The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-03-15
A LITTLE LONG LESSON.

in May. The air was profusely per-
fumed with the fragrance from the
apple, cherry and lilac blossoms that
waxed in profusion on numberless
trees in 1.-The old neighborhood"
In company with his twelve-year-
old nephew and his little sister, John
Kennedy was partaking of the deli
cious supper, served in the spacious
old-fashioned dining room. During
the course of the conversation per
tanning mostly to the happenings of
the day, Robert spoke up in chum-
my manner:
Say, Uncle John, when are you
coming out on the school grounds to
watch us play ball? You promised
me a couple of weeks ago, that you
would be with us one of these fine
evenings"
so I did, my boy. After supper
will go, Robert, and see what kind
of ball players st. Joseph's boys are.
Perhaps | will take part in the game
that is if the nine can find room
for me. A little exercise will do me
good, after the aggravation that a
cranky client caused me in the office
today. This probating will that has
been made in good faith is an abom-
Unable piece of business.
Now, before you go to play ball, l
wish you would plant the trees
spoke of this morning." remarked
Mary, while they were partaking of
strawberries and cream.
Accordingly the two trees were
duly planted, after Robert was sent
to the barn for the garden tools, while
Nary stood near by and dictated as
to how the task should be performed.
Then the uncle and nephew made
a bee line for the ball grounds, where
st. Joseph's team and a picked nine
were anxiously waiting for the signal
to play ball.
A few minutes later the ball game
was in full swing, witnessed by the
men folks of the neighborhood, who
sat on the rustic benches, under the
old oak trees near the side lines.
d
either side, the air was rent with
shouts and shrill whistles of salts
faction After a number of innings
had passed without either side scor-
ing, the players buckled down to
strenuous work. Just then one of the
boys of the picked nine-a bootblack
knocked the ball out past the left
fielder, and ran deer-like to the first
base intent on making home run.
He reached second base successfully
and was rushing on to third base.
Just then the ball was thrown to the
third baseman John Kennedy, the
young lawyer. He stopped with one
knee projecting to catch the ball
But as John reached out his hand
the boy ran with full force, slipped
and struck Johns knee. The lad
turned deathly pale and then reeled.
He tried in vain to rally, only to sink
down unconscious. The young law
yer quickly sank on his knees beside
the boy and putting his coat under
the sufferers head, tried to find out
how badly he was hurt.
In no time the excited players and
spectators crowded about the two. A
doctor was hurried to the scene.
After an examination he stated that
the boy was hurt seriously. Some
minutes later the ambulance rushed
to the scene. The boy was tenderly
placed inside and taken to the hos
pital.
John Kennedy was one of the few
permitted in the sick room, and his
heart ached when he heard the doc
tors verdict-"the boy cannot live
through the night His injury is in
the stomach-in fact the lining of the
stomach is slit BADLY"
After receiving permission from the
head Sister, John Kennedy remained
with the boy during the long hours
of the night The sufferer tossed and
sentences, while his fever ragged
John sat near the bed and tried to
comfort the boy with soothing words
while given to retrospection.
How often had he not told his sis
ter, during various talks on the SUBJ
ject, that he did not think that God
granted temporal favors to humanity.
But now he reached into his vest
pocket for his rosary and was silent
ly telling its beads with an ardor that
he had never before experienced.
John pleaded with the merciful God
to spare the life of the bootblack. AS
John dwelt upon the possibility Of
the boy dying, he Internationally be-
ing the cause, it made him shudder.
In the early morning after the long
night, with its hours Of watching and
suspense, drew to a close, the doctor