The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-12-28
GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.

so you're going home for Christ
mas remarked the elderly gentleman
to a young man who sat with him
in a railway carriage, rushing along at
the rate of forty miles an hour.
Yes, sir" answers the young man,
Il am. 1t was hard to get off just
now and | could not we'll spare the
expense of the long journey, but
mother looks for me at this time and
just had to come for her sake
well done, my boy" commented
the other travelled. You'll not regret
| the time given and the money eX-
pended to please your mother after
she is gone Instead you'll look back
at these times and you'll be glad, all
| the way through, that you put yourself
cut to give her happiness.
g He looked out of the window for a
moment, but he did not see the houses,
nor the woods, the fields and the trees
that were flying by.
Zone of the regrets of my life
| continued the elderly gentleman sadly,
/ is that when l was grown up but
was still at home, | did not try to
make Christmas happy for father and
mother, but spent my energies in that
direction on strangers.
| Dear, dear mother, / can see her
now, and the look of pain that came
to her face one Christmas morning
when there was no present to speak
of for her but there was costly one
for some one else, who proved I'M
worthy OF affection, and when / an
Inounced that | was to take my Christ
mas dinner away from home"
He turned away hastily, drew a long
breath, and pretended to be intently
regarding the flying scenery.
Another poignant regret of mine,
that comes back every year at this
season, is that, when | finally left
home to make my way in the world
IL, did not write. to, the home folk. regu
Ilarly, not even at Christmas. l eX
lcused myself to my conscience by say
ing that / was too busy. But I was
lnever too busy to do anything that
WANTED to do with all my heart. My
neglect fastened my mothers end
She did not die suddenly, but dropped
and failed, and pined away like {
flower.
Dear heart, how many things have
done to atone for my ill-treatmen
of YOU" the old man almost whispered
as if talking to some unseen one
"How many letters have | written
how many visits have l made, HOY
many presents, have I sent, out O
G memory to you!"
y He turned to the window again an
! looked out for long time. The youn
= man beside him was silent, respectin
:. the sacred feelings of his fellow
traveller, who was unknown to hil
). but who was yet brother to him b
: the bond of common ties and commo
: memories.
IL There was one thing about M
:. however" went on the gray-haire
passenger, that comforted my mot
q er, even while my coldness and car
~ lessness distressed her. She kne
that l kept myself morally clean an
% that at Christmas never failed to E
: to Holy Communion. / had my fault
,f like all young men, but she ha
grounded one principle into the vel
70 fibre of my being-to keep alive II
=. faith by the reception of the Sacr
% ments. l owe that to her more tia
to my father, my teacher, or my pa
&c tor She watched over me in my DO
IN hood. She trained me in religio
80 She guarded me from bad companion
mr. She chose my books. She did ever
to thing, by word and example that
good mother could do to bring her 81
is up right, and no doubt made me tt
III subject of many prayer and the ben
ficiary of many an aims deed. And
in thank God now, every day and NAL
ID times day, that | responded to h
sb care and never broke the habit
II. Irregular Confession and Commune
as That's the royal road to soul safety
III a young man. / know I've be-
h. through it all.
no $50, when Christmas comes arour
es like to tell young men the gil
" tidings of the way to spend it rigl
in If your mother is living, l say
at them, buy her present first, next
rs the Christ-Child's own. If you're aw
81 from her, see that. she gets a go
rs long letter from You on Christm
10 Eve. And whether at home or awe
III lgo to Holy Communion on that ds
N. in accordance with her wish.
nd Here's my station" he exclaime
% "and must go. Goodbye. It's be
ba a pleasure to talk to you. Mer
nj Christmas to you and to the go
mother whom you are going to SCI
ng
70 TWO iITTI rHpISrMAS ST0r