THE APOSTLE OF YOUTH
charitable donor left thirty thousand francs with me for you today."
"Praise to Our Lady, Help of Christians!" exclaimed Don Bosco, with clasped hands and eyes raised to Heaven. Those present were astounded at seeing in the offering the exact sum required.
On the feast day of the rector, Don Ronchail, March 19th, a number of gentlemen dined at the Oratory. The conversation fell upon an addition which was needed at the printing house.
"How much will it cost?" asked one.
"Ten thousand francs", was the answer.
"Only that?" said the lawyer, taking out his memorandum. "We are ten here, not counting the Reverend Fathers. I open a list, and head it with one thousand francs." The paper was passed around, and in a few moments the whole sum was subscribed.
The Apostle of Turin, while collecting for his own multiple charities, often accepted invitations to advocate the cause of local orphanages or other institutions dependent upon public aid. On one occasion, while speaking at Lyons, a few considerations of his produced a powerful effect. After expatiating on the works of the Abbé Boisard for youth, he proceeded to point out that children are God's favorites, hence the necessity of guarding in early childhood the innocence, the virtues infused into the soul by the beneficence of God in the sacrament of Baptism. Then passing to social life, he continued: "If youth is bad, society will
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