The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-07-25

But they won't make them terribly
religious, will they?' asked the
mother.
Don't bother, Jessie, about that,
laughed her husband. "The Prior
asked if we would rather that they did
not attend the prayers and religious in
struction, and l said, No, let them do
as the Others / hate singularity in
boys school; it makes them priggish,
think. All they hear will, expect,
go in at one ear and out at the other.
They won't hear anything to hurt
them, and if some sticks it won't mat
ter"
So the boys became day scholars at
the Abbey School: walk OF two miles
uphill every morning did much to IN
crease their physical strength, and the
parents soon observed that they were
making good progress in their studies,
and that their characters were being
drawn out and formed.
Little Merrylegs soon became IA
vorite both with masters and boys, his
straightforward fearless character
made him many friends. He often
surprised his parents by the serious
turn of his inquiries about different
things One evening, having tired
himself out by rushing about, he was
sitting on low stool by his mothers
chair. After gazing into the fire for
some time, he said suddenly:
| Mother, do you know the Hail
Nary"
mo, Cyril, indeed / DON'T" she an
swered
well, Mother, it's prayer they
say at school. I'll say it to you, and
slowly and distinctly the child repeat
| ed the words. That's good prayer,
| isn't it, Mother? / think it's awfully
nice to know we have two Mothers,
one in Heaven and one here" and he
laid his little curly head down on his
mothers lap.
81 think I shall teach Dodo that
prayer; she is too tiny to understand,
but would explain it to her.
ooh, yes said his mother smiling,
"she will be sure to understand if you
explain it."
If Merrylegs had one devotion in the
world it was for bis little sister. He
considered himself her guide and
| friend, taking her under his especial
protection, and always treating her in
the most chivalrous manner. Although
full of life and sometimes mischief,
Mrs. Hamilton knew that Dodo was al
ways safe with her brother, but she
| trembled for the ornaments in the
room when she saw the boy rush in
from school and make a leap onto her
lap with perfect disregard for chairs
or footstools which might be in the
way. After settling to teach Dodo the
prayer, Merrylegs continued:
eff you don't know the Hail Mary,
tell me a story about a lion, who ran
and ran after a savage and nearly kill
ed him.
Mrs. Hamilton, who was good hand
at telling amusing stories, complied
with the request, and everything eX-
cepting wonderful adventures seemed
quite forgotten by the boy.
AS a rule DIR. Frank motored to
most of his distant patients, but on
one occasion, as the car was under
repair, he decided to walk as he was
most anxious to visit on that day a
i shepherd who lived on the side of a
hill at some distance from the town
On arriving he found the poor man
very i'll with serious attack of the
heart, and the good doctor stayed for
long time at the cottage helping the
wife to apply the remedies.
Am | very bad, sir?" asked the old
man. "Don't be afraid to tell me; for
we Catholics like to know if there is
any danger, so that we may send for
a priest"
"WeIl, Donald" the doctor said
kindly, "you are very i'll, but you may
pull through"
aye, aye, sir! / guessed as much
went to confession about three
weeks past, but when one is going to
die one likes right clear conscience =
yer right there, man." joined in the
wife, "the best of us can't be too pre-
pared I'll go right straight away to
the Abbey; if | put a drink on the
chair alongside, do you think you'll
take any hurt till | get back? I'll be
as sharp as / can. You see, sir, there's
no folks nearer than a mile. and I'm
afraid to bide till the morning, in case
he took worse in the night; and ther
I'd never forgive myself"
The doctor looked at the frail WON
an, who was almost worn out with
working in the day and sitting UP a.
night, and patting her kindly on the
shoulder, said:
you'll do no such thing; shall &c
for the priest myself"
Nay, nay, sir; it's a matter of two
miles out of your way home, and you
look dead beat now"
Never mind how | look. Good-bye
Donald he said, shaking hands will
the old man. Your good priest vii
soon be here"
May God Almighty bless you, sir,
replied the sick man, "and no fear bu
He will, for no one ever yet fetched
the priest to a dying man but had hi;
reward"
The doctor called at the Abbey, anC
as speedily as possible the priest ar
rived at the humble cottage of the
shepherd, and before dawn the soul Of
81