Immaculata Academy - Lilium Convallium Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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36 LILIUM CONVALLIUM and forget what I just said. Some clay I'll tell you the story of a sweet little girl who was deprived of life and happinessf' The little girl, not quite understanding what kind of story he meant and seeing that she could do nothing, sadly left the office. She had grown to like this austere man and to love his wife very dearly, because they were most kind to her, whereas at home she received little affection. Marie visited them a short time almost every day, but today, after the disturbing scene at school, she had conceived the idea of stopping to see Senor Mernilo at his office to enlist his opposition to the persecutors. She was indeed surprised at his atti- tude, for she had not suspected that a lady like Senora Mernilo, who received Holy Communion daily, could have an anti-Catholic husband. Well, she said to herself confidently, Pm going to pray to our Blessed Mother for him. Our Lady of Guadalupe will surely convert him. As soon as Marie had left, Senor Mernilo arose and paced back and forth. Thoughts of their treasured little daughter, so suddenly snatched from them, filled his mind. Senora had borne their loss nobly and he knew she had loved the baby more than herself. She had become a better Catholic, while he had turned his back upon God for political power. XY'ho was the happier? He had to admit that she was more contented than he. He was surprised to find the wall of indifference to God thus crumbling in his heart after the eight years he had been trying to build it. He clenched his hands and shook himself as if to throw off some burden. What! am I going to think next of going back to the Church and losing my position? he muttered. Indeed not! Even as he said this many straight arrows of love and entreaty, sent up by his devoted wife and a little ten-year-old child, pierced the loving heart of Mary on his behalf. One day Mernilo was instructed to raid a large convent and destroy every- thing pertaining to religion. He hesitated a while but finally determined to cast all scruples aside. Had he not been anxious for just such a chance to show his loyalty to Mexico? He accordingly ordered a band of soldiers to fulfill the command to the letter. These men, eager for plunder, arrived at the convent long before Mernilo expected. Consequently, by the time he arrived, broken statues and wrecked altars covered che once shining floors. The sight of the ruins touched his heart and he quickly dismissed the men before they could see his emotion. Pshaw! I'm getting as soft-hearted as a woman, he muttered. He hurried through the building to see that the orders had been carried out, while he steeled his heart against his finer feelings. When he came to the once beautiful chapel, he found a desolate spot indeed. The stained glass windows were knocked out, the altars were broken, and the stations were shattered almost to dust. He started in haste from this place which held so many reproaches for him and almost burst the stony covering of his heart. He reached the door, when, glancing down, he stepped back in fright. His face turned ashen gray and his breath came in gasps. Memories of happy days in God's love flooded his mind. But these memories were not the cause of his agitation. He was gazing at a totally undamaged picture of our Lady of Guadalupe, left unnoticed behind a pile of ruins. He recalled his mother's great love of our Lady under this title and his own promise to her when she was dying, that he would always cherish the devotion. This picture was the exact reproduction of the one that his mother had hung at the head of his bed and of the life-size one which adorned the old home parlor. Before it the family had gathered for evening prayers and before it he had poured forth many childish troubles. Little Angele had also been consecrated to our Lady of Guadalupe. At each new remembrance a sword of remorse pierced his heart. Then despair tried

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LILIUM CONVALLIUM 35 could it mean? I gazed about in wonder. All the men stood with bared heads bent reverently, the women with piously folded hands. Was the hearse passing? I could see none. Then the church bell pealed out. It was the evening Angelus. Try as we would, we could not get into the spirit of the place. The village might as well have been in some foreign country, for we were certainly for- eigners there. W'e looked forward with relief to the close of school when we should be free to go where something happened Cat least once in a whilej. In this place life seemed dull and drab. The most exciting event of the year occurred one very warm Sunday in spring when the candles on St. Joseph's altar melted. Yet, somehow, vacation did not seem so wonderful after all. There was something lacking. Why did we notice the noise so much? And did it not seem queer to be wakened in the morning by the sound of an alarm clock instead of by footsteps? And it seemed so lonesome without the ringing of the Angelus in the evening. On our return to school in the fall we chose a route we had never traveled before. We had the good fortune to get an exceptionally striking view of the village. The first thing distinguishable was the church. As we drew nearer we could see the houses around. Majestically enthroned upon a hill at one end of the village stood the collee, while the more humble academy was satisfied to repose at the opposite end. How well it had been laid out, the church in the center, the homes around the church and the schools on the outskirts. Why, that was it! By that simple chance we had at last stumbled upon the secret of the entire village. The church in the center, the rest of the village circling around it. Yes, that was indeed the keynote! All the functions centered around the church. That was, too, the way life should be, and the way we then and there resolved to make our lives. Nevermore were we foreigners in this quiet, restful, sleepy, rcposeful, pious little town. -MARY WILLIAMS, 'z6. Marie Michael Mernilo, an influential official in the Mexican government, leaned majestically back in his office chair and took a huge cigar out of his mouth in order to sec better thc little girl in front of him. Please, Senor Mernilo, why did those wicked men close our school and make the Sisters run away? Sister Mary Joseph's eyes were red, so I guess they made her cry. Won't you make them stop? The little girl was Marie Peruza, a sweet, earnest child of ten years. This religious persecution in Mexico bothered her, especially since it was directed against her teachers, the Sisters. Michael Mernilo's face grew troubled. I-Ie loved little children and in particular this little one of whom he had become fond as soon as she moved into the little house next door. She reminded him of his only baby daughter, Angele, whom they had lost in a train wreck eight years ago. At this recol- lection, the man's face hardened and he turned fiercely to the little girl. Why should I protect those Sisters? Run home now and don't talk to me about such things again. Little Marie trembled before his angry look. Regretting his harsh words, he called her back. Here, little one, is a quarter. Buy yourself some candy n

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regim- LILIUM CONVALLIUM 37 to find entrance to his soul, but Senor Mernilo, glancing again at the sweet picture, realized che compassion and power with God of our Lady of Guadalupe. He no longer thought about his position but only longed for God's forgive- ness and our Lady's friendship. For a while a bitter conflict took place within him, but at length he decided to see a priest immediately to make his peace with God. He would then send in his resignation of office. A wholly changed husband greeted Senora Mernilo a few hours later. He showed her more love and affection than usual and a happy smile played around his lips. The gentle lady's sweet face lighted up and her joy over his con- version was boundless, although she wept when she heard of the ruin of the convent. Suddenly, little Marie Peruza, expecting to find Senora alone, burst into the room. She stepped back in consternation when she saw Senor Mernilo, but he entreated her to come ing he had something to tell her. At the story of his return to God, the child was full of joy, because her earnest prayers had been answered completely. Then her face saddened and she said sorrowfully, I have something to tell you, too. Mother just told me that she is not my real mother. She said that she found me after a train wreck when I was two years old, and that no one has ever inquired for me. The childish voice broke on the last words and after a moment she continued sadly, Now I have no name, nor home, nor parents. The lady I call mother, told me, too, that I would have to go to an orphan's home because they are getting too poor. Senor Mernilo and his wife glanced at each other with wet, shining eyes, for now they saw the road to perfect happiness. They both loved this child as a daughter and now she could become their own little Angele. A few days later, the adoption papers having been secured, Marie came to live with her new parents. She wore for the first time a shiny gold locket. Wlien Senora Mernilo saw the locket, she almost fainted. My dear, where did you get that locket? The lady I lived with cold me that I had it on when she found mef' replied the surprised child. As his wife was almost overcome, Senor Mernilo opened it with trembling fingers. Yes, there were the pictures of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and our Lady of Guadalupe, just as they themselves had placed them almost ten years ago. As they were speechless with joy, it was some time before the child understood that she had found her real parents. A rose- shaped birthmark just above the girl's elbow confirmed the fact. As they sank to their knees in thanksgiving, Senor Mernilo murmured with intense feeling: I feel that the loving kindness that our good God has shown in restoring to us our little Angele, great as it is, is but a shadow of what he has reserved for us in eternity. Never again shall I lightly throw away my heavenly birthrightf' A few days later the ideally happy family moved to the United States, after having richly recompensed the people who had taken care of Angele. Keeping only enough money to afford themselves a small income, they gave the rest of their fortune to the Church in Mexico. Senor Mernilo's only aim in life now was to show his hearty gratitude to God for His exceptional favors by an exemplary Christian life. -ADELINE VANDERBECK, 'z6.