may catch them.'
suggested ono Of the little ones: and they
knclt reverenty at the grave OF Bishop
Curtis and sent up fervent petition.
Hardly had the prayer been concluded.
when two OF the birds flew down to the
grave and alighted on the shoulders OF tho
little petitioners. For moment they were
awed by the prompt answer TO the prayer
and then hastoned indoors.
"sce what our prayer on the Bishops
grave brought u.s." they cricd in thoir Joy
20 tho sisters as they fondled the birds.
Astounded at the story told by the chill
dron, tho sisters fed the snarrows aud
/ gave them water after which they re-
leased them and the birds took 70 wing
/ Before leaving they lowered over the
heads Of their little oaptors as though re-
luctant to leave them.
Mother Alexandria in telling OF tho in
cident said the girls were and 10 years
old ana had been favoritcs Of Bishop Cur
ts She said that another girl In the
orphanage desired 10 fondlc the birds.
which allowed her 20 do So
Still Play With Birds.
Not only does Sister Alexandria confirm
the story but she adds some Interesting
detailf She says the birds which are
plentiful in the convent yard. are shy Of
/ tho sisters yet are perfectly friendly with
/ the children and appear 20 have no fear
OF them.
The children walk among the bushes
and inspect the bird nests. but Gauss
I no commotion whatever among the
I sparrows. but II one Of the Sisters apr
pears the birds become wild and reno
the air with their chattering and chirp-
! ing. The children handle the birds
as IL the creatures had been IN captivity
all their life. In fact. the birds ara
tanner with the two little children who
prayed that Bishop Curtis send them
the birds than captive birds usually
are. They walk among the bushes ana
/ pick them up, fondle them and stroko
their feathers. The two girls think
there is nothing unusual about the mat
ter That the birds fy away when-
ever the sisters approach is strange 70
them, but they appear TO take it as a
natural thing for the birds TO come TO
them now hat they have prayed to
4 Bishop Curtis for this favor.
Bishop Curtis took an active interest
In the Convent of the Visitation ana
was buried within the grounds at hls
I own reuest. Bishop Curtis always at
I tracted birds and animals to him.
Bishop Curtis was a close friend and
associate Of Cardinal Gibbons. He waa
fond Of children and a great lover OF
nature. The Bishop was converr
from the Episcopal Church and at one
time was rector Of old Mount Calvary
Episcopal Church Of Baltimore. Some
years after his ordination in the Cath
ole priesthood, Father Curtis was
named Second Bishop of Wilmington.
Del. He resigned his see in 1886 snn
b was appointed Bishop Of Echinus "a
partibus and Vicar General Of Balti
more.
After a life of exceptional piet'.
= Bishop Curtis died in Baltimore July d
/ last and was Inferred in Wilmington.