The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-01-13


But, PALS father was his only
visitor, and on other days, when he
saw. people pass by his door, he often
wished that they would step in and
talk to him. Sometimes he would see
ladies SO by carrying flowers, and
how his heart would ache just to have
few of the pretty, bright blossoms.
Maybe if they knew I hadn't any
mother they might give me some
flowers" he would say to himself in
wistful tones. "P'raps when I'm dead
there will be lot on my coffin" He
often remembered that his mothers
casket was laden with floral offerings.
These had all been purchased by MT.
Henry, for the family were strangers
and but little acquainted in the COM
nunity.
I'D rather have the flowers now
he would go on soliloquizing, because
when I'm dead | won't be able to sec
them,-at least, l guess won't"
Then, after a brief meditation, he
would smile to himself. Maybe I'd
go shopping around looking at the
flowers on my coffin and smelling
them, and maybe my wings would get
tangled up in them. An then people
would see the flowers acting funny
when I'd try to get loose, but they
couldn't see me, Of course, being
was an angel, and it would be lots of
fun" And Paul would laugh heartily
to himself at the thought.
For a. long long time Pauls father
stayed away, ard the lad wondered
at his absence. He had never re-
manned away for such long time be-
fore.
One day, when he was feeling
particularly melancholy over his la,
theirs delay in coming, a woman, ac-
companied by a boy about Pauls age,
passed by the door of his room.
The. boy glanced in, and then said
something to his mother as they went
on.
wish they'd come in Paul began,
and just then the two re-appeared in
the doorway.
Hello, there" was the strange
boys CHEEKY greeting, as he grinned
pleasantly at Paul; and his mother,
kindly lady, came to the bedside and
gently asked Paul how he was feeling.
He answered smiIingly that he felt
better right then because they had
| come in to see him. Il was just wish
ing you would" he added.
Then he told how his father had
20 IN i.:+ III, tro
it seemed because he'd never been SO
long without coming before.
Mrs King, for this was the lady's
| name. inquired the name Of Pauls
| father, and where he worked, and sud
denly he noticed that she grew pale
and looked worried.
A few minutes later the two visitors
left with a promise that they would
come soon again. And as Paul waved
| farewell to the bright-faced new
friend, Charles, he thought the world
seemed much more cheerful place
than before his visitors came.
The reason for Mrs. Kings look OF
concern at leaiSng the name and en-
| ployment of Pauls father was this:
Some days before she had read an &C
count of the death Of q man who bore
| the name of James Henry, which was
the name of the little invalid's parent.
His employment was the same, for
| the paper stated that this person
worked in a factory. Fire had broken
out, and in trying to rescue some of
the workers, the man had lost his own
life.
Upon further inquiry Mrs. King
learned that the victim Of the disaster
was really the father Of poor little
! Paul, and it made her feel very sad
as she recalled his loneliness and dis
appointment over his fathers failure
to visit him.
Mrs. King mentioned the matter to
the matron at the sanitorium, who
told her that they had known of the
fatality, but feared to tell the boy on
account of his weakened physical con-
dition But she thought it might be
/ advisable now to break the sad news
| and suggested that Mrs. King, who
had won her way into Paul's heart,
perform the painful duty.
i So one day kind Mrs. King came
and as gently as possible told Paul
how heroically his father had gone to
his death And although the little
orphan felt deeply grieved, his eyes
snone and look Of pride crossed his
face when Mrs King assured him
that a person could do no greater or
nobler deed than to lay down his life
! for others.
i And that night, as he lay in bed
thinking when all was dark and quiet,
he repeated over and over again,
MY father is hero! I'm almost
! glad, | am, that he did it,"
/ Then finally, after long hours, he
went off to sleep with the hope, which
however was not realized, that he
would dream about his father and
how he looked and where he was now.
i Charles and his mother came often
after that day, and Paul eagerly
looked forward to their visits. But
one morning he seemed more de-
pressed than usual
I've been thinking of how | don't
belong to anybody Paul said in an
swer to Mrs. Kings kindly inquiry.
"'Course | still belong to father and