The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-08-23

Eay-loft and was badly injured, in
fact, was in great danger of death.
Father DAILY was asked to come I'M
Mahony lived on a farm quite a dir
lance from the village and Father
Daly's jaeger wagon was out of COM
mission. At that time it reposed in
front of the blacksmith's shop, prob
ably exchanging condolences with
other disabled veterans of the road
The only thing to do was to go afoot.
Not that Father DAILY thought over
much of that On such call he would
have waded through deep snow or
braved pouring rainstorm, and,
after all, the distance was only three
miles, with fairly good road and a
day that was all that could be desired
The distance did not give him any
concern, for he was as vigorous as a
plowman, but could he return in time
to receive his visitor? On no account
must he fail to meet the Bishop at
the railroad station. He felt conf
dent, however, that he could go to and
return from the Mahony farm in time
so he started out bravely afoCt.
Father Daily was devoted lover OF
nature, and to a man with such
inclinations the journey was delight
full. The sky was cloudless, the sun,
while warm, was not oppressive and
previous shower had made the road
firm and settled the dust. Bright
hued birds darted among the trees
and trilled their melodies. A red
headed woodpecker on a dead tree,
spying the passer, tapped a shrill
alarm to the denizens of the woods
and fields that a stranger was nigh.
All these movements and sounds were
interesting to the priest, and he
nodded to the woodpecker as if he
recognized an old friend.
He was now passing the home of
John Danskin, the wealthiest man in
the village. Noted for his hostility
to all churches. he especially disliked
the Catholic religion, which he derided
as being non-progressive and super
stitious. Father DAILY remembered
with a good-natured smile his COM
parison of him to "an amiable horse
attached to an out-of-date wagon, with
out the courage to break loose and go
free
1t was a beautiful home, set in the
profusion of flowers surrounding it.
and Father DAILY gave it his full need
of admiration as he passed
Presently he saw through the trees
house, and, mending his pace, he soon
stood within it's doors. To his great
relief he found that Mahony, while
badly hurt by his fall, was not in
immediate danger of death The doc
tor, who was in attendance, said that,
internal injury developed later, he
would likely recover. Father DAILY
administered the consultations of
religion to the injured man and then.
in that CHEEKY fashion that SO en-
deared him to his people, comforted
his wife and children in their mis-.
| fortune
But time was flying, and it wa
necessary to go at once if he expected
to meet his engagement without walk
| ing with unseemly haste. Mahony'H
| son wanted to take the horse from
the pillow and drive Father DAILY home
in the wagon, but the priest would
not permit it,
"I'll have plenty of time to reach
the station before four O'clock" he
said, "and don't mind walking. You
had better remain with your mother
in case anything should happen"
He set out with brisk stride, al
| though he felt that haste was not
| necessary. In fact, he could not resist
the temptation to pause amusedly to
view the antics of gray squirrel
| which, perched on branch, querulous
| ly barked his protest against being
| observed.
Just before he reached the Danskin
home loud. excited shouting, comine
from the direction of the house, fell
upon the priests ears. Fastening his
steps by the thick copse of under
growth which intercepted his view
he was Mortified upon reaching the
open, to see that the house was. Oh
fire. Volumes of smoke were pouring
through the roof and windows while
long tongues of flames shot through
| the murk
| Father Daily vaulted over the fence
with the agility of a sixteen-year-ol(
boy and ran at full speed towards the
house. There were some twenty OF
more people running around frantic
ally. all anxious to help, but entirely
disorganiZed and in each others way
A man had dashed off on horseback tC
summon the fire-engine, but the fire
system of the village was a volunteer
one and it was impossible to reach
the members and get them together
in time to be of any service The few
| feeble attempts made to extinguisf
the flames with buckets from the
followed a wild effort to rescue the
contents of the house. Valuable arti
cles of furniture were dragged to the
porch and then toppled on the ground
where they lay broken and useless
1t was into this crowd of hysterica
women and willing but unresourcefu
men that Father DAILY rushed, and ir
a few minutes from the babel OF
| tongues he had extracted the facts