Bolax, Imp or Angel—Which?

by Lester Chadwick

  CHAPTER XIII.

  UNFORSEEN EVENTS.

  After all the exercises had been performed, Mrs. Allen and the childrenbade farewell to the Sisters, and Reverend Mother gave them a pressinginvitation to visit the Convent often.

  When our friends reached Midville Station, Papa Allen was waiting forthem with the carriage, which soon brought them to "Home, Sweet Home,"as Bo sung out, when he saw Aunt Lucy, Uncle Dick and Hetty standing atthe gate.

  Bo hugged every one, including Don, when that, too demonstrative beastgave him a chance to notice any one but his own dogship.

  Uncle Dick declared he never again would complain of noise for "thehouse has been like a desert without our harum-scarum."

  Amy and her brother kept together as much as possible during theremainder of the summer. The pony chaise was in demand every afternoon,and the children always invited a few of their friends to enjoy a drivewith them.

  One day Mrs. Allen filled a basket with roses, which she gave to Amy,saying: "I wonder if you and Bolax wouldn't like to take these up toGrandma Barton." Allie Thornton, who was present, asked: "Is she yourreal Grandma?" "Oh, no," answered Amy; "she is a poor old lady, nearlyblind, to whom Mamma sends things; we love to go to see her." "Let mecarry the basket to the chaise; it feels quite heavy," remarked Estelle.

  "Very likely Mamma has placed a pot of jelly under the flowers," saidAmy. "My mother says that when we bestow a gift we make it doublyacceptable by giving it in a graceful manner. This old lady has norelatives to look after her, she has a son, but she does not know wherehe is. Mamma says it is pitiful to hear the poor soul talk of that son,how she prays for him and hopes he will come back to her before shebecomes entirely helpless." "I just hope God will punish that son!"exclaimed Bo. "Father Anthony says anyone who is cruel to his parentswill have no luck in this world and be everlastingly punished in thenext." "Dear brother, don't hope evil for any one, rather let us praythat the heartless son may be inspired to think of his dear old motherand return to her." Just here a bend of the road brought them upon alittle cottage of the romantic order, overgrown with woodbine, in whichGrandma had a room. The dear old lady greeted the children heartily,thanking them for the flowers. "Take seats, my dears; oh, not therechild, that is Velvet Ear's chair," and Bolax sprang aside just in timeto save himself from sitting upon a tiny skye-terrier.

  "Are you well this morning?" asked Amy. "Oh, very well, dear," answeredGrandma.

  After a few more pleasant remarks the children bid good-bye, thengetting into the cart drove leisurely along the road.

  Suddenly there was a thunder-clap, and a dark cloud appeared where thesun had shone a moment before.

  "Drive as fast as you can, Brother; I fear we will be drenched!" whileshe was speaking, the rain poured down. Bo knowing how easily his sistertook cold, divested himself of his jacket and put it around her. "BenBolt" seemed to take in the situation and got up a speed he had neverbefore shown. When they reached home all were soaked. Estelle laughedabout her plight, but Bo hurried his sister into the house, where hismother and aunt soon had her in a warm bath, then to bed with a cup ofhot lemonade, hoping thus to ward off the consequences of such a severedrenching.

  In a few days Amy began to cough. Dr. Carroll looked serious when askedif the cough would last long.

  In ten days the child grew rapidly worse, and Mrs. Allen sent for herhusband, who was on one of his Western trips. He came home to find hislittle daughter so ill, that her life was almost despaired of. Bravelythe doctors fought against the dread disease which they feared would endfatally, although they managed to ward off the danger for a time.

  The Sisters came up from the Convent to see the dear child and try toconsole her father and mother.

  We will have all our children and sisters pray if it be God's will tospare your beloved one.

  AMY'S DEATH.

  It is a sweet October morning, a tender mist, gray in the distance,rose-colored and golden where the rays of light strike it more directly,envelopes the landscape; the trees are decked in holiday attire--green,russet, orange and scarlet.

  On a couch placed near the window reclines the meek patient sufferer.Aunt Lucy stands near, Hetty kneels beside her "baby" with a cup of beeftea trying to coax her to swallow a few spoonfuls.

  "Hetty, dear, don't force me, I am not hungry." "My blessed angel dotake just a few drops for your old Hetty."

  Amy heeded not, her thoughts were far away. "Auntie," she remarked,"isn't that woods like a piece of Heaven? See how the trees glisten asthe sun shines on their waving branches. How glorious Heaven must bewhen earth is so filled with beauty."

  Aunt Lucy looked into the ethereal face, and unbidden tears coursed downher cheeks.

  Hetty stooped over the wan little hand, and kissing it, hastened fromthe room, her heart bursting with grief. In the kitchen she met old Pat,his head bowed and his whole bearing showing the depth of his grief forwhat all now saw was inevitable.

  "Hetty," said he in a hoarse whisper, "is she going?" "Oh, Pat, I feeldis is de last day we will have our angel child. Dey done telephoned forDr. Carroll, he will be here directly."

  At two o'clock the doctor told the assembled household, that but a fewhours of life remained for the dear one.

  At three o'clock death with "solemn steps and slow," is steadilyapproaching. Now her voice, which before has been scarcely above awhisper, becomes strong again, as is frequently the case in the dying,and she tries to sing in the old sweet way: "Jesus, Jesus, DearestLord."

  It seems as though the angels were present, Heaven so fills the room.

  After a moment's rest she turned her eyes on the weeping company, andsaid: "Don't weep for me, rather rejoice that I will soon be with OurDear Lord and His Blessed Mother. Mamma, dear, say that beautiful prayerthat ends with--'Merciful Jesus have mercy on me.'"

  "Mamma, dear, you will come to me in Heaven. There will be no parting,we will walk together through the golden streets, and through thebeautiful gardens forever. Come, kiss me now, darling mother!"

  Then she addressed Mr. Allen, who stood with great tear-drops rollingdown his face, his heart broken with sorrow.

  "Dear Papa, how I love you! You have been such a loving father to me andBrother, so good to dear Mamma--Forgive my having tried your patience sooften."

  "Heart's dearest," answered her father, "you have never caused me amoment of trouble in all your life."

  "Darling Papa you will come to me when Our Lord calls you. I know youlove Him. Father Leonard will show you the true way to reach Heaven; Opromise me you will follow it."

  "My angel child," responded the father, "I solemnly promise." His sobschoked his utterance, but kneeling and taking his child's hand he kissedit fervently.

  Exhausted by her efforts, she lay silent awhile, then turning to Bolax,she said: "Dear little Brother, never forget the promises you made toOur Lord the day of your First Holy Communion. Oh, serve Him faithfullythat you may meet me in Paradise.

  "Dearest Aunt Lucy, I thank you for all your years of kindness and love;oh, I know you will be there to rejoice with me.

  "And Hetty dear! let me kiss the hand that nursed and tended me sofaithfully."

  Hetty's grief was becoming uncontrollable, so she hastened from the roomlest she should unnerve the rest of the family.

  Poor old Pat was not forgotten, when called to bid farewell, he managedto control himself while he knelt asking the dear child's blessing.

  Here Reverend Father Leonard entered the room. Mrs. Allen lit thecandles on the little altar at the foot of the bed; all withdrew for afew moments leaving Amy alone with the Priest.

  When the Father was ready to administer the Holy Viaticum, every onereturned to the room, each bearing a lighted candle, knelt in prayer.After receiving Our Dear Lord, the child's face became radiant; aheavenly smile lit up her countenance, she murmured: "Jesus, preciousJesus; how I love Thee! and yet--how unworthy I am!" Here she held outher hands as if beckoning to some one. "O my beloved! take me toThyself! Je
s--" The lips ceased their utterance with the sweet name halfspoken. One long-drawn sigh and another angel was added to theinnumerable company of the Blessed. The days that followed Amy's deathwere to the household painful in the extreme.

  Mr. Allen was overwhelmed with grief. It was useless to try to speak tohim; for two days he shut himself in his room and the Doctor couldscarcely persuade him to take nourishment.

  Mrs. Allen was resigned to God's will, although her heart was crushedwith sorrow.

  Kind neighbors came offering condolence, indeed the family had thesympathy of the whole village.

  Reverend Mother Gertrude sent a letter by two of her Sisters remindingMrs. Allen of Amy's desire to be buried under the Bed of Lilies.

  "We are sure now," said the Sisters, "the dear child had a presentmentof her approaching departure from this world, so Reverend Mother begsyou will have the funeral from our Chapel and let the dear one restunder the Lilies of the Valley."

  Reverend Father Leonard was consulted as to the advisability ofaccepting Mother Gertrude's gracious offer; Mrs. Allen feared her pastormight wish the funeral to take place in the parish church. "On thecontrary," said the good priest, "I think no resting place could be morefitting for such a child than a grave where the rays of the SanctuaryLamp shine out upon it through the Church windows. I shall go to St.Imelda's and ask to be allowed to celebrate the Mass, which must be whatwe call the 'Mass of the Angels.'"

  The funeral was announced for Thursday morning, carriages were to leavethe house at half-past eight, so as to reach the Convent in time for theservices at half-past nine. The Chapel was draped in white, all theflowers and ornaments on the altar and the vestments were white.

  AUNT LUCY.]

  Professor Renaldi's pupils, who were in the same class as Amy, presenteda beautiful harp of white rosebuds, with the word "Love" formed ofForget-Me-Nots woven across the strings.

  The Chapel could scarcely contain the number of people who came to pay alast tribute of love to the dear child.

  The gates of the Sanctuary were left open and the casket placed in frontof the altar as near the rail as possible.

  During the Mass the music was almost joyous. Reverend Mother orderedthis expressly so that the bereaved parents might be soothed in theirgrief.

  Six little girls dressed in white walked beside the casket as it wasborne to the grave, and now our dear, our beloved one sleeps under theLilies, emblematic of her own pure soul.

  FUNERAL SERMON.

  Dear Friends, I need not tell you who is she over whom we weep today.You well remember little Amy, who only a few months ago knelt at thisaltar to receive Our Lord for the first time.

  Like St. Imelda her heart and soul were absorbed in love for Jesus inthe Blessed Sacrament. On the night of the day Amy made her FirstCommunion, her mother heard her crying and sobbing in her bed. Whenasked what could cause such grief, she answered: "O, Mother, this wasthe happiest day of my life, and I grieve because it is ended."

  This child was especially loved by God. Graceful in form, lovely infeature, and in innocence of heart an angel, she seemed like somebright heavenly spirit lent for a time to the world to light up God'slove in it.

  There was about Amy a spiritual refinement--a looking forward to thethings that are to come, a sweetly sad yearning towards Jesus, theobject of her young heart's pure love.

  Our Lord was jealous of the possession of so pure a soul, and before itsloveliness might be tarnished by any fault incident to human frailty, hecalled her from earth to place her near His Sacred Heart for eternity.

  Amy's whole life seemed to tend to one point, namely to love God aboveall things and in all things; she knew that without God's love man isnot fulfilling his destiny, he is astray on a pathless waste--a ship ona storm-tossed sea, without helm and without hope.

  Will you ask me how the dear one died? Think how she lived. A happy holydeath closed a happy innocent life.

  It was my sad duty to attend her during her last illness. I have seenmany persons die, but among them all, Amy shone out pre-eminently forher resignation to God's will.

  She was often heard praying in subdued tones, when intense pain assailedher: "O Holy Mother of Jesus, help me to bear my sufferings withpatience, in union with those your Divine Son endured for me when dyingon the cross."

  Raising his hands and eyes to Heaven, the Priest prayed:

  "Dear Angel child! we look up to you on this bright day, crowned inHeaven with a fadeless crown, pray for those you have left behind tomourn. If earth has lost an angel, Heaven has gained one. If we havebeen deprived of a dear affectionate daughter and sister, we have gaineda blessed intercessor before God's Holy Throne in the glory ofParadise."

  * * * * *

  After the funeral Mr. Allen started for a business trip to St. Louis.The Doctor said it was best he should go rather than remain whereeverything reminded him of the beloved one and gave him a heart-pang.

  Winter passed quietly, when Christmas came it was celebrated as apeaceful holy day; every one tried to be cheerful, but there was a minorin the carol--a spray of Cypress twining 'mid the holly wreaths.

  On the first day of March a quiet wedding took place in the family, whendear Aunt Lucy became the wife of our beloved Doctor Carroll, to thegreat delight of Bolax and all the family, especially Hetty, "who alwaysknowed dat weddin' done had to be."

  Mrs. Allen begged that the "Honey-moon" trip should not be prolonged, asshe could not spare her sister, so in three weeks' time the bride andgroom returned to reside permanently in the old homestead.

  One day in April, Bolax surprised every one by returning from schoolearly in the morning, having been ordered home on account of scarletfever, which had suddenly broken out at St. Thomas'.

  Later in the day the President telephoned to Mrs. Allen telling herthat there were fifteen cases in the house, the disease having beenbrought in by a day pupil. "It will necessitate our closing the classesfor the season, and will entail a serious loss to the College."

  So Bolax had to study as best he could at home with the assistance ofMamma and Uncle Carroll.