The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-07-09
stitutions and Matters Of Educational Interest

a person still more slow; that is--slow
for China. And even you yourself,
Father, have fallen into our way Of
thinking. You take your time now,
too"
Il have to, unfortunately. in some
ways, Tschang. Conversions are not
at all as rapid as / would wish. We
| never get back lost time, and we do
not live always, you know"
THAT is true, Father" replied
Tschang. very true. And it re-
minds me of something that ] have
| been thinking of these last few days.
Our friend, Lao Wang. is not yet
baptized"
| Eyes, I was to see him the other
day. He mentioned the question of
| baptism. He says he knows all his
| catechism by heart now. I too him
that was necessary, but not suffi-
cient. gave him to understand that
his continued absence from the in
structions pleases me little, and that
baptism would not be given him un-
less he promised to attend them for
one whole year after he would be
baptized"
| did he promise?"
Eyes, in a half-hearted way. But
I'm not at all satisfied. / pointed out
that he is giving disedification to the
other catechumens. and that it would
be better for him to leave the village
than continue as he is at present
How the whole thing will wind up
do not know. His wife is a good
Catholic now. His children are al
baptised. But something is telling me
that he is not all right. There is q
secret somewhere if could only gel
at the bottom of it. Let us smoke
Tschang, and soothe our thoughts"
4 We were both silent for few
moments. I was watching the huge
curls of smoke slowly winding ou
of Tschangs pipe. 1t was a treat tt
see the enjoyment the old man evi
IDENTIFY drew from the long reed.
"A visitor to see you, Father,
yelled little Ting, my ianitor, Office
boy, sacristan and cook, and anythin,
else you like, all rolled into one
| Ting had hardly his message deliver
, ed when the stranger walked into thu
| room. / saw at a glance he was not ;
| Christian. He stood up straight. bu
kept silent, and showed none of tn,
familiarity with which one of oui owl
people greet a Catholic priest.
I babe him welcome to the mission
house and introduced my Catechist
He lost no time in coming to the pun
pose of his visit
II come in search of one of you
Christian people. Will you be goo,
enough to tell me where am to fin,
him?"
'His name?" I asked.
els Wang"
Il | looked instinctively towards m
) Catechist, and found his eyes fixe
, on me attentively. Was the myster
! going to be cleared up? The exchang
! of glances did not pass unnoticed b
! the stranger.
II "It is true" I answered, there
. a man in my parish named Wang
But / think you are somewhat misir
Z formed. He is not Christian. An
while he had been at times under il
' struction, he has never been res
!. ular pupil at the classes, nor does b
v show even at present any great zee
v towards the Church which his wifi
= has embraced. Is this the man 20
n want?"
Y AS spoke these words sligI
\ smile seemed to cross the face of m
J. visitor.
= $50 he took the safe side," he sal
softly and half to himself. "But
does not matter now. Will you b
good enough to direct me to hi
e house?"
e I brought him outside and pointe
v to certain house down the villag
v showing him the dwelling place of til
subject of our evenings conversation
s He thanked me and went on his wa.
well, Tschang, what do you max
of it? The coincidence is peculiar
say the least"
I'VE will soon know" he said, a
he hobbled off.
Next morning was coming OF
of the church after Mass when sa
Wang waiting for me outside my doc
His wife was with him.
Il WELL" said /, in slightly |
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