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Finis
"So, you see Patrick that's the long and the short of it. That's how I came to work in the cemetery. I learned from my father how to work with wood. At first, I guess I thought I too would be a carpenter, but the Good Lord had another idea for me and I can't complain."
"But, Grandpa, you got paid to do that work. Did working at the cemetery mean you could build this house?"
"That is just what I mean. If I didn't work over there, I would never have been able to afford this fine house. Your grandmother made a good salary as a teacher at Saint Catherine's School in Martinez, but we could never have done it on just that salary. We needed two good salaries and that is what the Lord gave us."
"But I thought that if you do a work of mercy you shouldn't get paid to do it. You do it because it's the right thing to do."
"Sometimes that's right. You just do it because it is the right thing to do, but don't forget that if God asks us to do something we do it because He's asked us. I may not be perfect, God knows I wish I were, but I have to go to Confession too. I just did what God let me do and I tried to pass on that gift in some way or another. You know, I've met some wonderful people over the years and I've told you how I could help so many people over those years. Maybe someone else could have done what I did and maybe they could have done it better. I don't know, but I do know this. God has been very good to me. Not only because I worked over at Saint Dominic's, but because he gave you to me. Now come here and let me give you a kiss!"
Patrick jumped up on his grandfather's lap and hugged Seamus. As Seamus kissed him on the forehead, he said,
"Oh, grandpa, there is one more thing that I want to ask you, is that grave still over there for you and Gramma?"
"I don't know. Hmmmmmmmmmmm...Conor! Conor!"
Conor stuck his head out the door and said,
"We're almost ready for dinner, but what do you want, Pa?"
"Is that grave for your mother and I still waiting for us over there?"