馬里思神父心情非常沮喪的跪在祭台前，回想他在這個印地安的小村莊過了十年的歲月。一祝聖了神父，他就被派到這個保留地服務，充滿了熱火，從來不感到疲倦地為羊群工作。今天，他覺得沒什麼好表現。這些森林裡的孩子門浮浮躁躁地，沒有穩定性，使他感到一切都失敗了，望著聖體龕，他默默地祈禱：

「耶穌聖心，假如我知道這些年來我已經拯救一個靈魂，我就心滿意足了。」

    他離開教堂走到門口，遇見一個年青人，問道：

「神父，我迷路了，請您告訴我該怎麼走。」

馬神父微笑著告訴這年青人，天黑以前不可能走到山的另一邊。

「假如你接受了我的款待，留下來與我共餐，明天早晨，我會告訴你如何走。」陌生人很感激地接受了邀請。馬神父發現他很聰明，通曉很多事理，要他多住了幾天。當年青人要離開時，神父說：

「我想給你一件有價值的禮物，雖然你不是天主教徒，這是我僅有的禮物，帶著這小小的耶穌聖心聖牌，當作你曾經在荒郊野外逗留過的紀念。」

偉佛接受了這聖牌，放在口袋裡，許下永遠帶著。

    偉佛走了，馬神父感到比以前更寂寞。他繼續努力地為羊群工作，但越無精打采，越灰心喪志，終於決定離開此地，回到文明世界。

離開的當天，東方發白，印地安人很傷心難過地陪著神父到河岸，等著汽船來帶他離去。小汽船來了，帶著一位旅客上岸，這位陌生人帶了一封信給神父說：「神父，你還有時間看完這封信，因為船不馬上開走。」

馬神父打開了信，上面寫著：

   「親愛的神父，當我拜訪您時，我是非常的絕望，感到生命沒什麼價值。您這種自我犧牲的英雄生活，給我印象深刻，久久不能忘懷。我開始研究您的宗教，昨天我領洗並領受了傅油聖事，我病得很嚴重，但很喜樂的面對死亡。因為，我知道我已得救與天主在一起。這些都是小小的耶穌聖心聖牌和您英雄的事蹟所致。您救了我的靈魂，當我在天主的寶座前，一定記得您。偉佛」

   陌生人等神父看完了信，就說：

 「偉佛寫完了這封信後幾個小時就歸天了。」

汽笛響了，這年青的陌生人說：「神父可以啟程了。」

神父微笑著回答：「我改變主意，不走了。」

   後來馬神父站在耶穌聖心像前，全神貫注的祈禱，沒聽到開門的聲音。一隻小小的棕色的手伸進神父的手裡。

小斐理說：「神父，我很高興您不走了！」

馬神父拍拍小孩的頭，注視著聖心像，悄悄地說：

「親愛的耶穌聖心，我也很高興留下來。」

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9.The Decision Of Persisting In The End

        Father Morris was overwhelmed by a sense of depression as he knelt before the altar and reviewed the ten years of his priestly life spent in this Indian village.   After his ordination he had been sent to the Reservation.   Burning with zeal, he had labored indefatigably for his flock, yet today he felt that he had nothing to show.   These children of the forest were so fickle in their good resolutions that his work seemed to be a failure.   Looking at the tabernacle, he whispered, “Heart of Christ, if I even knew that I had saved one soul during the years spent here, I would be satisfied.”

        He left the church and, on the threshold, met a young man who said,  “Father, I have missed the trail.   Can you direct me?”   The priest smiled and told the young man that it would be impossible to reach the other side of the mountain before dark.   “If you will accept my hospitality and think you can stand my cooking, I shall be glad to show you the way in the morning.”   The stranger gratefully accepted the invitation and Father found him intelligent and well-informed on many subjects.   The visit was prolonged for some days.

        Before the young man took his departure, the priest said to him, “I wish I had something worthwhile to give you as a souvenir.   As it is, although I know you are not a Catholic, I am going to give you the only thing I have.   Carry this little badge of the Sacred Heart to remind you of your stay in the wilderness.”  Wilfred accepted the badge and placed it in his pocket, promising never to part with it.

        He was off and the priest was lonelier than ever.   He continued to work hard among his people, but his dejection increased until finally he resolved to leave and go back to civilization.

        The day of his departure dawned and the Indians looked sad as they accompanied the Padre to the shore to await the appearance of the steamer that was to take him from their midst.   The boat arrived and the cutter with one passenger aboard started for land.   A stranger stepped out of it and handed the priest a letter, saying, “Father, you will have time to read it as the streamer does not leave for some time.”   The priest opened the envelope and read:   “Dear Padre – When I visited you I was desperate and thought life not worth living.   The sight of your heroic life of self-sacrifice made an impression that I could not easily forget.   I began studying your religion and yesterday was baptized and received the last sacraments.   I have been very ill but I meet death with joy for I know that my soul will be safe with God.   I owe all to the little badge of the Sacred Heart and your heroism.   You have saved my soul and, when I appear before the throne of God, I shall not forget you.   Wilfred.”

        The stranger was waiting and, when he saw that the priest had finished reading, he told him that Wilfred had died a few hours after writing the letter.   The steamer whistled and the young man said,   “Are you ready, Father?”   The priest smiled and replied,   “I have changed my mind.   I am not going.”

        Later, the priest stood before the picture of the Sacred Heart, so absorbed in thought that he did not hear the door open.   A tiny brown hand was thrust into his and little Philip said,  “Padre, me glad you no go!”   The Padre patted the child’s head, and looking at the picture whispered,  “Dear Heart of Christ, I, too, am glad.”