The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-04-23

where cross was erected by the roadside At the
SIght OF 1t, without a word of warning, the devil
ned IN terror, and led CHRISTOPHER roundabout
way, through wild, rough country reaching the
ROAD again good way further on. Christopher
could not understand this. He asked his master
whaV he was afraid of, and what he meant by leav-
ing good road to go out of his way among rocks
ana bushes. The devil was silent, but Christopher
INSISTED, saying: "If thou teest me not I leave
thee at once"
Then the devil made answer:
1here was once man, named Christ, hung up
upon d cross can never see the sign of the cross
without being terrible afraid and cannot helm hit
run away from it."
SAID Christopher:
= Ihen is this Christ mightier man than thou,
II even Ills sign can alright thee. A second time
have [ done service for nothing FAREWELL 7
leave thee to seek the Christ"
. III was long time before Christopher could
ma any one who able to tell him where Christ
was to be met with. But at last he came across
Llgrlt who preached Christ and sought to instruct
christopher IN the faith. Having heard his story
the hermit made reply:
~ on wish to serve nv Lord CbriS+. boci
men, with frequent HASTINGS for by these Won will
please Him." - ne'o 'oU WIN
But Christopher pleaded
ASK me something else for this with nv big
body, L cannot do"
Again the hermit said:
by many prayers also. mavest +bou ba ohio -
serve Him" -'' ''' 'i'ou NC 7'ie 10
Alas" replied Christopher, ito pray I know
Aot once more thou asketh a service cannot give
1heh the hermit spoke again:
refchance thou knowest of a river, rapid and
deep, yea dangerous to cross, where many Door neo-
pie are drowned in the waters?"
SAID Christopher: II know it we'll"
hen gave the hermit his final answer.
ihou art big, and very strong Go. take un
ny abode on the banks of that river and carry way
I1rers across. This will please the Lord Christ
Whom thou wishest to serve. And. mavban Some
Gay de will show Himself to theew
10 the river, therefore, CHRISTOPHER made b;S
way and he built himself hut there. NIGHT and
gay he cheerfully carried across all who came 70
hlIn' and tor staff to support himself in the c1r
ITnI ne made use of a pole one perch in length
many day was passed in this task. when onoo
as a., ne was going to sleep in his hut he heard q
Chllds voice calling and crying OUT I.Cbristonbar
come carry Me across"
christopher answered the call but could find
no one As he went back he heard the voice again,
snu ran out as quickly as he could; but again he
Iound no one. third time the voice calIod him
and this time he found little Bow WAITING an tho
D ID and begging to be carried over the streom
christopher lifted up the Child upon his shoulders
ana taxing his pole, stepped into the river And
Dehold! the waters began to swell up and to dash
against hlm' and the Boy to press upon his shout
ders like weight of lead And the further be Wont
the higher the waters and the heavier GROW th
lnCoieraole weight upon his shoulders. Indeed
Christopher found himself in sore straits and be-
gan to be afraid. But he reached the other side
OF the river before his strength gave out and plac
ing the Boy down the bank, said:
,.e MY Child, thou didst put me in danger of nv
NE NE II the whole world had lain upon my shout.
ders, 1t could not have weighed more"
Then the Boy answered:
No wonder thou didst think the world upon tbv
back, for thou didst carry Him who made the world
l am Christ, thy King, and thou hast served me
we'll In testimony whereof when thou hast
crossed to thy hut, take thy staff and set it in the
bearing fruit" ing anu
Stralghtway the Child vanished from his siobt
And christopher did as he was bid; and when he
rose from his sleep in the morning he found date
palm. with waving fronds and clusters of fruit
growing on the spot where he had planted his staff