The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-09-25

ford, but because his honest cOnvic-
Church, and he meant to be square
and fair with his conscience. This was
James character, as all the family
knew, and it had great influence with
his mother and sisters in strengthen
ing the impression made by the Cath
Ollie books which they had read
through, with surprise and interest.
Much of the Church's doctrines they
wanted to have explained more fully,
and so after family council, Alice
and her mother plucked up courage
and came to me, the only Catholic
priest they knew, and laid their
doubts before me, after mentioning
the extraordinary fact of James con-
version.
It was not hard to answer their
difficulties and they were amazed at
the simplicity of the explanations.
Mother and daughter began course
of study and instruction, and | had
the happiness of seeing them advance
in perfect faith and assurance Of
happiness. There was one drawback.
Gertrude, the second daughter, de-
nounced the whole thing, in deep in
dignation. She was astonished at the
way things were moving, and rated
her mother and Alice and James in
emphatic terms. They told me about
it, and I was interested enough to
wish to meet this young lady, and try
to save her soul in spite of herself.
She had horror of Catholic priest,
and never had spoken to one, and all
the accounts that Alice and her
mother gave of their hours of instruc-
ton were exaggerated into fancy
that I had bewitched them. If she
saw me approaching the house, she
would disappear, or show such evil
dent dislike that there was no doubt
about her. sentiments. One day, how
ever, | met her squarely, and as she
was too polite to show her feelings,
had the chance | wanted, and tact
fully drew her into a pleasant argu-
ment, which ended in softening her
prejudices, and made her DESTROYS of
\ dCCCpLAA5 AAC e1o O AAAOAAs y
Later on, Alice told me she found
Gertrude pouring over the little cate
chism. And at last, this sincere, up
right girl, told them both she would
like to join them, and actually ac-
companied them to receive my in
structions, and showed every desire to
become also fervent Catholic. The
sincerity and uprightness which were
characteristic in all of them were the
mentous and beautiful event. In the
meantime Bessie Wafford, many miles
away, was praying for her fiance, and
| helping him to understand the doc
trines of the Blessed Church which
had been her consolation and her sup
port. She had heard from James of
the wonderful events that we're hap
pening at home, and rejoiced with
him in the joyful news.
| Weeks passed by, and James an
nounced that he was going to be
baptised the following week. His
mother told me; and / suggested the
should write and tell him IL he would
return to his home town would hap
Itise him with his mother and two sis
| tiers, and two little brothers, all the
family, except the father, who had
held off, although tolerant to the rest.
Bessie advised James to do so, and
on the day appointed he arrived home,
and / had the inexpressib1e happiness
OF baptising his mother, himself, Alice,
Gertrude, and the two little boys. Miss
Wafford was present, and shed tears
lof Joy. Six happy souls were given
Ito God-that day, and clothed with in
nocence for they had never been
baptised before in any church. They
Ian made their first Communion
Except the little boys) the following
first Friday at my Mass. and Miss
Wafford knelt beside James Dalton
lat the Communion rail-
The conversion Of this family made