The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-09-07
CONTINUED from Page 81
A SISTERS LOVE.

know that she hurt her back fifteen
years ago, and is crippled ever since?
Don't you know that she cannot move
out of bed, but suffers terrible agony
of the nerves and muscles? And don't
you know she lies there, sweet and
patient, offering it all for Charlie,
begging the Lord to bring him back
to the Church of his boyhood?"
"She suffers that way?" said the
man. God help me! She was the
most innocent girl that ever lived, and
you say that she has been suffering
fifteen years for me? O, Bessie, my
little sister, said the poor fellow,
tears rushing to his eyes.
The nun soothed him.
Because she loves you so much
she begged God not to let her die, but
to increase her pains, to expiate your
faults and to bring you back to the
Church"
''Faults!" he cried SISTER, they
are crimes! Crimes for twenty years.
have led wild life. l have never
thought of God except to curse His
name, but now l feel as if my heart
was broken. Can l see priest?''
Indeed you can," said the nun;
'and oh, how you should thank this
dear sister for this grace. Be COM
forted, and we will send a priest here
at once. Let me place this Sacred
Heart badge on your poor heart and
we will go home to our convent and
all the Sisters will pray for you and
we will write to Bessie"
He held the Sisters hand as she
rose to go after fervent prayer at
his bedside. Then promising to re-
turn next day, the Sisters left Before
leaving the hospital they called up to
telephone one of the Fathers of a
neighboring monastery, who promised
to go at once to the patient
Late that evening the telephone
rang The Father, who had gone to
the hospital, wished to tell the Sisters
that poor Charlie was a most sincere
penitent. He had made his confession,
received the sacraments, and was
waiting serene and happy for death.
He begged the father to ask the nuns
W ACIuAA' 4AOAC wax JOy Ill ACdFOA
and earth that night for the sinners
return to God.
Early next morning the Sisters went
to the hospital. Charlie was still liv-
ing, but fast approaching the dark
river whence those who embark never
return. He smiled family, and laid
his hand on the little badge of the
Sacred Heart, and then whispered:
Tell Bessie it was her prayers. Tell
her I felt she was praying for me, and
tell her l die happy, a penitent Catho-
lie"
The Sister gave him her crucifix;
he looked long. at it, and held it tight
ly. After the prayers for the dying
were said the Sisters returned home
to pray.
At noon the message came from the
priest: Charlie died at eleven o'clock.
I was with him and gave him the last
dissolution. He was conscious, and
said to me, Tt was Bessie's prayers;
tell her I died happy"
l found myself absorbed in the
closely written pages of this long let
ter, and when the superior came into
the room I did not hear her.
Father Alexander, Bessie knows it
ALL I told her what was in that letter,
and she is as radiant as an angel;
won't you go to her, Father? She
wept with joy and excitement, but she
is calm now"
I went to Bessie's bedside. It was
true. Her face was angelic, her soft,
dark eyes were full of heavenly light,
and her delicate face was rosy with
JOY I never saw face more beauti-
ful-she seemed more of heaven than
of earth.
ooh, Father Alexander" she cried;
: God has been so good to me. Charlie
has come back, and we will both be
home together Father she said
! solemnly. 81 have nothing more to do