The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-05-21
FATHER VANS PENITENT.

bright today, only few hours of the New Year
have passed, and looking like that! Cheer up. old
man. This is the first time in our long years Of
association in the business world that have seen
YOU 50 gum. You have had your head buried in
your hands, leaning that desk, for some mo-
mens; say, is it money matters? Maybe can help
you out.
mo, Dick, finances are not bothering ME this
time. | may well tell you, it is Jiml'
what! Jim again. Oh, dom bother. -
Please don't, Dick. | sorry 10 interrupt
you but just heard of the boys from the other
side of the office say he would be great deal better
off dead than alive. Now, Dick l don t think so.
When mother died she left him in my charge [
have tried, as you know, so many times to get him
on the right road, but it don't seem to be in him.
He guilty of criminal act in his life,
but TO my peadingS it always the same old
answer, THE Bowery for me- You know we were
born the Bowery, it's in the blood. After moth
ers death there were only two bows: we moved up
town; Jim a kid at that time. i had very little
to do with him and both earned daily keep
through selling papers on the streets | was ambi-
tious and wanted TO be | grew up. [
went to night school and got education such
it is, but Jim perfectly content to jog along
and get his board and keep any old way, and here
he is tonight, dving-dropsy they say. He is up in
the New York hospital had him taken there New
Years day 1t is certainly a bad beginning for
me"
"Well, you're a nice chap, why didn't you say
or two
Yes, he will be dead then; he can't possibly
get well, and say, Dick what do you think of him?
He won see priest He says he is afraid Of them
] don't know what he didn't threaten to do today,
when ] suggested sending priest to him. He can't
get WELL few days, maybe hours, and God!
What death? What funeralF Ny mother is
waiting for him, Dick, do you hear mel She is
waiting for him. He was only little kid when she
died. and left him In my If we had only been
fortunate enough to have had sister, she would
have helped me out of this and found way. Gay,
Dick. have idea! You remember several times
he swore off and tried to do better. ] got him into
different departments in the retail downstairs. He
has delivered messages and packages to your home,
and several OCCASIONS had opportunity to meet
and talk to your wife. He knew we we're friends.
Well, he couldn't say enough in praise of her. She
Is a Catholic. Dick, do you think she would go 10
the hospital and him? Would you have any
objections7
"Why, Tom, that splendid thought; have L
any objections7 Well, / guess not. 1t is only
short distance from the hotel where stop
ping, and l know she will be glad to go down i'm
mediately. just moment, Tom, she is the line.
| have explained the situation to her and she will
be at the hospital at O'Clock"
The New York hospital covers almost city
block 1t is not sectaran in fact, it IS against the
rules of the hospital to discuss a man. religious
belief. The psychology of mans soul is about the
is
brief history of his life which he is supposed to
give after he is assigned room or bed. They have
little time for that as it breathes and pusates with
suffering humanity.
The young fellow who has charge of the eeva-
tor told me as | stepped from the elevator to turn
to the right and keep turning, and l would find
Jim Quinn He knew just where he was for his
own name was Quinn.
In NV numerous revolutions to find Jims bed
met my wife, so entered the ward together
Feeling confident it would be best to leave Jim and
my wife alone, I sat in the shadow of the screen
that surround the bed where [ could see Jim very
plainly without being observed by him, lie raised
up on his pillow when he my wife with the ex-
preston, ''Huy, gee, but [ taut youse was an an
gel, Mrs. Reynolds
"Oh, Jim, an ANGEL They don't have grea.
large angels like me in Heaven. Why, Jim, am
surprised at you recognizing me. YOU are better
today, aren't your
Sure ting-dere never anything da matter
wild the blinds on me windows. IN little shorts
Of de breath winded, dat's all. "
- Jim, may I borrow Of these glasses. 4
poor woman at the door had these flowers for sale,
so | brought them to you. have friends IN me
hospital and / heard today you were here and
thought l would stop moment to see II there isn't
something | can do for you. A hospital is a very
lonely place. nothing to look at but bare walls. By
the way, Jim, we find difference in the Catholic
hospitals. l was very i'll at Buffalo and was con-
lled 10 my pea TWO just III 4IoiI VI LIE
was a beautiful picture of the Cricifxion thought
of you and brought this little picture of the Blessed
Virgin with me and a Cruciix. You don't mind
me hanging them at the foot of the bed, do you?
You can take them home with you when you are
leaving here.'
Oats da talk-sure ting it's going home am
to the Bowery If l stays here ] wakes up and
finds da tomb stones growing in da mud over me.
With dose flowers and dat picture it takes me back
to da days of me childhood. Me mother had little
garden and yust raise snowballs for da Queen.
When da were ripe I'd take em to da church -
"Say, Jim, they were happy days, weren' t theyR''
Oh dem da was da snowbals for me alright.
/ had me chanst, but didn't freeze to it. y
well, Jim, the nurse says | may only have
moment with you l hope you will be better to-
morrow. 1 will say goodbye and see you soon.
! joined my wife she left the ward and We
spoke to the nurse on duty She told us he would
possibly live day longer.
The next day about the same time we visited the
hospital again. When Jim saw my wife he said m
great excitement:
Gee Mrs REYNOLDS I'm glad to yuse. Well