The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-09-23
The Voice on the Phone

On, yes" said Father Rex, IT have
mad many strange experiences in my
missionary career! But do not recall
any one which was quite as strange
and inexplicable as the message which
came to me over the telephone one
night about ten years ago"
The group taking tea upon the lawn
the venerable old priest having the
central place, ceased their clatter fol
moment and metaphorically "closed
IN upon the speaker.
| i was seated alone in my room one
night, he began, "about the middle oil
| q very hot August. The windows were
| wide open; it was unusually warm
and | was rather tired. August is not
the season of missions here in the
East, you know-except perhaps an
odd one or SO at the watering places.
But had been conducting a mission
Tor an old friend of NINE (and Father
Rex smiled reminiscently). "He was
at one time in one of my classes in the
seminary, dear Madam he said, ad-
dressing Mrs. Singleton; and so when
ne started out as a young pastor in
the suburbs of certain part of New
York, accepted an invitation to pay
him a short visit and incidentally
threw in the little mission. 1t was
exclusively for his young men, upon
whom, by the way, he was building
high hopes.
"The attendance at the exercises
had been most encouraging; and so,
though tired, was far from unhappy
as sat alone in my room that sultry
August evening. had the trim little
rectory all to myself, as the young
pastor had been called away to see a
member of his family who was ill in
B.
"Suddenly-it was about eleven
o'clock, think-the telephone bell
rang. It was a sharp and decided
ring or so it seemed to me. The in
strument happened to be without my
door, and so answered it at once.
Father Rex? came a clear femi-
nine treble.
Il replied in the affirmative.
I" Please go at once to the Rainey
Hospital!'
THAT was all, and then the instru-
ment was evidently closed-and
quickly.
Now, the Rainey Hospital was not
a Catholic institution, a consideration
which made me hurry into my outdoor
garments all the more quickly. My
information had been so meagre that
| went prepared for everything, carry
ing the Blessed Sacrament, the holy
oils, etc. After a good half hours
drive in the trolley, I alighted at the
door of the institution. A night at
tendant met me, an expression of sur
prise upon his countenance.
No one badly sick here tonight,
sir he volunteered 1t was small in
whereof he spoke.
"'But I have been sent for ex-
planned. Perhaps At that moment
a young inferno came forward
Good evening, Father! We are
all unusually well here tonight. You
say you were sent for?
Il told of the telephone message.
'Strange!' said the doctor, medi-
tatively. We have only fifteen or
sixteen patients in the whole hospital
tonight-never had SO few-and all,
am happy to say, are on the road to
recovery. ! made my night round two
hours ago.
Then it must have been a mis-
take, said, turning to go, as did not
wish to parley further under the cir
cumstances.
You may visit the wards if you
wish, Father offered the young ply
stefan, trif1e dubious; but everyone
is asleep
Your word is quite enough for
me, | answered. I am sorry to have
disturbed you. Goodnight
But all the way home in the trolley
had disturbed, distressed feeling
that I could not explain away; / re-
turned the Sacred Host to the Taber-
nacle, however, in the dim and silent
little church, lingering moment to
OAC1 o. pray CI lOI--l huSW uOL WHO'LL
or what-any and every poor soul that
was slipping out into eternity that
night. Soon afterward | regained my
room; but, instead of preparing for
bed lit was then past midnight), !
again donned my cassock and took my
place by the window. A feeling of un-
rest still possessed me a feeling quite
contrary to the mood which fortunate
ly is mine by nature.
We'll, / had not been SO seated
more than ten minutes when I was
again surprised by the ringing Of the
telephone bell. This time was really
startled, and it was with a distinctly
uncanny feeling that took down the
receiver. Again came the inquiry
cit was the same voice, the same &C
cent?:
Father Rex?'
II answered in the affirmative.
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