The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-12-20
A PENITENT
A Burglar Is Brought Back to the
Fold on Christmas Nom.
BY EMMA EDMoNDS
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.


great city and watched the shoppers.
on the other side of the street was a
large jewelry store, in and out of
which throngs of people were going
and coming, many of them carrying
the goods they had bought rather than
risk not getting them before Christmas
morning IL left to be sent home by the
delivery wagon.
Mike was watching for some pros.
porous looking person to come out Of
the store, his pockets bulging with
small packages--he knew the small
ones to be the most yaluable-intend-
ing to follow him home and during the
night relieve him Of them. Presently
he hit upon an elderly gentleman with
mutton chop whigkers and gold head
ed cane. who, as he emerged from the
store. was examining the said small
packages down into his pocket. Mike
followed him, noted the house he en-
tered and went away.
The town clocks were striking one
hour after midnight when the burglar
bent his steps to the house in question,
passed from the front steps on to a
balcony. inserted a jimmy under a
window sash, pulled out the screws
that held the sash, raised it and en-
tered a large drawing room. The
Christmas presents were doubtless
kept above, so, feeling his way up
stairs, he found hall lighted by a
gas jet turned very low. He turned
sc trifie higher in order the better to
see the way and, looking into an open
door, saw two little children asleep
with their arms about each other To
the mantel hung two long stockings
bullying in every part. On bureau
was a crucifix.
Mike had been brought up q Catholic
by an honest, Woodworking mother
and remembered when a lad quite well
grown seeing his little brother and
sister, both less than FIVE years old.
lying in bed together in this fashion.
He remembered 1t especially because
ne had just come in with some toys to
put into their stockings. The sight
took him back to those days when he
had not yet gone to the bad, and there
came sinking about his heart He
passed back through narrow hallway
and, opening door, entered portion
of the house that seemed to be an ad.
dition and cut off from the rest The
door had scarcely closed behind him
when he heard a low voice say;
"Dominus vobiscum."
Mike started, and his knees trembled
beneath him Whence came the
voice from the ceiling, from under
the floor or from behind curtains? 1t
had been years since Mike had gone
to mass, much less to confession, and
now It seemed to him that he was in
a church; that the priest had turned
from the altar to the congregation and
spreading his arms In an attitude tc
bless them, had intoned the Latin
words meaning 1.-THE Lord be with
you"
1nstinctively Mike bowed his head
and made the sign Of the cross on his
forehead.
Then suddenly woman's voice be-
gan to sing that beautiful hymn ave
Sanctissima" c'Hail, Most Holy Moth
err. From the moment Mike heard
the first note he began to droop, Grad
ually he bent almost to the floor, and
when the words Ora pro nobis
CPray for us''l were sung he sank upon
his knees. When the soLg stopped the
penitent was sobbing like child.
Suddenly a light was turned on be-
hind him. But Mike remained on his
knees He was too overcome by the
music to make any resistance
What are you doing hereT asked
the gentleman Mike had Swallowed
that day.
Il came to rob you SIR Mike re-
Piled in a hoarse whisper, but | have
been turned from my purpose, first, by
your two little children with their
hanging stockings and, second by what
/ have heard here Am l dreaming
that an in a church, Is this dwell
Ing, or have I gone mad?"
Neither We are Roman Catholics.
here. and have purchased phono-
graph as Christmas present for my
wife, who is a very devout woman.
It is intended for such l left It wound,
and suppose something has gone
wrong with the machinery and started
It up. heard the singing and came in
to shut the thing off"
Then Mike rose from his knees, but
with his head still buwed said:
II am ready, sir, 70 20 to jail and
suffer the punishment deserve. But
never again win l commit a crime.
The influence of our holy church and
my old mother when | was a boy has
been brought back TO me tonight 10
save me from sinking any lower am
armed sir, and could Kill you IN a mo-
ment. But fear nothing Go 70 your
telephone. If you have one in the house,
and call the police.
The gentleman stood looking at Mike
for some moments without speaking.
then said:
Il shall not telephone for the police
The police represent the law. Our
church has done what tie law can
never do. The law can only punish.
the church has brought a sinner to re.
pentance. co your way. snd tomor-
row. II you viii call at ny place OF
business, / VIII give you work"