The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-07-16

the SOU straw boxes WIFI SprdWllne
4 dragons on them; the stranse s-sAted
boxes that seemed to imprison some
thing of their far-away home. All these
Gene would handle and from the pic
lures try to dream what this fair Japan
might be.
Now Father Neacy's thoughts switch
| ed from that Coney amusement park
and the half-grown Gene, musing over
the foreign prizes, and he was back
| on the old pike" 1t was sweltering
August day, and the st. Louis sun
burnt impartially the myriad of World
Fair visitors, the 1anguid Jefferson
| Guards, and the gaudy red-and-gold
temple front of Fair Japan"
Within the concession Missouri
yielded to Nippon. All around hung
series of red-bellied lanterns, and
there stood at every angle blue-and
white cases, long-legged cranes on
their side. Dwarf, gnarled, green furry
trees grew by tiny pebbled walks, and
a tiny camel-back bridge curved grace
fully across to tiny island. Black.
SOAlCu u1luCuS, OClAIy dAu OOAAAAO al
their pleasant-toned kimonas, served
clear tea and frail cakes to those a,
the tables.
At one of these tables sat Gene, the
tall young manager now, and with him
was his assistant. AS they slipped their
tea, young Kotayama was saying:
after the close of the Fair, Mr..
Neacy, when we take these people back
to my own country, you will have to
come along. This" his hand swept the
concession, this is tinsel, you should
see the real gold. I wish you could see
my Nippon in cherry blossom time.
All! then she is Fair JAPAN when
in my own village by the Inland Sea,
the people make procession and the
tomtom beats in the Buddhist temple
to keep away the demon-wolf, and
people crowd to the more popular
Shinto temple"
"Is there a Catholic church there,
Kotayama?" Mr.. Neacy was asking.
I'm Japan, Mr.. Neacy! How very
ridiculous"
Then Father Neacy, as though he
was still carrying on his chance con-
versation with Kotayama-"Poor Ko-
tayama," thought the father, 'it's
twenty years since I last heard from
him"-was saying: Eyes, poor Japan
in cherry blossom time! I'd like to
see it." He opened his eyes, coming
out of his musings and his gaze met
the April landscape; the whole hill,
side was blushing, pink, and white,
down to the waters edge. He closed
his eyes again.
Then Fair Japan and the Inland Sea
receded. For this time Father Neacy
was looking at a husky young Senior,
kneeling in the quiet Boys Chapel at
F'ordham. Kneeling stiffly, for in the
afternoon game he had wrenched his
knee, carrying the ball over the goal
line. AS he knelt there at the Lady
Altar, his look roamed to one of the
stained glass windows. He had seen
it daily at the Boys Mass, yet never
before at sunset hour, when it was not
glass, but a glory.
He knew, of course, the red-bearded
figure, with uplifted cross, was his pat.
ron and favorite. At the foot of the
Saint crouched an Eastern crowd !;
Indian mother and brown child, Chi.
nese mandarin in flowing reds and
greens; but what riveted Gene Neacy's
attention was the pagan boy seated
under the green palm.
Ia IL
yellow, robed in open-throated purple
kimona, but the face of this lad raised
pleadingly to the face of Xavier had
become, in the strong golden light, the
pleading face of little, half forgotten
"Six Dollars" .@ l..
Forgotten were the thanks due to
Our Lady for that football aid: for
gotten was Fordham Chapel, for to
| Gene, looking up also, had come from
the glowing figure of Xavier an in
vitation to come and help satisfy these
countless pleading ones of fair, pagan
Japan.
Something of the great peace that
flooded Genes soul that memorable
evening was with Father Neacy, as he
opened his eyes. .-"H
Below him was the great peace of
the Inland Sea; the smoke of the
Shinyu Maru had disappeared; the
homecoming fishing sampans were be-
ing drawn up in yellow rows On the
beach. Peace brooded over the evening
waters, blue waters, and peace spread
across the lighter blue skies. In the
nearby chapel the bell began ringing,
summoning Father Neacy and MS par
ishioners to Benediction.
With such a sigh as only those may
heave, who feel complete contentment
in their work, Rev. Father Eugene
Neacy reached once more for his neg.
lected book, that lay open in his lap,
and as his eyes fell to the page, once
more he reread the verse of Osee that
had caused this attack of day dreams:
II will draw them with the cords
of Adam, with the bands of love-
Neil Boyton, s. j., in Messenger of
the Sacred Heart.
THE EYES THAT COME FROM