The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-02-21

you going. IL 1t were not for that
husband of yours, I'd persuade you to
come to Malahide, take a nice little
cottage there, and be sewing woman
for the whole district. And, then,
there is another thing lowering her
voice., THAT poor little fellow in the
corner! Is it a hopeless case?"
For the first time Mrs. Patch broke
down. She pressed her hand over her
eyes.
Il don't know, ma'am, but I'm
afraid he'll not be long with us. And
this place where there is no fresh air
nor sun, is just KILN him, and he's
the only boy among them
Mrs. Moore kindly patted the thin,
worn hand.
would you be willing to part with
him for while, and give him chance
to get well?" she asked gently.
Mrs. Patch started and trembled,
and sat silent for few minutes, then
she looked up bravely.
do you mean that he ought to go
to the hospital, ma'am?" she asked
in low voice.
"Not to the ordinary big hospital"
answered Mrs. Moore, "but to a really
beautiful home for crippled children,
where they use all the wonderful
skill the doctors have nowadays to
cure their little patients. In the
meantime they make them so happy
and comfortable that they are almost
sorry to leave when they are well"
"Ah but is it take Micky they
would?" she said TREMENDOUSLY. "Sure,
though it'd break my heart to let
him go from me, couldn't stand in
the way of his chance of health"
1T is very hard indeed to get into
this place." observed Mrs. Moore.
"But, as it happens, we have right
to a bed there, as my husbands
mother was one of the founders. So
if you make up your mind to let
Micky go, he will easily be admit
ted"
"I'll do thankful whatever you
think is for the best ma'am. God
never sent me such kind friend be-
fore, and it'd be goin' against His
mercies to be refusin' to do what
ever you'd say"
"Now, Mrs. Patch" said the lady,
keep up your heart. I well know
that, to a mother, nothing seems so
hard as parting with a child; but try
to think that he will very likely come
back to you able to walk about and
to work for you. Let me know when
you are quite decided"
I'm decided now, ma'am," the
little woman said firmly. "And I'd
get frightened after you're gone, and
lose the only chance the child would
ever have. But will they let me see
him at all, at all?"
"You can see him as often as you
like" said Mrs. Moore "And do try
to look forward to the time when he
will be strong and we'll, and perhaps
great help to you. There is no
hope of that if he stays here"
mo, know that" Mrs. Patch said,
shaking her head mournfully $50 the
sooner he goes, the better, and may
God bless you for your charity to my
children, and grant you and yours a
happy and glorious reward! And,
ma'am," she added, following her bene-
factress to the door, eff there's any
fine SEWN you'd want done, in no
matter what hurry, just send it to
me, and I won't lay me head down till
I put the last stitch in it. No, no;
don't mean for pay. Oh, sure, haven't
you paid me over and over for all ]
could ever do for you? It's just the
way l was thinkin' I'd be able to do
some small little thing to oblige you
now and then, that would make me
feel easier, and you doin' such great
things for me. Now, I won't keep
you. Pray for you? Sure there's not
one of the name of Patch won't be
tellin' the Blessed Virgin and the holy
angels to watch over you every min
ute of the day and the night"
, When the month of May came
round, Mrs. Moore was again in town
for the great event of Maggie Patch's
First Communion; and she felt keen
throb of pleasure when she saw her
plus protegee go up to the altar
| neatly and prettily clad, her face
beaming with happiness, while all the
, Patch family looked on in rapture
from their places in the side aisle
: all except Micky, who was making
: such rapid strides toward complete
, cure at the Childrens Hospital that
} his joyful mother was already look
! ing forward to his homecoming, as
, she said herself walking on his feet. y
, Happy days had dawned for the
/ Patch family. Mrs. Moore had, as she
promised, found many people who
were glad to employ so faithful and
willing worker as little Mrs. Patch,
| who was of that bygone school that
: could never do enough for kind en-
{ ployers She and her family have
! moved into a neat little house in a
r nice, cheerful neighborhood, where
the children can play all day in the
: sunshine. And, most wonderful OF
and consequent happiness and com
. fort. To crafty her independent
spirit, Mrs. Moore had Mrs. Patch
down at her house in the country for
+ the autumn and spring house clean
ing.
/ Last but not least, Maggie Patch
l who, through her novena, was the
!, proximate cause of all this happiness