THE VENERABLE DON BOSCO
charm, almost poignant in its penetrating beauty, that one finds simply inexpressible.
"In 1883 Don Bosco summoned him to the Valdocco Oratory to be the Secretary of the Superior Chapter and Editor of the Salesian Bulletin, which he directed for nearly ten years. God so disposed circumstances that he should become the most intimate companion of the Venerable during the last five years of his precious existence, and should hear from his own mouth the relation of the many wonders that Divine Providence was effecting through him."
And during these active years he gave to the world many charming volumes of piety, books of poems and hymns, with numerous dramas for the boys and girls of the Salesian Oratories. On the death of the Venerable Don Bosco "to him was committed the great work of gathering and publishing the Biographical Memoirs. In this work the dear dead," I am citing the revered Don Albera, "consumed the last thirty-three years of his existence. With the patience of a Carthusian monk, he collected first of all the most precious documents, and then began his work of writing. In 1898, he presented to us the first volume of the Memorie Biografiche di Don Bosco; and after that, one at a time, eight other volumes followed. The ninth volume which is now in process of publication was revised by the dear author himself. For the remainder of the life of Don Bosco,
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