The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-11-07

Billy had taken himself away on Mr..
Martens arrival, but loyalty to her
mother kept Evelyn with her.
Katherine and Angela, coming home
from school, decided they must go in
and see Mr.. Marcy
Everybody came to our house when
gramma died." Katherine said.
Course they always do, there was
lots and lots came when our Willie
died, and he was just a boy" Angela
| answered
They never thought of asking per-
mission, going to see Mr.. Marcy had
been for so long a part of their daily
program. They had omitted the visit
| the day before because mamma had
said they were so busy over there, but
he funeral was tomorrow and they
wouldn't be home in time, so they
lad to go today. They talked it all
over and saw nothing else to be done.
They walked up the path very
| solemnly, holding tightly each others
hand
IF we cry it'll make 'em feel bad,
so we mustn't" Katherine whispered.
eyes," said Angela softly.
1t was Billy who saw them and an
swered their light tap on the door;
they did not wait to be asked in, but
stepped inside at once.
eve want to see him." Katherine
said.
Mrs. Marcy came hurriedly from
The sitting room. ooh, my dears," she
began, STOPPING to kiss the little girls,
I don't think you should-I-tell
hem, William, it isn't right for such
babies to see death, it might brighten
them"
eve came to see him." Katherine
repeated.
what shall l do?" Mrs. Marcy
wavered.
Mother think father would be
glad'-it was Evelyn who opened the
| parlor door.
Mrs. Marcy made way and the little
girls went in before her and the others
| followed. Evelyn led them to her
fathers side and showed them their
| medal pinned beneath his coat. They
| looked long and earnestly at their old
| friend. There we're no candles about
his coffin as there had been at Grand
ma Mahoney's and at Willie's; there
| was no crucifix or holy water as they
had; it was all quite different and the
little girls were sorry, but they did
not hesitate They knelt down close
| beside him and blessed themselves,
| and Angela began "Our Father" and
| Katherine whispered it with her, then
Hail Mary" each three times, and
finally Eternal rest grant him, o
Lord" MAY 'petual light shine on
him" MAY he rest in peace" just as
they said every night at home for
| grandma and Willie. Then Katherine
opened her eyes. We'll say his pray
err, too" said she, and together they
repeated, MARY, conceived without
sin, pray for us who have recourse to
thee" Again they crossed themselves,
| then rose and went soberly out.
They did not know that the first
real prayer Billy had ever said was
| The 20 my God!" that burst out with
4 sob as they closed the door; they
| did not know that the tears stream
ing from Evelyn's eyes meant the first
ray of comfort had reached her sorely
tried heart; they did not know that
| the bitterness that had held mother
and daughter apart for months melted
away in the sudden rush of tender
sympathy the sight of their simple
| faith invoked.
| Mrs. Mahoney was inclined to be
shocked when Katherine told her Of
their call. "Why, Katherine, honey,
you shouldn't have done it; they don't
do such things, l wonder what they
thought
WELL" said Katherine, pausing be-
tween bites of apple red and round
rs her cheeks, what else could you
do?"
"You did just right" put in Mr..
Mahoney, "and I'm proud of my baby,
so am" Katherine could not under
stand why, but she enjoyed being
picked UP and kissed, anyway.
| Mrs. Mahoney and Mrs. Doran went
over in the evening to say they hoped
the children had not disturbed any
one. 1t was quite a different family
that received them from the one they
had seen the day before, a gentler,
strong mother, a sad but comforted
daughter, and younger son who had
lost all his bravado and recklessness
and was both subdued and manly.
Dear friends" said Mrs. Marcy, 81
never in my life saw anything more
touching and beautiful than the little
girls praying there beside our dear
dead. They made me see that he was
ours still, ours as never before. r
want to know more of the religion
that makes such faith as that, and
you must help me, want it for N.Y.
self, and my daughter, and my son.
The children brought a benediction
to this house and l hope it may re-
main with us always.