The Altar Steps

ned, it was the end of it. The night after that scene in his father's study, which made a deeper impression on him than anything before that date in his short life,

d so to her, was sure that she had come t

o and live in the country. To Mark the country was as remote as Paradise, and at first he was inclined to regard the question as rhetorical to which a conventional reply was expected. If anybody had

. "And I would like to go to the Zoological Gardens ve

here if we're

tared

y go in th

rling, r

ely he checked his enthusi

t Mo

all I s

es

nd horses? And

question

he promised of his own accord.

everything you

He did not inquire

N

you an

r neck to press upon her lips a long fragran

f the children of Lima Street would worship there, Mark sat close beside his mother at the children's Mass. His father looking as he al

this Sund

med little girl breathed through her n

ht. And ne

th alacrity, for they looked forward to it

try to encourage him by your behaviour both in and out of the church, by your punctuality and regular attendance at Mass, and by your example to other children who have not had the advantage of learning all about our glorious Catholic faith. I shall think about you

ildren, and then one little girl after being prodded by her companions

to answer; but I will try to explain it

" sang out a too ready boy

mes have we had that word explained to us! A parable is a story with a hidden meaning. Now pleas

children baa

story with a h

t a new perambulator, bigger than the other and more comfortable. They told him to take this perambulator home to his father and show him what a beautiful present they had made. Well, the boy wheeled it home and his father was very pleased with it. But when the boy took the baby out again, the nursemaid told him that the baby had too many clothes on and said that he must either take some of the clothes off or else she must take away the new perambulator. Well, the little boy had promised his fat

e of opinion

urely was God. And now once

y thought that any connexion between babies and religion must have so

er. "Surely the little boy is

oys and girls all togeth

Catholic Faith. For which we

was no

do w

ized," one

the Missioner

class compla

at is the p

le, but at last

lood of Our Lor

ma Street. The old perambulator is the Church where

two children answe

semaid is the Bishop of London. You remember that la

gh-pr

nursemaid in my parable thought he knew better what clothes the baby ought to wear in the new perambulator, that is to say what services we ought to have in the new St. Wilfred's. And as God is far away and we ca

e class, convinced that

there is no time to say any more words to you. My heart is sore at leaving you, but in my sorrow I shall be comforted if I can have the certainty that you are growing up to be good and loyal Catholics, loving Our Blessed Lord and H

than usual to express a va

a child so s

little cro

work of lov

y do for J

ated a most

ather was speaking, and when once he looked up at her to show how

morning w

obedient to your mother," said his

rk whispered when the

hief from the window while the train rushed on through tunnels and between gloomy banks until suddenly the world became green, and there was the s