The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-08-26

ii0A " q oCHoC VI uuLyy anu the con-
tinued illness of her darling boy, that
seemed to increase with age, only
served to harden her heart against the
voice of conscience. Harvey was now
about ten years old, and was growing
weaker from day to day.
The physician had often recon-
mended the mild climate of the Pacific
coast as the only hope for the boys
recovery, but as the trip would entail
much sacrifice and expense, and would
mean the leaving Of the old home and
their many friends, Mrs. Barton had
always deferred it to a later date. But
now that the boys life demanded the
sacrifice, the devoted mothers mind
was soon made up, and after settling
her affairs in the eastern city, she and
her invalid boy turned their faces
westward.
1t was bright day when the
travellers reached their journeys end.
Sunshine flooded everything, birds
sang in the trees, and flowers bios
somed in wild profusion everywhere.
The change was all the more welcome
and surprising, since they had left
their eastern home during a violent
January blizzard. A few days later
found them settled in a cozy, flower
covered bungalow overlooking the
sea, while Harvey's oft expressed
wish to pick oranges and flowers
every day was at last fulfilled. The
boy was more than contented with his
new environments and never tired of
talking of his plans for the future.
But his mothers heart was heavy
with dark forebodings, and she could
hardly restrain her tears as she
listened to his prattle and wondered
how long he would be permitted to
enjoy the pleasures of his new home.
To her great joy, however, Harvey's
health began to improve visibly, and
soon he was able to take short strolls
with her along the shady streets, and
on the grass-covered foothills of the
neighboring mountains. One day, after
venturing farther than usual from
home on their daily walk, they found
themselves in front of one of Cali
fornias venerable old missions. They
recalled the pictures they had often
seen of these historic buildings when
still in their home in the far east, and
they were delighted to behold at last
the beautiful reality.
While they stood gazing in wonder
at the time-worn mission and admiring
its quaint architecture and massive
proportions, young Franciscan friar
accosted them and enquired kindly
whether they had been shown about
the place. They replied in the mega
tive and assured him that they should
be most grateful, if he would do them
this favor. With his usual vivacity
Harvey, who had never been in a
Catholic church before, piled the friar
with questions, and his mother greatly
admired the patience and condescen-
sion with which the priest answered
his young inquisitor. AS they were
about to take Leave, Harvey grasped
the priests hand and exclaimed with
childlike eagerness:.
Good bye, Father Ambrose, you'll
come and see me some time, won't
you? You're the first priest I ever
saw, amt he mother? Do priests also
live out east in Pittsburgh? It's funny
| never, saw one before
Mrs. Barton blushed deeply at this
remark, but Father Ambrose, suppos-
ing that he was speaking with Prot
estants, laughed heartily as he as
sured the child that priests could be.
found at least in all the larger cities
and towns of the world, and that
there were some twelve priests living
in the old mission convent.
When he had finished speaking. Haf-
vey was ready with another Eolley of
questions, but his mother interposed,
saying that they would soon pay Fa-
Their Ambrose another visit and that
he could then again propose questions
in the old mission convent.
Some weeks later, as Mrs. Barton
was taking stroll by herself in the
cool of the evening, having left Har-
vey in the care of his nurse, she found
herself again before the old mission
church. Ever since speaking with the
friendly friar, she had felt herself
drawn more and more to the vener-
able old building where he dwelt, and