The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-10-31


a moment, and plunged in fiery zig
zags to the earth. Peal followed peal
in quick succession. A merciless rain
came down in heavy sheets. Her son
was out and he was only child.
Hatless and coatless. she rushed into
the crashing storm. The vivid flashes
lstruck terror in her soul, but love
flor her boy overcame her fear.
With quick steps she reached the
little stone bridge where her child
had gone. There was no trace of
him. She called to him, but no an
sWering cry came through the storm
A new terror entered her heart. The
water of the, little river ran turbid
land yellow, in cruel sWirls and CUR
Cling eddies; an angry flood had come
down the side Of Sieve Roe. For a
moment she stood fascinated, watch
ing the heavy raindrops lash the wa
ter into foam. With a moan she
rushed along to Poul ma Marb, eager
| ly scanning the Drinks of the river
for trace of her son. The lightning
blaZed, as she raced madly UPWARDS;
the thunder came in quick, sharp
cracks, like the crack of mighty
Whip-lash in a giants hand, then died
away in dull rumble. She no longer
| feared the storm. Wild-eyed, her hair
hanging in wet wisps behind her, she
ran. Her prayers, her screams rang
out above the storm.
'@My boy! my boy! My little lamb!
Oh, God give him back to mel"
9Pateen, Pateen, where are you
Come to me,'' she screamed, but only
the lightning flashed, the thunder
pealed, and the heavy rain fell in
thick sheets.
Long Pat, sitting by the fire, heard
the cries. He came to her.
Whats wrong, Honor?" he asked
my little boy, my little lamb" she
moaned Il can't find him. He's gone
Will you help me look for him?''
He tried to say some words Of com
fort, faltered, was silent. No words
of his were OF any avail against the
madness of fear and despair in the
mothers, heart Three, four others
joined them, and they continued the
search. At last they stumbled across
the little fellow, lying, with fishing
rod clutched tightly in his hand, where
he had been struck as he tried tt
reach home. His clothes crumble(
at their touch. Honor threw herself
on her knees beside him, covered his
face with kisses, clasped him tightly
to her breast, and, pushing the hail
l.back from his forehead, looked Ions
. and eagerly into his eyes for sign O
recognition. He was deaf to her low
ing words. Slowly she realized tht
meaning of the blackened face, ant
staring, wide-open eyes.
He was not quite dead. There wa:
faint pulsation of the heart. The!
hurried homeWards They would have
carried the little fellow, but she pu
them aside, clutching him tightly t.
: her breast 1t was quiet procession
that went to the little house with thu
UNCOVERED gables. These strong men
who were so gay and light-hearted
felt the presence of death, and recOg
! nlZlnS Lle WGlSnL Oh lnOIlloT Sol
row, walked Silently behind her.
He. was laid on his little white bed
. A faint twitching Of the eyelid al
almost imperceptible fluttering of tn,
) heart, was ais that told he yet lived
} The doctor who came gave no hop,
Of recovery. 70
as there no chance?" Honor whis
pered.
No." he answered, tears springin!
into his eyes, for he knew the sad
ness that an empty cot brings.
The storm passed as quickly as i
: came. The sun shone out in full
glory again from a cloudless sky. Thu
) birds sang in Joy around the house
The refreshed grass and leaves ant
flowers lifted up their heads in thanks
giving for the benefcent rain. Ma
, ture was now happier than it hat
been in the morning. But the hear
1of Honor Casey was heavy. The SUI
might shine, the birds might sing
: Joy could enter her heart again. Sh
! sat by the bedside of her only child
r whose death might any moment come
her drenched hair hanging on he
shoulders, her soaking clothes cling
| ing to her body, her face white as thu
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