The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-05-25
THE CATHOLIC BULLETIN, MAY IS, 1912

AA0 u11y lCoSG VI l6AI dAQ COlOT Uut
where were the cliffs? the little
cottage? his father? his mother? He
rubbed his eyes again-harder this
time. And then, for he was scarcely
more than babe after all, he began
to weep. 1t was growing chilly, too,
and he was hungry. He wanted his
mother. The thought of her remind
ed him to say his evening prayer. He
missed her prompting voice and was
afraid that he had dropped a word
or two here and there, but it was his
best Doubtless his good angel smiled
as he carried the childish petition
heavenward. Under his jersey John
junior wore a picture of that angel
friend, and he felt for it now that the
darkness was closing in.
II only he hadn't been so hungry!
A throbbing sound attracted his at
tention for moment and he stood up
and waved his little red cap as a
great liner passed by on her way to
the sunset. Someone on board shouted
and others ran to the side to see the
child adrift in his little boat and wav-
ing his cap at them. Then the throb-
bling engines went slowly, stopped, and
the huge monster lay quiescent on the
golden sea.
John stood looking wistfully. He
hadn't grasped the fact that they had
stopped and were coming for him until
he heard the soft dip of oars and saw
long dark boat slip from the shadow
on the farther side of the ship. 1t was
only few moments before he found
himself lifted into the boat and from it
to the big liner herself. The captain
and the doctor received him in state
as he was handed up the side and then
the engines throbbed again and the
child cried a little on DR.. Readys
shoulder and fell asleep.
The days passed quickly. At times
the little waif wept for his mother
and then the ships doctor would take
him in his arms and pace the deck,
grooming to him until he was pacified.
AS the weeks slipped by he began to be
reconciled to his surroundings, though
he never allowed any other than the
doctor to approach him Familiarity, and
before the return voyage was COM
pleted DR.. Ready had formally adopted
the boy.
''Pll take him home with me, sir"
he said to the captain: hell be a
companion for my poor little Harry.
They're nearly of an age" Captain
Bunting turned aside, for the tears
had gathered in his eyes as he thought
of DR.. Ready's last home coming, to a
blackened and charred ruin in which
his young wife had persisted, and their
only son had lost his sight. 1t may
be that the doctor OWNED the cap
tain's thought, for his own eyes filled
at the memory, and somehow their
hands met in a grip that was more
eloquent than any words could have
been.
Sorrows were multiplied for Johns
foster parent On their arrival in port
he was barely in time to kneel brok,
en-hearted by his little sons bed as
he breathed his last, with a parting
smile for the father he had scarcely
known. DR.. Ready chung to John even
| more after that. For year or two
he took him with him on his voyages;
| then he sent him to school,
The years sped along until it was
time for the lad to chose his path in
life. He had accompanied the good
doctor on one of his journeys in vaca
ton time. The sun was setting in q
very glory of crimson and gold Ct thei1
stern, for they were homeward bound
and they stood in silence for a few
moments watching the gorgeous spec
tacle. Then they began to pace the
deck again as men will when they
find their space limited. The boy
broke the silence. He was tall; {
little slight for his years, but supple
as young willow-tree.
Father" he said, you remember
the night you picked me up at sea
1t was such an evening as this, WASH
it," The doctor started.
iContinued on Page 6.)