Part 22 (2/2)

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 this altar to receive Our Lord for the first time.

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

This child was especially loved by G.o.d. Graceful in form, lovely in feature, and in innocence of heart an angel, she seemed like some bright heavenly spirit lent for a time to the world to light up G.o.d's love in it.

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

Our Lord was jealous of the possession of so pure a soul, and before its loveliness might be tarnished by any fault incident to human frailty, he called 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 G.o.d above all things and in all things; she knew that without G.o.d's love man is not fulfilling his destiny, he is astray on a pathless waste--a s.h.i.+p on a storm-tossed sea, without helm and without hope.

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

It was my sad duty to attend her during her last illness. I have seen many persons die, but among them all, Amy shone out pre-eminently for her resignation to G.o.d's will.

She was often heard praying in subdued tones, when intense pain a.s.sailed her: ”O Holy Mother of Jesus, help me to bear my sufferings with patience, in union with those your Divine Son endured for me when dying on 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 in Heaven with a fadeless crown, pray for those you have left behind to mourn. If earth has lost an angel, Heaven has gained one. If we have been deprived of a dear affectionate daughter and sister, we have gained a blessed intercessor before G.o.d's Holy Throne in the glory of Paradise.”

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 where everything reminded him of the beloved one and gave him a heart-pang.

Winter pa.s.sed quietly, when Christmas came it was celebrated as a peaceful holy day; every one tried to be cheerful, but there was a minor in 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, when dear Aunt Lucy became the wife of our beloved Doctor Carroll, to the great delight of Bolax and all the family, especially Hetty, ”who always knowed dat weddin' done had to be.”

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

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

Later in the day the President telephoned to Mrs. Allen telling her that there were fifteen cases in the house, the disease having been brought in by a day pupil. ”It will necessitate our closing the cla.s.ses for the season, and will entail a serious loss to the College.”

So Bolax had to study as best he could at home with the a.s.sistance of Mamma and Uncle Carroll.

CHAPTER XIV.

BOLAX GOES TO COLLEGE.

For several winters Mr. Allen had suffered from severe grippe colds, each year his system seemed less able to resist the attacks, so Dr.

Carroll prescribed a winter in Florida, saying that it was an absolute necessity both for his health and as a complete rest from business, to which he had been a slave.

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