A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM

New Zealand Tablet, 10 May 1917, Page 9

A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM

Six-year-old Reggie Reynolds was having a birthday party. His young invited guests romped through sitting-room, corridors, bedrooms, chased one another around the porches, and had an occasional race across the green sward of the front yard. They were a happy lot. Father was not at home, for a wage-earner pn a large factory is seldom honored with a holiday when the kids have a birthday party, but mother was there, everywhere attentive and watchful, and the little people did not lack for suggestions as to their games and amusements; and when supper was served around the big cake with six wax candles stuck through the frosting, she was the presiding genius that gave animation to the whole. And when the childish chatter grew too loud, and the calls for ice cream and cake waxed too frequent, mother was there to restrain the one and moderate the other. Then came the goodbyes, the wrapping-up in scarfs and and the farewell wishes, expressed with the happy innocence of childhood. And when it was all over, Mrs. Reynolds, tired, but filled with rejoicing because her first-born had spent so happy an afternoon, sat in the large wicker rocking chair, and folded to her bosom the noisy youngster who had been the occasion of the boisterous feast. ‘ Mama,’ said Reggie, after an interval in which he had apparently been struggling with some mathematical problem, ‘ am I really six years old to-day?’ r-''" y ‘Yes, my son, you are six years old; just think what a big boy you are getting to be.’ ‘ Then, mama, I can go to school, can’t I?’ Yes, my dear; we have been thinking of sending you just as soon as you were old enough. You have now reached-the age when the school authorities will admit you to school, and as school opens next week, you must prepare to go.’ ‘ Will I go to the big public school on the corner where Johnny Hutson goes?’ Mrs. Reynolds was silent. She was an intelligent woman, a woman who had travelled, who was acquainted with up-to-date methods of education, and she was an impartial student of affairs. She whs not a Christian woman, but she had seen enough of the public schools of that place to form a very unfavorable opinion of them. Her neighbors had told her of the influences at work in those institutions, of the lack of moral training, of the close intermingling of the sexes, with the pernicious effects produced, of the slangy habits of speech, the unclean utterances of many of the boys, and the disregard of courtesy and politeness that seemed a necessary concomitant of a child’s education. She was acquainted with several of the teachers in the big public school oil the corner; and while she knew nothing against their moral character, she had heard them utter atheistic doctrines that astonished her, worldling as she was, and mad© her averse to putting her boy under their charge. ‘ I do not know, Reggie,’ Mrs. Reynolds said, after awhile, * I shall talk it over with papa. I have been thinking that the Lutheran school would be the best place for you. You would have a little farther to go, but a great big boy like you wouldn’t mind that’ ; and she drew the child closer, and kissed him. »£. * Oh, I wouldn’t mind it, mama, for you know I have my roller skates, and in the winter time I could coast down the long street on my sled.’ ■::" v ‘ Yes, dear, you could, but remember you would have to walk back,’ replied Mrs. Reynolds, smiling. ‘.That’s so,’ said Reggie, laughing, and then in a more sober tone ‘ But, mama, they are religious there, don’t you think? They have prayers in their school, and things of that kind. I’ve heard the boys tell about it.’ * I do not know just what they have, Reggie, but I have heard good things about the school ; and I have noticed, that the children who come from there are well behaved and very polite; one little fellow, when he passed me the other day, smiled, and raised his cap.

I never, saw a boy from the public schools do that, but I have seen them making fun of an old man whose trousers were torn. But I « will talk with papa about the school, and then we will purchase your books,'and a little basket for you to carry your luncheon in/ "i « But, mama?' said the little fellow, a look of inquiry in his eyes, ' you are not a Lutheran, are you V ' No, my dear,' she uttered the words with hesitation, and a tone of 'I am not anything. I was never baptised.' ' And papa, is he anything V asked the boy. ' He used to be a Catholic,' she replied, and there was a faraway reminiscent look in her eyes. ' But he has not been in a Catholic church in several years—certainly not since we were married. But there comes papa to his supper, darling, you must let me go and meet him ' ; and Mrs. Reynolds permitted the boy to slide from her lap, anxious to avoid further questioning.

That night, after Reggie and a younger brother and sister had been tucked away in bed, Mrs. Reynolds broached the subject of their son's schooling, and expressed a desire to send the boy to the Lutheran school. Her suggestion was met by a hot refusal from Mr. Reynolds, who declared that no child of his should ever darken the door of an establishment that had its origin in the heresies of Martin Luther. Mrs. Reynolds, who had gathered her information concerning the ex-monk's teaching and conduct from D'Aubigne's Hist or;/ of the Reformation, a book she had always been told was as infallibly correct as Holy Scripture, was surprised at her husband's attitude, for she supposed he had long since lost all interest in religious questions. He now displayed a knowledge of Church history that amazed her with its fulness and breadth ; and when he revealed to her the true character of the so-called ' Reformer,' referring to Protestant authorities concerning his intemperance, his loose ideas of marriage, his profanity and obscenity, his violation of the most sacred of vows, and false interpretations of Scripture and sacriligeous treatment of holy subjects, she replied hotly that Luther, at least, stood squarely by his convictions, and that was more than Mr. Reynolds had done that if he really believed that the Lutherans were wrong, and the Catholics right, as he seemed to imply, he would show a more manly part by going back to the Church of his fathers, which he had abandoned when he ran away with her to be married several years before, and asked a Protestant minister to perform the ceremony. Other hot words followed, until Mrs. Reynolds declared that she was resolved not to put her boy in a godless public school, but that she would send him to the Catholic parochial school, since her husband was unwilling the Lutheran establishment should be patronised. And so the first family quarrel that had taken place in their little home came to an end, and the man and woman, heated with argument, a]nd perhaps vexed with themselves for having given way to anger, retired for the night. The following day was Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds appeared at the breakfast table without betraying any of the bitter feeling that had marked their separation the evening before, although their ' quiet and sober mood during the meal showed that they had not forgotten what had passed. Reggie was full of his plans for school. He chattered about it incessantly, wondered why his parents were so silent, but was too well-behaved a child to ask the reason. He suggested, however, that as it was Sunday he would like to go to church, and his father promised him that ere long he would take him. ' What are churches for, anyway?' asked the little fellow; and the father, confused and with heightened color in his face, for he knew his wife was watching him, explained in simple language the object for which Christ founded the Christian Church. 'My goodness,' said Reggie,directing a look at his mother. 'He must have made a good many of 'em, for I know several- Baptist, Methodist, Unitarian, Mormon, Christian Science, and ' 'Never mind, Reggie,' said the mother, with a smjle; ' they all believe pretty near the same things.' No

they don't,' put in Mr. Reynolds; ''they believe different things, Reggie. There is only one thing in which they are united, and that is in the opposition to the Roman Catholic Church. Christ never foundeed but one Church, Reggie, and that was the Catholic Church. Some day r you will understand better than now how it was that so churches started up in the world but I am afraid you never will understand how they can all claim to be right, for they cannot explain that themselves.'

The shadows that had fallen over the home the preceding evening gradually wore away, and Mr. Reynolds in the afternoon confided to his wife that he intended to take a walk, and ' might go to church somewhere.' She appeared pleased, and said : 'That will suit Reggie all right; why not take him with you V ' Not to-day,' replied her husband ; ' I want to go alone to-day.' The Catholic church was not far away. He had not entered its doors in nineteen years. When he ran away with the girl who became his bride, and he refused to become reconciled to his Church, his parents, brothers, and sisters turned away from him, and they had been as strangers ever since. They had not entered his home, and he had not gone to theirs. A tender feeling filled his heart as he thought of the grey-haired couple who had nourished his youth, and recalled the happy days of his childhood when his brothers and sisters were sharers in his play, and his labors. He was now in front of the church. ' I must put an end to all this,' he said to himself, as he ascended the steps; ' and for Reggie's sake I will do it.' Vesper service was in progress, and Mr. Reynolds took part in the responses as he had never done in earlier years, and then came that most solemn and beautiful of all Catholic acts, the Benediction of the Holy Sacrament, and Mr. Reynolds bowed his head in most humble thanks to God, while his heart filled with ineffable joy as the monstrance was held before the worshipping congregation. He remained for awhile after the rest had departed, for he wished to see the priest. When the latter appeared, and had been accosted by the visitor, he invited him to accompany him to the rectory. The conversation that took place was long and searching. It ended by Mr. Reynolds' promise of reform. The following Saturday he went to confession, and received Holy Communion the next morning. In the meantime Reggie had been enrolled in the Catholic parochial school, and told his mama that he was never ' so happy in all his life, for now he was going to learn lots of things, and besides would become a Christian.'

Several years before the opening of our story, Mrs. Reynolds had been an inmate of a Catholic hospital conducted by one of the religious Orders, and the devout conduct of the Sisters had produced a deep impression upon her mind. She was now influenced by little Reggie's childish joy in his catechism lessons, and her husband's reconciliation with the Church, and she sought instruction from the Religious concerning the dogmas and practises of the Catholic Church. Her heart was open; the seed.fell into good soil, and on the Bth of December she and the three children were baptised. On Christmas morning, the father, mother, and Reggie, the oldest child, received Holy Communion. What a joy in more than one home! What a Christmas dinner that was! Mr. Reynolds' father and mother, brothers and sisters, were again united with him, and deep peace was in every heart. ' Your home here is very small, isn't it, John?' asked the oldest brother. :?

' Yes,' replied Mr. Reynolds, ' but I cannot stand the rent for a larger place. You know things have gone hard with me during these last years: loss of work, sickness in the family, and all sorts of drawbacks h»T« kept us in very moderate circumstances; but the Lord has been good to us; bless His Holy Name.' ' I think,' replied the other, a man who had gained a comfortable competence in real-estate transactions, ' that I have been blessed with more than I deserve; and I intend, John, to unload some of it upon your

shoulders. That ~ eight-roomed brick house, a block beyond the rectory,' is hearer for you in your factory work, and is close to the school where Reggie now goes, and I have concluded to make you a present of the place. It will be worth more to you than-to me, and if you will accept it, I shall be delighted to give you immediate possession.' It would be hard to say who was the happier man that daythe one who gave or the one who received. But Reggie had the happiest face. George Slavin in The Missionary.