Master Bolax Allen.
My Dear Little Friend: Your letter has given me a great deal of pleasure. At first I could not think who was writing; then I remembered you are the boy who wished I might live a hundred years. So this is the eve of your First Holy Communion!
Well dear, you have my best prayers that your heart may be adorned with all the virtues that will make it worthy of so great a grace.
You write a nice letter, just the kind Claude used to write. I hope you will love your religion and hate sin as did little Claude Lightfoot.
Your friend in Christ,
F. J. Finn, S. J.
On August 12th the children's Retreat opened, Mrs. Allen and Amy took the train in the morning so as to arrive at St. Imelda's before noon. Their first visit was to the Chapel, then Sister Joseph conducted them over the house and grounds. Bolax insisted on showing the "Most beautiful cows in the world," as he termed the well-kept Convent herd.
The Retreat opened at four in the afternoon, with Rosary and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
The order of exercises were Holy Mass at half past six. Then breakfast. A walk in the grounds; spiritual reading, Stations of the Cross, not the prayers in books, but some story told at each station, then an act of contrition, and a prayer for the holy souls.
After dinner Bo was asked to help Sister Martha to weed the garden and gather vegetables, so that he might join work to prayer. He was delighted to think he could be of use, but, of course, the dear sister only wanted to give him occupation, that he might not feel the silence of the retreat too monotonous.