Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-04-01
TOM GROGkH'S EASTER
Ey Edith Sessions Topper


@~0-OOO~O|0-0@~|0%0-N%
"Gee. Toms in luck" said Larry
Finn as he watched two Of the pref
tiest girls in the ward sail by the ell
CINE house and give Tom Brennan, the
handsomest fireman Of hook and lad
der company No. r., a perfect fusillade
Of eye alteration.
40 the divf wild Tom. - said Dooley
Bryan Struggling his brawny Shout
ders in downright disgust. He don't
be human. What afls him OF dunno
all the gurrils in the parish crazy over
his black eyes an he not noticin'
Thin
Was he always sol" inquired Larry.
lie was returned Dooley, liver
since Maggie Harrigan TUX the veil"
Ohio" said Larry.
They were engaged" said DoOley,
enraptured with himself as gossip,
when Maggie got the vocation. 1t
was near KILN Tom, but av course he
could do rothin'"
lie couldn'tE" said Larry. why
didn't he carry her off,"
Murder, We diyil, phwat We be say
in: lis the bride Of heaven she is.
It's ashamed Nv you Oi am, We haste.
No; poor Tom had to submit, but he's
nivcr been the same Oi suppose now
concluded Mr.. Bryan medtatiyely, IF
wan av thin Numbers av the Four
numbered were to come by and give
Tom the glad eye he'd niver Encourage
her. Ills sthrange thot the nuts aIlus
fall to the tOothlesS divils"
With which sage observation Mr.
Bryan betook himself to the FURNISH
ing Of the hose cart as ii relief to his
oyercharged emotions.
All was true Since the day Tom
Brennan tore his manly heart out in
bidding an eternal farewell to the
beautiful girl who renowned him for
her vocation the big fellow had never
been the same.
All women were like shadows to him.
He had loved one truly, devotedly, and
he had been forced to give her up to
heaven. He could never love another.
Tom never noticed women. He SIM
ply went about his business of saving
property and lives as if there were
nothing else in the universe for big,
handsome, athletic fellow.
Often as he lay in his bunk at the
engine house as he rode tempeStuOuSly
through the crowded streets. as he
fought the flames, he repeated to him
self the last words he had said to his
beloved: Il love you, Maggie, darlin'.
| would live for you or | would die for
you, and since you bid me tear out my
heart | must do it,"
The Easter morning dawned-the
very Easter on which Tom had hoped
To lead his sweetheart TO the altar. He
thought of her as he reused from his
dreams OF her sweet face. Life was
over for him, he said lie saw again
the crowded church, the white ROBBED
noviCes. He smelled the incense, he
heard the roll of the organ, the solemn
voice of the priest. He Shivered and,
turning. buried his face in his pillow
Suddenly the alarm reused him. He
listened. He sprang from his bunk
and Il moment later was down the pole
and in his place on the truck. His
face was like the face of the dead. AS
In Il dream he heard the cry, Where
is it:' and the answer from dozen
lusty throats, The conventr
The convent and the orphans home
adjoining were ablaze. 1t was evident
at a glance that the buildings were
doomed. The main business was to
save the sisters and the children.
The bravery of the nuns and their
proteges was only second TO that of
the magnificent fellows who fought for
the lives of these helpless people Ev-
cry one recalls the amazing fortitude
and courage displayed at this fright
full hour.
The children had been well drilled
for Just such moment of peril, and
MOLLY did they now obey their instruc-
tors. Such deeds Of herosm as were
done that bitter morning are never lost.
Their memory remains as an eternal
inspiration.
Tom Brennan thrust Il ladder up to
window of the dormitory just be-
Meath the huge gilded cross that sur
mounted the roof Of the convent.
In this window. serene, calm. her
lips moving in prayer, stood a sweet
faced sister, holding in her arms a tiny
crippled boy. so symbolic was the at
tttude of this holy woman that not one
Irish heart in the vast crowd below
failed TO respond.
1T Is Sister Mary Beatrice :" moaned
the mother superior She knelt upon
the bare ground and crossed herself.
When Tom Brennan. his face black
ened with smoke and his eyes blazing
with heroic excitement. reached the
window Sister Mary Beatrice looked
steadfastly at him with her old sweet
smile. the smile he had loved.
He held out his arms.
The child first, Tom" she said as
she laid the little boy ON the broad
breast of the fireman.
mighty shout went up from the
crowd below. All had seen that sub
lime act. All realized what 1t meant.
\ dozen hands received the child
and Tom Brennan turned back up the
ladder.
He lifted Sister Mary Beatrice from
the window.
For one instant he held her on his
heart
Then as the frenzied spectators
groaned and cursed and prayed the
convent walls swayed in.
And at the foot of the cross Tom
Brennan died for his Maggie darlin'.'
New York Herald.
His Easter Musings.
He picked up the Easter statement snl
read: