The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-04-15
1.-THE
CHILDREN'S HOUR
A CLEAN SHEET.

Father Murphy had had long day.
1t was New Years Eve, and all eve
ming the church had been filled with a
never ceasing stream OF folk, old and
young. Outside, the snow fell heavi-
ly, and the priests lids closed wear.
lily but contentedly over his still
bright dark eyes. The heat of the
blazing logs warmed his old bones,
stiff from the long hours of the con-
fessional, and pleasant kind Of semi
stupor took possession of his tired
frame. .a
A loud knock at the street door
reused his dormant faculties, and
chill blast of air, penetrating the
chinks of the parlor door, caused him
to draw his chair closer to the CHEEKY
fire. A mans deep tones, fraught
with an underlying current of anx-
iety, caught his ear, and Immediately
after, the well-known voice of his
housekeeper rang out with note of
shrill reproof.
mo, you can't see him! There he
is, dog tired after his days work, and
the moment he gets the chance of a
few seconds rest someone has to
come and disturb him. I wonder how
you'd like it yourself to be called out
on night like this, and you dead-tired
and frozen stiff as poker. Be off,
tell you, for l won't bring your mes
sage to him"
The priest rose from his chair, and
opened the parlor door. who is it,
Nary" he called in a gentle voice.
LET him come into the heat of the
fire at any rate"
The 'housekeeper snorted indignant
ly as she reluctantly held open the
door to allow the caller to enter. and
the bang that followed his admittance
showed the extent of her outraged
feeling.
Il wash my hands of you, Father
Pat she told the priest angrily. I'll
try to mind you no longer, and you
can go to the grave if you've mind
to. | try to make you comfortable
for the few minutes you have in the
house, and as sure as | think | have
you safe, in comes any Tom, Dick or
Harry, and off you go in the snow
and slush to get your end at some
sick bedside, moyrah!" And with a
glare at the intruder, she flounced
down the little hall.
The priest held the door open, in
vitingly. Come in,' he said courte-
ously, "and don't mind Mary. Her
tongue is the worst part of her, and
she can't bear that 1 should be dis
turbed when she thinks I'm tired"
A mans figure advanced from the
shadows, and, as he came within ra-
dius of the freight, the priest saw
that he was tall and broad-shouldered,
with an honest open face, and eyes
that twinkled and shone with a
roguish CLEAN. But the face was
slightly overcast, and the deep voice
trembled as if with suppressed anxi-
ETY..
Il know it's an unconscionable
hour to make call, Father, but am
in a darned bad fix. l expect I'd bet
ter introduce myself and make things
a bit clearer.
perhaps you've heard of me,
Father, some folks have. My name is
John E. Sheridan. Yes, the boxer
| this in answer to the look of inquiry
| in the old priests eyes-"I've a friend
who is dying" the tremble in the
voice was slightly more perceptible
now-"and he's in a bad way. We
| haven't met for years, Father, and
| when l ran across him he had come
through a spell of real bad luck.
bitter against God Almighty, and he
| don't seem inclined to make it up be-
fore he dies. He'll get the call to
| hand in his checks before morning
| Father, sure-so there isn't much time
to lose. have the car outside, so il
it wouldn't"
Before he could finish the question
the priest was already off to make
ready for the sick call. When they
reached the car it was showing hard
| and the wind whistled round theil
ears with biting sharpness
| AS they skinned over the frosty
ground, the priest gazed at the big
| figure beside him, noting the square
cut of the jaw, and the fine deter
mined chin. Even as he looked, the
honest eyes were turned to his.
ITS going to be tough job. Fa
Their. Jimmy don't want to go to con
fession. / expect it's kind of hare
after all those years. But he's moi
bad sort, is poor oh Jimmy, anG
I'm not going to let old Nick have hin
if 1 can help it. But here we are
Father. Mind the STEP"
The two assembled the steps of the
hotel, and as they entered the pala
tial hall, the priests mind grew full
of admiration for the man at his side
who had brought his poor, shabby
down-at-the-heel friend to die in thu
midst of luxury such as this.
The lift brought them rapidly tt
the floor where the room of the dying
man was situated, and as they enter
ed the door of the ante-chamber the
boxer whispered few quick words il
the priests ear.
have bo eo;<J