The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1951-12-21
Trust Arthur
CONTINUED From Page 49,

elite group of fourth, fifth anc
sixth graders who were beine
groOmed for their first big per
formance at Easter-were to make
their first flight at the Christmas
play. Monsignor had long pleaded
for boys choir. They had improy
ed nightly under Sister Gerald
ines vigilant drilling. Though the
critical period was not yet safely
past, the first week in December
brought the clinching argument
six large boxes containing cassocks
and surplices, and a beaming Mon.
slgnor. Sister Geraldine unpacked
the choir robes nth Monsignor
looking on. She counted out the
size 14'S, checking the order slip
the l2s, the los all there. And
at the bottom was another-she
took it out and held it up. But,
Monsignor," she protested, "it's so
tiny! We haven't any boys that
small in the choir!l That would be
too small for anyone but first
grader"
Il know" he said, beaming help
fully. Il couldn't resist it, and Mr..
Flanagan finally gaze it to me.
Maybe you could put in a first
grader or something? Sisters can
always figure those things out"
Whose idea it was nobody could
remember afterwards, but some
one suggested that a tiny boy be
dressed and put with the choir-at
one end of the first row, perhaps
and then, at the end, step for
ward and convey The wishes of
peace and good will to the audi
ence and present the spiritual bou
quet to Monsignor. The part called
for a very small boy, with a loud,
clear voice, and sufficient nerve.
The unanimous choice was Arthur.
80, as the consequence of his catch
ing a mouse, Arthur was daily
drilled for his part in the play.
He would have enjoyed this dis
tinction much more if he could
have shared it; but there was no
one who seemed to care-his moth
er was too busy, his father away
much of the time, and none of his
classmates had a part in the play
The play was scheduled for the
last school day before Christmas.
In expectation of Iast-minute
scrubbing and costuming, and in
the hope that the children would
take a nap so they could stay
awake for the performance, school
was dismissed at noon. Arthur.
who had gift to deliver in the
first-grade room, dallied too long
in an agony of indecision about
proper presentation speech and
missed his bus. He saw its orange
bulk swinging away around the cor
ner as he turned TO 60 into the
first-grade room. Well, he could
walk home; he was big and strong,
a slayer of mice and the protector
OF helpless women and children.
Speechlessly he grinned up at sis
ter Madonna and held out bright
package.
"Now, isn't that good of you to
me, Arthur" she said.
Here | thought you'd gone on
home and didn't even say Merry
"You can open the present now
II you want to-" he said.
Il certainly do" Sister Madonna
him. But it's wrapped up
20 nicely that l hate to unite it. /
Did your mother wrap it?"
"oh, no." Arthur said hastily. II
did, But Brigid did the bows Il
I'm not very good on bows"
Sister Madonna unwrapper care
fully. After the first layer of pa
per she knew the origin of the /
large blue spot on Sister Angus
lines sleeve: some kind of a bali
point pen, leaking atrociously. Re-
1eaied, ii was gilt-covered one,
.hick with glass jewels. If these
had been genuine, it could have 4
meant no more to the wistful-eyed \
'hiid who stood looking up at her;
10 she rallied and professed her
elf as having hungered for years N
or "just such pen" AS Arthur
vent out. trailing clouds of olhrv