r heart as to Christ on the Cross. He
sees your repentance. He will heal you and make you His dear child."

As the dying lad was saying his words of sorrow for sin, the priest was
pronouncing absolution. "May Almighty God have mercy on you and forgive
you your sins and bring you to life everlasting, Amen. May the Almighty
and Merciful Lord grant you pardon, absolution and remission of all your
sins. Amen. May Our Lord Jesus Christ absolve you, and I, by His
Authority, do absolve you from every stain of sin. I absolve you from
your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy
Ghost. Amen. May the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the merits of the
Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the Saints, whatever good you have done
and whatever suffering you have borne, make for the forgiveness of your
sins, for an increase of grace, and for the reward of life eternal.
Amen."

Father Boone arose, opened the door and bade all come in. "All please
kneel down," he said, "I am going to give William, Holy Viaticum." They
all knelt, including Mr. Roberts. Before the priest administered the
sacred rite, he turned to the boy and said,

"My child, I am bringing to you Our Lord Himself, to be your friend and
companion. Speak your heart to Him." Then administering the Blessed
Sacrament, he said,

"Receive, my child, the Holy Viaticum, the Body of Our Lord Jesus
Christ. May He guard you against the evil one and conduct you to life
everlasting. Amen."

The boy received the Sacred Host with intense reverence and joy. He
crossed his arms in prayer. After a short while, he turned to his mother
and said, "God wants me, mother."

She responded, "The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away; blessed be the
name of the Lord."

The father came over to his son, and taking his hand kissed it, saying
with a voice of suppressed emotion, "Good-bye, Willie, pray for your
poor old Dad."

"Good-bye, Dad. A kiss."

His eyes caught Frank kneeling beside the bed and he faintly smiled at
him.

Then, to his mother, "Good-bye, Ma."

She kissed his forehead tenderly. He looked up a moment, and closed his
eyes. Father Boone and Frank were just saying, "Holy Mary, Mother of
God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death," when the
mother gave a gasp and said, "My Willie is dead!"

(V)

On the way home an hour later, Frank and the priest walked for a while
in silence. Each had his own thoughts. In an indefinable way, the priest
sh