The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-03-26


and do something nice for your won
derfnl Person. I'd likeeto know Him,
too" aht43 s,atG Il
Nurse Hildreth sighed. She hoped
this bright little girl might some day
go into her church, that her loving
nature might expand with the truth
and purity of the beautiful faith. Then
she went about her work and thought
no more of the childish promise.
Daddy Jake knelt with his head
resting upon the altar rail. Many a
prayer had passed his lips, but none
SO piteously earnest as this. Tired,
toil-worn, he was crying for succor
from the God who had never deserted
him.
ooh, God!" he, moaned, almost
aloud. "Must I beg? l have tried SO
hard"
Hot tears forced themselves from
the wide eyes. Daddy Jake had
fought fine fight. Quarter by quar-
ter he had laid away bit from his
meager earnings selling papers. Lit
tie he spent for food, less for his
dingy lodgings, yet all his hoard had
been swept away in one weeks ill
ness. The last cent had gone of me-
cessity to the soup kitchen for the
delicious hot soup and the bread. Not
one cent was left for nights lodging.
ooh, Cod" he whispered hoarsely.
"Send help to me that l may not
beg" m
And the brown hands were stretch.
ed forth appealingly toward the altar,
before which burned the lamp that
meant the Presence of One who is
never deaf to the call of distress.
The door of the vestibule of the
church was pushed softly open. A
little girl with wonderful golden hair
came forward, peering eagerly into
the dim interior, for the setting sun
was casting shadows all about. She
looked around anxiously, and walked
slowly down the aisle.
81 cannot see any Person." she muir
INJURED and then, Dear Sacred Heart
Dear Sacred Heart she said, in a
childish whisper.
There was no answering sound anG
the child hesitated, disappointed, not
knowing what to do. Suddenly hel
eye caught the kneeling figure before
!, the altar, the old, tired face, the
hands held out, suppliantly.
There is the Person." she wits
pered to herself.
Up the aisle she tripped her cheeks
red with excitement and pleasure
Breathless, she reached Daddy Jake's
side. Into his outstretched hand sht
pushed a bill that had been tightly
clutched in her own small palm, ant
with her fresh young lips close TO his
ear she whispered,
Dear Sacred Heart, l am givins
you this money that father gave me
to do anything l wanted with. Yo,
made Nurse Hildreth SO happy b.
granting her request, wanted to giv'
you something. She said you were
here in this little church; SO l cam.
right away when father gave me tn,
money"
To the mans amazed eyes it seem
ed as though the wonderful child
10TH Lu6lCCu away lutO ,LuC dA yDu
it had not. The little girl had slippe'
noiselessly out of the church and ha'
fastened home <toytell Nurse Hildretl
queer, disconnected story of gif
to the old man who was praying.
More than half dazed by it all, Jak
had gone out, bought supply of ever
ing papers, sold everyb one of then
and had gone back to his old lodgings
| A week later Father Rehan, paste
of the little church, heard the quee
tale from Daddy Jake's own lips. TIL
old man had had a week of extraol
binary good fortune in business and h
now proffered a two dollar bill to tn
!, Father. At tAa H.
, Il do not understand it," Dadd
, Jake explained, "but 1 do know tina
God Himself sent the little girl
me. She wanted the money to go
the Sacred Heart, and you, Fathe
will see that it does"
Father Rehan took the offering, an
then there sprung up a friendshi
that drove all the hardships from Dat
dy Jake's life For Father Reha
found a place for him as a caretake
where his home was pleasant and hi
duties light. Till the day he die'
Daddy Jake never forgot to than
God for the little girls gift to the S;
cred Heart of Jesus.