The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-02-14
A MIDNIGHT DREAM.

In the vast solitudes OF the huge
bookcase all was silent. The algebra
was busily engaged in working a
knotty problem, which seemed to
fling defiance at that unfortunate
book, while the stately history, seated
on chalk box, deep in thought, seem
ed unconscious of all that passed about
it. The sleepy dictionary was doing
in the corner
Suddenly the Bible, King of all the
books, broke the silence. Friends"
said he, in a grave tone, did any of you
ever think of our Importance to man,
and all the influence for good or evil
we have over him."
Eyes, indeed" the Algebra replied,
laying aside his work, Il have often
thought of it. We are really very
powerful, it is true; but alas, how fire.
quently we sadly abuse that power.
Look at some of those books out in
the world destroying all that is good,
Astounding in all that is immoral and
degrading"
THAT is true" answered the Bible,
Like men, we can divide books into
two classes, the good and the bad"
''Yet it is different" said the His
tory, who had now joined in the con-
versation. Men can do much harm,
but we can do even more. Man may
kill thousands, he may torture his fell
lowmen; but what is bodily destruc-
ton? ''Tis the soul that evil books
often Destroy He spoke truly who
said, The pen is mightier than the
sword"
Indeed, but see here" said the Al
zebra angrily, according to you we
are all evildoers."
Fool" retorted the History, "are
you asleep? 1 said evil books, not
every book"
well, the words evil and every
might be confounded," said the Alge-
bra Grossly.
Whats all the fuss about" grum-
bled the Dictionary, sitting up and
rubbing it's eyes, "you are very noisy. y
The Bible solemnly turned his sad
eyes upon the sleepy one, and said,
"You should not sleep when others are
awake, it is not polite"
| The only response was grunt, as
the fat Dictionary rose to its feet, and
walked over to the group.
But, to return to our subject" said
the History when all was quiet, "Some
books are bad, some are good. Are
we responsible for ourselves?
NO." said the Dictionary, we Ger.
tainly are not; for we did not make
ourselves. Man made us, and is he
not responsible for the evil we do, or
the good we perform. Can we be pun
ished for the evil we do, when we are
instruments of higher power?"
Eyes, if we made ourselves to serve
a higher power" said the Bible.
"But we did not" said the Diction'
airy earnestly. Can we be punished
for doing what we cannot avoid?"
mo, indeed" said the Algebra
warmly. 1--WE cannot. You might as
we'll ask, can 1 live and not live?"
Then the Logic spoke up, "Yet we
do the HARM" said he, 81 know we
do"
THAT is, the evil books do the
HARM" replied the Algebra.
yet, even if they do the real harm
is not man to blame for bringing them
into existence?" said the Dictionary
quite true" replied the Bible
1--WE are all innocent then, are we
not?"
Certainly we are" they all replied
"Then we can all rest with easy
conscience" said the History.
"Of course" answered the Diction'
airy, with yawn, "let us retire"
+ very WE'LL" agreed the others.
Then they all fell asleep, assured
that their brethren could not be re-
sponsible for their evil deeds, as man
had made them to do evil or good, and
they could not change themselves.