'As Gold in the Furnace'

ttle S

had leaden wings, but at length the week before Christmas arrived. All were now in expectation of coming ev

free from lessons, some one or other would be carrying strange wooden devices from place to place. Now one would be seen carrying to some out-of-the-way shed or unused classroom

mnasium. It was a pretty fiction among the boys that all the preparations had to be done in secret. It was fiction only, for

eecham. There is a certain skill required in decorating. To some this proficiency never comes. It is perhaps an innate quality. It had nev

was the subject of a good amount of banter from his friends. He took all their

s. It came from sudden pain, caused by the sharp point of a holly leaf

remarked Sheale

experience what an awful and immediate retribution follows

," retorted Roy, still sucking his wounded fin

ly thorns out of our fin

really have an id

ompany!" shouted Beecham with mock gravity

I am all attent

o Christmas. Between now and the great day

Beecham. "History, just at this time of the year, has

p on that way. If it is not too great a waste of gray matter, or too

the wall, and fanned him

d. "Does any one know when the first symptoms appeared?"Jack turned to

is friends knew Roy's blows, although given only in jest, and having no desire for sore bones for Christmas, they

ring you fellows to

tion. Say on, say

Little Sisters of the Poor maintain a large number of men and women in their institution. Without any settled incom

it. Guess it's true, though;

ry boy to give something out of his abunda

bridge. "I do not believe the

ith you,"

can not feast old folk on cake and nuts and candy. I

all sorts of cooked meats-turkeys, chickens, geese, an

tly incredulous. This was Ambrose's second year at St. Cuthbert's. As he had spent the previous Christmas at home, owi

into a temporary boxroom for the holidays; had he seen the contents of an average Christmas-box from home, he would have been possessed by no doubt as to t

r friends. They went at once to the Pres

am pleased to see my boys cultivating a spirit of charity and consi

idea at all," said Jack

sion to ask, Father," i

aid the Presi

nd serve the dinner to the old peopl

three hundred and f

an everybod

m, t

to serve all

re there in the Hom

ed, I believe,"

ou may select two doze

r. When may the f

you arrange matters for Wednesday. But Wednesday n

interfere. We can have the last rehearsal in the morning, if

our prefect; but remember the matter drops unless the response is

r of that, Father," said

or your charitable intentio

thing and gave it willingly. Some were offended because they were not allowed to give as much as their generosity prompted. One or two who were inadvertently neglected were very much vexed over not being asked to gi

of Christmas week. Hitherto the boys had paid little attention to this vehicle as it daily drove modestly to the door of the kitchen. On this day it came triumphantly into the

almost as many years as her driver, canter, actually, positively canter, up to the classroom door where the provisions were stored. In the after-discussion of this startlin

re on the wagon, and old "Mike" mounted his chariot once more. This was a slow operation, for the old man's joints were stiff and he was

s: good boys. God

owd. The signal was taken up, and it is safe to say that the

nt over the fact that they were carrying home an unwonted treasure for their old people. When the wagon had dri

e going to set the tables and serve the old people. Please tell the Mother-Superior t

to these gay, careless, happy boys. The sight of so much pain and su

is time Ambrose was a convert to Catholicism of about six months' standing, and consequently had seen little or nothing of the workings of the vast fields of practical charity within the Catholic Church. The immense Catholic charities of almost every imaginable kind which dot the land are so familiar to o

aid the chaplain of the instit

e, amid the rattle of knives and fork

mpresses you

, I think, and the wonderful way the

hing

nt gratitude these old people show toward the Si

t seems to me that this one charity has touched the tender spot in the heart of the American people

replied

to me that the State would be simply overwhelmed if all the Catholic orphanages, asylums, hospitals, academies, protectories, deaf-mute institutes, and, above all, the

ing for education. I believe there never was a greater mistake. It is true that, as yet, there are few large Catholic endowments. They will come in time. The money paid by Catholics in the interest of Catholic education-and, mind you, at the same time they are

optimistic view, Fathe

ly. "Ponder over it, and you wil

ranberry sauce from that table. You would not earn your salt as a waiter, Brosie," and Roy Henn

for thought for future days. He pondered to good effect, and the result was that his graduation speech a

ing the latter part of the feast, when the demand for the services of the voluntary waiters was not so urgent, frequ

tion, and Bracebridge was carrying something in the opposite. Both were near enough to inadvertently hear port

nary!

ther, pl

he

t ye

his di

my

I am

ach other. What a revelation was here for both in regard t

one corner of the room, and while wiping their fingers on the aprons the thoughtful Sisters had pr

give me a good

ked his c

we are, that we never thought

ould. Roy never gave u

h ninnies-Oh! I say, Ambros

year-his own diocese' tells th

us fellows is worthy of bein

ll his actions are clear to me, although I confess

until I know more,"

know, we can make things much pleasanter f

I am glad we were inv