“Kind! Och, ivirybody’s kind to me, honey! But nobody has ivir loved me––that way. The good Lord made me a fright, honey––ain’t ye noticed? I’ve a face like an owl. An’ they told me from th’ cradle up I’d nivir land a man. An’ I didn’t, honey; they all ran from me––an’ so I become a bride o’ th’ Church. But I ain’t complainin’.”
“But, Katie, the face is nothing. Why, your heart is as big––as big as the whole world! I hadn’t been with you an hour before I knew that. And, Katie dear, I love you.”
“Och, darlin’,” murmured the woman, “sure th’ Virgin be praised fer sendin’ ye to me, a lonely old woman!”
“It was not the Virgin, Katie, but God who brought me here,” said the girl gently, as she caressed the old Sister’s cheek.
“It’s all one, honey; the Virgin’s th’ Mother o’ God.”
“Why, Katie! You don’t know what you are saying!”
“Troth, child, she has th’ same power as God! Don’t we pray to her, an’ she prays to th’ good God to save us? Don’t she have influence with Him?”
“No, Katie, no. There is no person or thing that persuades God to be good to His children. There is nothing that influences Him. He is infinite––infinite mind, Katie, and infinite good. Oh, Katie, what awful things are taught in this world as truth! How little we know of the great God! And yet how much people pretend they know about Him! But if they only knew––really knew, as Jesus did––why, Katie, there wouldn’t be an old person, or a sick or unhappy one in the whole world! Katie,” after a little pause, “I know. And I’m going to tell them.”
The old Sister drew the child closer. “Air these more o’ yer funny notions, darlin’?”
“I suppose they are what the world thinks funny, Katie,” answered the girl.