THE APOSTLE OF YOUTH
hearted after his long and fruitless quest, he was met by a woman who accosted him respectfully: "Pardon me, Father, but my master is very ill and has been asking for you; he thought you were absent from Turin". Don Bosco accompanied her to the house and found the patient in a violent fever. Greeting him with his usual cheerfulness, he sat down by his side while the sick man poured forth entreaties for relief from his sufferings. In half an hour he suddenly arose cured, and signing a cheque for the sum required handed it to Don Bosco with the fervent expressions of a grateful heart.
In a town of Genoa, San Pier d'Arena, there were thirty thousand souls; yet the church was almost deserted, and one priest sufficed for the parish. It happened that a Salesian Co-operator, the wife of a railway official, fell dangerously ill and refused to see any priest but Don Bosco. Her husband, an irreligious man, was highly pleased at her exclusiveness, being fully convinced that the Turin apostle would not travel two hundred miles to hear a woman's confession. To his surprise, Don Bosco hastened to her without delay, heard her confession, and exhorted her to confidence in Our Lady, Help of Christians.
As he rose to depart, he remarked: "As I shall remain here a few days, come to church one of these mornings, and I will give you the Holy Communion."
The husband, with difficulty repressing his in-
119
