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

one WHO WAS Vi sulAOAOAb AdkLI. JdulGS Il
saw she made this announcement with
an effort, which gave him hope he
was not disagreeable to her; and
he determined to persevere and win
her. He told her that his whole wish
in life was to win her, and that he
would never cease trying.
Bessie smiled--but becoming grave |
at once-told him seriously that she |
would never marry one who was not |
of her faith.
"And your Catholic religion is the
one obstacle, nothing else?" Said
James.
"My Catholic religion" said Bessie, |
''is my life. What happiness can mar
ried people expect whose roads sepa-
rate on the most vital of all ques-
tions?"
isn't that a narrow view of God?"
said James. "Must we not believe His
pleasure is in the hearts motives,
not in lip service? What difference
does the outward form of religion
make if our hearts bow in sincere
worship before Him."
Bessie shrugged her shoulders i'm
patiently.
"You are just like the rest of men
who do not know the principles of the
worship of God You would argue
forever, and then be unconyinced.
If you are sincere, ! will give you a
book or two to read, and you may
see for yourself where you are mis-
taken. You tell me you have never
touched Catholic book, and you pre-
tend to denounce our views as mar
row." Will you read the books, /
shall lend you? or shall we say
Goodbye forever"
James would do anything sooner than
say Goodbye" to this fascinating girl.
He accepted the books, and returning
home wrote long letter to his
mother, telling her he thought he had
found his destiny, but that she was
stubborn on religious matters: he
hoped by patience and gentleness to
overcome that obstacle. He was
liberal and broad, and she should be
whatever she wished; he would never
interfere with her religion. He
said he had accepted some reading
matter about the Catholic Church, to
oblige the young lady, but there was
nothing in that to cause his mother
alarm.
His mother wrote reply in anguish
of heart, warning him that his sister
Alice had made herself and the family
unhappy by her friendship for
Roman Catholic, and bidding him
beware of the snares and traps that
Rome was perpetually setting for the
unwary. But her eldest son, at the
| age of % was man, she said, ma
tured in mind and body and she
counted on his strength of character,
and his virtue personally to scorn
all allurements that might tempt him
from his childhoods faith.
James smiled as he read the letter;
he knew his mother well, and realised
the pang his announcement had cost
her, and told himself she was dear
old foolish mother to worry about
him, for he determined he would keep
to his Methodist. Church-in name
anyhow-and win the girl his heart
coveted. He become Catholic
Never! But Bessieuile would havei. if
she loved him, as he loved her.
In this spirit he carlessly opened
The Faith of Our Fathers and tolerant
ly turned the pages. He was amazed
when he looked up to find he had
spent an hour over the book. A new
feeling took possession of him. Was
it possible he could have been mis-
taken? Had he been instructed
wrong? He closed the book, but his
mind was full of what he had read.
The next day he read more.'
He paid visit to Miss Wafford, and
she saw something was working in
his soul. Was it the beginning of
grace? He said he was reading one
of her books, and no further mention
was made of religious matters. Bessie
found that her heart was praying for
James. Two months passed, and
James wrote to his mother letter
that produced CONSERVATION in the
family. He said he was becoming
interested in the Catholic religion, and
had bought copy of the two books he
was reading-viz., Faith of Our Fa-
Tiers, and Catholic Belief, and was
sending them to the house, begging
his mother to read them also. On
hearing this terrible news, she
became hysterical, and it took all the
efforts of her daughters to calm her.
The books came by mail, and with
out being Invested of their wrappers
were thrown out on the ash-pile. Their
very touch would contaminate!
Il But Alice, whose heart was given to
! la ".Papist," stoutly defended her
brother. She reproached her mother
and sisters for not giving the books a
chance. What harm could they do?
J. In fact she declared she would GO
out to the rubbish heap and rescue
; them, and indeed she did So The two
books had not suffered by their
; lignominious punishment, and when
!, they were placed upon the table
curiousity impelled mother and daugh.
tiers to open them and comment on
their contents.
| Weeks passed by, and wonderful
, change came over the family. In Ohio
i James Dalton had placed himself
j under instruction, and Miss Bessie's
j heartfelt prayers for him seemed to
have brought the grace of conversion