Bolax Part 10

"Well, then Ma, dear, I can't go to town this week, as I have such a cold. I'm so sorry; Father will think I'm getting bad again."

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER COLLEGE.

_Dear Little Friend:_

Your letter of last week has not come to hand, so without waiting for it, I feel I ought to tell you the second thought that came to my mind when I read the letter which did reach me.

You may remember you said these words: "I did not disobey this week, because I was sick."

Now my thought was just this: From what this boy says it would appear that if he were in good health, he would have disobeyed. As disobedience is a sin; a great evil because displeasing to G.o.d. What a blessing it is to be sick, if one is thereby prevented from doing anything that is offensive to G.o.d.

You are perhaps too young to know that all things that come from G.o.d are good in themselves, since G.o.d, who sends them, is good.

Did you ever think that sickness, poverty, hunger, cold, sorrow and suffering could be good? Perhaps not. It is hard for a small boy to see that what he does not like, can be good. But if G.o.d likes a thing, it must be good, and if G.o.d dislikes a thing, it must be bad.

Please try to understand all this, and you will become a good boy and a good man.

Your friend in Christ,

ALOYSIUS ROCOFORT, S. J.

September 1st.

_Dear Rev. Father_:

I wish you would be so kind as to pray I may be sent to a Catholic school, there is none in our town for boys, but maybe I could get to St.

Thomas' College, if they would only take me.

Mamma and Papa thank you so much for writing to me. Indeed it is kind, and it must take up your time. I shall always keep your letters; I love them.

Papa says it is wonderful that the President of a college would bother writing to a little boy.

Your loving little friend,

B. ALLEN.

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER COLLEGE.

_My Dear Little Friend_:

Having been very busy during the week, I have not been able to make an earlier reply to your little biography of the week. One or two thoughts that came to my mind as I read your words is, I think, worth putting on paper.

You seemed to think it remarkable that a man of my age, education and busy life should trouble himself about a little boy. Now I thought you a strange little boy for that, and for this reason. You are a Christian, believing and knowing that Christ died for you; gave His heart's blood for your eternal happiness.

Knowing this as I do, and meditating on the life and work of Christ, and striving so hard to imitate him; do you think it strange that I should take an interest in you, when you allow me? It would be indeed strange if I did not wish to see you grow up a good docile, obedient, kind and high-principled boy, and a brave, true, upright, high-souled man, and do all in my power, as far as you will allow to bring about such a result.

G.o.d wants that, your parents hope it; you yourself would like it, if you could get it by wishing, or if it did not cost you any trouble. But it does cost trouble, though it is worth a thousand troubles.

Your friend in Christ,

ALOYSIUS ROCOFORT, S. J.

P. S.--I will indeed pray that you may be admitted into St. Thomas', although in your case, with such a mother to guide you, the public school might be tolerated.

BOLAX DESERVES A WHIPPING.

"Another unsatisfactory report," exclaimed Papa Allen, as he held an open letter in his hand. "This is the fourth since the opening of school in September, and now it is only the first Week of October. Spelling, 30; Arithmetic, 20. Professor too, sends complaints of your music lesson; then you have neglected your rabbits."

At this Bo jumped up and ran out to the rabbit-hutch. Yelling with all his might for Hetty: "Oh, my rabbits; my rabbits are gone."

"When did you feed them last," asked his father, who was looking out of a window. Bo thought a moment, then remembered he had not seen them for several days.

"But where have they gone, Hetty dear?"

"Done turned into air; what you spect dey gwan do when dey has nothing to eat but air."

Then Hetty laughed, and Bo went back to the dining room.

"Excuse me for leaving you, Papa, I am so worried. Indeed, indeed, I didn't mean to forget my pets."

"My son, we allow you to have pets to teach you the lesson of responsibility, which means to keep in mind any duty you have to perform. You do not mean to be cruel, but you are. I have saved many of your pets from hunger and thirst; now I shall do so no longer, neither shall the servants. Your rabbits have been given to Flossy Day, who will always attend to them, because she is a thoughtful, kind little girl.

"On all points you are at fault--lessons, music and pets; all alike forgotten, if there is no improvement, you will be punished for your delinquencies."

Unfortunately at the end of the next week, the report was worse than ever, and Papa was shocked and expressed himself in very severe language. Bolax showed an unusual spirit of insubordination and temper on being reproved, and his father whipped him. The boy was heart-broken; it was the first time a stroke had been laid upon him in his life. His mother did not approve of corporal punishment, but, of course, would not interfere in what her husband thought to be his duty.

Poor Bo felt degraded and went to hide. His mother knocked at his bedroom door, but he would not open it.

"No one loves me any more!" sobbed the poor child. "If Aunt Lucy had been home I would not have been whipped."

Amy went into the room and putting her arms around her brother's neck, told him she would give him her pony "Ben Bolt," for his very own. "Oh, Sister, I thank you, but nothing can take the pain out of my heart."

"I know darling, but Papa is just as pained as you. He said just now, he had rather cut off his hand than hurt you, but you know you would not listen to anything and kept going wild. I tell you what I will do the next time you deserve a whipping; I will stand and take it for you." "I wouldn't let you, dear, sweet Sister; no indeed, but I'll never deserve one again."

"Good night and here's Ma dear, to kiss you."

In the morning Hetty went up to Bo's room to call him for breakfast; his mother had let him sleep late because she was attending to her husband, who had to take an early train for New York.

"Come down here honey," Hetty called again, "Come see the nice fish I'se got for you." Bo went into the dining room and begged the kind creature to sit with him. "You're my best friend, Hetty, dear." "Indeed, I'se your friend. Eat up de fish; it's good, and don't bother lookin' at it."

"Oh, I'm just dissecting it." "What's dat?" "Seeing what's inside of it.

Hetty, dear, do you know fishes have spinal cords?" "Cords! land sakes!

where dey done keep dem?"