St Stan Illustrated Story

W hen he was about 12 years old he accompanied his parents to Nowy Sacz, which was six or seven miles from his home. (It must be remembered that at that time this was considered a good day’s journey, whether one went on foot or by horse and wagon.) John’s parents, busy with their marketing, did not even notice that they had lost him in the crowd in the market square. Later, frantic with worry, they sought him everywhere, inquiring of friends and acquain- tances whether anyone had seen him. It was all in vain; the boy could not be found. Weary, yet apparently sure that he would somehow be safe, they returned to Podegrodzie late in the evening. John, meanwhile, wandered about the market square, and finally ran into one of his relatives, who took him home for the night. Early the following morning, yielding to the boy’s entreaties, they took him to the local school, which was taught by so learned a master that it was well known. John immediately became convinced that he would be able to learn much more there than at the little school at Podegrodzie. After much pleading, he eventually induced his parents to permit him to re- main at the school in Nowy Sacz. It was not long before his brother Peter, and a few of the other boys from Podegrodzie, envious of John’s rapid progress, transferred to the school in Nowy Sacz. (This entire episode may sound very strange to us today, but we must remember that we are back in the 17 th century. It was then not unusual, much less forbidden, for a boy to change schools practically at will.) Some time later it became evident that the schoolmaster, in spite of his learning, was morally perverted and a source of scandal to his pupils. When he made indecent proposals to John, the boy decided then and there that he would much rather renounce all hope of scholas- tic progress than expose his soul to such jeopardy. One day things came to a head, and he had no alternative but to flee home from the schoolmaster’s advances. There was no time to wait for the ferryman. Without a moment’s hesitation, he set out alone by boat across the Dunajec. With the words “Praised be the Most Blessed Sacrament” on his lips, he shoved the boat out from the shore into the treacherous current of the river, and, almost before he realized it, was on the other side. He sighed with relief. He was safe now, and the tempter could no longer endanger his soul. 29