The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-12-05
A Fathers Consent.


You shall never become a Sister If Cbar;+
with my consent"
Such were the words uttered one dav bv M
Hunter to his daughter Marie, his only child when
she had asked her fathers consent to become a sis
ter. Marie then threw herself at her fathers foot
and begged him to take back what he had sa;d
Because" said she. Il can never be happy unless
become sister and make others happy and be-
sides, the voice of God is calling me, and cannot
resist it."
go. and do not bother me wi til your foolish
ideas, said the father land never let me hear Won
sepaking about this again"
The poor mother sitting close by. listening
TO all. but she dared not say word Marie went
and, throwing her around her mothers neck
asked her to please try and make her father CON
sent to that one wish.
My child" said her mother when your father
says something he means it, but l will try for your
sake"
Days and months passed by, and still Mr.. Hun
Ter did not relent. but became more firm Mrs
Hunters and poor aMre's heart were almost break
ing. until at last one day Marie told her mother
shat she could stand it longer; she was going to
away.
Well" said Mrs Hunter | guess that is the
only thing for you to do and mavbe one dav vonr
father viii consent"
Together they packed Marie's trunk that dav.
aud that night when Mr.. Hunter was asleep Ma
Tie. between sobs and tears, kissed her mother good
night and told her not to worry about her. and
Next morning Mr.. Hunter asked where Marie
was
Marie" said Mrs. Hunter. as if surprised.
Well l guess she must be in a convent by this
time"
She then told him that Marie had RIM avav
adding; Seeing that she could not get your CON
sent and blessing. she went without it, and with
only mine. and may God bless her wherever she may
60"
Now, to return TO Marie After leaving her
home she went to a convent and after a few months
became Sister Agnes. She prayed and prayed to
the good Mother above to make her father reent
Years passed by and day Sister Agnes received
letter stating that her mother was sick and wished
10 see her She went at once but before she ar
rived there her mother was dead Over her dead
mothers body Sister Agnes begged and begged her
father for his blessing but he would not give it to
her. He said: Y ou would not listen to me- and
now do YOU think that | will give you my blessing!
No. neverp
Poor Sister Agnes was heartbroken After her
mothers funeral she went back TO the hospital,
and one day about a year later a MA came there
with a wound In his head. He WAS delirious He
always saying: ooh. Marie! Please forgive
Oh. please come back to your old father before
he dies; please do Marie. Oh! why was | so cruel
10 herr"
Sister Agnes at once recognized him as her
father, and her eyes filed with tears when she saw
that he had indeed repented for what he had done
One day he awoke from long slee and saw Sister
Agnes sitting his bed. and he sprang up, say
ing Am / dreaming. is il really my MarieI'
Sister Agnes said, rs it your Marie.
Sister Agnes who is attending to you, dear father"
Can you forgive me- dear~ said he.
you were forgiven long ago. my dear father"
Sister Agnes replied.
She knelt down by the bed and thanked the
Blessed Mother, for she knew that it through
her ntercession that her father had relented. He
then gave her his blessing. and in about two weeks
he recovered and then lie went to work and gave
al his money for the churches and to the poor, and
he was always doing good and helping others. He
also attended to his duties as good Christian
should but one day he took sick and Sister Agnes
went 10 see him. He told her that all his money
and whatever he had were to go to hospitals and
churches. He then said to go and call priest.
and lust as the priest was amounting him he closed
his eyes forever upon this world and died with a
beautiful smile upon his face.
Sister Agnes continued to do good. aud one
night about ten years later she, too was called to
the eternal resting place above.
It is never too late to return to our Lord.
FRANCIS CASTEIX,
Convent of Perpetual Alteration.