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Kiemark； a fashionable quarter of the town； there was a splendid mansion；
belonging to a Lutheran noble； the Senator Kimberker。
It took Paul's fancy immensely。 On inquiry； they found that Kimberker
used less than half of the house； for it was a huge building with many
rooms； and that he was more than willing to rent the unused rooms to the
young Poles。 Stanislaus felt a little ill at ease over living with a Lutheran。
But Bilinski and Paul pooh… poohed at his fears； and had their own way in
the matter。
So in a few days they moved in； and fitted up a couple of the vacant
rooms。 Stanislaus was to live more than two years in this house； two years
filled with a great deal of annoyance and pain； and yet blessed in
wonderful ways。 His difficulties began almost at once； and they were no
slight difficulties。 Of course； he and Paul went daily for classes to the
Jesuits' house； and met daily the few boys who continued their studies in
Vienna。 But the old companionship； the old life of the boys in common；
was gone。 Only two or three of his best friends remained； and these were
scattered through the city。 He saw them for a little while after classes； he
might now and then go out with them on a holiday。 But for the most part
he was thrown back upon the company of his tutor and his elder brother。
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Both Paul and Bilinski liked a good time。〃 They were far removed
from the authority of home。 Bilinski； who was in charge； was only a few
years older than Paul； and whilst a good fellow in the main； was little able；
or perhaps little willing； to put much check upon him。
And Paul was a pretty gay blade。 Rough； boisterous； wild in manner；
he picked companions like himself。 Kimberker' 5 house soon became a
noisy place。 There were dinners at which the wine went round very freely；
plenty of cards and dice； now and then brawling quarrels。 It did not suit
Stanislaus at all。 He was too much of a gentleman； and too good； to act
unpleasantly or resent the rough company that Paul brought home。 But he
could not mix freely with them； he did not like their talk or their manners；
and he slipped quietly away from their noisy gatherings as soon as he
decently could。
And so he was left alone； and lonesomeness for a boy of fourteen is a
very unpleasant thing。 He still did well in his classes； but he was no book…
worm。 When he had done his duty in study； the books had no further claim
upon him； and no attraction in themselves。 And yet he kept up his
wonderful brightness and cheeriness all the time； so that Bilinski often
wondered at him。 And it was worth wondering at； for there is nothing； as
everybody knows； which sooner breaks down one's spirits and brings on
the blue devils than being left alone； without friends and companionship。
How did he do it？ The fact is； he refused to be alone。 As his friends in
Vienna left him； he simply turned more to his friends in heaven。 And
heaven came down to him。 Any old vacant room in the big； half…empty
house was his chapel。 And through the long； lonely days； often through
great part of the night； he prayed。
If you could have seen him pray！ Imagine any good…hearted boy who
has been away from home for a long stretch； say a couple of years； and
who comes back and meets father； mother； brothers； sisters。 He may not
say much； but he LOOKS a good deal； and he feels more than any words
can say。 That is the way Stanislaus prayed。 He just turned to God and his
Mother in heaven； with all his love in his eyes and immense happiness in
his heart。 And if he spoke； or said things to them in his mind； he could
speak simply； like a little child； because no one else would hear him and
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
he would not need be shy or bashful。
If you could have seen him pray； you would never think； as so many
do； that praying is a gloomy business。 His face was lit up； his eyes bright；
his whole body spoke of peace and courage and joy。 He kept thinking so
much about heaven that he seemed to live there in advance。 Everybody
knows how； when the school year is nearly over and vacations are at hand；
there is a joyful atmosphere about the days。 Lessons do not seem so hard；
though they really are just the same old lessons。 Classes seem to have
more life and spirit in them。 Boys are in better temper。 Every detail of
work and play is colored by expectation； as if the relief of vacation were
already foretasted。 Stanislaus looked forward just that way to the Great
Vacation； to going Home forever。 He knew that even the longest life。 ends
soon； that all its difficulties and troubles pass away and eternity begins；
and he felt so light…hearted looking ahead to that eternity that nothing
happening here could sadden him … except sin； and he kept away from that。
Paul and his boisterous fellows thought that Paul's younger brother
was a queer chap。 But they liked him； just the same； because he was
always pleasant and smiling。 He never said a word to them about their
conduct。 But when they talked to him； he naturally spoke of the things he
was always thinking about。 And they did not like that。 Such talk tended to
stir up their consciences； even to frighten them。 And they did not want
their con…sciences stirred up。 You can often see that。 You may have noticed
in yourself that； if you are not living as you ought to live； any word about
God or death or heaven or our Blessed Lady irritates you； makes you feel
horribly uncomfortable。 And so Stanislaus became a puzzle to them；
because they would not see。 And little by little they left him alone； or only
spoke to him to tease him or make fun of him。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER VII
THE TEST OF COURAGE
Paul was the worst at this teasing； nor did it stop at mere teasing。 He
was not a really bad fellow； but he was selfish； set upon having his own
will in everything； and had a very quick and fierce temper。 Stanislaus'
quiet refusal to join in the noisy revels of himself and his companions； his
unaffected piety； his long hours of prayer； were things he could not
understand。 They seemed a sort of standing rebuke to him； and they
constantly nettled him。 Of course he sought reasons to justify himself； as
we all do when we are in the wrong。 When they were alone； he and
Bilinski fell to scolding Stanislaus。
〃You shame us！〃 Paul would cry。 〃You do not act like a nobleman； but
like some boorish peasant。〃
Then Stanislaus would be troubled。 He knew he was in the right。 He
simply could not stand the free ways and freer speech of Paul and his
companions。 But how could he justify himself？ How could he defend his
own position without at least seeming to attack his brother's？ And that last
he would never do。 S6metimes he tried to smooth matters over by saying：
〃We take different ways； Paul。 I do not condemn yours。 Why not let
me alone in mine？〃
But oftenest he could only smile and say nothing。 And whether he
answered or kept silence； Paul was sure to grow more irritated。 Then
Bilinski tried to exert his authority。
〃Your father gave you into my charge；〃 he would say。 〃I order you to
act like the rest of us and not make yourself odd and shame us by your
conduct。〃
But Stanislaus knew well enough what were the limits of Bilinski's
authority and he was not at all the sort of boy to be easily bullied by a
mere assumption of authority that did not exist。
The result always was that Stanislaus continued to do what his own
conscience urged him to do； and that Bilinski and Paul felt helpless in the
face of his quiet； fearless persistence。 And that made them the more vexed
with him。 They nicknamed him 〃The