The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-01-04

Gu with IuS SCt0uC0 Vi tuG Natural HIS
tory of animals, plants, minerals but
not with anything concerning the Crea-
tor of them all. He had made rapid
progress thus far, in the School with
out God" The lesson of morality he
understood best, when he accompanied
his father to the theatre, especially
when very wicked plays were exhib-
tied. And now this child is so very
ILL.,
The physician too told the father,
that his little son should barely sur
vive until the next morning, when he
would "sink back into nothingness.
Both the father and mother are
standing at the bed and weeping as
such who have no hope. When the
mother beheld the condition of her
only child becoming worse, the fever
increasing, there suddenly awoke in
her soul remembrance of her lost
Faith, of the words her own pious
mother had spoken. With a flushed
counteanance she whispered softly to
her husband: How would it be if we
call a priest?" The husband shrugged
his shoulders, and pretended to leave
the room. And then the weak woman
became suddenly strong; through
Gods mercy; before the poor mother S
eyes arose the whole enormity of her
guilt, with which she had laden her.
SELF, she stands erect before her hus.
band, angrily clutching his arm, and
eXclaims: ''You may perish everlast.
ingly, if you so desire; but l do not
want to be forever lost with you; ]
will yet endeavor to save my child
and will not have him die without a
priest!"
The father was now also filled with
fear, and remorse; he felt that his
wife was right, but he said "But
think at least of our friends; we will
become quite ridiculous in their eyes!'
But the mother had left the bed, and
was quickly on her way to seek q
priest.
When the father perceived himself
alone he approached the bed and en-
deavored in vain to cheer and console
the child, for he too felt something
like the pangs of conscience, at sight
of the poor lads desolate condition
At last he stammered: my darling
have you no fear? Perhaps after al
there is another life awaiting us here
after-Pray-try to pray-to God!'
The boy was silent for an instant, his
wide-opened eyes rested upon his
father with penetrating and terrify
ing calmness and chillness Then he
said in weak voice: What is that
to pray?-You never taught me it,
You always told me not to perform
such nonsense, and not to go tt
church-Shall | now all of a sudden
do something like this ?'-And ther
the unhappy lad, although so very
weak and in deaths grasp, begar
mockingly to initiate praying and pious
gestures. The father now felt the
greatness of his crime still more
keenly and longed earnestly for hi:
wife to return with priest, but alsC
entertaining in his heart the after
thought, that before his friends hi
would place all the blame upon hi
wife.
The door opens, and the priest en-
tiers hastily but quietly, urged on b!
the trembling mother, who is saying
in evident anguish: Hasten, oil
hasten!" The priest approaches thu
bed, but no sooner does the dying chile
child cast his glance upon him thai
ne screams: "Here comes the ravel
that wants to devour mel" (Corbeau
meaning raven, is an insulting appella
ton given to the priest in France b,
goddess freethinkers.) Then the un
fortunate child shudderingly hid it
little blond head in the pillows and
was dead.