The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-11-20
FAT LEAST YOU, MY FRIENDsw

moved the catalfalque and slowed away under the
organ the six tall candlesticks with the yellow can
dies.
| met him in the porch as | went out. "John
Callaghan," he said in answer to my unspoken cues
ton HE drove a wagon for Belfords, the coal
people Trims the widow and two girls. The boy
works IN Schultzs, the grocer. The haythen would
not lave him free to come to the months mind this
mornin'! The Lord reward him-and He will, too.
When his turn comes he'll know what it is to need
a friend Purgatoryl be terrible lonesome for some
people-lf they're lucky enough to get there"
Mike" said l pointedly, chow long do you think
any one will remember us 2"
"Well sir" said Mike, ''Fm thinkin' it'll be Just
about as long remember Thin"
"If that's all, then the Lord be merciful to US,
for we'll need it," ] meant it, too, for only cou-
pie of days previously | had heard from Thomas
Kempis some searching truths on the point.
well who knows" said Mike. "Listen now
Momin', James, It's beautiful day."
His salutation was addressed to an old man com
ing out of the basement His face was abmdantly
familiar to me, seeing that every morning he occu-
pied the same seat at the back of the center aisle
1t such old mans face as one sees often in
Ireland, on which the peace of childhood seems to
have so softened the marks of time and struggle
that the lines are reposeful and harmonious. The
saeristan presented me formally to Mr.. James No
lana County Cork man like yourself. sr!"-and
we exchanged conventional greetings.
S'Well, James," said Mike somewhat sugges-
tvely-nOt to say provocatively, "John Callaghan'l
rest easier today"
HE viii So" said James. Lord ha' mercy on
him! He is good, steady man. | knew his ia
Their in old st. James's down town. He's dead this
twenty-five year. He went after Paddy Sheehan
and before Molly Joyce. Lord be good to thin!
There's great plenty gone since thin
We've more friends that side than this" said
Mike, surreptitiously pulling my coat sleeve
"Begor, we have that" said James with laugh
"Iu have tin more names in me envelope next Sun
day for this year"
"And HON many1l that make james," Mixes
voice dripped simulated nonchalance while his face
worked with the strength of his desire that should
see the point.
"A hundred an thirty-four last year an tin
this year-that'll be a hundred an forty-four"
answered James with perfect simplicity.
well, now look at that ~ said Mike with
perfectly natural air of surprise. "a hundred an
forty-fouri 1t bates me how you can remember
thin all, James"
'Tis aisy enough to remember thin whin
they're yer friends" said James
Il suppose ye could call the roll any time" said
Mike, endeavoring to infuse yet more Indifference
into his tone
Deed | could" said James, why mott" and
then and there to Mikes undisguised JOY in that
church porch, the old man commenced the litany
of his dead. 1t went somewhat as follows:
Grandfather an grandmother, Uncle Pat. I'm
Bridget,
mother; Lord ha' mercy on herl Cousin john Mat
Malone, Mary Shea, Father DAILY Owen Mcclure.
Father Sheridan, Owen O'Neill, Patsy Bryan. John
Byrne, Mary Byrne, Doctor Ford Willie CLANCY
Nellie Murphy Dick Cronin, little Jamesy John
Molloy, Bridget Mahony little Mollie"-and so on
His wife's name came late in the list He called
her his 'darlin' Mollie" l could hardly repress a
start when he named Charles Stewart Parnell."
and little later civilian Ewart Gladstone" For
what seemed many minutes he stood there his ewes
closed the names coming rapidly and without a
shadow of hesitation. 1t took him perhaps three
minutes to recite the ro-at last came ."
John Callaghan an Richard Lonergan an GER
tam others an this that has none to pray for
thin"
We had prayed the first time for Lonergan's
soul the previous Sunday. Mike looked at me with
triumph in his eye and James came to himself with
jerk
That's long list" I said lamey
lis not NANNY for svinty-six years. sir"
said James, "an' there's thin I've forgotten. too.
Lord ha' mercy thiml An 1 hope they'll for
give me when my own time comes 'Twon't be so
long now ayther, Mike. Well, good mornin' to We.
slr-mornin', Mike~ and off he trudged down the
street
We'll" said Nike" what dye think of that?n
oh. Mike-there's them he's forgotten-be
SAID SO himself. May the good Lord forgive US
me- / meanE AS / spoke Father - came
through the porch on his way to breakfast He
caught my last words.
whats the matter?" he said
Father, I'm tempted to wish | was dead and
on James Nolan's list" I said. Mike left us and
went back into the church, grinning widely as he
went.
You might be worse off. He'll be in with five
large sheets Of foolscap next Sunday. Did he call
he roll for youl"
He did," l said
And did you stop to ask yourself how he was
a.e 9 10 DO 1t almost without drawing breath and 1
without stop?'
great light poured in on my mind
i, Every morning of his life he calls his roll at
Mass. Some of the people on it are dead these
sixty to seventy years. [ suspect 'tvould be
waste Of good prayers for most of them only
lnere's no such thing. No, don't mean what YOU
lhlnk-I mean they're in Heaven long ago if they
are James's kind, and Jamess prayers are un-
o.ouotedly distributed elsewhere. hope James is
III my parish when die"
he stopped in hesitation moment
iii tell you something more if you'll promise
IMf To