The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-05-11
GOLD AND SILVERSMITl4
% cast Sixth Street

as ne rOdmeu ABOUT through the can
yons looking for wild flowers, which
he placed ON the affairs of the chapel,
he often thought of how much hap
pier 1t was at the Mission than at
their former home in the hills. Now
they had plenty of food and good shell
ter from storms, and, besides, they
had so many pleasant times on days
when there was a fiesta, and all kinds
of fun and sports. God was very good,
he thought, to send the padres to help
the poor Indians.
Now, it must be told that Francis
co.'s father had never been deeply sim
cere, although he had become Chris
tan. 1t became evident that he was
still a pagan at heart, when one day
he quarreled with fellow-laborer for
whom he had always entertained I'M
friendly feelings, and the unhappy af-
fair ended when Pedro, in a fit of
rage, struck his adversary a terrific
blow that caused the mans death.
The padres felt very sad over this
unfortunate event, and in every way
strove to bring Pedro to repentance
and full realization of the enormity
of the crime he had committed. But
the Indian was sullen and morose, and
gave no sign of contrition or regret
for the awful thing he had done.
One night soon after he took his
wife and son and fed back to their
former haunts, far up in the hills, and
poor Maria and Francisco wept and
pleaded to stay at the Mission, but
all in vain.
Padre Antonio was well-nigh heart
broken over their departure. What
would become of his little Indian boy :?
he often wondered to himself, and day
after day he sought for Pedro and his
family, but no trace of them could be
found.
Two years had passed away. One
evening Padre Antonio was walking
in the Mission garden, reciting the
rosary as he paced up and down. All
around was calm and peaceful. The
stars glowed in the velvety darkness
of the sky like great jewels, and the
scent of rose and orange blossoms
filled the soft evening air. The priest
stood and listened with pleasure as a
mocking birds exquisite song floated
out from tree nearby
Suddenly, through the gathering
darkness, boyish form came swiftly
and noiselessly toward the cowled
figure standing in the path. Then a
tremulous voice broke the silence.
"Padre Padre Antonio!"
The priest felt sudden thrill of
happiness at those familiar tones, and
! as the boy threw himself, sobbing, at
the PADRES feet, Padre Antonio reach.
ed out his arms, exclaiming: Fran.
cisco! Francisco! Has my dear son
| come back to me?',
A few minutes later they were SIT
ting together within the friendly Mis-
sion walls, while Francisco told his
story to his beloved friend, the padre
He related how sad he and his
mother felt over his fathers crime
and over having to leave the Mission
and go back to the mountains. One
| night some friends of the murdered
man attacked this camp, and in the
fighting that followed, the boys mother
was killed
Pedro had treated his wife and son
most unkindly because they would not
reject Christianity, Francisco told the
padre, but he and his mother had al
ways been faithful to the true re.
ligion, and never failed to pray morn.
ing and evening to the good God to
whom the padre had told them.
After his poor mother had been
killed, Francisco made up his mind to
escape from his cruel father and re-
turn to the good friends at the Mis-
sion. So one night, when all the camp
was sleeping, Francisco stole away,
and fastened back to his old we'll
loved home. And now could he stay
with the padre? he asked earnestly.
Padre Antonio assured him that they
were most happy to welcome him,
and to keep him with them always.
And the boys dream at last came
true, for one bright, sunlit morning he
put on the Franciscan habit and the
sandals, and even the long rosary,
which won his childish fancy the first
time he saw Padre Antonio, was hung
at his side. And when in the Mission
chapel he stood at the altar and offer
ed up the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass,
our Indian boy was very, very happy,
indeed.
One day, some time after the new
priest had been ordained, a poor, sick
Indian came staggering up to the door
of the Mission. Padre Francisco went
to assist the man, and imagine his sur
prise when he recognized his father,
Pedro the Indian.
Quickly he brought the sick man
into the Mission and put him into bed,
and gave him food and medicine.
Pedro was happy to see his boy, and
especially to know that he was now a
padre, too, and belonged to the good
priests who had done so much for the
Indians.
He told his son that he was going
to die, and that was why he had come
back. He wanted to confess his sins,
and die in peace.
So Padre Francisco administered
the last Sacraments to his father, and
although he felt sad to see him die