THE APOSTLE OF YOUTH
me dozens, or rather hundreds of Salesians, what a treasure for my flock! They would be my well-beloved sons." But the good prelate had to wait in prayer and hope seven years.
At Montevideo, where they stopped again, a rich chemist welcomed them: "My four sons attend Don Bosco's college at Val Salice," he said. "How hard it is to have to send them so far! Shall we never have a Salesian college here?" In a little more than a year his wish was realized.
On December 14th the missioners arrived at Buenos Ayres, where they were greeted by upwards of two hundred of their fellow-countrymen—some of whom had been educated in the Oratories of Turin—who escorted them with joy to the home prepared for them. Here the Archbishop welcomed these new champions and co-workers of Christ as his dear friends and children. At his entreaty they at once devoted themselves to the parochial duties of the Church, Madre de Misericordia (Mother of Mercy), Don Cagliero remaining as rector, Don Baccino as curate, and Don Belmonte, not yet ordained, as organist.
Don Fagnano with the seven others and some of the Salesian nuns, repaired to Los Arroyos. There the College of St. Nicholas was opened on March 20, 1876, by the Archbishop in person and Don Fagnano. The work increased and with it the ardor and enthusiasm of the people; the progress was so rapid, the adults thirsting for the word of God, and the children growing in habits of virtue,
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