The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-08-23
Danskin, evidently racked with apprs.

Safe and sound, madam" came
from twenty voices, and a moment
later she claspod her little ones in her
arms.
Father DAILY had been doing his
best, by lodging behind the carriage,
to get away unobserved, but Mr.. Dan
skin discovered him just after he had
been told how the priest had risked
his life to save his child Rushing
over to him he silently pressed both
of his hands. Words are expression
of thought, but sometimes the thought
is too large for the words. Father
Daily understood this and returned
the pressure without a word. He did
not do so well with Mrs. Danskin, for
that lady seized his sooty hands and
covered them with kisses.
Finally, escaping, he remembered
there was by-path running parallel
with the road; by taking this he would
be safe from any more congratula-
tons. AS he strobe along making all
the speed he could, he looked at HIM
self. His coat was torn, his trousers
scorched, his hands smeared with
SCOT. He could very we'll imagine
! what his face looked like!
I'm in fine shape to receive
Bishop" he said to himself, ruefully.
i Il would be elected member of
society of tramps without the slight
est difficulty on the strength of my
present appearance"
He was striding along at his best
! gait when there came through the still
air the sound of a distant locomotive
! whistle. 1t startled him.
THE Bishops train!" he calculated.
| Il can never meet him at the station,
but some one will surely direct him
to the house. l will meet him there"
After half-hour's brisk walk he
came in sight of the house, to find
man in priestly garb walking up and
down the porch. AS Father DAILY
unloosened the gate-latch, the Bishop
, walked down briskly to meet him.
| The priest looked just once at his
superior's face and all his uneasiness
| fled. No man with two such kindly
gray eyes in his head and such d
!
but lovable.
| He made his obeisance while the
Bishop said cheerily:
II am very glad to meet you, Father
DAILY
| II doubt if Your Lordship will ever
meet dirtier PRIEST"
Il heard all about it at the station"
said the Bishop. "a man on horse
back rode up and told us the whole
story. By the way, / want some of
that soot,' and he rubbed the priests
face with his finger and then rubbed
the finger over his hand-"thats
brave SCOT and it may get into my
blood and make me better man than
l am"
Plenty of water and soap and the
deft welding of Mrs. McCarthy's
needle made the priest fairly present
able. and he and his visitor passed
delightful evening. Mrs. Mccarthy
was no boaster. She served up sup
per that was evidently to the Bishops
taste for he compIimented her on it.
Good fortune smiled on the parish
the next day. The weather was ideal.
the High Mass was we'll attended, and
the Confirmation services passed with
out a hitch. Furthermore, the Bishop
was we'll pleased with what he saw
and generous in his allowance for
what could not be helped Directly
after Mass they sat down to dinner,
as the Bishop was to depart on the
train which left at half-past three.
Before the meal had ended man
came to the house bearing a letter
addressed to Father Daily The priest
opened it and after reading it, handed
it to the Bishop without a word. 1t
ran as follows:
My dear Father DAILY:
Il shall not thank you for saving
the life of my child al the risk of your
own. The proper words come not to
me and l abandon the effort in
despair l had a talk with one of
your parishioners this morning-Mr.
lNugent-and have made the following
arrangements which I hope will be
acceptable to you:
81 have directed Mr.. Budd. the
builder, to put new roof on your
church and to repair any other defects
that may exist about the edifice or
your house. l have also arranged
with Mr.. Colby, the painter, to paint
the church inside and out, under your
direction. The cost of both under
takings is to be charged to me.
During the few moments of our
meeting last evening | could not fail
to see that your habiliments had SUI
fered much from exposure to the
flames. So Mr.. Snapp will call on you
for your measure for new suit of
clothes, the selection being left to
you. This is also at my expense, of
course.
you know that | am no lover of
churches, and l have been especially
opposed to yours; but am compelled
to say that any Church which teaches
it's servitors to risk their lives TO save
the lives of others must have a much
firmer foundation than superstition or
credulity. Yours faithfully,
JOHN DANSIIIN."
i Il congratulate you, Father DAILY"
said the Bishop, handing back the let
ter, although it is no more than you
deserve. Furthermore, as the spirit
OF prophecy is upon me, I believe that
in a fpU wars Won nr coypo ntha,.