The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-12-27

none OIn0r imam LIT. ClyQ6. he was
CHASTITY pale. On seeing the child
unframed. though crying bitterly he
took the little one in his arms and
tried to soothe her. my basket, my
basket" she cried with many sobs
and tears, and she was only appeased
when the treasured basket was placed
before her. Satisfied that the child
had not received any injury, DR.. Clyde
offered to take her home, but Mag
gle would not hear this. Being
summoned on an urgent call, DR..
Clyde could not tarry longer; so he
drew bright coin from his pocket,
and pressed it into the child's hand
She thanked him heartily for it. Hav-
ing enquired where she lived, etc., the
doctor left, saying, Tell mamma, I'll
fix that basket all right" The crowd
dispersed, and Maggie, basket in hand,
resumed her journey. But whittier?
Was it the joy of possessing a whole
dollar, or the confusion of the scene
that turned the child from her direct
course on Main Street? She crossed
the street, indeed, but to the west,
and was now tripping along on Clin-
ton Street She would never reach
the store by this route. On, on she
fastened through the dismal night.
| Crossing after crossing came, but no
viaduct. The stores no longer cast
their cheerful light upon the slippery
pavement, the people had all vanished
as if suddenly, and Maggie found her
self alone in strange, unfrequented
street, her sole companions being the
bowling wind and the biting cold
] Maggie was lost. Her heart beat
nervously. She looked about-all was
lonely and dark. Remembering with
what confidence her pious mother had
taught her to have recourse to the
Blessed Virgin in all Affections she
put down her basket, folded her little
hands in prayer, and said, ooh dear
Blessed Virgin, help me find my way.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord"
Suddenly, boisterous voices broke upon
the lonely night. Maggie cut short
her prayer, and ran in the direc-
ton whence the voices seemed to
proceed. But the scene she witnessed
when turning the corner, made her
shrink aghast. Before the entrance
of saloon, two men were engaged
in vicious fight; they unchanged
blows, clinched and finally rolled in a
heap against row of kegs. Maggie
was turning to fee, when she was
seized with a sudden terror that fixed
her to the spot. One of the men
struggling on his back had raised his
head in an effort to free himself, when
the glare of the light from the saloon
revealed his face to Maggie. She
knew the features only too we'll They
were those of her long-lost father!
Papa, papa" she shr1eked, and in an
instant the little tot was on the scene.
Frantic with grief at the sight of the
injury inflicted on her papa, she seized
his assailant by the coat as she
screamed; Leave my papa go! Leave
my papa go!"
The youthful apparition cast sud-
den spell over the combatants; all
courage and strength seemed to for
sake them. The bout was ended.
Maggie, overjoyed to see her long-lost
papa again, threw her arms about his
neck. He was bleeding at the lips.
With gentle touch she tried to staunch
the blood with her handkerchief
Poor papa" she faltered, "why did
that nasty man hurt your" But papa
did not answer. He was is if dazed; ;
the shock had completely unnerved
him. Papa" she called again. At
length rising to his feet, he found
himself alone in the dismal night,
with the little fairy In silent won
der he gazed down upon her, then
STOPPING, took her in his arms.
Maggie" he murmered as he pressed
her little cheek to his, Maggie, my
little pet"-and for the first time in
years, heavy tears began to glisten
in his eyes.
Papa, won't you take me home?
she begged, as she frightened her hold
about his neck.
'Home-home?" he said in broken
tones. Tell me first, dearie, what
: brought you out here"
; Mamma sent me to the store, and
CuSu d DlS duIOLuODI0 came anu al
most knocked me over and my basket
fell all over the mud"
your basket? Is that it over
there?" he said pointing to an object
before the saloon.
ooh yes, papa" and she tried to
wiggle herself from his arms to fetch
it.
Never mind, my child; stay here.
What have you in that basket?"
Things for mamma: waists and
shirts handkerchiefs and"
did mamma make them?" he in
terposed.
eyes," she replied with seeming
ly great Importance; mamma made
them. Oh, she works so hard, papa
till way late at night, sometimes. She
sews and sews. But now Jack is
sick, and / had to go to the store
with the sewing to get some money
''Some money" he muttered, "some
money! Ha, George Bryston, what
hove Won donoI Whof hos nocooSeoI