The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-06-15
Continued from page 81
THE MILLIONAIRE'S CALLER.

do it for the two boys an couple O
pounds of radium to boot. An l told
the porter, an he said he guessed papa
wasn't very anxious to trade. An l
told papa what Mr.. Ryan said, an he
pulled one of my curls an said he
wouldn't part with me for all John
Ramsey's millions twice over. That's
the man papa works for. Do you know
| him."
The old man had frowned and then
suddenly smiled.
Eyes, I've met him. he replied.
He's very rich, papa says, an he
lives all alone in great big house, an
he hasn't any little girl, an he needs
somebody to take care of him, an all
he thinks about is money, money!
money! It's too bad to be as rich as
that isn't it?
The old man looked hard at the
child.
Money is a pretty good thing, isn't
it?"
81 suppose it isl the child replied.
But mamma says it's only good for
what it will buy. It's good for clothes
and what you eat, an the rent. Then
it's good for helpin' those that need
helpin', like lame Joe, an when people
is sick. An it's good to have little
in the bank for rainy day-though I
don't see what difference the rain
makes. Amt this sponge cake good?"
Money is very useful, them"
"'Tis sometimes. When mammals
mamma died way out in the country
mamma couldn't go to the funeral
cause papa was just gettin' over a
fever an all our money was gone,
every penny, an we owed the doctor
an the rent. Mamma cried and cried
all day"
There was little silence.
And what would you do if you had
lots of money, child?''
She looked up at him with her eyes
sparkling.
'Pd give most all of it to mamma
and papa. But I'd keep little my
SELF" She smiled at him in her be-
| way. 1Ou UOu huOW WudC
a lot of things you can buy for a
shilling! An then I'd keep some for a
chair-the kind you wheel around-for
lame Joe. He's little boy that lives
near our house, an he can't never
walk any more. An he sits on the
steps an makes faces at us when we
run by. An mamma says it's too bad
somebody who has the money to spare
can't get him a chair like he needs,
cause it would be such happiness to
him. An mamma says maybe Mr..
Ramsey would buy it, and papa
laughed in such a funny way. Mr..
Ramsey is the man he works for, you
remember"
Il remember" said the old man.
AN mamma said she guessed She d
come down some day an tell Mr. Ram.
sey about lame Joe, an papa said
she'd better not. An mamma said she
was only joking. Funny kind of joking
wasn't it,"
1T sounds so to me- said the old
: man, dryly.
Eyes, think SO, too When a mans
got as much money as Mr.. Ramsey it
, wouldn't be any trouble at all for him
to buy chair for little lame boy
| would it,"
. He did not answer her.
How old are your" he presently
asked.
I'm six. How are your
/ He laughed in his unaccustomed
; way.
Pm seventy-today"
/ The child gave little scream of de
light.
Mercy! It's your birthday! Oh, ]
wish I had known it! Mamma could
make you such beautiful birthday
) cake. Wouldn't it have to be a big
one! We think lot of birthdays al
our house. Do you get many pres
{ ents?"
J Not one"
) She looked at him with startled
eyes.
) why, that's too bad. Did your
t folks forget?"
81 haven't any folks
The pity on her face deepened.
} I'm so sorry for you," she said. He1
) little hand pushed the pasteboard boz