The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-05-14

other world, and sometimes we little
fellows used to think there were an
gels lowering around her. She never
spoke of her past, although we often
wished she would tell us something
about herself. OF a determination
that might almost amount to stubborn
ness, in the end, she usually led one
to feel that she was right.
"She coaxed the pupils to do the
things, her way, until, before we knew
it, Sister Maria Teresa's views of
life, people and things were coloring
all our own.
"She had become an influence in
our lives-a power in the school. I
remember SO well when she first
came, and how the older boys had
tried to torment her, as all boys will.
She never said a reproving word, but,
oh, she looked her displeasure! All
we got for several days was steady
piercing glance which seemed to read
every thought in our hearts. We
weren't used to that sort of EYE dis
cipline,' so it's effect was not the most
satisfactory.
Zone day we we're more unruly than
usual. She was drawing at the board
when suddenly she turned and in a
low, scornful and indignant tone,
said: Boys, act fairly! Don't you
know it is one of the meanest things
you can do, to talk when my back is
turned, or when I am out of the
room?' Then she told us in a few
chosen words what she wanted in the
line of conduct, giving us her ideal
of manly boy, and ended thus:
Children, there are men, living today,
who would rather you would kill them
than accuse them of dishonorable
action. Aim to belong to that class
That was all, but never were her
words forgotten by any boy in the
room. She resumed her work quietly
and a hush fell over us. She had
revealed herself at last.
when she was sent to far-distant
mission, Sister Maria Teresa carried
away with her the purest love OF
childish hearts, though I don't think
she ever half guessed how much we
did admire her. l never saw hel
since. This picture | coaxed from the
Reverend Mother some years ago. AS
a little act of homage to the memory
of one who stands on high mountain
apart, and, even more. as result OF
an outburst of artistic fancy, l am
endeavoring to paint Sister Maria
Teresa as I imagine she used to be
as girl, in her beautiful Southern
home.
But now, here is the strange part
| of my story. You remember -four
years ago spent the winter in Cuba
| While stopping at hotel / met 9
Cuban who, learning Of my fondness
for horses, often took me for Ions
drives behind his ponies. One day he
invited me to visit friend with him
rich planter who had recently pur
chased large shipment of American
horses. This man proved to be yer!
genial fellow, and, during the course
of our conversation, he announced hi
intention of trying his trotters thu
following week Naturally, he invited
us to witness the races; so, on thu
following Thursday, found myself
with my Cuban friend and our host
seated on camp chairs, watching /;
most exciting race between four beau
tiful gray horses, two of them Ameri
can bred.
you may be sure that my enthus
iasm knew no bounds when l saw on
horses first keep. neck to neck witt
the others, then dash gloriously ahead
1t seemed as if they realized that tn
honor of the United States was their
to defend. l soon found my anima
ton quite equally shared. by Cuban
seated directly in front of me. Sud
denly he turned and, addressing me il
very good English, said: You ough
to be very proud, Senior, of your coun
try OF course, am I replie'
warmly.
when formally introduced, I foun
that the young man had never visite'
the States. Because of a whim of hi
fathers, he had acquired all hi
knowledge of English in school il
London, but he hoped in the nea
future to visit an aunt, Sister o
Mercy, living in California In sue
den burst of confidence, he said
Father has never forgiven your cour
try-women for stealing my aunt from
us. She was his youngest and favor
lite sister. When she returned t
Cuba, aftel an absence of three years
at New York school, her heart re
NAMED in the convent where she lief
it. Two years of coaxing and prayin
followed, till at last she succeeded il
winning fathers consent to let her be
come a num- We all missed her, TO
she was everybody's chum. She coul
ride and shoot as well as any of he
fathers friends. She could sing, play
and dance divinely, and oh, how sh
loved the races! No one, who eve
knew her merry girlhood, would eve
think of her becoming a nun; but sh
is very happy, SO she writes. AnC
indeed, she IS doing world of goo
where she is, and we feel that he
prayers are blessing us now
az know not why, unless it be tina
attended a school taught by the ST:
tiers of Mercy-but your story remind
, me of an old friend of mine-he
name was Sister Maria Teresa
"'Why. that ia my aunt'S name i