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

EN-" ME- VII
"And then, last Wednesday" con-
tinued Father Rose, ignoring the last
remark, you broke up the choir re-
hearsal by rushing in and beginning
a fight, a regular fist-fght, with An
drew Mccarthy
'.He licked my dog" said Tommy
def1antly; "n I told him I'd pay him
for it, first chance got
Tommy, are you trying to make
my. life here as hard as possible?"
Tommy looked up quickly.
"You know, Tommy, that l nave
only been ordained six months, and
this is, my first experience. Priests
are promoted, as well as other PEG.
pie in other positions; but what
chance have got for promotion II
can not do any better than that with
you boys; and if / can not contro!
you children, how can hope to 1nf1u-
ence the older people?"
ct isn't you, Father" said Tommy,
trying to wink away the rising tears,
ooh, yes, Tommy, the fault must
be with me! In some way | nave
failed to impress you boys with a
;crge of right and wrong; l haven't
been particular enough with you, and
I've been careless"
ooh, no, you haven't, you haven't,
and Tommy's head went down with
a burst of sobs. Don't say any more
don't-and I'll be good all the time
1 Wilt Will" i,
"Al1 right, Tommy" said the priest,
stroking the bushy head consolingly,
We'll begin all over again, shall we!
And if we forget once or twice, we
won't let ft discourage us, but we'll
keep right on trying, until at last we
will grow to be a good, strong, pure
man, one that people will be proud
to claim friendship with"
Zone like you Father cried Tom
my, grasping the kind hand in both
of his.
"Take One higher than me for your
model, Tommy" first the priest, smil-
ing. And now you may go; your
playmatesA are perhaps waiting for
you; but remember what l have said,
won't your"
Il will, sFather; l will" said Tom
my, making dash for the door, but
some impulse stopped him and made
him come back, and taking the
priests hand in his, he pressed a
Kiss on it and said, "Good-by, Father
But the boys were not waiting for
Tommy. He /, looked through the
bushes and in every nook and corner
to make sure that they were not hid
ing from him, and then, convinced
that they were not near, he strolled
over to the big meadow where they
sometimes met t. play ball. But
they were not there, either; and
Tommy felt too tired to look farther.
He threw himself down on pile of
soft, understanding hay and stared
up at the sky
wonder what | can do now?" he
said aloud Il think they might 90
waited for me, but long as they
didn't, | s'pose I've got to do some
thing. Oh, l know, III study my
catechism for next Sunday. It's a
whole week away, but I'll do it now,
n then III be- sure of it. Might fer
git it if let it go till the last of the
week." And he pulled the little book
from his pocket and began to repeat
the sentences with remarkable
energy.
But, alas, for Tommy's good inten-
tions! The hay was so soft and com
and balmy, and the lesson was so
dry, and Tommy was so tired, that in
less than five minutes he was fast
asleep.
He was awakened three hours, later
by perfect bedlam of noise. Bells
we're Changing, horses neighing, peo-
pie were. shouting, and the place
seemed to be filled with every kind
of confusion and disorder.
Tommy sat up and rubbed his eyes
and looked around. The sun was
Just setting, but what was that lurid
glow in the eastern sky?
How funny" he though, still half
dazed;4 the sun never set there be
FORE; Two men passed in carriage,
and, catching sight of the sleepy lit
tie boy, shouted, Come on to the
fire, sonny"
what fire." asked Tommy, awake
| in an instant.
THE Catholic Church," called the
men, almost out of hearing.
The Catholic Church! Tommy was
on his feet in a twinkling and was
flying through the meadow like a
small whirlWind, but, oh, how slow a
pace it seemed to him! Would he
never get there? The distance never
seemed SO long before; Tommy
breath was coming in gasps and a
mist rose before his eyes, but he
shut his teeth and kept on brayely.