The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-10-25

over JOnn stewart race as ne
listened, then slowly receded, leaving
him quite pale. II have never told
you, Ethel" he said little thickly,
"but III was raised Catholic"
joint" was all his wife had
strength to say.
ooh, l know your father would
turn over in his grave If he knew you
had married Catholic!" John said
little bitterly. "But don't look so
frightened" he added. 'The world
and it's money getting has too deep a
hold on me now for me to be anything
but the suave, gentlemanly money
grabber, you know so we'll" And
putting on his hat, John Stewart, rest
less, unhappy, dissatisfied with all the
world, but particularly with himself
stole off to his club.
The old friendly relation between
husband and wife seemed to have
vanished, and in it's place was one of
constraint.
The subject of religion was never
mentioned but each knew that it was
uppermost in the others thoughts.
Stewart entered heart and soul into
business, spending most of his spare
time at the club smoking long, black
cigars and frowning into space, while
his wife rushed feverishly from one
social function to another, finding no.
where the contentment she thought.
So Archie was left much alone with
his books, his pictures and his long,
long thoughts. Because of peculiar
delicacy, which had followed him from
babyhood, he did not attend school,
like other boys of his age, but had a
tutor for a few hours every day at his
own home.
cts a poor mite of a lonely lad he
u.s." thought Mamie, the parlor maid,
and in the kindness of her heart, in
spite of her many duties, found time
to amuse the lonely child, winning his
deep affection, and finally his con-
| fidence.
He had been looking forward eagerly
to Washington's birthday as day to
he marked with a white stone"
Mrs. Stewart had intended taking him
to a matinee where the life of
Washington was wildly portrayed in
very life-like moving pictures, but a
social engagement, which she remem-
bered at the last moment, prevented
her going. So Mamie was sent in
stead, and a very pleasant afternoon
it proved to her as well as her little
charge.
Upon their return home Archie
went to his room and stood for long
time before the fag-draped picture
of Washington. "You were a great
man." he said, addressing the picture,
'and this is your birthday"
He rememberd suddenly one day
when he had gone for walk with
Mamie how they had stopped at
church, and she had taken him in to
see the crib. He remembered, too,
that his mother was quite angry when
he told her about it. Mamie lit a
candle, and when he asked her why
she did it she replied: IN honor OF
our Lords birthday"
There was a box of Christmas
candles in his desk He would light
two candles and place them before
the picture.
There was only one candlestick on
the mantel, and that had been placed
there merely as an ornament. A
heavy, ornate affair, in which the
tiny pink candle wobbled foolishly;
but it burned bravely enough, and he
was content at least for a little
while.
While he stood gazing up at the
unchanging pictured face, a sudden
discomfort seized him; it was all SO
cold and $3.50 tame.
He wondered if he ought to kneel
down, but the thought of kneeling to
a mere creature was distasteful. He
sighed disappointedly. eff I only had
a picture of the Virgin" he thought
wistfully.
The candle suddenly sputtered, and
stopping to straighten it, the handker.
chief in his breast pocket came in
contact with the flame. 1t burst into
a blaze as he snatched it from his
pocket, and he stood holding it out
with both hands, not knowing what to
do with it.
Mamie! Nannie!" he called in a
terrified scream.
But it was his mother who came in
answer to his cry, snatching up rug
as she ran.
"My darling boy! What happened?'
she cried, holding him fast
"They light candles before the Vir
gins statue on her feast day." he
sobbed brokenly. 1--WE haven't any
Virgin or saints, so | lit candle
cause it's Washington's birthday, you
know, and
A muffled ejaculation from the door
way made them both start and turn
"You shall have a statue of the Mother
of God-and as many saints as you
wish" Mr.. Stewart said in low de
termined tone, striding forward and
taking the hand of his little son in
grip that hurt. Then, turning to his
wife, added, with look she had never
seen on his face before: Il am going
back to my Church, Ethel! My son
shall have his birthright Communion
on the same day."