Just now the one desire of Willy's heart was to see his
father's ship, and to him the climbing of the scaffolding seemed so
wholly without danger that he looked upon the command which he had
received as an act of tyranny, and resolved to disobey. His conscience
said to him, "It is a sin to disobey," but he heeded not the small
voice within him. Before going up he sought out his favorite
companion, a little twelve year old Chinaman. The boys were of an age
and were to receive their first communion at the same time--facts which
created a bond of sympathy between two children almost as totally
unlike as it was possible for children to be. The young Chinaman was a
foundling. His parents after the fashion of many of the Chinese had
exposed him when but a few days old, thus consigning him to death,
although their heathen religion forbids the practice, and if the
Sisters of Mercy had not found and cared for him in the orphanage he
would have perished. There the boy was baptized and brought up in the
Christian religion. And when the years passed by, as Joseph--this was
the name given him at baptism--showed decided talent, he was put in
school, and finally given over to the missioners in the college, to be
trained for the priesthood, if God called him to the work.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25