The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-09-08
The Bishops White Flower

1t was in the springtime, crisp,
bright, Canadian spring. Father Mac
donald was walking briskly down
| the streets of the town which formed
his parish, smiling and nodding to
every man, woman, and child whom
he met. For every one knew Father
| Macdonald, and every one, Catholic
and non Catholic, loved him; he real
lied it and his great Scotch heart
opened broadly to them and he loved
them too. Full of zeal for his priest
ly work, ever patient with the trouble
some, kind to the sorroWful, gentle
with the sinner, his life flowed on
among his people, peacefully and USE
fully, and the world around him grew
better, because he lived.
The children were his special care
and they worshiped him. The merry
glance Of his keen blue eyes, the
| hearty greeting of his big voice, the
outstretched arm and hand, which
could enclose half a dozen of them,
wee rCmething to talk about, and it
was nothing new to see the big man
striding down the street, with
crowd of delighted youngsters, boys
and girls alike, surrounding him, like
| humming bees on honeycomb.
Those pockets of his seemed never
empty, and nuts, or apples, or sweets,
were seen in every little fist.
| This was one of those rare brilliant
| hot nti T11n
! Though not to stay, right after the
| ice-bound winter Of Canada. The
snow was still sparkling on the tall
pines and in the fence corners and
on the pointed roofs, but warm wave
| had come with the sunshine, which
entered like wine into the hearts of
the frozen people, and made the
young children and animals alike
frisk and play in one kinship of de-
| light.
Father Macdonald was greeted with.
a whoop of joy by his small parish
! toner's, and soon a troop of them was
at his heels. Among them was a lit
tie JeWess, daughter of one of the
prosperous merchants of the town.
She had fallen under the spell Of his
personality, and was tolerated, by his
legitimate flock, only because Father
smiled kindly on the black-eyed, curly
haired descendant of Israel. Indeed,
little Rachel was not one to be scorn-
ed. She was a queenly little miss
of ten, still unaware of her dark
| beauty-of her animated rosy face,
with it's scarlet lips revealing teeth
| like pearls which flashed when she
smiled. Her tasteful mother had her
always CARRIED in those rich colors,
that made her like a glowing blossom
against the snow
Father Macdonald always took her
hand, and treated her like one of his
own. And there was no use in show
| ing any resentment, none at least ever
| appeared in his presence, although
when he had gone, many little jealous
| tongues voiced their dissatisfaction in
no uncertain manner. Rachel never
needed them; she loved the kind
gentle priest, and flew to meet him
as promptly as his noisy young flock;
something within her seemed to an
swer his call which she could not eX-
| plain. She did not dare, however,
to tell it to her parents-strict ortho-
dox Hebrews-and if they heard it,
| they made nothing of it, for they too
admired the devoted priest who never
tired of doing good to old and young
Of every creed.
Several years passed by. The Cath
Ollie children grew, and so did Rachel.
She was now thirteen. Her admira-
ton for Father Macdonald was the
same, but she did not follow him with
| the crowds of children. A smile,
greeting as she passed him, showed
she was still his friend, and she con-
trived to meet him now and then on
his daily rounds, and have a little
chat. She loved to hear him say,
God bless you, Rachel"
And now the ecclesiastical tauthori-
| ties had found out the worth of Father
| Macdonald. He was called to the city,
and there in spite of his protests, he
was informed that he was to be made
a Bishop. His conservation took place
in due time and another priest was
sent to his little Church at A..
| Rachel missed him sorely, but she
hid her sorrow in her heart, not dar-
ing to mention it to any one. But
she could not forget his goodness and
/ kindness-his gentle eXhortations to
be a good girl. And it may be be-
lieved, the Lord looking down on her
innocent affection, blessed it, and
caused it to bring her to the portals
of salvation, while it saved her from
many temptation.
| In this old Canadian town there
was fountain, famous for its clear
crystal water which came from the
snoW-clad hills, and was conducted
into a series of marble basins, that
dripped with limpid GOODNESS the
| whole season round. Broad walks
and trees surrounded it, and there
were hooks for resting, and a drink
| ing place visible where the passers
could Stake their thirst. Rachel was
walking around the fountain one day,
when suddenly she saw her friend