The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-03-22

friend, 81 think TIL stroll up to the
little church, and hear Pere Sabourin
preach, You will take charge here,
eh?"
"I'll run the ranch, old fellow. Say
prayer for yours truly" he said
sleepily, and rolled over in the big
chair and placed his feet more COM
fortably on the high box in front of
him. He had been only nine months
at Fort Stephen, and found it I'M
speakably dull; perhaps because all
his former life had been spent in a
lively Ontario town. John Eliot had
greater resources at home, within
himself, for he had spent three pleas
ant years in the solitary place, hunt
ing, reading, and, occasionally, think
ing seriously. This last fascinating
diversion was something in which
Ross MacFarlane did not indulge.
John went out. Yellow Dan, the
half-breed servant at the fort, was
busily wedding a patch of turnips in
the small garden. John crossed over
and looked on at his grubbing for a
moment.
what prospects for good garden
this year, DAM" he ask him kindly.
Dan Strengthened himself and rest
ed his elbow on the handle of the hoe
and looked wise
mot moche. Not plaintee rain; an
Madame Doge say frost come hearty
this year. But I doan' believe him"
he said jerkily, as he continued his
work "No, doan'. I laugh de way
dat woman talk about de wedher.
Smarte; yes, smarte! He tink he
know every ting. OATS fac"
John turned away smiling and
sauntered down to the river. There
was a shabby little foot-bridge built
over the shallow rapids down below
the Petite Chute. But John dropped
his canoe into the water, leaped in
and padded to the opposite side, land
ing among the dark-eyed little ones.
He followed an old cart-road that ran
past Benoit's house, and, as he came
up the hill, the slight breeze carried
the sound of Benoit's singing to him.
He softly entered the little cabin
which was for short while to be a
true House of God, consecrated by
Christ's Real Presence and the hum
BILE alteration of simple hearts. For
however cunning the Indian may try
to be in his worldly dealings, he pre-
sents himself before the Almighty
with the heart Of child. Does not
the Great Father read his every
thought? Then he will adore him un
reservedly and in all truth.
The old hunter, with the assistance
of Yellow Dams Indian wife, had put
his home in perfect order that all
things might be properly BETTING to
his Divine Guest. The hewn floor
and walls had been freshly cleaned
His bed of skins was rolled up in a
corner, where it served as couch for
an infant which a young squaw had
brought with her. The altar was a
long box that Benoit had got at the
fort. Year after year he kept it with
scrupulous care for this annual Eas-
ter Sacrifice alone And Martha
Dodge, strict Presbyterian as she was
had given white linen for it two years
before, which the wife of the stub.
bornly irreligious Dan kept in order
Benoit's nephew was acolyte. The
cabin was crowded. A. few young
braves knelt outside of the door and
by each of the two windows.
John stood leaning against the door
frame, and watched the Indians as
they knelt or stood initiating Benoit
in his place to the right of the altar
The Gospel read, Pere Sabourin re
moved his chasuble and began the in
structions of his beloved brethren Of
the forest The soft white alb showed
out the brown, weather-worn face
the shaggy iron-gray masses of hail
and sinewy brown hands folded meek
ly before him. The dark faces of his
kneeling brethren turned expectantly
toward him. He spoke in the, Algon
uuin tongue, with which John was
quite familiar, and not one of the
priests concise, expressive sentences
escaped him. Martha, whose sober
attire looked as much out of place
amid the red and blue skirts as &
blackbird at bluejay's frolic listened
reverently, although the language was
almost unintelligible to her.
III.
mi Nitchanis!" (My childrenD
The words fell tenderly upon the
religious silence.
"The greater Master has again sem
his servant to visit his children, thai
, they may not forget the love he sheds
always about them; and if any
among them have forgotten during
the long hunting months to keep hi:
word, they may become again his low
ing children, turning their ears from
the words of the Evil Spirit"
He told them what good works his
Divine Master would have his chill
dren do.
Sand you will do these things, my
friends. You will do them to please
the Great Father When you have
grieved the heart of your friends, yor
make a good act for him, that he
may smile on you again; you try
to make well once more the sick dos
that you loved in the chase. Yet your
friend has not always been kind tt
you; your dog has not always obeyeG