The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-02-17

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Mass"
Through His Church He did, ma am.
Our Lord gave the keys to st. Peter,
and told him to teach all nations, and
that they were to obey Him, and keep
whatever commandments He gave
them. One of these commandments ia
to hear Mass on Sundays and holy
days. Every Catholic Ia bound"
Enough! Don't preach any more
Bring me my tea at twenty minutes to
seven. And go to Mass, IL you please"
Thank you, ma'am." Bridget smiled
and bowed, and went quietly away to
her kitchen.
she's a promising servant thing
hard to get in these days." thought
Mrs. Deemster 81 can't afford to let
her go. So, in spite of this going to
Mass-I'll keep her-for the present,
any way"
Bridget's first battle with her mis-
tress was not her last by any means
But, firmly decided in everything that
concerned her religion, she always
came off victorious. If there was no
fish-not even an egg for her dinner
on Friday or days of abstinence-she
contented herself with bread, making
no remark and uttering no complaint
She went regularly to Mass, to confess
sion and Holy Communion. Her even
ings out she went to Benediction. Her
heart was full of love for the Blessed
Sacrament And Bridget worked hard
The Deemsters were exacting, and
she was their only servant. But all
she did was done with good inten-
ton. Her life was full of sunshine,
for she did everything for God
One evening, when Bridget had been
with Mrs. Deemster some ten months,
she met Raymond coming out of her
room. She liked the boy and was
always glad to hear his CHEEKY voice
about the house, or in the kitchen
But she resented his impertinence in
going to her room, and flushing, said
hotly:
"How dare you, Master Raymond?
L"
Please, don't be angry, Bridget"
he answered gently. IT just peeped in
to look at your picture. I'm sorry you
had to take 1t out of the kitchen. For,
although it's faded, it's very sweet"
Bridget smiled radiantly, her wrath
entirely appeased.
$50 it is. One look at it, Master
Raymond, makes me happy for the day.
But the mistress doesn't like it. So I
keep it out of sight,
II. know. The matters just stiff
necked Protestant. wish we-but
there, Til say no more" And he ran
off, whistling merry tune.
The next night Raymond was hot
and feverish. Greatly alarmed, his
mother made him go to bed early, and
sent for doctor. The following day
he was very ill, and for three long
weeks his life hung in the balance.
There were many up and downs.
Nature struggled against the fever.
He was one day better, another
worse, and when their hopes were
high, there would come a serious re-
lapse. Mrs. Deemster nursed the boy.
She could not afford a trained nurse,
and felt hopeless from the first. Her
SON would die. His doom was sealed.
And when Bridget told her to
pray-that God was good and would
surely help and comfort her-give
Raymond back his health and strength
even, if she begged Him to do so
whilst saying "Thy will be done"-she
turned a deaf ear, and went on in her
own wild way, refusing to pray, and
telling the girl to cease worrying her
with her nonsense.
But strong in her faith in Gods
goodness, Bridget prayed fervently.
Left alone with the boy, whilst the
mother took her needed rest, she
spent the time upon her knees, beg
ging the Sacred Heart of Jesus to
bring this boy back to Hfe-imploring
our Lady to help and pray for him.
"Thy will be done, dear Lord" she
would murmur. "But, If it is possible,
save Raymond, and with Thy grace
convert him and make him a Catho-
lic!"
And then one night, to her intense
joy, the lad opened his eyes and looked
at her. Softly sobbing, Bridget bent
over him and gave him drink. The
crisis was past. He was white and
weak, but completely conscious. She
knew now that he was out of danger.
Her heart throbbed gladly and she
gave thanks to God, blessing and prais-
ing Him from the bottom of her heart
For moment, she stood motionless
by the bedside, her hands clasped, her
soul absorbed in sweet thanksgiving.
Then, she turned, thinking she would
carry the good news to her heart-brok-
en- mistress. But, as she stepped
away, Raymond, in an almost inaudible
voice, whispered her name, and she