The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-05-15
A MANS MOTHER.
--Exchanss.


honor of the Christ Child
A young MOTHER tWining sprays of
holly around the group of Bethlehem
smiled tenderly on her own child, safe
and warm in his fathers house.
Light the candles, little son." she
repeated, and the boy obeyed glee.
fully, touching the candles into flames
until the cross in the background
emerged from the shadow with its
anguished dropping figure.
Poor Cod" murmured the little
one, in sweet compassion. But the
next moment his eyes turned towards
the radiant crib, and his voice rose
eXultantly:
This is the night to get things
What will the Christ Child bring me,
mammal"
Let us ask him for what we want
most" the mother made answer, as
she drew the boy to his knees and
babe him make the sacred sign she
had taught him.
The boys wants were many and am.
bilious and he named them over loudly
and boldly, as one who would not be
denied. Listening to the demands and
watching the eager, uplifted face, the
mother knew that an impetuous,
stormy soul had been given to her
care. Perhaps that was why her own
petition was the prayer:
Dear Christ Child, keep my chill
dren good"
You didn't ask anything for your
self, mamma" he clamored, as she
led him away. Don't you want any
thing"
Il want something very great and
beautiful" she said. And | asked for
SON.
Again the tall Christmas candles
burned in honor of the Christ Child;
| the agoniZed figure on the cross stood
out in the yellow light, and the sprays
Of holly made bower around the
group of Bethlehem. Other hands haG
placed them there. The mother who
| had asked for the best of all gifts
was going from her children. AnC
again she prayed:
Dear Christ Child, keep them
! good"
The brooding tenderness of grea1
| love shOne in her eyes as she looked
upon them. For her girls she was
not afraid, nor for little Tom, hel
baby. But Gerald, her eldest born
the little boy who had boldly made
his plea that other Christmas eve
Her mOther-heart was troubled for hin
in the hour of parting. His mother
alone knew the depths of his nature
the knowledge made her fear to leave
him. Passionate, ambitious, reaching
out already for a mans freedom AM
achievements, her boy needed her nov
more than ever. His father did no
understand.
you will be patient, john" sh
asked wistfully, yet confident of hi
answer. He had never refused he
anything in all the years of their hap
Ply married life, and he would not fai
her now. A closer pressure of tn
hand he held in his own treasured an,
comforted her-he would be all tina
a father could.
And you, Gerald, dear boy?"
The youth kneeling beside her burs
into bitter weeping. 1t was not alon
the grief of impending loss tina
weighed upon him; there was tn
poignant memory of the sorrow h
had caused her. She would neve
know how penitent he was; how nue.
he loved her. Vainly he tried to tel
her, but only the old familiar promis
of childhood came to his lips:
81 will be good, mamma. Oh, dal
ling mammal" And for the last tim
the mother listened and smiled.
How had the promise been kept? /
man with gray in his hair answere
the question as the train sped home
ward. Home for Christmas! H
spread his hands, palms outward. 1
little boy had done that long ago, ask
ing eagerly: care they clean, man
MAJ" Tonight man answered tn
question himself.
Clean, mother" he said "You
4 boy couldn't go far wrong. You
prayer followed me-"