The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-06-14
WHERE THE HOME FIRES
BURNED.

There were very few of the mem
bers of Saint Annes Sodality in Saint
Barbara's parish who had not a son
in the army. Father Macy had
grown quite accustomed to giving his
instructions at the bi-monthly meet
ings to the accompaniment of clicking
knitting needles, flashing in swiftly
moving fingers. He had watched
balls of khaki and gray yarn grow,
under clever manipulation, into gar
ments of soldierly proportions until
he felt that he could make a sweater
himself, or a pair of socks, or he'll
met, with his eyes shut.
Those clever fingers that so seldom
rested, had a beauty that all the mani
curing in the world could never give
them. They were toil-worn and rough
ened with daily home tasks, but the
love that animated them lent them
lightness and grace.
Father Macy found them won
derful inspiration, that little group of
silently knitting women. He had a
hard fight sometimes to keep a sob
out of his voice as he talked to them,
of Catholic truths and doctrines, of
human faults and failings, of God and
His saints and angels, of that other
Mother whose sacrifice overshadowed
| theirs. " ~:
He always knew when there had
been mail from overseas, even when
he was late and so missed the rap
turous, I've had a letter, Father"
"a letter. meant but one thing in
those days, a message long on the
| way, overwhelmingly brief, from that
place of conflict, where some terrible,
nameless thing was being fought out
between the mightiest armies the
world had ever known.
Mrs. Dignan's son was in the ar
tillery. Mrs. Dignan was big, slow
moving woman with dark, still eyes.
1t was very evident that she did not
hear all that one said to her, that her
thoughts were far away.
Seven others had given their hearts
dearest to the marines, and fifteen
more scanned the daily papers for
every word about the movements of
the infantry. The only son of only
one had chosen and been accepted for
that new, hazardous, daring service,
the fighting above the clouds. His
mother apparently was the lightest
hearted there. To look at Mrs. Carrs
smiling face one would think she had
not care in the world. She seemed
very young to be the mother of big
Jack Carr 1t afforded the young
aviator much amusement while at
training camp, to have the other boys
inform him that his big sister was
looking for him. Their surprise when
he sought them out later and intro
duced the big sister as his mother
he took as a personal triumph, and
that amused his mother.
Its because Jacks been such a
marvellous son that l have no gray
hair or wrinkles she told them
And indeed their devotion was evil
dent and enviable.
Today as the meeting broke up into
a little social gathering, Mary Carr
moved about among the others, chat
ting gaily, and if her voice trembled
ever so slightly in answering an in
quiry for Jack, she covered it quickly
with a laugh.
81 didn't see you at the concert
Mrs. Railton, and l was afraid you
we're ill., I'm glad my fears were un
founded 1t was wonderful success
the concert. We must have made
over three thousand. And have you
heard that the Sisters at the Orphan
age have insisted on dividing the pro
ceeds with the War Camp Fund
That's patriotism for you,-with al
their anxiety about ways and means
Its grand indeed, and I'm glad
bought tickets. But | didn't go
though | was we'll enough, in way
Sure l can't enjoy music any more
All can hear is the tramp, tramp OF
marching armies. 1t haunts me day
and night
well, but it's victorious army
ours Shame on you, Mrs. Railton
Such gloom, with letter from Tom
in your pocket"
"'Twas written on the third and
this is the thirty-first. God knows
God knows what's happened since
then"
Most likely what's happened since
is that Tom has been given an oppor
tunity to prove what big-hearted
brave boy he is, and been promoted
Maybe you're right, maybe you
are" Mrs. Railton heaved a sigh
but her eyes were brighter.
They were bustling about, preparing
to serve the refreshments when a
newsboys excited voice without, cry,
ing, 'Uxtry, uxtry, all about de casu.
alties!" brought them to a standstill.