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

wondrous peace settled upon him.
my son, be of good cheer. Your
prayer is answered thrilled and COM
forted him. And so great was this
feeling of nearness to and oneness
with his Divine Lord, that he tore him.
self away reluctantly, the very last
one to leave the church. At the door
he looked around for the little group
he knew were aawiting him. There
was Uncle Bob, Aunt Martha, Helen
and Father Burke, who would accom-
pany them back for breakfast, and
also Uncle Peter and his family and
here he grasped the door for support
was he dreaming? No! For there
she stood as dear and sweet as ever.
His mother! The suddenness of it
sent the blood surging to his head and
he swayed-but only for brief min
ute. Then with single bound he
was down the steps and had the little
old woman in his arms, and as he held
her close and kissed her, all he could
say was, Mother. Mother!" but, oh!
what a world of meaning was con-
tanned in that word.
1t was Father Burke who broke the
silence.
What splendid example this is
of the efficacy of prayer. How quickly
God granted the petition of the Easter
lily.''
"Oh! did that son come back?" cried
Jim as he released his mother with
evident reluctance.
Every one laughed, but it was a
trembly sort of laugh, akin to tears,
that held much of feeling and SYM
pathy.
Yes, my dear son." replied his
mother, for it was l who attached
neighbor who was going that way to
leave it at the church door, knowing
that Martha would find it and place
1t upon the altar. After Johns DEATH
she, continued. in explanation, Il re-
ceiyed a letter from Peter insisting
that come and live with him here,
and as it was very lonesome with you
away, l decided to accept his invita-
ton at least until your return. l left
a letter at your office informing you
of my intention and started back to
my old home in Kentucky. / bought
my ticket to Cincinnati, boarded the
train, and remember nothing after
that. All that l had suffered recently
must have affected my mind, and |
was afflicted with what the doctors
| called aphasia, and did not even know
my own name. From the train / was
taken to hospital, under the care of
kind Sisters, who daily strove to pene-
trate the mystic darkness that shrOud.
| ed my memory. | had been with them
three months, when a little boy, who
bore striking resemblance to you
as a child, came to visit patient. He
| was able to resume my journey.
arrived here two days ago."
1t was a day of great rejoicing and
thanksgiving for all. After dinner,
Uncle Peter and his family departed,
carrying Jim's mother back with them,
for she was still weak after her try
ing experience, and must have months
of rest and quiet, while her son was
establishing new home for her. Jim
could not bear to be away from the
side of the mother he feared he had
lost, but after her departure for his
uncles home, he found time for sew
eral very important matters.
What were you two doing over
there?" asked Martha of her husband,
as Uncle Bob and Jim joined her and
Helen on the verandah.
"Jims a-goin' to buy that land
across the road and build a house on
it. He's a-goin' to give up his travelin'
business soon, but if he has to take
one or two more trips, his mother will
be right here where we can watch
over her. Now, Marthy, you can get
busy plannin' that home. Guess
there's been few new-fangled things
invented since we built this place
three years ago.
Am l really goin' to have little
Jimmie so close that | can hand him
a cookie an a doughnut? 1t seems
most too good to be true"
I'm half afraid | will wake up and
find have been dreaming, Aunt Mar.
tina. But, | think the first thing you
ought to plan is barb wire fence
around Uncle Bobs orchard"
Aunt Martha laughed.
Jimmie, I've got a bunch of bunga
lows that | cut out of magazine,
savin' them for the time when some
one would be wantfn' our Helen, an
we'll look over them tonight"
Dear Aunt Martha, some one wants
Helen right now" Jim looked over
her head into the eyes of the girl
You captured my boyish fancy and
Helen is the picture of my boyish
recollection of you. 1t is so sudden
or passing fancy! l have loved her, |
while thinking of you, for many, many !
years And, dear Aunt Martha, it is |
because she did not say no when /
whispered my great hope to her today |
that | want to build out little home |
very close. / could not bear to take
her away from you and Uncle Bob,
who love her SO; rather let me feel
that, in your wonderful goodness, you
are dividing with mother and me your
greatest treasure, Helen!"
Back in the sanctuary "a waxen
flower of purest white bent low over
the spot where the God of all had
rested that day. Was the Easter lily,
too, filled with humble gratitude for