The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-04-01

Lettie employed herself for the most
part in silent prayer, her lips NOV
ing continually as she recited the ros-
airy, or her eyes fastened on the statue
of the Madonna in the yard, as she
INDUCED in mental prayer. Endowed
by Providence with the gift of medi-
tation, this young girl welcomed the
opportunity for thinking at length up
on the things of the spiritual world.
However, although Lettie at times
was so engrossed in revery that she
performed her tasks with the move
ments of an automaton, after all she
was merely human, and try as she
might she could not persevere every
minute of the day in her pious Occu-
patton. AT times her eyes would roam
towards the large stone house direct
ly opposite the hospital, and Lettie
found herself constantly wondering
who lived there, or rather what were
the lives of the people who lived there.
She had been told by one of the Sis
tiers at the infirmary that an old
Colonel and his man-servant resided
across the way, but up to the pres
ent she had never yet seen a single
person either go in or come out of
the house. She gradually acquired an
intense, childlike curiosity about this
house and it's occupants.
Il think it's funny, Sister; don't
you, that nobody ever comes out OF
there she said to nun one day,
''They sure are strange folks"
Colonel Lavedan is retired officer
my child and l think he's an invalid
Perhaps that's why we never see
him."
But doesn't his servant ever go ia
get something to eat or anything
else?" -
| yes, / suppose So
well, I've never seen him."
Nor either, dear. Perhaps he uses
the back alley. dare say that is
what he does"
Well, even so, Lettie didn't see why
it was that somebody wouldn't some
times use the front entrance.
Perhaps they will put a holly
wreath in the window at Christmas
time" suggested the Sister.
That was a good idea, thought the
Iyoung girl, for it would betoken some
association with the outside world
and perchance give her a peep a
either the old gentleman or his at
Itendant. -
AS days wore on, the little door
keeper in her hetween-prayers inter
walls INDUCED in all manner of fancie!
regarding the residence across thu
lstreet. The thought of the lonely ole
Colonel by himself in that great hous'
appealed strongly to her sense of thu
Unusual and romantic. At times he
imagination changed the abode int
la woodland retreat far away in nc
where; often it became coy hut il
"a forest of dreams: sometimes it tool
on palatial proportions; once it be
lcame an ivy clad cloister on the sun
my slopes of the sea. Most of thu
thine, however. it was just itself, a BIZ
Lonesome looking residence; but. oh
so different from that little red bricl
apartment house in which she ha,
been born and raised. F..
4 One afternoon when her curiosit,
was at high tide, Lettie had a happ,
thought: she would include the oil
Colonel in her prayers.
YES" she smiled to herself, II vii
either pray him into Heaven or l vii
pray him out of that house." .
So as time wore on she fngere
many a decade for the unsuspectin
old gentleman of exIbarrack days.
Christmas was drawing near. Lett
had not forgotten the nuns sugge'
ton that maybe the Colonel woul
hang up a holly wreath in one of hi
, Windows during the glad season. Fac
day now, as the 25th of Decembe
: crept nearer and nearer, she woul
4 watch eagerly for the appearance {
I the greenery But, no, the expecte
; did not take place, and Christmas Ey
u arrived with the windows still cold
: staring the world in the face, til
1 pallid beauty of their rich lace Gu
;, tains unheightened by any color.
At one minute past six on the a
II niversary of the eve of the Infant
7 Firth, little Lettie hurried out of tt
,, great hospital on her way home. 81
u was extremely happy. for the de;
/ nuns had told her to return that Mig
at nine to get the gifts which the
" had purchased for her. So, the b
u heart in the little body beat fast no
. with expectation and the little IA
: turned playfully to the cold mig
u wind, as the little feet kicked joyful
e through the snow. AS she reached Il
street Lettie halted abruptly al
looked up at the house opposite he
1t was dark, very dark.
. poor old man." said the girl alou
lsympathetically.
g. But it was Christmas Eve and Ii
IS tie was young; so a minute later 81
N was well on her way home, singh
Al the melody of the Christmas hymn
[e but rendering her own original trar
r. lation to the effect that Mice Dest
e Daley, lady cries and fancies.''
It A big hug to dear little mother al
n an hour and half of witchery
,e front of the kitchen stove, and L,
t. tie was once more back in the street
If skimming along on her way to Il
d. hospital to receive the presents
,e 1.-THE nuns. This time. however, 81
Is WAS so intent upon her thoughts al
plans that she forgot to look up