Bolax, Imp or Angel—Which?

by Lester Chadwick

  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, MissLucy."

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

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

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

  "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 gonear her nest. I only wanted to love the little thing, and Jess wouldnot 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 apunishment for your silly conduct. Go upstairs and let me hear no morequarreling."

  After Aunt Lucy and Amy had gone, Bo went into the kitchen to getHetty's sympathy, she was always willing to listen to her boy, althoughshe 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 thehorriblest 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 Mannypochiacobra."

  "Oh, law! Massa 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 ithisses and cracks your bones and--"

  "What you gwan do when you go to confession; you got to tell the namesyou 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 breaksbones.'"

  Hetty laughed, and asked Bo if he was "most ready for his firstconfessin," telling him he "better don't have too many bad things totell on other people; Father gwan to tell you: 'Say child you come totell 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 Amyfights over the puppies."

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

  BOLAX'S FIRST CONFESSION.

  Bolax having passed his ninth birthday, his mother thought it time heshould make his first confession. Although well instructed and preparedfor the great event, he had a dread of going to confession.

  It was September 8th, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin; Mrs. Allencalled her boy and told him she had decided on taking him to see aJesuit priest. Bolax was delighted with the trip to town, but when hegot 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 thechurch. As soon as the child caught sight of the imposing interior, withits 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 God right nearme!"

  One of the Fathers came down the aisle and entered the confessional;Bolax followed him without any compulsion, and seemed thoroughlyimpressed with the sanctity of the act he was about to perform.

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

  "So this is your first confession," said he. "Well, my child, God blessyou, 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 writeto 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 boywith his Thanksgiving, Mrs. Allen left the church. Bolax skipped downthe steps, and I fear the good people who were at their devotions, musthave been very much startled at the loud "Cock-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 abit 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, shehid inside the wardrobe, and every minute she would put out her head andyell:

  "Oh, my poor Trix!"

  Mamma and the cook tried to separate the dogs. Mamma caught hold ofRoy's tail, and Hetty caught on to Trix's tail, and both pulled, butstill the dogs wouldn't stop fighting. Then I got a stick to whack them,and I broke Mamma's glasses by accident.

  At last Hetty threw a bucket of water on them; that stopped the fight.Hetty says she's 'done flustered to death.' Sister says I'm theawfulest boy in the world.

  I haven't done anything bad today, yet.

  Your little friend,

  BOLAX.

  THE REV. FATHER'S ANSWER.

  ST. FRANCIS XAVIER COLLEGE.

  _Dear Little Friend_:

  Even though everyone should say that you have been "worse" than you hadbeen before making your confession, I know that our Lord will excuse youbecause you acknowledge your faults.

  You see, all expected you would be better after confession, and they aremuch disappointed, because they have not yet seen any improvement.

  What a scrape you got into, by letting your dog out of the cellar, andhow cruel it was to have poor Trix "chewed up." You were shocked, I amsure, when you found you had hit your mother. Now, how did all this comeabout? Just because you did not ask permission to let your dog out ofthe cellar. If you had acted under obedience, you would have avoided allthe trouble. Now, this is the lesson to take from your fault.

  Do not act without permission, and always obey promptly and cheerfully,then you will be happy; your parents will be happy and Our Dear Lordwill bless you.

  Hoping to see you soon, my dear little boy, I am your friend in Christ,

  ALOYSIUS ROCOFORT, S. J.

  SECOND LETTER.

  _Dear Rev. Father_:

  Since my third confession, everyone says I am showing improvement. Papasays it is your letters that make me good. Mamma says it is the grace ofGod given through confession.

  Hetty says, "I do believe dat boy done got religion for sure."

  Everybody believes in my conversion, excepting Sister Amy; she says thebadness couldn't go so sudden; it is still there. Trix's ear is soreyet; that is the reason she is cross.

  Indeed, Father, I feel good. I obey better; I have only to be calledthree times in the morning, and I don't forget things when I am sent onerrands, and I even study without growling.

  Dear Father, would you like a pair of white rats? They are lovely petsand run all over me; they eat corn off the top of my head and nibble myears. If you want them, I will put them in a wire cage and carry theminto town the next time I go to see you.

  Your loving little friend,

  BOLAX ALLEN.

  * * * * *

  ST. FRANCIS XAVIER COLLEGE.

  _My Dear Little Friend_:

  How rejoiced I am to learn by your last report that you are givingsatisfaction to Mamma and Papa, and learning to obey; the greatest ofall virtues "obedience," preserves us from falling into other sins.<
br />
  Sister will come round soon, just let her see you are in earnest, andsurprise her by persevering in your good resolutions.

  I thank you for the kind offer to give me your pets, but I fear the goodbrother who has charge of my room would object to rats--white orblack--so I must decline your present with many thanks, dear child.

  Come to see me next Wednesday, I will be home from 2 to 6 P. M.

  God bless you,

  ALOYSIUS ROCOFORT, S. J.

  * * * * *

  ST FRANCIS XAVIER COLLEGE.

  _Dear Little Friend_:

  What a pity I was not at home when you called. I wished to see you tofind out how you had been doing since I last met you. I hope you went toconfession to one of the other priests that day.

  After Holy Communion, which you are too young to receive as yet, thereis no better means to aid you in doing right than a complete and humbledeclaration of all that you have done amiss.

  It is a good thing to say your prayers in the morning, even though youhave to be reminded by your mother. I wish you had interest enoughyourself to say them without being reminded.

  Always your friend,

  A. ROCOFORT, S. J.

  A VERY GREAT LOSS.

  "Aunt Lucy," said Bolax one day. "I had a very important paper, and Icannot find it. I took such pains to write it because it was to go toFather Rocofort. Did you see it? You would know it was important becauseit was written without blots."

  "Indeed, child, I did not see it, ask Hetty; she cleaned your room thismorning."

  "Hetty, Hetty," called Bo, "did you see a long narrow strip of paperabout a yard long, with writing on it?"

  "Yes, I done see a paper like dat; it was on the floor of you' room whenI go clean it, and the puppy was a chewing of it. I done took it and putit under a book on your desk."

  "Oh Hetty, why, oh, why did you let puppy chew up my paper? It had mysins on it."

  "For de Lawd sake. Bolax! you' sins! Den I guess de poor little dog donepizened by dis time. I ain't seed him since he et up dem sins, threehours ago. I guess I'll find him lying dead somewheres."

  "Hetty, you stop making fun of me; I'm in real earnest. Sins are thingspeople only tell to the priest, or to their mothers, and I don't wantmine to be blowing round for every one to see them."

  After a great search, the paper was found and Bo inclosed it in a letterready to send Father Rocofort. When his mother read the contents, sheexplained that he could not make a confession in that manner.

  "Confession must be made on bended knees."

  "Well, then Ma, dear, I can't go to town this week, as I have such acold. 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 forit, I feel I ought to tell you the second thought that came to my mindwhen 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 appearthat if he were in good health, he would have disobeyed. As disobedienceis a sin; a great evil because displeasing to God. What a blessing it isto be sick, if one is thereby prevented from doing anything that isoffensive to God.

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

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

  Please try to understand all this, and you will become a good boy and agood 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 Catholicschool, 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 lovethem.

  Papa says it is wonderful that the President of a college would botherwriting 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 anearlier reply to your little biography of the week. One or two thoughtsthat came to my mind as I read your words is, I think, worth putting onpaper.

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

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

  God wants that, your parents hope it; you yourself would like it, if youcould get it by wishing, or if it did not cost you any trouble. But itdoes 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 publicschool might be tolerated.

  BOLAX DESERVES A WHIPPING.

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

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

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

  "But where have they gone, Hetty dear?"

  "Done turned into air; what you spect dey gwan do when dey has nothingto 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, Ididn't mean to forget my pets."

  "My son, we allow you to have pets to teach you the lesson ofresponsibility, which means to keep in mind any duty you have toperform. You do not mean to be cruel, but you are. I have saved many ofyour pets from hunger and thirst; now I shall do so no longer, neithershall the servants. Your rabbits have been given to Flossy Day, who willalways attend to them, because she is a thoughtful, kind little girl.

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

  Unfortunately at the end of the next week, the report was worse thanever, and Papa was shocked and expressed himself in very severelanguage. Bolax showed an unusual spirit of insubordination and temperon 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. Hismother did not approve of corporal punishment, but, of course, would notinterfere in what her husband thought to be his duty.

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

  "No one loves me any more!" sobbed the poor child. "If Aunt Lucy hadbeen 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, hehad rather cut off his hand than hurt you, but you know you would notlisten to anything and kept going wild. I tell you what I will do thenext time you deserve a whipping; I will stand and take it for you." "Iwouldn't let you, dear, sweet Sister; no indeed, but I'll never deserveone 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; hismother 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'segot for you." Bo went into the dining room and begged the kind creatureto sit with him. "You're my best friend, Hetty, dear." "Indeed, I'seyour 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?"

  "Oh, up their backs, of course. Here, see this bone, I break it and hereis a string that makes the fish move." "Oh, Massa Bo, where you donelearn all dis?"

  "I heard the A class saying their physiology, and I asked Mamma, and shesaid we had just such a cord in our backbone." Here Mamma came into theroom. "Law bless us, Miss Allen dat chile ought never be whipped forlearnin'. He knows lots more now than some men."

  Mrs. Allen sat down and explained to the children the different parts ofthe fish.

  This led to an interesting talk. Amy asked if shellfish were stupid,because people often say: "As dumb as a clam."

  "Not all dear, there is the beautiful Nautilus; the little mariner andreally our first navigator."

  Then the mother told of the sea nettle, the razorfish, the cuttlefish,that throws a black fluid out of its body, which darkens the water, andwhen pursued by an enemy escapes by this means. It is a very usefulfish; long ago the Romans used that black fluid for ink.

  Bo was so interested, he forgot his trouble, and no one noticed it waspast school time.

  "I'se just glad," said Hetty; "you children come play dat funny songabout de Hoo Doo man, and say dat piece what tells what de school belltalks when it rings."

  "Really my son, I am sorry you missed school this morning. It will putanother bad point on your next report." "Ma, dear, I'm tired of that oldschool; it's a girls' school, anyhow. I'm the only Catholic there, andevery now and then some one says something ugly about my religion. Ofcourse, I have to fight boys that do it, but I must bear it when girlstell me I adore idols. If you send me to St. Thomas' I'll study hard."

  WHAT THE SCHOOL BELL SAYS.

  It is wonderful what unlike things The school bell says to boys when it rings. For instance the sluggard who drags along On his way to school, hears this sort of song:

  Oh, suz hum! Why did I come? Study 'till four-- Books are a bore! Oh, how I wish I could run off and fish! See! there's the brook Here's line and hook. Hurry up--eh? What's that you say? Oh--hum--ho! Suppose I must go, Study 'till four, Books are a bore.

  Then the boy who loves to be faithful and true, Who does what his parents think best he should do, Comes bravely along with satchel and book, The wind in his whistle, the sun in his look. And these are the thoughts that well up like a song, As he hears the old bell with its faithful ding dong:

  Cling, clang, cling-- I'm so glad I could sing! Heaven so blue, Duty to do! Birds in the air, Everything fair, Even a boy Finds study a joy! When my work is done I'm ready for fun, Keener my play For tasks of the day, Cling clang, cling. I' so glad I can sing.

  These are the songs which the two boys heard, When the school bell was singing word for word. Which do you think was the truer song? Which do you hear as you're trudging along? Don't be a laggard--far better I say! To work while you work, and play when you play.

  --_By J. Bucham_.

  "Why so serious Amy," said her mother; "you look as if you were deeplyreflecting."

  I have just been thinking of those "wonders of the sea" you tell about.

  "Ma, dear, how much you do know; you can tell something of every birdand beast and insect. I wonder if I ever shall know as much?"

  "My child, you know much more of this delightful kind of study than Idid at your age. Until you were four years old my information on suchsubjects was very limited."

  "And why did you study, mother, dear?"

  "I had a strong incentive; I studied because I loved you."

  Bolax pressed close to his mother's side. "Oh, Ma, dear! I will studytoo because I love you."

  When Mr. Allen returned in the evening, Bo went to the gate to meet him,and threw his arms around his father's neck, asking to be forgiven andpromising to be a good boy in the future. Mr. Allen clasped the dearchild to his heart wondering if he had made a mistake in his manner ofchastising a boy with such a loving disposition.

  That night the good mother told of Bo's desire to change schools.

  "That's just what I intended proposing; I had a conversation with oldMathews, who has brought up seven sons. He thinks from what I told himof our son, a change would be just what he requires at present."

  A few days after this, Mrs. Allen took Bo up to the College and beggedthe President to admit him.

  "He is entirely below the age, Madame," remarked the President, "we haveno pupils under twelve years of age;" however, he allowed himself to bepersuaded and acceded to the lady's request on condition that the boyshould have a special tutor, which would cost an extra fee.

  To this Mrs. Allen gladly agreed, as the child wanted three months ofbeing ten years old and a private teacher was just what he needed.

  Bo was delighted to go up to St. Thomas', especially as it meant dailyrides on the train.