Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-30
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We were then crossing a wide, roll
ing plain that was almost destitute OF
trees and looked from the moving
| train. like green pillows of the sea
| with grass growing over them. Father
Dan was reading his breviary for the
following day, not knowing what he
| would have to do in it, when the sun
set in a great blaze of red beyond the
horizon, and then suddenly big
round black ball, like a captive bal
loon, seemed to rise in the midst of
the glory
called Father Dams attention to
this, and in moment ne was fear
fully excited
Don't worry, my child" he cried,
while tears of joy sprang to his eyes.
DO you know what that is? That's
the dome of ST Peters, Rome, my
child, Rome."
1t was o'clock when we arrived at
J our dest...~,on, and in the midst of a
| great confusion | walked by Father
| Dams side and held on to his vertical
| pocket, while he carried his own bag,
and a basket of mine, down the
| crowded platform to an open cab
| outside the station.
! Then Father Dan wiped his fore
| head with his print handkerchief and
| sat close up to him, and the driver
| cracked his long whip and shouted at
| the pedestrians while we ratified on
| and on over stony streets, which
| fountains that were lit up by a great
white light that was not moonlight
| and vet looked like it.
| But at last we stopped at little
| door of a big house which seemed to
stand, with a church beside it, on a
| high shelf overlooking the city, for |
could see many domes like that of st.
Peter lying below us.
The Reverend Mother.
A grill in the little door was first
opened and then a lady in a black
| habit. with black band round her
forehead and white bands down each
side of her face, opened the door
| when we had done so, she took us
down a long passage into a warm
room. where another lady, dressed in
the same way, only a little grander,
sat In big red armchair.
Father DAN who was still wearing
his knitted muffler, bowed very low
| to this lady, calling her the Reverend
| Mother Magdalene, and she answered
him in English, but with a funny
! sound which / afterWard knew to be a
! foreign accent
1 remember that | thought she was
very beautiful, nearly as beautiful
as my mother, and when Father Dan
told me to kiss her hand l did so,
and then she put me to sit in a chair
and looked at me-.
What Is her age?" she asked,
whereupon Father Dan said he
thought | would be that month,
which was right, being October.
Small, isn't she?"' said the lady,
and then Father Dan said something
about poor mamma which l can not
remember.
After that they talked about other
things, and / looked at the pictures
on the walls-pictures of saints and
Popes and, above all, a picture of
Jesus with His heart open in His
bosom.
The child will be hungry" said
the lady. she must have something
to eat before she goes to bed-the
other children have gone already"
Then she rang a hand bell, and
said:
ASK Sister Angela to come to me
Immediately"
A few minutes later Sister Angela
came into the room, and she was
quite young, almost a girl, with such
a sweet sad face that l loved her
instantly.
This is little Mary O'Neill. Take
Der to the refectory and give her
whatever she wants, and don't leave
her until she is quiet and comfort
able"
Very WELL Mother" said Sister
Angela. and taking my hand she
whispered: Come, Mary. you look
tired"
rose to go with her, but at the
same moment Father Dan rose, too.
| and heard him say he must lose no
time In finding a hotel, for the
bishop had given him only one day
to remain in Rome, and he had to
catch an early train home the follow
ing morning.
t. Rs Ho.3;.n.I r. -