The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-02-07
SWEET REVENGE.

Revenge is mine, saith the Lord.
These are the words of eXhortation
we read in the Holy Book, and no
doubt they are at once inspiring and
terrifying. Yet, we remember how
they proved a source Of consolation
and of great interior JOY to one of the
missionaries among the Flathead.
This good priest came nigh winning
the martyrs crown for his courage
in correcting the faults Of his con-
verts, even those of the very chiefs.
The fact runneth thus:
Ere the removal of the Flathead
from their beloved Bitterroot to the
new agency on the Jocko, Father
D'Aste, S. j., thought it his duty to
reprimand Chief Arlee for some of his
transgressions. Arlee resented this
act and evidently had planned to
harm the missionary. One fine after
noon Father D'Aste left his dwelling
and went out for an inspection Of the
fields. On his return to the gate he
found that Arlee had stealthily crept
along the fence and was standing at
the gate with raised tomahawk in
hand, ready to brain him. Full Of
courage and self-possession, the priest
looked his aggressor boldly in the
face and said: Go ahead, Arlee, do
your work l am not afraid to die"
These words wrought Wonders--Ar
lee dropped his tomahawk and ran
away. Father D'Aste returned quiet
ly to the church, adored the Divine
Saviour in the Tabernacle, and then
turned the key in the front door, leay-
ing the church by the vestry. Toward
shutdown no one heard the peals of the
church bell that usually called the
WOrShiperS to prayer. The Indians
waited and waited. Finally some of
them went 10 the church and found,
TO their surprise, that the door was
locked. Then they went to the mis-
Sionary's residence and asked:
ing prayer?" NO" came the ready
answer Are you going to ring the
bell"' No" was the reply. But why,
Father" Go and ask Arlee,' replied
the missionary.
The next morning no Ange1us bell,
10 sign to call the faithful to morning
prayer and Holy Mass, for Mass was
said quietly behind closed DOORS At
this, another delegation came to in
Quire into the cause Of this strange
action. They received the answer of
the previous evening: Go and ask
ri FThnr0JIn0p n
ing began as to what had happened
and ere long the treacherous action
of Arlee became an open book. Even
ing came and no bell.
The following morning the sun was
high in the heavens and still no bell
was heard But, soon another delega-
ton. marched up to the missionary
residence and humbly asked: Black
gown, what must we do that we may
cnce more enter the church and say
our prayers ?" You know by this time
what has happened replied the mis-
sionary There will be no opening
of church and no prayers until you
bring AEee here and until he begs
pardon for what he has done
Slowly and thoughtfully the delega-
ton returned to the camp. A general
meeting was called and after some
weary hours of deliberation Arlee was
prevailed upon to go along to the
Blackgowns home. There, truly re
pentant, he begged pardon and prom
Used amendment The church bell was
Jllnp and hn entered tn give thanks to
God for the preservation of the life
CT their beloved missionary.
On August So 1889, Father D'Aste
had the happiness of preparing Arlec
for his journey into eternity. 1t gave
him great pleasure to do this. Upon
his return to St Ignatius from Arlee's
ranch, he was heard to say: "Oh!
had sweet revenge todayi gave ths