St Francis Xavier Academy - Xavier Yearbook (Providence, RI)

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CLASS POEM The year has gone—the last one We shall spend at this loved school ; But treasured memories linger Of each scene, each day, each rule. For four short years we’ve studied— Four years? they seem but one ! We fold our books with sadness ; The high school tasks are done. For three years we looked forward When we should be seniors all; But senior year receding, We’d fain the past recall. We thirteen were so happy, We sped the time ; and yet We’ve studied hard and striven, And we have no regret. We go forth to life’s duty— Oh, may we e’er be true To Alma Mater’s teachings That she our years may view ! We say farewell in sorrow To teachers, school, and friends ; But we are bound in union That in life never ends. 31 Laura Costei.i.o.

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Several weeks had elapsed since Father Rio saw his little friend, but one morning when passing her home, he saw one of the servants and asked, “What’s become of Rosebud ?” The servant said that she was very ill and the doctor had pronounced her case hopeless. “But she is forever saying that Jesus is waiting for her in the chapel.” Father Rio at once started to visit Rosebud but at his entrance, the nurse told him that she had left Rosebud for a few minutes and when she returned, the bed was vacant. They thought that the little one could not go far because she was so weak. Suddenly Father Rio thought that she might be in the chapel. So in great haste he made his way, and there, at the foot of the Sacred Heart statue, lay a little figure clad in a long white robe, fast in sleep. The tender little feet were covered with blood from wounds caused by the rough stones of the road. But love is more powerful than death, and so it gave the little child strength to reach the goal of her desires. One glance at the child fully convinced the priest that her last moments were at hand. He thought that she could not pass from this world without baptism, so, quickly the water was poured over her head and the sacred words pronounced. The child’s weary eyelids opened, a happy smile lit up the features, and Rosebud passed from this world to the arms of the Sacred Heart, which were open to her. Her bonquet to the Sacred Heart was her own pure life, a rare but most welcome offering. Elizabeth D. DateT. 30

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AN ANSWERED NO VENA ( ( A l AMMA, don’t you feel any better today?” Just a few f » 1 simple words, but oh ! what feeling they carried with them ! One would scarcely believe that such tenderness and love could be felt under the surroundings in which they were said. It was only a little attic tenement, devoid of all luxuries, and with barely the necessities of life. But Martina, our little speaker, remembered, though indistinctly, a time when there had not been this poverty and sickness. Her mamma had never been well, but she had always managed with great struggling to keep their tiny house cozy and warm, and they had always something in the house to eat. This was after papa had been called to the front, when an order for volunteers was sent to their little village. That seemed a long time ago to mother and daughter. At first they heard from him quite often, but suddenly his letters stopped coming. Mrs. Vincent could get no information in any way concerning her husband, and as she was not a particularly strong person, the trouble preyed upon her until finally she succumbed to it, and when the doctor was called she was told she must have a change of climate. How could this be done? No one to aid her in any way, and having her little twelve-year-old Martina to look after. She was almost at the point of desperation. Her one comfort was her strong faith, and she believed help would come. She had taught Martina also, though she was so young, to have that faith which stayed her. It was at the beginning of winter, the 7th of December, a cold, stormy day when little Martina, having made the last visit of her uovena and gone to confession for the morrow, came in and asked her mother if she felt any better. How her mother dreaded telling her that she felt even worse, and thought she must be growing weaker! Martina tried to comfort her telling her that surely tomorrow, which was the feast of the Immaculate Conception, help would come to them. She 32