The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-01-08
Continued from page 6.)
LITTLE CHRISTMAS.

6G NfA0s
was fallen in and the windows gone.
The trodden lane of his youth was
now a sheep path, and as he ap-
preached the house he saw that a man
was driving flock of sheep out of
what had been his fathers big
hospitable kitchen. The shepherd
caught a glimpse of him in the grow
ing darkness; he stood like one petri-
fed. He grasped his stick in the
middle, and in hoarse voice in
which courage was blended with
mortal fear he cried. Speak in the
name of God" The sound of
M'Guirks voice very human and very
reassuring allayed his fear of the
supernatural, and he was not ashamed
to speak of the start he got. sd a
sworn he said, that it was John
M'Guirk who stood before me, and he
dead and buried this more than twenty
years, I was one of his bearers, God
rest him." The shepherd and the
stranger sat down together on the re-
mains of the old doorstep and before
many minutes had passed they were
deep in the history of the M'Guirks.
The old man was all that man
should be, but his son didn't turn out
well, but he was dead this many a
year, God be good to him. "Are you
sure that the son is Dead" the stran-
ger asked in queer shaking voice.
I'm as sure as sure can be" replied
the other, ''for John M'Guirk never
raised a son that would lave his help
less old mother on the stranger
hearth while he was above ground.
The stranger leaped to his feet. my
God" he cried, lis my mother still
living? Where is she? Where is she. y
1t was some time before the two
men could grasp the situation. The
son of his old friend, dead, could be
forgiven, but alive all these years
while the widow M'Carrick Tended for
his mother, that was beyond all. But
when John told his story while the
tears stood in his eyes the heart of
the old man went out to him, and in
quick sympathy he was planning how
the good news could be broken to the
mother without overwhelming her
altogether.
Walking toward the village they
saw the light in "Cauth's" cottage and
the old man related how she watched
every year till the Twelfth Night for
her boy, and then always had a spell
of sickness that made her bed-fast
until the green of the spring, when
she began to gather heart again.
Inside the little cottage the last inch
of the Christmas candle was burning.
By the fire we're the three women,
Bride with skillful fingers worked on
a piece of lace while Cauth with less
skill and more speed knitted on a
black wooden stocking. Mrs. M'Guirk,
her helpless hands lying in her lap
and traces of hidden grief on her pale,
patient, and still beautiful face, sat
watching the fast disappearing candle.
God, save all here" cried the sheep
herder with hearty voice as he strobe
alone into the little cottage, while
John kept anxious watch outside.
God save you kindly" came from the
three voices of the little group. Its
the fine CHEEKY Christmas weather
we're having" he went on, the gladness
of his face betraying the joyful secret
of his heart, for what Irishman doesn't
like to be the carrier of good news.
Mrs. M'Guirk watched him with a
| quickening pulse. TITS God that's
always good to us, and sends us Joy
where we least expect it," he went
on, but before he could say more, the
widow threw herself forward in her
chair, in vain effort to rise to her
feet. And all the hoping and fearing
of the eighteen blank years was in
her face. Johns come,' trembled on
her lips, and before the pain that her
disappointment would bring could
wiring the hearts of the listeners, John
was there, his arms about the frail
form and his tears raining down on
her face.
There's little more to add. John
nj Gulrk did not content himself with
giving his mother all the comforts of
life, but he lavished on her the com.
fort of the heart, for he bought back
his fathers place, rebuilt the old home.
stead, and established his mother and
the faithful Cauth therein, and then,
when everyone thought he was ready
to return to America, he married
Bride and settled down to the pleas
ures of gentleman farming, in
which this time he was very success
full. His mother had the chair that
they had planned on that Christmas
eve, only far grander, in which she
spent many pleasant hour on the
well-clipped sunny lawn or under the
tall sycamore she loved in the old
days, and Cauth's joy was complete
when one Christmas day she was able
to have crib Just as they had at
Whalen's", and Bride sat on the old
sofa with the blue cloak and the veil
with the baby in her arms while John
stood by in his cothamore and the
other children played shepherds and
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