The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-01-06
A MYSTERIOUS SICK CALL.

The incident | am about to relate is
a true one; it was told me by the
priest to whom it occurred, although
I am not giving his name nor that of
the town where his church was stu
ated.
In certain large English town
where poverty and restitution were
rife, was crowded court in which
none but the most INDECENT lived. All
the houses in it had a squalid, forlOrn
appearance; some apparently falling
down and leaning one against the
other as if for support, and most of
them having broken windows; the
missing glass being replaced, by many
of the inmates, probably the more
chilly ones, with brown paper or bits
of rag These houses were let to
several families, each room being so
overcrowded that it was a wonder
fever and disease Of every description
were not more busy in supplementing
what semi-starvation was daily doing
decreasing their number by DEATH
Half-clOthed and sicklylooking chill
dren played listlessly on the door
steps, or t1oated their mimic boats of
wood or paper on the stream Of dirty
water which from time to time took
it's course down the center Of the
alley; but all the little ones were
more or less too weak and weary for
active eXertion. Hardly any but its
inhabitants passed through the court.
Even the coster-mongers seldom
visited it, excepting perhaps on a
Saturday night when they wished to
get rid of their refuse stock. Poverty
was too apparent to make sale a
likely event.
In tiny attic of one of the houses,
on q little trukle bed, lay a poor
woman, old and sick Her surround-
ings, poor as they were, were scrupu-
lousy clean, and the room tolerably
airy, for being at the top of the house
(the highest the court could boast of
it's little open window let in air. Seat
ed by the bedside on the only chair
which the room possessed was little
san WIZ IIOLli lICI SAC dppCulCuo
or eight years Of age, although she
bore upon her face that look of pre-
mature age SO noticeable amongst
very poor children, more especially
girls. On rickety table standing
near the bed were a few slices of dry
bread and cup containing some very
weak tea, which the girl now and
again held with evident solicitude to
the woman's lips.
Drink some yourself, Nellie" said
she at last, with an effort, as if talk.
ing panied her. sac
"Oh, no, Grannie," replied the child
I'm neither hungry nor thirsty. Don't
you know that kind man at the milk
shop gave me such nice drink OF
milk this morning, when he bought
those flowers of me. l wanted to
bring it home to you, and if he had
lent me a jug l would, but he made me
drink it,
He saw you were tired, DEAR" the
woman said; "but take a piece OF
bread with you when you go out, for
you may get hungry before all your
flowers are sold; and I'll try and SLEEP
whilst you are away"
Upon this Nellie proceeded to tie UP
in punches some cowslips, bluebells
and other field flowers, which were in
a basin of water, and arranged them
in a little shabby hand-basket. This
done, she put on her tattered straw
hat, and gently kissing the old woman
who was now asleep, she stole quietly
out of the room.
A few weeks later Catholic priest
might have been seen returning to his
home after an evening spent in max
ing sick calls amongst the poor. His
church was the only one in the town
and he was the sole priest.
He was tired and longing for rest
so that his housekeeper's words when
she opened the door were little dis
appointing to him.
There's another sick call for you
Father" said she, land the young man
! who brought it said he hoped you
would go SOON"
vi COul St, IL ~ tC OHCC, llICu
| but where is it?" inquired Father
Browne.
''In Rockets Court, Father; the
| other end of the town"
ooh, | know the court" said the
priest, Il once visited an old mar
there, but he is dead, and I did moi
think there were any Catholics there
now. Did the messenger say the sicl
person was in danger of death?'
mo, Father, nor did he give name,
replied the housekeeper, referring .te
| the slate on which she had written the
address; che only said there was {
| woman i'll at No. Rockets Court
| and he hoped you would go soon"
In a short time Father Browne hat
| left the house again, and was on hi:
way to Rockets Court. The town was
a very non-Catholic one and dissen
was rampant in it, but even those wht
were the most bigoted in matters o
religion felt respect for the prizes
who was SO. universally known for hi'
i kindness and benevolence, not only tx
his own flock, but also to those outside
the Church, so that many hat wa
| raised, and many a word of greeting
| spoken to him as he made his wa.
| along the streets.
1t was spring time, but night wa