The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-03-15

the rOOI was the principal nVlng-rOOm,
and here under silken canopy his
son and daughter spent many delight
full hours together. Unlike similar
houses, however, there was steep
fight of stone steps leading directly
from the roof to the outer wall, where
a narrow slab swung outward, making
door practically invisible when
closed, and through which one could
quickly pass, avoiding the necessity
OF passing through the inner court and
general entrance door. Cyril, impa-
tient of delay, had taken this shorter
way to the street.
In imagination Miriam followed
them. What torment to be helpless
maiden! All, would / were boy!"
sighed she, as with tiny frown the
heap of silken cords were laid away in
the little carved chest at her feet.
Then she leaned her chin on her hand
and listened intently to the sounds
that became gradually louder and more
clear.
Her garment of pearl gray silk was
custom, in order to conceal the sad
deformities of NathanieTs motherless
daughter whose crooked spine and
helpless limbs had been, after the loss
of his beloved wife, her fathers stern
est trial. She was a lovely child, af-
fectionately grateful for the least
attentions, and her very loneliness had
made all the more bitter to his aching
heart the thought of her irreparable
affliction. Nothing had ever been
spared that love and pity could sug-
gest in any way to mitigate her suffer
ings or divert her mind from them.
Cyril, two years her senior, had al
tector and companion, and the selfish
impulses of boyhood gave generous
place in his heart to devotion to his
dear angel sister," And dear little
angel she looked, with the fair COM
plexion and pale golden curls that oc-
casionally occur among the brunette
type of people.
The tumult, every moment increas-
ing, could at length be more distinctly
heard. Words and syllables, here and
there, floated to the listening child.
Miriam's straining ears finally caught
shouts of "Hosanna!" "Hosannaw
''Hosanna to the Son of David" "Way
for the Nazarene!" Swiftly into her
memory surged the recollection of
many strange tales that Cyril had re-
counted some months previously; of
that Wonder Worker of Nazareth
whom some had received as the Mes
sias of Israel. His word had changed
water into wine, it was said, and He
had healed all who had called upon
Him. With sudden glad conviction
she cried half aloud, "He is the Mes
sias! and He is coming to His people"
Then with quick determination, 81
must see Him, and He will make me
straight and strong!"
Unable to stand, she slowly and
painfully worked herself over to the
edge of the stair which Cyril and Myra
had so lately descended eff I can
but see Him." painted the child. The
few minutes of her difficult journey
across the 1agstones of the roof
seemed hours to the weak and I'M
used muscles, and to the poor CULVER
ing spine, but at last she could look
down the steep flight of steps and see
the door in the street wall. JOY! It
was ajar! But how could she hope
to reach it? Descent alone could never
be attempted. Were all her efforts
to be useless?
"Myra! Cyril" she called. The
shouting and singing came to her more
clearly now. THE multitude must be
coming into the very street where
stands the house of Nathaniel, my
father" thought the trembling child.
Hurried feet passed the half-open door.
She called again, and again, and again,
but the faint musical tones were
drowned in the voice of the increasing
multitude without.
Tears of anguish and vexation
coursed down her flushed cheeks
Cruel! Cruel!" she sobbed piteously.
A shadow seemed to pause below.
Help! help!" screamed Miriam, in
desperation, Help, or 1 will throw
mySelG down!
The door swung wide and a wom-
an, closely yelled, peered in and up
at the little figure huddled above. With
word to her companions, the stran-
ger quickly assembled the steps and in
moment was bending over the tired
child.
What troubles thee, little one?"
spoke the sweetest voice that Miriam
had ever heard. The veil was put
aside, and the child looked into a pair
of wonderful eyes that seemed to read
her heart with tenderest sympathy.
Silently the slender arms reached out
and Miriam hid her face in the man
tie of her new found friend. ct is the
Nazarene!" she whispered, breathless-
ly, land oh, must see HIM"
"And why?" gravely questioned the
beautiful stranger. cyril says he
hath cured hundreds of cripples such
as I. And oh, would love Him so, if
He would only heal me, too! 1t is
so easy-He need but look upon the
afflicted and their infirmities are ban
ished away. He would help me surely,
if He knew! Oh, beseech thee, help
me to go to HIM" and the eyes of the
little one overlooked with tears.
Where is Cyril?" The gentle ques-
ton had an Immediately soothing eff
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