Bolax Part 8

Let us take for our model dear Mater Admirabilis, and as near as possible imitate that divine Mother, making for ourselves a charmed existence by blotting out as far as possible the disagreeables of life; they will come, but they will only grow larger when we remember them, and constant thought of acts of meanness makes us more familiar with them. Obliterate every unworthy thought from your heart and soul, then your children will retain only sweet memories of their mother.

CHAPTER VII.

THE FIGHT.

"What's all the noise about down there?" asked Aunt Lucy.

"Dem youngsters is fighten over de puppies, better come down here, Miss Lucy."

Bo was screaming, Amy scolding, and Jess barking and whining. Aunt Lucy hurried down stairs to see what could cause such a commotion.

When she made her appearance at the head of the cellar stairs Amy was pulling at her brother, and Bo, doubled up, was holding one of the puppies in a tight embrace at the risk of ending its existence.

"Stop, immediately!" commanded their aunt. "Children, I am ashamed of you."

"Well, that bad boy is tormenting the poor dog."

"Put the puppy down, Bo."

"Here, Aunty, you stoop down with it, Jess will jump in my face if I go near her nest. I only wanted to love the little thing, and Jess would not have made such a fuss if Amy didn't put her up to it."

"I have a good mind to deprive you both of your ride this afternoon as a punishment for your silly conduct. Go upstairs and let me hear no more quarreling."

After Aunt Lucy and Amy had gone, Bo went into the kitchen to get Hetty's sympathy, she was always willing to listen to her boy, although she was provoked sometimes by his mischievous tricks.

"Hetty, dear, don't you think Amy is an antiquated monkey?"

"Oh, honey, don't call sister names."

"Yes, I will; 'Monkey' is too good for her, I wish I knew of the horriblest animal ever was, I'd call Amy after it."

"Now be a good boy, don't fight no more, and--"

"Yes, I will fight; sister is so wicked; she's just a Mannypochia cobra."

"Oh, law! Ma.s.sa Bo, that's a awful name. What kind of a animal is it?"

"Well, it's something like a big snake, only fifty times bigger, and it hisses and cracks your bones and--"

"What you gwan do when you go to confession; you got to tell the names you call, and you ain't gwan to 'member dat big word."

"Oh, I'll remember; I'll just say 'Father, my sister was so dreadful, she most broke my bones, so I called her the name of a snake that breaks bones.'"

Hetty laughed, and asked Bo if he was "most ready for his first confessin," telling him he "better don't have too many bad things to tell on other people; Father gwan to tell you: 'Say child you come to tell you' own sins; I don't want to hear what you' sister done did.'"

"But," insisted Bo, "the priest will listen when I tell him how Amy fights over the puppies."

"Better don't, 'cause if you do, Father gwan give you two penances, one for your sins, and another for Amy's sins."

BOLAX'S FIRST CONFESSION.

Bolax having pa.s.sed his ninth birthday, his mother thought it time he should make his first confession. Although well instructed and prepared for the great event, he had a dread of going to confession.

It was September 8th, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin; Mrs. Allen called her boy and told him she had decided on taking him to see a Jesuit priest. Bolax was delighted with the trip to town, but when he got near the church he wanted to run away.

"Oh Mamma, dear," cried he, "I'll go some other time."

Notwithstanding his resistance, his mother compelled him to enter the church. As soon as the child caught sight of the imposing interior, with its Altars, statues and pictures, he seemed suddenly overcome with awe, his whole manner changed, and dropping on his knees, he whispered:

"Oh, Mamma, this is a very holy place! Oh, I can feel G.o.d right near me!"

One of the Fathers came down the aisle and entered the confessional; Bolax followed him without any compulsion, and seemed thoroughly impressed with the sanct.i.ty of the act he was about to perform.

There happened to be no other penitents, so the good Father came out of the box and spoke to the boy.

"So this is your first confession," said he. "Well, my child, G.o.d bless you, and keep your soul ever as pure as it is today."

Then turning to the mother, he spoke about the boy, saying:

"I am greatly interested in my little penitent, and I want him to write to me every two weeks, giving me a report of his conduct."

Bolax promised to write.

After thanking the priest for his kind interest, and helping her boy with his Thanksgiving, Mrs. Allen left the church. Bolax skipped down the steps, and I fear the good people who were at their devotions, must have been very much startled at the loud "c.o.c.k-a-doodel-do" given by Bo, as he reached the pavement.

"For goodness sake stop!" cried his mother. "Can't you behave?"

"No, Mamma; I'm too happy. I feel as if I could fly. Confession isn't a bit hard; I'd like to go every day."

BOLAX'S FIRST LETTER.

_Dear Rev. Father_:

Ever since I went to confession, everybody says I'm worse.

I let my dog out of the cellar, and he most chewed up my sister's dog.

Roy, is my dog's name; Trix, is my sister's dog. Roy caught on to Trix, and such howling and yelping never was heard. Sister was so afraid, she hid inside the wardrobe, and every minute she would put out her head and yell:

"Oh, my poor Trix!"

Mamma and the cook tried to separate the dogs. Mamma caught hold of Roy's tail, and Hetty caught on to Trix's tail, and both pulled, but still the dogs wouldn't stop fighting. Then I got a stick to whack them, and I broke Mamma's gla.s.ses by accident.

At last Hetty threw a bucket of water on them; that stopped the fight.