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He began early； just as the musician Mozart did； just as the painter
Raffaele did； and he studied hard at his art； just as all great artists have
done。 He began by saying his prayers well； not mere lip prayers； but heart
prayers。 He began by getting on easy terms with God； with our Lord in the
Blessed Sacrament； with our Blessed Lady。 He learned to talk with them
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
as we learn to talk with our fathers and mothers。 He told them his troubles；
his plans。 He talked everything over with them。 And it no more made him
queer or stiff or unpleasant than talking things over with your comrades or
your parents makes you queer or stiff or unpleasant。 If you believe in God；
it is the most natural thing in the world to try to take Him into your
confidence。
Then it is easy to see how； as Stanislaus grew older； he liked to pray；
he liked to talk about God and our Lady。 You see； he had grown to know
them。 They were not remote； far away。 They were as near to him as his
own folk。 They were his own folk。 And it is easy to see how； keeping in
God's sight all the time； he kept his soul clean and his heart merry。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER IV
OFF TO VIENNA
In this way Stanislaus went on until he was nearly fourteen years old
and his brother Paul was approaching fifteen。 Then the Lord John Kostka
thought his boys had better continue their studies； not at home； but at a
regular school。 He picked out John Bilinski； a young man who had lately
completed his college course； as tutor for them。 He gave them a couple of
servants； mounted them all on good horses； and sent them off six hundred
miles or more on horseback to Vienna。
You may be sure Stanislaus enjoyed the long ride。 It would be strange
if he； a nobleman of the finest cavalry nation in the world； were not a good
horseman。 He loved the smell of the open fields； he loved the boisterous
song of the mountain torrent。 The hills and the plains were his home； for
the hills and the plains were nearer to God than the houses of men。
In those days all travel was on foot or on horseback。 The wealthy and
noble rode； the poor footed it。 Great highways cut Europe from end to end；
though there were tracts in Stanislaus' country where the roadway was
only the broad steppe； where the grasses waved and tossed like the sea；
where men were few and their dwellings scattered far apart。
They crossed great rivers； they climbed the foothills of the Carpathian
mountains。 Many a night Paul and Stanislaus； with their people； slept
under the stars。 Many a wild； rough border town they passed。 Many a great
forest they penetrated； the home of the wild boar and the aurochs。
And the tar burners in the forests looked up from under their matted
brows at the fair oval face of the Polish boy； and said：
〃He is like a wild flower blown by the wind。 He is like the violets that
laugh in spring at the sun。〃
And the shaggy fighting…men of the frontier villages watched him ride
through their streets； and thought：
〃This is an angel。 He looks toward heaven because he sees his
Brothers there。〃
They crossed themselves piously as he passed。 And some of the light
and laughter of his face glowed 'for a moment in their dark lives； as a
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
gloomy glen in the forest is brightened up by a darting ray of sunlight。
He was wonderful； but he was always a boy。 He was glad to feel the
good horse under him； to grip the Tartar saddle with his knees； to feel the
air rush by his cheek。
Sometimes they met poor people staggering wearily afoot along the
road。 Often Stanislaus checked his horse and lightly dismounted。
〃Get up； get up； old father！〃 he would cry。 〃My legs are stiff from the
saddle。 I want to walk。〃
And though a peasant might often be afraid to accept the favor from a
noble； or be surly and churlish； the folk never were so with Stanislaus。 Up
climbed the old father into the saddle； and Stanislaus stepped out by his
side。
〃God give your grace long years！〃 said the thankful old man。
〃Long years！〃 cried Stanislaus。 I want more than that。 I want eternity。 I
was born for greater things than long years。〃
And the old man would understand； for he was of the poor； and the
poor know more of this longing for heaven than do the rich。 But he looked
almost with awe at this richly dressed noble boy who had learned even
now to value life so justly。 Then it was easy for Stanislaus to talk of
heaven to the old man。
〃Old father； in the barony of the Lord Jesus there is no poverty or old
age or weariness。 Nor is there any difference of rank there as here； for we
shall all be great lords and castellans in heaven。〃
〃Aye； but your grace will be a hetman surely in the army of the Lord
Jesus；〃 said the old man。
〃Who knows！〃 cried Stanislaus。 〃I should love that dearly。 Though the
generals in His kingdom are not always from amongst the nobles。 It may
be that you will be hetman； and I a common soldier。 But it is good to be
even a common soldier with Him。〃
〃I went against the Tartars in my youth；〃 said the old man。 〃Perhaps
we shall have a campaign against that dog…brother Lucifer； and Saint
Michael and Saint Wenceslaus will lead us under the Lord Jesus； and our
Lady of Yasna Gora will look on when we come back victorious！〃
And so they talked on until it was time to set the old man down； and
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
Stanislaus mounted again to catch up with his party； which had gone
ahead。
〃With God！〃 cried the old man。
〃With God！〃 echoed Stanislaus。 'And if you go to heaven before me；
father； do not forget to plead for me with the Lord Jesus and with His
Mother。〃
Then he clattered along the road； and shortly came up with Bilinski
and Paul。
Sometimes they came to districts infested by robbers； and waited to
join themselves to some larger party for protection。 Sometimes they made
long stretches of many hours in the saddle； when the inns were far apart
and they could get no food on the road。 Sometimes they tarried a day or
two in a little town to rest their horses。
But everywhere Stanislaus thought of God； and prayed； and when
occasion offered spoke of holy things as only he could speak。 Bilinski and
Paul often laughed at him； for they were of a different stamp。 But he did
not mind their ridicule； and he bore them no grudge for it。 And so； after。
many days； they came at length to Vienna； on July 26； 1564。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER V
SCHOOL DAYS
Vienna WAS a great city； even in those days； since for a long time it
had been the residence of the Roman Emperors of the West。 It was a
Catholic city； though even in 1564； little more than forty years after
Luther's revolt； the Lutherans in the city had begun to be quite numerous。
The Society of Jesus had been founded in 1540； only ten years before
Stanislaus was born。 But it had spread quickly。 For some years now there
had been a Jesuit house in Vienna。 In i56o； four years before Stanislaus
came to Vienna； the Emperor Ferdinand I had loaned to the Viennese
Jesuits a large house next to their own； which they might use as a college。
The Fathers built a connection between the two houses； so that they
became practically one。 Here they received boys from the city； from the
country round about； even from Hungary and far Poland。 Here Stanislaus
took up his residence。
It was a simpler； less formal sort of school than we perhaps are
accustomed to。 The Fathers and the boys lived t