The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-06-05
Continued from page 3.)
A CHANGE OF HEART.

Henry Newman Manning
A big name, my boy, to live up to.
But | think you can do it. Do you
come to my Mass every morning?
shall look for you if Andrew White
fails me again
The pastor took half dollar from
his pocket and held it out to the child,
but John Henry drew back.
/ can't take money for serving, if
you please, Father. My mother
wouldn't let me. And, besides, didn't
do it for you. l did it for my daddy.
offered it up for him.
Offered up what, John Henry?'
My serving, Father. Gran told me
to-
Again came the question: What is
the matter with your father?'
And again came the same reply:
If, you please, he's a rough, profane
man, and hasn't the fear of God in his
heart. Gran says we must snatch him
from the DEVIL John Henry added
The pastor turned away for mo-
ment. When he faced the child again,
the smile was gone from his eyes,
and a tender pity shone in them.
Another of those good children he
thought. They will surely save their
reckless father
The days passed and the prophecy
did not come true. John Manning
went his usual way. Christmas and
the New Year came, but no change
of heart stirred him. If anything, he
was more profane than ever, more
often the worse of drink. Even Gran
was losing hope of his reform, but
she pressed one more advocate into
the cause.-the baby. The baby was
her constant companion, and in their
long hours together Gran taught the
little thing her part in the retaining
of her father. Together they said the
Rosary for him, and afterwards baby
rehearsed her piece
Who knows but the Holy Name will
bring him back?' Gran taught, as she
redoubled her petitions. But the eve
OF the Holy Name celebration came,
and John was at his worst He knew
that he was a clever workman, and it
was nobody's business what he did
with his spare hours and his pay, he
told the foreman, Dan Casey. Dan re-
treated in a bluff. He would have
nothing more to do with the surly fell
low. But that very afternoon the reso-
luton was broken. John was the first
man at his side when the accident hap
pened, and Johns strong hands helped
him to lift Tom Hennessy from under
the wrecked machinery. The three
men had worked together for years,
and when John began to drift down,
Dan and Tom had done their best to
draw him back. With keen remorse
John remembered that only that noon
he had driven Tom away with rough,
harsh words. And now this true
friend would never again come be-
tween him and his boon comrades of
the saloon.
1t was changed John who came
down the hospital steps with the fore
man. They had stayed with Tom to
the end. White-faced and silent, John
walked along, listening DULY to the
words that Dan said over and over
again, as if to comfort himself He
was a good man. Tom was good
man.
That could not be said of me- was
the thought that beat on John Man
ning's brain, and he sickened at the
picture of himself that rose before
him.
AS the men drew near st. Johns
Church, Dan Casey laid his hand on
his comrades arm.
Come, John, he said. Tomorrow
is Holy Name Sunday. If we slip in
now we can be heard quickly. To-
night there will be a big crowd
John held back. I've been so long
away he faltered: / can't go, Dan.
Some other time
No. said Dan. Now is the time.
There may not be any other for you
or for me. There isn't for Tom Hen
messy. Come.
And John went
Mrs. Manning tried to act as if it
were quite an ordinary occurrence for
her husband to come home sober on
Saturday, and with his pay envelope
unbroken. She took it as a matter of
course when he handed it to her.
Something has happened she decid-
ed, but asked no questions. Presently
he told her. The tears that ran down
her cheeks were not all for another
woman's sorrow. oh, John, it might
have been YOU she sobbed.
You would have been rid of a bad
husband, Maggie he answered, and
going into his room he closed the door.
Mrs. Manning left him to himself. 1t
would never do to fuss over John.
AS she mended garment after gar.
ment, she dwelt upon what John had
been in the early years of their mar.
ried life, and then upon the change
that had been wrought in him by evil
company. Presently her heart warm.
ed with the hope that the swift awful
lesson would not be lost. 1t might
| put the fear of God in his heart as
Gran would say. And maybe he would
go to Mass in honor of the Holy Name!
But next morning when she went out
Ito early Mass, her husband was still
sleeping. or pretended to be.
It was then that the baby said her
piece. Pattering into the room and
over to the bed, she stroked her IA
theirs face with her little hand. Get