The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-03-28
"AND THE LIGHT CAME"

L1CLl0 JOSl0 D0luOu Was EGSl1uS Gull"
fortably in her invalid chair. Her
oval face was very thin and constant
illness had kept the roses from her
cheeks, but the large blue eyes twin
killed. with happiness and the mouth
was curved into smile. Josie was
eight years old and had been an or
phan since infancy. When about
three years old she had become Grip
pied from fall, and since the acct
dent she had been at st. AIMS Hos
pital. Her sweetness and simplicity
had won the hearts of the Sisters and
even famous DR.. Harrat, the house
physician was her willing captive. 1t
was about three o'clock and DR.. Har
rat would soon arrive for his weekly
visit. Yes, he was coming at that
very moment for she could hear his
firm foot falls resounding through
the corridors.
"Well, how is little Josie, today?"
he inquired as he approached her
chair. IT am very well, doctor, but
has the Light Gomez" Simple question
though it was it contained deep
hidden thought; for kind generous DR..
Harrat was an atheist, and Josie was
daily praying to Mary for his CONVEX
sion. Each time, he visited Josie the
interrogation was repeated just as
hopefully as on the first occasion it
had been asked. But again DR.. Har-
rat answered in the negative. To him
God was still myth. The converse
ton then assumed another strain and
DR.. Harrat began his examination. He
tested her heart, then her pulse. A
cloud fell over his features as he OBJ
served that the breath was shorter,
the pulse quicker than on the pre-
vious examination. He was troubled,
distressing emotion overpowered
him when he thought that the candle
of Josie's life might flicker out and
that he would no longer be able to
listen to the grave, yet simple ques-
ton, "Has the Light Gomez" How
ever he bid Josie adieu cheerfully and
continued his duties at the hospital.
After he had gone, Josie clasped her
thin little hands on her breast and
prayed: Dear Mother Mary, send it,
oh, please send it." The heart of
Mary must have wrung with sorrow
as she heard the entreating praper
of the orphan child, for Divine Provi-
dence had ordained that the answer
to Josie's prayer be withheld for a
short time
Seated before the grate-f1re that
night, DR.. Harrat meditated. Oh! that
he could answer Josie's question truth,
fully, that he could once say, eyes
Josie, it has come" Grace strove
valiantly to gain entrance to DR.. Har
rats heart that night, but paganism
was deeply rooted. AS DR.. Harrats
thoughts were thus centered on the
cheerful, little cripple an inspiration
came to him. Should he operate and
thus make last effort to save little
Josie? But the risk, the terrible risk
entailed by so doing, Josies life would
be placed in his own hands. Had he
the courage? At last, he decided
Yes, he would take the chance and
trust to. 49,. whom? No, there was
no one to trust in, the issue depended
solely upon his own skill. He had ne
Virgin Mother to confide in, for he
was not possessed of the ideas o.
Josie. He was an atheist. To him
there was no God, no soul.
The morning of the operation ar
rived. Josie knew that her existence
depended upon a thread and she real
lied that if the operation failed she
would go to Jesus and Mary.
AS the crucial moment drew near
that his utmost skill must be brough
into play; he became nervous and ex
cited. His courage failed him, hi
hand trembled violently. What SHOULD
he do? Suddenly DR.. Harrat fell t.
his knees and prayed aloud: 'Virgil
Mother of Josie help me-" The Ligh
had come, grace had triumphed ant
the agnosticism of Dr. Harrat van
ished as the mist before the morning
sun.
The operation was successful ant
Josie would soon be able to run abou
as other children AS she was recov
ering from the effects OF the ethe
she cried out: "Has the Light come
o, Mary take me If you wish, bu
make the Light come" DIR. Harra
) laid his hand gently on the forehea
: of the child, who had offered her owl
) life, so that he might be saved an
t with tears in his eyes, said: Eyes
Josie, It has come"
: A glad knowing smile crossed tn
j; features of the little child and the
sleep, invigorating, health restorin
sleep, took possession OF little JOSIE
-Louse Boauut. in the Christian FdmflD.