The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-02-01
HER NEW YEARS BENSON.

Never before had that new sense of
loneliness so oppressed Kathleen Aus
tin as when, the morning after her sis
ter's departure, she knelt at early
Mass. She thought over many things.
1t was true that her sister and William
Morris had been married for over a
year, and, living in Boston, had just
returned from a visit to Baltimore and
home for the Christmas holidays.
Brothers-Kathleen had five of them,
but only this one sweet, slender, brown
eyed sister, whom she had always ar
IDENTIFY proclaimed her dearest friend
and companion until that day when
throne, had suddenly usurped her
rights. Kathleen never felt any real
animosity, nor could she feel any to-
wards one who loved her sister so de-
votedly. Ethel loves me as much
as she loves WILL" she said after the
marriage. "And even if she is far
from me, she is going to write to me
often, and will always be interested
in me and in my plans"
Ethel did indeed write, but the main
topic of the epistles was not Kathleen,
but Will. Dear, you do not know how
thoughtful and good Will is to me.
He looks so handsome in his new over
coat. +. Poor William has dreadful
cold. 1 am so worried about him.
made him stay in bed all day yester-
day. Write to Will, Kathleen. He
would prize a letter from you, DEAR
Thus gradually the truth was borne
in upon Kathleen's understanding that
though her sister still loved her, the
old order had changed, and that
EtheFs husband was now the sovereign
of Ethel's heart. Kathleen required a
whole year to open her eyes, and sc
it was that when the sisters came to
gether at Christmastide she found that
her sisters life was distinctly separ
ated from her own.
"Who is your best chum, Kathleen
Ethel asked her as she stood over hel
chair one evening in the library.
81 have none since you are gone
Ethel" answered her sister simply.
Eyes, indeed, am a deserter," re
piled Mrs. Morris, smiling, as she gath
cred up a stray lock of Kathleen's
golden hair, which had fallen dowr
over her blue eyes. "But, dear, there
used to be quite a number of nict
girls in our neighborhood. Can't you
choose friend from among them?"
"Oh, yes, Ethel, l suppose l could
I'll pick up some one by and by. But
you see, l measure them all by you
and every one of them falls short"
You have very poor measurement
to begin with, Kathleen. Take then
as you find them. Go out and be ;
friend, and then you will have one
Do not expect then to come pourini
in upon you, made according to al
your expectations. That is one thinI
you need sorely, Kitty, good, sin
cere friend. You are not your owl
bright self of year ago. believe it i
because you want friend. Our Lor
had. st. John, and the greatest saint
had their special friends, Gregory an
Basil, Ignatius and Francis Xavier, an
so many more. Pray, Kathleen, for
beautiful friendship like these, an
you will not be so lonesome and s
gloomy when it comes to YOU"
The last words of her sisters advic
required involuntarily to Kathleen a
she knelt at Mass that morning t
: possess another friend like Ethel-on
whose silent goodness had Away
, called forth the majesty of Gods Low
: in her own soul, This seemed impo
! sible, and yet it was for such frien
Kathleen prayed that morning.