The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-05-31

AS N@A5AI sight Va IAV 04AAVA AAOA 4A
the distance. But there was no need
to tell the blind boy. He had heard
the tramp of the horses feet; he had
felt the approach of the crowd, even
before Benjamin had seen them, and
he drew closer to the big friend beside
him.
They are coming nearer said
BENJAMIN, and we are close beside
where He must pass. Kneel with me.
| think He cannot fail to see us, if
only He will look this way David
knelt and clasped his hands.
What if the soldiers should see US
first, Benjamin. he asked fearfully.
Do not be afraid. They are not
looking this way
Is He coming closer, Benjamin.
David asked again as the steps seemed
to draw even nearer and nearer.
Yes, He is close now answered
Benjamin, but his answer was drowned
in the shouts of the crowd.
"'Does He see us? Tell me-, and
David lifted an anxious face to Ben
iamin.
Yes, He comes nearer and near
err whispered the boy, and again the
shouts of the approaching crowd
filled the air. David shuddered. The
uproar frightened him and the heavy
tramp of horses hoofs shook the
ground where they knelt.
He comes, David And Benjamin
saw the great cross that weighted
down the Form of the silent Prisoner
almost to the ground.
He is here The shadow of His
cross is falling on our path-but hush,
He sees u.s. And Benjamin was
thankful in his heart that David's
eyes were held.
For a moment the little boys
heart beat fast and loud, but only for
a moment. Then great peace and
| joy, such as he had never felt, filled
all his being, for suddenly his eyes
were opened, as by a miracle the
crowd parted, and he looked into the
face of Christ
| Only a secondhand it was over
The crowd pressed closer, and He
could be seen no more. But neither
David nor Benjamin could speak, and
the eyes that had been blinded all his
little life by the Hand of God were
blinded now by the great tears that
welled up and flowed down his pale
cheeks. Benjamin, too, was sobbing
and trying to keep back the tears that
forced themselves into his own eyes.
For the NaZarene had looked at him
also, and suddenly a great longing had
filled the boys soul to run after Him,
to die with Him-but the thought of
the child at his side had held him. He
did not need to ask if the boy could
see. He knew that a look from the
eyes of the great Healer had dissi-
pated the darkness forever from Da-
vid's eyes. The sad procession had
passed on it's way, and now only the
distant cries of the soldiers could be
heard.
"'Come, little brother said Benja.
min. There was a peculiar tender.
ness in the word; he had never called
David this before, but the love felt
for him now was different love than
he had ever known.
Long they had -knelt;. but they
could not stay on under the spell
that seemed to hold them, and the
longing in the older boys heart could
| not be fulflled-not yet. He must
take the little boy back to his home
} time was passing, and that they had
come a long way. They must leave
; the hallowed spot.
40, Benjamin, what can l do?
could not thank Him, and how beau
, tiful He was! His face shone like
| the sun yonder, and there was a great
beautiful light all around Him. Ben
jamin started and looked quickly al
the boy, but he did not interrupt him
; "'He seemed to tell me that He
3 loved me, and His eyes seemed tt
: read all that had ever done of gooC
) or bad. How could He know me
, Benjamin.; if we could only follow
Him and help HIM!
But Benjamin was lost in thought
The boys words had told another
: miracle: His Face shone like sun
and there was great beautiful ligh
around Him-these were David's
; words; then the boys eyes had beer
spared the fearful sight that met hi!
own. What kindness! What tender
l ness! And Benjamin wondered which
: had been the greater miracle. No
i until long after did David know wha
he had been spared by the tender love
: of the Nazarene"
t The old monk paused. 'This wa.
| nearly sixty years ago, children, near
t ly sixty years ago." and he looked
) out over the distant hills towards Cal
vary, and his eyes were moist.
What a beautiful story, Father
! but what became of BENJAMIN? Die
he go back and follow our Lord
3 What did David's mother say?' the
children asked in chorus.
: 20, Davids mother cried for jo!
when she could look into her boy!
3 eyes at last and Benjamin's longing
, was fulfilled, for he gave his life fol
t His Master in the great arena Owe
4 there in Rome"
II wish l could have been David
. Is he still alive? He might be. Yol
: said it was nearly sixty years ago
e but he'd be very old, wouldn't he?"
S Eyes, very, very old, Daniel; wit
/. snow white hair"
S Have you ever seen him, Father