The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-02-01
ONLY A NUN!

At last we were on board! We had
come down from Rome in the swelter-
ing heat, the train had been-well, all
that an Italian train can be! Our
companions had been-well, all they
should not be, and we ourselves were
feeling very much under the weather.
However here we were on board.
There was Vesuvius looking down on
us. There was Bella Napoli spread
out like a panorama before us and,
last but not least, all-positively all
our traps were on board. And-a
further source of relief-the last tips
had been paid-or at least so we
thought! 1t was a comfort to stretch
in a deck-chair and look at ones fell
low-passengers and speculate who they
were. 1t was nice to see other new
corners who thought we were old-com-
ers and who gazed shyly at us and
possibly even respectfully. Now we
thought, we can be at peace. No
more changes. No more red tape. No
more appeals to our pockets. Provi-
dence, we thought, has been benign
and we now take our ease. But folks
talk deal about Providence" as Mrs.
Green sagely remarked 'but there is
One above as will keep an eye upon
him." And our fate was rapidly
approaching.
Il say, you fellows! Just look
here!" called an excited young man
who was leaning over the rail and
who had hitherto occupied himself in
splitting at the diving boys, Gust look
here!" he cried, ''Who the deuce can
these be coming up the gangway?"
In spite of our fatigue we had to go
and look, for his excitement, begotten
of long weeks at sea, was infectious.
We peered over, only to discover two
nuns making their way laboriously up
the gangway They wore the incon-
gruous garment which they call a
habit. Shapeless it was, of course.
Seemingly it was a matter of indif-
ference into which end you crept in
the morning, you only had to tie a
belt round-and there you were! The
two Sisters came up escorted by two
swarthy ruffians who however treated
them with the EXTREMIST Difference
and deposited their ungainly bags and
two Notwithstanding baskets on the
deck beside them. The Sisters dis
missed them with a smile and then
quietly proceeded to walk along the
deck.
Eye gods!" said the young man
who had been so excited at their ar
rival, "are we going to have them as
passengers"
How strange it is, could not help
thinking to myself, that because a
person becomes a nun some people
seem to forget that she still remains
a woman and a lady! Yet so it is.
The whole ship seemed to stare at
them, except perhaps the crew, they
went about their ordinary avocations
just as usual.
The strange couple came along the
deck and then a curious thing hap
pened. Every body stared but no one
looked twice A lady put up her
monocle but it fell aimlessly to her
side and she appeared to be interested
in something on the top of Vesuvius
Even the young man seemed awed
He muttered something which sounded
like Good Lord" under his breath
But he could not face them, he looked
over the side till he thought they had
passed! The Sisters were the masters
or should l say the mistresses?-
of the situation.
And then something happened
which was still more strange. They
went up quite simply to the various
groups and said something in a low
voice And a hush seemed to fall on
the boat Some members of the
groups walked away in a great hurry