The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-09-26
JUVENILE column.
EFFTE,s DREAM.

Drlgnt stream gently lowing downward to
the distant sea, through green aud pleasant
country. On oaie side the bank runs very low,
so low that the cattle from the surrounding
pastures often come down to drink of the
pure cold waters. On the other side tall
sandstone cliff, enriched with ferns, and ivy,
and many bush and bramble. Here, ut q
certain point, the incessant action of the
waters had worn away the rock and excavated
q kind of cavern, to which access is possible
by leaping from crag to crag and stone to stone.
With the wild rose and the honeysuclslc per-
Tuning the air, it is Il charming spot on u hot
summer afternoon, and Effie's brother frequent
ly resorts there to fish for trout But as the
approach is difficult, and as, in fact she could
not have reached the cave without wading up
to the knee, Effie had very properly been
forbidden to attempt the passage. She saw
the cave in the spirits mirror; she heard the
music of the waters among the Whispering
reeds She recognized her brother, with his
rod and basket, standing of the frag-
ments of rock, and considering where he
should take up his position. And, alas she
saw herself quietly seated on another great
messy stone, and watching the diamond
bubbles floating down the stream.
Well did she remember both the hour and
the place.
1t was scarcely week ago since she had
accompanied her brother on one of his angling
expeditions. She remembered that they
arrived in safety on the low grassy margin
opposite the so-called SbyPs Cave, and that
while her brother waded across the stream she
herself with gathering daisies aud clover, tho
gaudy dandelion and the blue euphrasia or
eye-bright. She remembered too how warm
and sultry was the air, how blue and cloudless
the sky, and how cool tho water appeared
it rippled onward over its pebbly bed 1t
seemed to tempt her towards it. The cavern,
too, shaded from the sun, Wore n most refresh
ing aspect, and she quite enNied her brother as
he sat there for n minute two, bathing his
hands and feet in the passing wave.
81 am coming across, Walter" Mt length she
cried.
''You must not, Ellie" was his answer;
"manma does not allow it."
ooh yes,' she replied; 'slfe told mo might
do SO. to-day, if L took of my shoes and
stockings"
'Oh, ii she said hat,p cried Walter, ''it's all
right, come along and mako haste about it,"
Now Ellie knew that her mamma had given
her no such permission; but she thought to
herself, ''the water looks very shallow, and il
l carry my shoes and stockings, and hold up
my frock, no harm will be done, and my dis
obedience never known" She quickly com
Pleted her preparations, and, taking her shoes
and stockings in one hand, and holding up her
rock, and wadng when she could not jump
she contrived to join her brother Then she
seated herself on stone, rejoicing in her clevep
trick, and quite forgetting that even if her
mother never discovered her act of disobGdi-
ence, she was equally guilty of falseho0d and
misconduct. She amused herself with weaving
gariands of ivy and honeysuckle until her
brother grew weary of his fishing and proposed
to return home.
He was so loaled with his angling tackle
that he could ren&er his sisterno support, and
did not seem in want of any. But suddenly
springing n rock that>was Overgrown with
moss, her foot slipped and she fell into the
water. ~
She soon recovered herself, for the river at
that point was very broad and shallow, but, of
CORPSE, she was wet from head to foot. There
was no help for it but to return home as
quickly as possible, where Walter discovered
from his mothers serious displeasure at Effie's
conduct, how sad n falsehood she had both
told and acted.
All this Effie saw again in the mirror held
before her by the spirit of the Hour, and,
hanging down her head, she was constrained
TO own that like too many other children, she
was not always TRUTHFUL 1t made her tremble
to think of the dreary, dreary record the Hours
must keep, and of the woeful sights their
wondrous mirrors could reveal. Earnest was
her determination to pray to God for His
divine assistance in her future career, and to
keep by her side tue guardian angels of Love,
and Hope, and Truth, and Faith.
The stranger who watched by the side of the
sleeping child, and read all that passed in her
simple mind, perceived the good impressions
which the appearance of the Hours had pro-
duced. She beckOned forward another, how
ever, and babe Efte look into the mirror which
the fourth Hour carried.
Here again Efiie had no difficulty in recol-
lecting the scene She had been out for IL
walk with her mother, and Mrs. Douglas, in
passing a friends house, having observed that
the garden gate was open, determined to make
untidy with chasing butterflies and climbing
braes to pick the speclled foXgloves, Mrs. |
Douglas desired her to remain outside. "
Will only stay five minutes; Fife Sit down |
here on the grass ANA wait patiently until my
return.H
Scarcely had her mother disappeared through |
the door and up the garden walk. before Eflie
grew inpatient. She was at all times hard to
convince, and being of restless disposition, |
tancied that the five minutes named by her
mother had already expired.
81 wonder" she murmurcd to herself, !
whether mamma meant what she said; | don't |
think she did; people say five minutes. just to
deceive children, as if we knew nothing about |
the time. Oh dear l cannot stay here alone; |
! feel so frightened. Five-it must be ten
minutes, I am sure; and l do not her
coming"
She contrived to work herself into a perfect /
fever of alarm, and fearing she knew not what, !
ross from her seat, and ran home as fast as she |
was able. Her house, fortunately, was not far |
distant, and she reached it in safety.
But mt the end of five minutes her mother
punctually left her friend, in order not TO keep
Enie waiting; great was her surprise When she
stepped into the road to find her daughter
gone. She looked for her in all directions.
She walked a long way up the road and made
inquiries ef-every person she met. But, gain
ing no information, she at length proceeded
home, lleenly distressed about her little girl;
and of roT1rSg she yyns mach relieved n find