The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-05-13

nanny tiluI UIlHu0Q MN.
"Howdy, stranger. Admirin' our
little 'church?''
And before him stood Bob, dear, old
Bob! But there was no hint of recog-
milton in those kindly grey eyes.
Uncle Bob, don't you remember
Jimmie Hennessey?"
'Harness?" asked the old man, as
he accepted the proffered hand. NO.
| amt a-needin' any harness this
spring.
"Hennessy, Jim Hennessyn repeat
ed jim, loudly. @
ION, yes, sure you said hens!
Pears like I'm gettin' kind of deaf
latelNGi Thought you were a-sellin
harness! And he chuckled at his
mistake. We killed off most all the.
hens this winter. Got an incubator
full of eggs a-runnin now, an 'bout
two hundred chicks in the brooders--
but / amt got any use for them new
tangled coops that you buy already
built, If that's what you're sellin'''
The young man shook his head
mournfully.
We'll, here comes Marthy an our
little girl, an you can tell them about
1t. But, we've got a phonygraf, an
player pianny, an ortermobile an a
fireless cooker. Don need nothin'
tall, jYcept a hired hand, an | reckon
you amt lookin' for job"
And again the old man chuckled at
what he considered fine joke at the
expense of the well-dressed stranger
Aunt Martha, don't you know me?"
cried Jim, Uncle Bob disowns me
completely"
The womans' eyes lighted with glad
surprise and welcome, as she grasped
the outstretched hands,.
" Land sakes alive, if it isn't little
Jimmie 5Hennessy!" at which the girl
beside her laughed outright, for lit
tie Jimmie lacked one inch of be
ing six foot and weighed one hundred
and sixty pounds. = t'@
You remember, Helen" she contin-
ned, turning to the girl, I'VE were
talking about him at breakfast this
morning-the boy. that always com
planned bout my doughnuts bein' toe
small, an the holes in them to big."
) Yes, indeed, remember, Aunt
Martha, and | am very glad to meet
you, Mr.. Hennessy. | have heard a
great deal about Little Jimmie. No
matter what delectable dainty Aunt
Martha prepares, that boy has sam.
pied it before me and pronounced
upon its particular. merits. Do you
still insist upon eating lemon pie
with a tablespoon;
well, that sure, lis a good one OF
me, JIM" Bob laughed until the
aills re-echoed his rmirth Thought
YOU were one of those pesky agents
hat came around and talk a body
INTO buyin' a lot of truck he amt got
no earthly use for Don't seem like
this big fellow can be our little Jim.
does it, Marthy? My, how the years
run away! 1t don't seem no time
since he was a-sittin' on our back step
aatin' cookies, Helen, did you ever
hear how me and Marthy became his.
relations?""
Il believe not, Uncle Bob"
HE came down Here every summer
to. visit his Uncle Peter, who used to
be Our neighbor, an Marthy an me
became mighty fond of the little
chap We'd coax him over with cook
les doughnuts an apples. One day
he announced quite solemnly:
!" 1 amt a-comin' over to see Mr.
an Mrs. Barnett no more
i rs Why not?' asked Marthy an me-
wondering what was the matter.
Cause, I'm comm to see my I'm
Gle Bob an Aunt Marthy. I've 'dopted
you!' 1t like to tickle Marthy an me
to death. Eat! that younsster could
eat anything. Only one l ever knew
that could tackle green apples and
get away with it.''
Z; Il am, afraid have a dreadful repu-
tation to live down, Miss Helen, but
Uncle Bob's apples were great
temptation and Aunt Martha is a
splendid cook. l wonder if it isn't
nearly dinner time?"
1t isl Aunt Martha joined in the
daughter. But, / think we have time
ITO go in and take last peep at the
altar to see that everything is in
readiness for tomorrow"
Isn't this the old homestead? /
was looking at it, in surprise when
Uncle Bob found me-
Yes" explained the old man. The.
old place was good enough for Marthy
an me, but when Sister Nellie died
and left us little Helen, we went down
the road a bit an rugged up a new
up-to-date Twin place with outside
sleepin porches an all that. Marthy
BEEN ;a-readin' UP on those things for
years, an as God never gave her no
little ones to practice on, she's takin
it all out on Helen
Uncle Bob, you're a regular old
tease! You know how weak and puny
was When | came here three years
ago and how well and strong Aunt
Martha has made me. OH you've
both been so good to me-" she added
with shining eyes.
n. They were at the church door now. |
5 When arrangements were made to |
give us a priest to say Mass on Sun
day, we were SO impatient we could |
notiawait to build a church, SO we
tore out the partitions between the
rooms and remodeled the old home
50 we could use it until the new
church could be built, which will be
very soon, we hone