The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-04-01

who died in agony on the cross for
you and me, bring me priest, that 7
may make my peace with Cod"
/ The minister was thunderstruck, itI
had never occurred to him that Nellie
/ had not been glad and thankful that
she was led into the light. And the
older Mrs. Jocelyn, what could she
/ say? What would she do? She was the
most influential member Of his church.
He knew her attitude well toward
ICatholics in general and priests in
/ but Mr.. Gilchrist had many trying
moments in his life, and when he was
sure of his way he never failed to act.
He laid his hand kindly on the poor
girls forehead. Nellie" he said, "as
/ expect Gods mercy, SO will do by
YOU" He passed quickly out, pausing
only for moment to tell Mrs. Jocelyn
that he would be back presently.
1 Mrs. Jocelyn took her place rather
anxiously by the side Of the sufferer,
who now lay with white face and
sunken eyes, her hands clasped loosely
on the coverlet and her lips moving
slightly.
/ Soon she heard steps ascending the
stair, and when she answered the light
knock on the door Mr.. Gilchrist stood
there, and just back of him, who of all
men in town, but Father Moriarty-in
her house, without leave or permit.
Hot anger famed into her face and
wrathful words struggled on her lips.
what does this mean, Mr.. Gilchrist?"
The minister never flinched. 1T means,
Mrs. Jocelyn, that you and both have
been mistaken in your sons wife. At
this last moment she wishes to be
reconciled to her church" Mrs. Joce-
Ign was a Greek, and could take defeat
with the grace of a triumph. Poor
i child she said. Il wonder she never
told me-
/ After long time Father Moriarty
emerged from the sick room. He had
the wonder on his face of a man that
had seen beyond the eternal curtain.
Mr.. Gilchrist accompanied him to the
door. Good bye" he said. 'You are
! we'll called 'Gilchrist.' In the Gaelic
4 that means the servant of Christ and
i you indeed have been His servant to-
!, night
Nellie fingered day or two longer,
too near death to feel ashamed of her
conduct toward Mrs Jocelyn.
/. She worried only for her boy. Father
Moriarty had said: 81 think you may
trust him to God, Nellie, after what
He has done for you" But still her
heart ached for her child. Once she
caught him in her arms and, forgetting
the presence of the grandmother,
prayed God in her wild, picturesque,
Celtic manner to take him in his in
nocence rather than let him grow up
a stranger to Him. And Mrs. Jocelyn,
whose heart was hard against her,
said grimly: There is not much fear
of my grandson growing up stranger
to God" But she couldn't help re-
Numbering how her son had gone
down into the dark valley alone, so to
speak, while the miserable Nellie
! spoke of ''our Saviour" as if she ex-
pected Him to reach out His hands for
her, called on His Mother as if she
were her own parent, and seemed, be-
; side, to have speaking acquaintance
! with the whole court of heaven.
} Father Moriarty came every evening
after dark, for which thoughtfulness
she was glad, and never spoke with
her more than the time of day, for
which she was thankful, for she did
not like his kind.
So the days passed, and Nellie died
} and was buried; and Mrs. Jocelyn lived
: in the empty house, frightened only
: by the presence of the little grandson.
, AS months passed away it seemed that
even this comfort would be denied her,
for the little fellow began to droop and
, droop. Poor Mrs. Jocelyn-she was
: not superstitious, not very-but every
day there was the call of the mothers
voice from the grave: take him
: home rather than he grow up stran-
, ger to Thee" AT first it was very
faint, but as the child became more
: and more frail the voice rang louder
in her ears: Take him home" and
, her widowed, childless heart was
crushed as in vice at the thought OF
| her utter loneliness if he should be
really taken away.
A design began to form in her heart,
at first vague and distasteful, but TAX
ing body with time until it seemed the
only hope. The result of these coglta-
tons was shown when she placed the
boy in Jesuit school-selecting this
one as the worst violence she could
offer to her own convictions. She was
[ Greek to the last, and did nothing by
halves.
Whether it was the plain food or
regular life, or what, the boy waxed
strong and literally kicked, for the
last heard Of him he was captain
, in football team This, by the way,
is considered a sign, though not, of
, course. a certain Indication, of a
prieStly vocation in this house