The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-09-13

Win the n6lD OF ITlenuS ana wealthy
aunt 1t was finally decided that George
should continue his studies. How
the heart of bis good mother beat with
hope and pride on that raw Sep
tember morning, when she saw her
only son climb into the heavy train
that was to rush him to his future
home the college.
George showed great zeal and dill
gence in his studies and his progress
was rapid. His conduct also was ex-
emplary, so that the professors had
but words of praise for him. When
vacation arrived, he returned home
to his good mother and sister. AL
ways bright and jovial, he was the
source of great joy and consolation for
them. The new school year set in,
and George returned to his Alma
Mater Thus the happy days of col
lege life sped by: all seemed to tend
towards successful issue. After
finishing his college course our young
graduate begged to be sent to Europe
to complete his studies at a univer
sity. This sent pang through the
heart of his good mother. To be sep
arated from her boy so long, to have
him in strange country surrounded
by new dangers above all, to fear
lest he suffer shipwreck in his holy
faith, caused her unspeakable dread.
But in the end she consented, trust
ing that her dear boy was good and
pious, strong enough to face the dan
gers Besides she commended him
and his holy Faith entirely to the
Blessed Virgin Mary. Often, after he
had left, she would kneel before the
statue of our Heavenly Queen and
pray and weep for her boy all alone
beyond the mighty waters.
Meanwhile George discovered that
the spirit which pervaded the univer
sity halls differed vastly from the
true Catholic spirit of his Alma Mater.
Never was mention made of his holy
Catholic Faith or of Christian prin-
ciples; on the contrary, remarks were
only too frequently passed, which
ridiculed all religion and morality as
something out of date-superfluous in
the enlightened sanctum of the uni
versity. At first these remarks on
the part of the professors and frivol-
Gus students provoked our young
Catholic friend. Why should they
speak thus of holy religion? BY and
by however, he grew accustomed to
these remarks, so that he no longer
paid any heed to them. Nay, he even
came to the conclusion that it was
perhaps better that affairs be carried
on in the university in such a manner
1t was only furthering the cause of
science. 1t was not long before he be-
gan to find delight in the witty re-
marks of his fellow-students and soon
be even entertained grave doubts re-
garding his holy Faith. He had been
careless in attending holy Mass and
receiving the Sacramento, but now he
considered these sacred duties en-
tirely superf1uous. The other young
men did not bother about these trifes,
why should he? He was now uni
versity student. The life he led was
quite in conformity with these un-
C41 1OLAOn AO 0OCIOty VI
bad associates corrupted his moral
character.
Meanwhile, his good mother had
died. This was severe blow for our
hayward student. The thought of
the happy hours spent at her side
when an innocent child, the image of
her loving countenance, the scene of
departure when she kissed him good
bye for the last time in the doorway
of the old home,-this completely
overwhelmed him with sadness. He
threw himself on his little cot and
wept like a child. But, strange to
say, the society of the students soon
dispelled his sadness. In the theatres
and places of amusement the image
of mother and home gradually van
ished.
About this time a peculiar change
came over our young friend. A NOR
bid, sickly feeling seemed to hold him
in its iron grip; his pleasure trips
with his fellow-students grew less fire.
quent, he preferred to spend his lei
sure hours at home. A doctor was con-
suited and then and there the terri
BILE truth dawned upon him: he was
victim of consumption. A change
of climate was peremptory; all
thought of continuing his course was
out of the question, his career as uni
versity student was at an end. He
determined therefore to return home
and pass his remaining days with his
sister. It was happy greeting when
brother and sister met. But what a
change had come over George! He
was no longer the bright, cheerful
brother of yore. Formerly he took
great pride in accompanying his sister
Helen to church-now he preferred to
stay at home with his books, alleging
that the walk to church was too irk-
some, the air in church too sitting,
etc. Meanwhile his condition grew
worse. A sudden hemorrhage increas-
FED the anxiety of Helen to such an ex-
tent that she determined to send for
the priest. But George would know
nothing of this and absolutely refused
to admit the pastor. What a blow for
| his good sister, How her heart ached