The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-02-21
A Child's Novena

A Child's Novena
1t was a bleak, bitter morning, as
piercing as only an Irish day knows
how to be when contrary, with wind
blowing viciously from all four points
at once; and it caused little Mrs.
Moore, who was walking along a Dub
lin street, to shiver and draw her furs
more closely about her. She had
come into town for few days shop
ping; so, instead of going to Mass as
was her daily wont in her own parish
church, far out in the country close
by the sea, she was on her way to
one of these old gloomy Dublin
churches, that seem to have been
standing for centuries, and to be full
of whisperings about the people that
were brought there to be baptized,
and come there to be married, and
were again carried there to be buried.
Mrs. Moore was not thinking of
anything of this kind, only of how
glad she would be to escape from
the chill of the streets into the COM
Portable warmth of the church. Ar
rived there, she found herself the
only worshipper, as she was much too
early; so, selecting seat near the
radiator in front of the altar of the
Sacred Heart, she was just beginning
her Rosary, when the pattering steps
of children, evidently barefooted,
coming up the isle, attracted her at
tention. Presently they came into
view-two little girls, in miserably
thin clothing, and, as she had feared,
in their bare feet. They passed her
on their way to the altar; and she
had time to notice their pale little
faces, and the dark circles round
their pretty blue eyes.
Before kneeling down to pray, the
older sister carefully placed the
younger child close to the heater;
then herself went up the little steps
leading to the altar rail, and began
very earnest prayers to the Sacred
Heart, gazing up at the benignant
face above her, with pathetic look oil
entreaty.
Now, Mrs. Moore loved children;
but perhaps more particularly the
poor children, who ever seem tC
stand outside the gates of happiness;
and she felt that she should be very
very glad if Our Lord would answer
the little ones prayer.
What can it be she is asking fol-
so earnestly?" she thought II won
der if she would tell me if I were
to ask her?".
Hastily making up her mind as she
saw the children preparing to depart
Mrs. Moore left her place as they
came by.
"Are you on your way to SCHOOL,
she whispered, glancing at the books
they had with them.
Eyes, ma'am-to Our Lady of the
Rosary's School-the Dominican nuns
you know, ma'am. But it's come in
here we do every morning to say oul
prayers at the altar
aren't your feet dreadfully cold?'
Mrs. Moore asked, looking down at
the poor little feet
A faint flush crept up the child's
thin cheek, and she hung her head
well, they are, ma'am; and it's
glad we are sometimes to get in here
to warm them when they do be toe
bad. Some days Kathie cries with
the pain of them. I don't know what
to do with her before the other girls
though there's others as bad as our
selves"
Nov, have you far to go?"
"Oh, no, ma'am! The convent:
just across there; you'll see it from
the door. And Sister'd be glad il
you'd go in and see her any time
you'd be passin'. There's lots of la
dies do be comm in to see her.
will you tell Sister that I'll com,
to see her, after Mass?" said Mrs
Moore.
And the two girls battered dow
the aisle, unconscious of the CHART
able intentions filling "the strang,
lady's" head, and wofully distractin,
her during Mass.
At the convent, Mrs Moore was re
ceived very cordially by a beautiful
Whitehead nun, the Mother Superior
who was delighted at her interes
in the little pupils.
Eyes, indeed, l can tell you thei
simple history" she said smiling
First of all, their name is rather al
odd one-Patch These two littl,
girls are Maggie and Kathie. Oh, yes
their father is alive, but the common
story. He is an excellent bricklayer
and you know the wages such gel
nowadays. But-well, there's no use
dwelling on poor Patch's fai1ings
Mrs. Patch is splendid little hard
working woman, and has brought VI
her children wonderfully well. Mag
gle, the older girl, an example tt
the whole school She is a great
distress, poor child, as she is most
anxious to make her First Communion
| with the rest of her class, but hel