The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-08-31

a cent of pay I'd go just the same.
promised Jim Harris's wife that I'd
take Jim's place, give my word, and
I'll stick to it. When qualified for a
substitute promised to attend to my
lduty. So there's another reason. But
the principal one is this; Jed's been
Fraving in delirium for several days,
and all the time he's been talking
about the mail route and the letters.
He was so afraid he would lose his job,
for you know this rural delivery is all
that stands between starvation and his
family. It amt no small thing to lose
your job in the winter time. His wife
said he was as crazy as hare when
she told him I would take his place,
but he Quieted right down and has
been getting better ever since the
worry was off his hand. You see he
believes in me. Mother, do you want
me to shirk my duty now"
The little old mans head lowered
proudly above the shining one of his
roly-poly wife. His whole shabby fig
ure seemed to irradiate good cheer.
The light within, the call of duty, had
made jeremiah Bascom forget that he
was old and rheumatic and poor. In
the light of sacrifice this commonplace
service had become hero's crown.
"The money'll come in handy, too,
MOTHER" he added hesitatingly. "At
my age I don't get many chances to
make two dollars day. Why, that'll
buy our groceries for almost two
weeks. Be a good girl, now, and let
me go!"
The old lady dashed her tears away
to return his kiss, and in another mo-
ment he was gone. Through a mist
of tears she watched him trudge across
the barnyard and climb into the mail
wagon, which was waiting, and drive
hurriedly away.
Once out of his wife's sight, Jere-
miah Bascom lost the CHEEKY smile
and the song. Other troubles than the
cold made his heart ache this winter
morning And as the wind whistled
and he drew the lighted lantern closer
to his cold feet, it seemed to the old
man that his very life blood was turn
ing to rivers of ice.
Mary did not know, and he had not
the courage to tell her yet. He had
been discharged the week before from
the little hardware store, where he had
worked ever since the bank had failed
taking all their savings with it. Last
week he had celebrated his sixty
eighth birthday with only few dol
lars to keep them from starvation,
with debt hanging over their little
home and with no work in sight by
which he could earn livelihood. Yes
terday he had received notice that
the money must be paid or the proper
ty surrendered.
Only today did he realize the horror
of being old and poor and childless.
The chance to act as substitute on the
rural route had come almost provi-
dentially, it seemed to him. But Mary
did not know. Why worry her until
it was necessary. She had believed
that he stayed at home because he
was not feeling well. Only today, as
he drove through the desolate, snow
covered country, did the awfulness of
old age without support dawn upon
him. He did not feel old. His eyes
were bright, body strong. He was as
anxious and as able to work as ever
but he was to be laid upon the shelf
because he was old in years. If he
could only prove his worth some way!
He stopped now and then at the
comfortable farm houses to leave the
messages from the outside world. His
heart writhed and burned with the in
justice of it all, as he saw their pros
porous, happy lives and compared
them with his own need. For he and
Mary were on the outskirts of the City
of Starvation.
When the bank failed, taking theil
money with it, he had cheerfully set tc
; work and grumbled little. Then he
) could work and save for the future
/ The blow had fallen without a mo
ment's notice, and found them unpre
pared. A tear trickled over the ole
mans cheek. He wiped it hurriedl1
away as if he were ashamed. He hat
not shed a tear since Edward, theil
only son, had gone away. At th'
same moment a snowflake flutteret
/ down and lay melting on the cheel
7 beside the tear as if to show him tina
all the forces of nature knew and sym
t pathized.
For the first time, the old man
E looking up, saw that the sky wa
: darkened by heavy clouds. An omi
=. nous roar came to his ears, and with
swoop and a howl the snow and storm
) were upon them. The light wagol
: was almost swept off the road. Jere
: miah Bascom was obliged to use tn
whip on his fat old horse when tn
wind had quieted enabling him to g
on. The snowfakes were falling s
!, fast that he could not see ten feet i
front
But Bess knew the road. Continue