The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-04-27
A Box of Precious Ointment

A Box of Precious Ointment
1t was Mrs. Langtry herself who
helped Mary to dress on the day of
her reception into the Order of the
Sisters of Mercy; and it was she who,
with trembling fingers, arranged the
beautiful soft masses of the girls
golden hair. Her eyes dimmed with
tears as she thought that this would
be the last time She could arrange
and caress those bright tresses; the
last time, too, that Mary would need
her to help her dress.
Memories of past years crowded
upon her, memories of the little
bright-haired girl being made ready
for childish festivities. Such small
white dresses with such large blue
sashes she had worn then. Later
there were innocent schoolgirl affairs,
but always the white dresses that
Mrs. Langtry had made with her own
hands, and now this would be the last
one.
The ceremony was very beautiful.
White-robed, white-veiled, crowned
with roses, Mary Langtry ceased to be
and Sister Teresa took her place
The tears were streaming down the
mothers face when her child came to
her robed in the habit of religious,
but she looked so sweetly happy that
the mothers heart was comforted.
Indeed, even from the first, in spite
of her sorrow, Mrs. Langtry had real
lied that it was Wondrous precious
gift that had come to her Mary, for
was she not the bride of Christ? She
was glad, thankful, that she had been
able to attend the ceremony, though
the price of the railroad fare had
necessitated sacrifice and rigorous
economy.
1t was the next day, when she was
on the point of starting for home, and
the carriage was standing at the door
and the good-byes had been said that
Sister Teresa placed a box in her
mothers hand.
you are not to open it until you
are home" she announced mysteri-
ously. Reverend MotheE said you
were to have it. You see it will re-
mind you of our sacrifice and how
glad we were to make it, you and
L; for it is your sacrifice as we'll as
mine, and never would have known
how sweet our Lord is nor how to
have chosen the better part, if you
had not taught me these things when
was just little child" and Sister
Teresa took her mothers careworn
| face and kissed her many, many
| times. That was the last goodbye.
| God bless her." thought Mrs Lang
try fervently, and God be thankful
for it, that always now she will be as
| innocent as that little child to whom
| taught the Lords ways in the long
ago."
She reached home that evening and
Jimmy, hardworking boy of eight
cen, and the sole support now of his
mother and little sister Lucy, met her
In their tiny fiat Mrs. Langtry gave
her children a glowing account of the
reception, describing infinitely just
how Mary had looked and what she
and other people had said, when Lucy
picked up box that had been thrown
unnoticed and forgotten on the bed
with Mrs. Langtry's suitcase.
What is this, mother?" she asked
with childish curiosity.
To think l could forget it, after
Mary herself giving it to met" ex-
claimed Mrs. Langtry contritely; "but
it is probably just some little keep
sake, perhaps souvenir of the recep-
ton. I'll open it at once
There lay the wreath of roses that
Mary had worn on the great day, but
under it was something else. A gasp
of joy escaped Mrs. Langtry, for
there in all it's wondrous abundance.
soft and long and curling, lay Mary's
| golden hair
Tenderly the mother touched it,
| and laid her cheek against it, while
great wave of peace and silence
seemed to hush and soothe the lonely
aching of her heart. How often as a
child, Mary's dear head had rested
against her mothers heart, stroking
this soft hair, she had soothed away
some little trouble or made endurable
some childish illness, and now there
came the memory of later time
an evening in the twilight when
Mary, seated on stool at her moth
ers feet, had told her sweet secret
(not knowing she had guessed it long
ago).
There had been a little while of
silence, and the mothers soul had
battled with swift temptation mot
to refuse-no, but to delay that she
might have her Mary with her just
little longer. The next instant she
had given her consent, realizing that
God willed it, and God called, and had
prayed the Divine blessing for her
Child'S desire while her hands had