The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1911-02-23
A PENTTENT
A Burglar Is Brought Back to the
Fold on Christmas Nom.
By EMMA EDMONDS
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.
By EMMA EDMONDS


fore Christmas stood on sidewalk in
a 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 If 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 bullying with
small packages-he knew the small
ones to be the most valuable-intend-
| ing to follow him home and during the
night relieve him of them. Presently
he hit upon an elderly gentleman with
mutton chop whiSkers and a 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 a hall lighted by a
gas jet turned very low. He turned
1t trifle 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 a bureau
was q crucifiX.
Mike had been brought up a Catholic
by an honest, Woodworking mother
and remembered when lad quite we'll
grown seeing his little brother and
sister, both less than five years old.
lying in bed together in this fashion.
He remembered it especially because
he 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 a narrow hallway
and, opening a door, entered n 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 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 ii seemed ITO 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 to
bless them, had intOned the Latin
words meaning "The Lord be with
you"
Instinctively Mike bowed his head
and made the sign of the cross on his
forehead.
Then suddenly a 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"
c'Pray for u.s. were sung he sank upon
his knees. When the song 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 here?" asked
the gentleman Mike had Swallowed
that day.
81 came to rob you, sir" Mike re-
piled in a hoarse whisper, ''but l 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 am in a church? Is this dwell
ing, or have l gone madT"
Neither. We are Roman Catholics
here, and l have purchased phono-
graph as a Christmas present for my
wife, who is a very devout woman.
It Is intended for such. left 1t wound,
and | suppose something has gone
wrong with the machinery and started
It up. l heard the singing and came in
tn shut the thing off"
Then Mike rose from his knees, but
with his head still bowed said:
Il am ready, sir, to go to Jail and
suffer the punishment l deserve. But
never again will 1 commit a crime
The influence of our holy church and
my old mother when I was boy has
been brought back to me tonight to
save me from sinking any lower. am
armed, sir, and could kill you in a mo-
ment. But fear nothing. Go to 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 the law can |
never do. The law can only punish; |
the church has brought a sinner to re-
pentance. Go your way, and tomor-
row, If you will call at my place Of
business, will give you work"