The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-06-14

ing WltHout DiuSn OF SnuQuer. 80 1t
had to be, this war. There was no
other way. 1t is worth any sacrifice,
no matter what it is, to help set the
| world right again.
Some of us-mostly women, sensed
the danger underneath the can't and
hypocrisy of those who were try
| ing to take advantage of a state of
| affairs we may well suspect them of
helping to create, and we sent our
men away, acting on an impulse we
scarcely understood. We sent them
away with breaking hearts, in an
agony of doubt, though we smiled
bravely enough. But now, thank God,
! it's clear. We know we were right,
that it's to a crusade of regeneration
4 through tears and blood and anguish,
that we've dedicated them. We know
now that ours is great cause, holy
one; that we were born for this, and
we may be thankful that it is this
and not the next generation that has
| the deed to do. 1t is a marvellous op-
portunity, Rose, and as of old, we have
| to purchase that which is priceless
with sacrifice. While the men fight,
we women work and pray, pray that
the old, holy, beloved things may
be sacred and respected again, that
| hearts may yearn for and find peace
in right and just things and cease to
beat wildly over vain, false desires.
Its the way we die that counts,
and the message we leave behind.
Our men that die over there are
tleaving a wonderful message, and we
| who sent them will have to be it's
brave, living Xemplifications. But
here / am, chatting away and forget
ting your tea" -t.
| Mrs. Hogan's hands were folded in
her lap and her eyes had lost their
wildness. When Mrs. Carr came back
with the tea, she took it and drank a
little. .-
DO you remember the time,' Mary
Carr began hesitatingly, hoping fer
vently that she was making no mis-
take, do you remember when you
bought Dick that first pair of little
buttoned shoes?" She glanced quick
ly at Mrs. Hogan and saw an inter.
ested half smile in her eyes.
They were blue shoes, so small and
so cute, but Dick could see nothing
but the shiny buttons. How he did
work at those buttOns-I remember
it so we'll! You could not get him tc
do another thing but poke them this
way and that while he had the shoes
on. And one day, with little gurgle
of triumph, he succeeded in getting
one button off, and thrust it up his
little pink nose as quick as a wink
My, the scurry we were in to get the
doctor! 1t seems like yesterday"
The woman beside her caught hel
breath quickly. There was stran
gled half laugh, half sob, as she buried
: her face in her hands.
"And when he was five, what {
; brave little man he was. He Away:
went for the biggest puddles and the
deepest snoWdrifts. | was with yol
the day you bought him some little
boots. The man assured you tina
they were waterproof. Dick was com
pletely absorbed in counting the boxe!
on the shelves; no one would think hi
heard word But when we came
out, he made straight for the deel
snow at the edge of the walk, ant
what time you had to catch him
By the time you did his feet Wer,
| soaking. Through all your scoldint
; he kept up protesting-'Well, h
said they were waterproof, he said SO
he did; he said they were water
: proof"
She could go no further, for tn,
recollections of those dear, long pas
days had touched the well springs o
tenderness in the stricken mother:
| heart, and Mary Carr knew that fo
the present at least her work wa:
) done. She waited in sympathetic ST
, lence while the storm of grief wore it
: self out.
: It's a proud woman I ought to be,
Mrs. Hogan said at last through he
sobs, proud and glad that Dick hat
a chance to die hero. I'll cry NJ
more 1t won't be long now till we're
together again on the other side, thu
bright, glorious side, where there1l b.
no more tears nor parting. And In
selfish in my sorrow, never asking {
word about Jack You're the BRAY,
one, not whimper out of you abou
, your own burden of fear"
Jacks last letter was bright ant
cheerful. He loves the air service
it's so wonderful, so daringly new
He never seems to think of the dan
ger, just the delight of being up il
the great unexplored spaces wher,
even the birds cannot go, of fightin.
) where men have never fought before
of winning where the chances are 81
thrillingly close. l can see his fac
sometimes as it must look when h
scars up, up, and skins through tn
, air, so free and untrammeled. leavin,
the world behind; his keen glance a
{ he dips in and out, of the clouds cage
J to sight and vanquish an enemy. Di,
; 1--we ever dream, Rose, in our very wild
est flights of fancy, that we SHOULD
r live to see such times as these?"
Mrs. Hogan shook her head
Its hard to believe it isn't all
dream, a terrible, wonderful dream
May the angels guard your Jack, u
| there where only God and themselve
) know the paths"
!, But others had heard of the blow