A Complete Story

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 33, 23 August 1923, Page 11

A Complete Story

St. Joseph's Answei A CHILDREN'S STORY. I. Josephine and Gabriel Mere twins, and their birthday was the feast of St. Joseph. Gabriel thought it too bad that he couldn't have been named after the great saint whose day was his own natal day, but it happened that his oldest brother bore the name of Joseph. Otherwise this surely would have been his name. However, his mother consoled him by saying that Gabriel was a very beautiful name to have, as it was"borne by the angel of the Annunciation— heavenly messenger who told the Blessed Virgin that she was chosen to be the Mother of God. But Gabriel protested that "it sounded an awful lot like a girl's name." Then when his playmates began to shorten his name to "Gab," he became greatly agitated. "That isn't a bad idea," his father said, smiling at his son's chagrin, "the. name fits pretty well. You're quite a talker, you know." "You mean lie's got the gift of gab, don't you, dad?'' put in Joseph, who had stolen his smaller brother's name, "Qr chewing the rag—it's all the same thing." Gabriel became nettled. "Yes, I'd like to know who chews it worse than you do," he retorted. "You even chew the rag in your sleep, so 1 have to stay awake lots of times listening to your crazy talk." Joseph laughed at this allusion to his propensity to talking in his sleep, and then his mother endeavored to calm the troubled waters by intervention. "Now boys, don't quarrel over nothing," she advised. "Laugh instead, and look at the funny side." "There's no funny side to look at, as far as I can see," grumbled Gabriel, "and if those fellows don't cut out that ( Gab ' business I'll call them names thev won't like." Mrs. Miller smiled, for she knew that Gabriel's "had names" would not be anything objectionable. "You do that, Gabriel," urged Josephine, who was always ready to stand back of her brother in all circumstances. "What will you call them?" "I'll give you a list of good ones." suggested Joseph. Then he mentioned a number of formidable epithets for Gabriel's use : "Bonehead, Daffy, Simp," were a few of the choicest names proposed. About a dozen were rattled off, the last one suggested being, "Nobody Home." "Of course you must give the right name to the right fellow," Joseph added, very seriously, "or you may get into trouble with the bunch." But when' Gabriel had the opportunity of applying these strong and suggestive titles his courage failed him. After all, he didn't want to show any ill-feeling. The boys didn't mean any harm. He'd just insist upon their calling him by his full name and no abbreyiation about it. Butto this the others objected, saying it was altogether "too much of a mouthful" —took too long to say. So "Gab," short and to the point, they continued to call him until in time Gabriel became quite accustomed ; to this vestige of his full name, and thought no more about it. The twins were greatly devoted to each other, and if Josephine was ever ready to champion her brother's cause, Gabriel was just as generous to always take sides with his little sister. Josephine had very bright red hair that always attracted attention wherever she went. One day she and her brother were playing out on the lawn. A strange boy whom they did not know came along up the sidewalk. "Gee! look at the red-hair!" he insolently exclaimed. "Hello, Redely; you'll set the house on fire if you ain't careful. Better call the fire brigade before the flames spread." At once Gabriel was ready to defend Josephine against this onslaught. He was only a very little fellow at the time, but he was courage personified. > i "Don't you talk that way to my sister he commanded,

drawing himself v up to his full height and passing an arm about the little maid at his side. The other boy laughed derisively. "If I had a sister with hair like that I'd give her away. Let me warm my hands," and he advanced nearer. At this Gabriel stooped and picked up a stout stick that lay on the ground, and made a pass at their tormentor, but the latter dodged the blow. '' "Going to show fight, are you?" he questioned. "Say, you're a dangerous guy to leave running loose!" He darted off, with Gabriel following in his wake, the big stick brandishing furiously, while Josephine looked on with mingled fear and admiration. The aggressor would permit his pursuer to approach almost close enough to administer a whack, but would then jump out of harm's way each time and leave Gabriel beating the air. This afforded the older boy plenty of amusement, and he laughed in great glee at a small lad's attempt to deal a vigorous blow. Thus the two continued on their way until the stranger reached his domicile., Then with a parting derisive retort to his adversary he disappeared inside the door. • Gabriel stood at the steps a long time in hopes that the boy would reappear, until tired out and disappointed, he retraced his steps back to Josephine. She was relieved to see him again, for she feared that ""that mean boy" might have done something terrible to her brother— grabbed the stick from him and hit him so hard that he wasn't able to come back.. "I waited for him to come out again, and I was going to give him an awful swat," Gabriel explained. "But he didn't come out —I guess he was afraid." And Josephine declared that her brother was just awful brave" and that she thought he'd make a fine pugilist when he "growed up." All of which pleased the young man exceedingly. Mrs. Miller from the first taught her children to have a great love for St. Joseph, and the twins, in particular, were very much devoted to the guardian of Jesus and Mary, a devotion that increased as they grew older. And all during the month of March they never failed to spend some time in prayer before St. Joseph's altar after they made their daily visit to the Blessed Sacrament. The statue, of the great saint was a beautiful one, and represented the Infant Saviour nestling in the arms of His foster-father. He appeared to be sleeping, and His little head rested trustingly against the saint's shoulder. Josephine and Gabriel were fond of this statue, it seemed so real to them. St. Joseph gazed down at them so kindly and the dear Babe, to use the little girl's expression, "looked just like He was having the nicest little nap, and you wouldn't be surprised if pretty soon He'd open His little eyes and blink them at you." . The children were spending Lent piously, as all Catholic children who have, good parents are sure to do. They gave up little things that they were especially fond of, and when a famous and very excellent circus came to town they did not dream of going, although someone gave their father complimentary tickets and the temptation was very great. But their mother often told them that there were many Catholics who spent the Lenten season carelessly, with little or no thought of doing penance, and that ft was a good thing to offer up acts of self-denial for- such as these. So the children offered up their good works heroically in reparation, and many of their devout practices were done in honor of their favorite, St. Joseph, during the days of his month. Josephine and Gabriel were always very confidential, and as they grew older they began to discuss their future vocations. Gabriel was now an altar-boy, and he ad quite made up his mind to be a priest, so he told his sister one day. Josephine thought that was grand, but she wished she was a boy so that she could be a priest too. Then an inspiration came. "I know what I'll be. I'm going to be a, Sister. It'll be the next best thing to being a priest. She was greatly delighted over this decision, and Gabriel, too, thought it was simply splendid. "Even if we're -separated far apart," he told her, r- ')■:■'■. ■ \.'.\ '-•'■••■

"we'll always seem near, 'cause we'll be praying for each other and doing the same kind of work—work for God, you know." And their dream came true one day.' So the minds of .the twins were firmly made up regarding their future careers, and their parents were happy to know of the choice they had made. 11. One year the month of March opened mild and springlike. The acacia trees were gorgeous in their golden robes, and the fruit trees with their soft, fluffy blossoms—pink and white—were a. real delight to behold. "Looks just like pink snow fell on those trees," Josephine cried joyously, as she and her mother went out to the back yard one lovely day. The Miller family had quite a little orchard of their own. As the month advanced the warm sunlit days gave place to clouds and chilly air and finally, rain and blustery weather. "What's that old saying if March comes in like a lamb it will go out like a lion?" quoted Josephine as she and Gabriel came home from school one stormy afternoon. "That's just what it's up to all right," responded her brother as a gust of wind swept Josephine's umbrella out of her hands into the miniature river that was racing along the curbing. Away it floated, and Gabriel laughing at the funny situation, splashed deep into the water and pursued the floating object until it was rescued. But it was dripping wet after its voyage, so the twins resumed their way under the protection of Gabriel's umbrella. .Josephine was troubled over the fact that her brother's feet had received a thorough soaking, and as he already had a cold she feared he would be sick as a result of the wading through the water. The matter was reported to Mrs. Miller, and she ordered a hot bath at once. But what Josephine had apprehended came about, for by the next morning Gabriel was very ill. For days he tossed in fever, and doctor stated that pneumonia was his ailment. Poor Josephine was heart-broken when she learned that the physician after a few days pronounced Gabriel's case hopeless and his recovery unlooked for. St. Joseph's Feast was approaching, and this thought encouraged the little girl's heavy.heart. Every spare minute was spent before the tabernacle and then at the feet of her dear saint's altar. With tear-filled eyes Josephine begged and pleaded that Gabriel should be spared, and as she gazed at the Infant tenderly folded in His protector's arms she gained confidence. "Dear, good St. ,Joseph, you must love all children, I'm sure," she whispered, "for the sake of the dear little Jesus. Do please ask Him to spare my brother. Oh, I'll miss him so if he dies. But I must be resigned, so dear St. Joseph, help me to say, ' Thy Will be done,' with all my heart." It was the day before the Feast of St. Joseph. Gabriel was dying— might pass away at any time, said the doctor. Despite her great sorrow, Josephine carried an armful of lilies from the garden that she and her brother had always carefully tended, to the church, for the saint's altar was being decked for his own day. With 'unusual fervor she prayed before the beloved statue to-day. Gabriel had received the last sacraments. His parents were sure he would die, but they were resigned to God's Will. Still Josephine did not abandon hope. St. Joseph had heard her prayers lots of times. She would • keep on praying. So she reminded him that the morrow would be his feast-day. Oh, how lovely it would be if he granted her request on that occasion! It was very late that night when Josephine was aroused from her sleep by her. mother. A change had come over Gabriel, and the end must now be at hand. . Sobbing, the child followed Mrs.. Miller to her brother's room. His parents with Joseph and Josephine knelt around the bed. The patient lay quietly as though asleep.

After about five minutes Gabriel opened his eyes. He smiled in recognition at the little group. Then he said joyously: “I’m better, mother. I had the loveliest dream. St. Josephl’m sure it was St. Josephhe came and

stood near the bed, and he told me I was cured. And I feel —oh, I feel so well.”

Josephine beamed with joy. “Oh, I knew St. Joseph would listen to me.” She glanced at the little clock near by. It was past midnight. “Oh, look there, mother! If he didn’t answer our prayer on his beautiful feast day, too!” —Irish Catholic.