"Good egg! Do you pray to it—and kiss it?"
"We pray—not to it, but to Our Lord who died for us and lives in Heaven. We kiss it—because even if it isn't pretty it is His Image—and has been blessed by a priest."
"Wipe my mouth first, please. You'll find—hanky in my pocket. Thanks!" He asked, after his discoloured lips had touched the Feet of the Crucified: "Isn't there something one ought to say? A prayer—or something! Not much time now—before they fetch me. Tell quick—what words say!"
"You couldn't have anything better than Our Father. Our Lord made that prayer Himself. But there are lots of others. The little ones are easiest. Say: 'Jesu, have mercy upon me!'"
The weak voice came stumbling after.
"Jesu, have mercy on me!"
"Jesu, help me!"
"Jesu, help me!"
"O Thou who didst die for sinful men upon the Cross, have mercy upon me a sinner!"
The glassy eyes stared upwards and past the boy, and a thin scarlet thread began to trickle from the corner of his mouth....