The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-01-27

Now, Mrs. Stanton, you have conf
dence in me, see. I want you to lie
down and get some sleep. II anything
occurs, any change in the condition of
these poor little darlings, will call
you at once. If don't take care of
you will have you on my hands, too"
she finished with smile.
The poor mother took both Of her
hands in hers and wrung them silent
ly. Then she left the room and, going
to the room opposite, left the door a
little open. But Nurse Laura softly
closed it in few minutes, wishing the
weary woman to rest without hearing
the children fretting.
Downstairs the doctor and her broth
er had departed, and she had waved
goodbye from the window. The father,
whose bed was on the first floor, had
retired, and, save for his dry cough,
all was still.
The nurse examined the baby, and,
although the doctor said he was al
most gone, she worked with him as
only true woman and skillful nurse
can, and was rewarded by seeing the
ghastliness of his face give way to
more lifelike hue. From one bed to
another she passed all night long, CIV
ing medicine, cooling their pillows,
sponging their fevered heads and
limbs, and when the dawn appeared it
seemed to her that none of them
would die, although the danger was by
no means over. The mother slept the
heavy sleep of tired nature, and no
sound came from her room. The nurse
scarcely sat down all night, but when
the first pink glow of morning rose
out of the East she lifted her heart to
God and offered to Him "her first
case" labor of love and purest chart
ty, and begged His blessing on it. Then
the thought of the souls of this family
came to her, for she had graduated
from Catholic hospital, and here she
had learned from the nun teacher who
presided over the nurses class that,
together with care for the patients
body came care for his SOUL A slight
noise drew her attention. The mother
stood in the doorway.
"They are all doing we'll, Mrs. STAN
ton," she whispered. eve will try to
pull them through" ~..
ooh, thank God!" murmured the
mother. -:
"You are Catholic, are you not?"
said the nurse. A blush overspread the
woman's face.
II ought to be-" she said at last,
"but Mrs. Stanton was bitter Presby-
terrain, and after was married while
he began to say such harsh, con-
temptuous things about my religion
and the Church that for peace I drop.
ped everything. I haven't been inside
Of a Catholic church for thirteen
years."
ooh, you poor unfortunate" said the
nurse. And are not the children bap-
tized?"
mo-" said the mother. IT did. not
dare to raise fuss again, although
many a time I've wept bitter tears in
secret" ~s
, "But how could you rest in the pres
ent circumstances knowing they were
in such imminent danger?"
"The thought of it nearly broke my
heart, these days and nights I have
watched them. Oh, how I prayed to
God that something might happen that
they could be baptized! But I am
afraid to mention it to my husband.
He would get into rage, and it might
bring on collapse"
"You are timid," said the nurse.
"This is question of three immortal
souls, and they must be saved. Is
there priest in the neighborhood?"
"Oh, yes, believe there is, but L
beg of you not to mention it to my hus-
band" said the weak little woman.
Does he come up to see the chill
dren?"
every morning the first thing. II
he hears us talking he will get alarm
ed and will be up before you know it..
A moan from the little girl called the
nurse and mother to her side. The
child wanted drink, and while the
nurse gave it and soothed her the
mother stood there smiling.
Just then the cough of the father
was heard. He had just come into the
room.
"The baby" he said in a husky
voice; is he alive?"
'He is alive and will pull through"
said the nurse gently
"She has worked miracles with
them; they are all better said his
wife. >
God bless you, nurse!" said the
man, deeply moved. The nurse grasp
ed her opportunity.
"Mr. Stanton, these children must be
baptized. You must send for priest
this morning. You don't want to lose
all your darlings at once. Get them
baptized, for they are of your wife's
religion and mine. I am a Catholic,
and I cannot stand by and see those
sweet children debarred from heaven.
They must be baptized, and 1 will stay
with them till they are prattling