The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-12-11
JUVENILE COLUMN.

JUVENILE COLUMN. g---
Translated from the French for the Young Crusader
THE YOUNG FRANCISCAN.
To-day is the ninth of April in the year
OF grace 14l7, and Good Friday! Come,
OF this breakfast that has been prepared for
us, let us fast J" were the words uttered by
q boy of about seven years, small and def.
cate in appearance, to two older brothers
and two little girls of three and five years!
respectively, as they all came with childish
eagerness to take their places at carefully
arranged breakfast table in one of the
saloons of the castle of Bourdeille, in Peri
CORD.
Cast" cried the four children, unani-
M ES';n,y fast! have you lost your senses,
mo, have not lost my Senses" replied
the boy, quietly, "and prove that 1 am
calm, while you are making great out
cry. But ask you again, my brothers and
sisters, how it is possible for us to regale
ourselves on this dainty fare, when we re-
member that on this day some hundreds of
years ago, our Lord Jesus Christ gave him
sell up to die on the cross in order to save
us from the eternal death our sins deserve Z"
"What is it you mean by sin 2" asked one
of the little girls.
"Mariette, to do anything that papa or
mamma forbids you to do, is a sin, replied
Ellie.
"Well, papa and mamma desired us to 90
and eat our breakfast, 80 we must obey
them," answered the child boldly.
"That is because they treat us as chill
dren," replied Ellie. "They have eaten no
breakfast themselves this morning"
"And what are we but children7" asked
Marietta again.
hut n1,s hut 7
"And you imagine that you are man, 1
suppose" interrupted the Oldest of the boys.
eyes; am nearly man, Claude" re-
piled Ellie.
"Then what do you think of me, am al
ready thirteen 2" asked Claude.
"And 1 am twelve" added the second
brother.
"You, Claude, and you Pierre" replied
Ellie, as he seemed to think, "you are-to
tell the truth, do not know what you are;
but am sure no longer child. On the
whole, think one may be child in years
and be nearly man in character and
mind"
"Then it is because you consider your
self almost man in character" interrupted
Pierre, tthat you preach to us to fast. Well
since I suppose you-do not intend to eat
anything yourself, we may as well take
places at the table,"
"Have you determined not to eat any
breakfast, M. Ellie 7" asked the old nurse
who presided at the repast.
"This is Good Friday, Jacqueline, and it
is a fast day." replied Ellie.
"Since that boy went to the castle of
Agonac, he is completely changed" mnr-
% ured the nurse.
"He wants to think of nothing but God"
said Claude.
'He is praying all the time he is alone"
added Pierre.
.He would not tell the smallest lie for
the world" said Mariette.
"And he will not eat anything nice" re-
marked Jeanette.
"Well, what harm is in all that 2" asked
Ellie.
"Of course there is 60 harm, my child"
said the nurse, cit is even very good to
"To become religious, must not one
fast ard pray 2" inquired Ellie.
"To become religious! do you desire to
become Il religious, Ellie 2" asked lady
who had just entered the apartment un-
perceived, but whose sweet voice caused
The children, with one accord, to rise and
greet their amiable mother,
he beautiful lady of Bourdeille.
Scarcely had she spoken when gentle
nan clad in the custom of the court of
Louis ii. appeared at the door of the saloon.
At the sight Of the second person, who
vas no other than the Baron Arnault t,.
3ourdeille, senachal and lieutenant of tic
ting in Perigord, the attendants respect
ully retired and the baron asked:
"What is this Ellie had been saying9"
"He speaks of becoming a religious" re-
lied the lady.
"Claude, being my eldest son, inherits
ny titles and fortune" said the senechal,
Pierre will enter the army and as Ellie is
he youngest, it is but fitting that he should
e dedicated to the church,
"What astonishes me is that he should
ave formed the idea already" remarked
he baroness.
eff my lord and madame would pardon
~ interference" said Jacqueline, 81 would
ay--"
"Speak freely, Jacqueline," said the
aroness kindly, ~ am sure my lord will
ermit you to tell all you know"
The senechal silently nodded assent.
"WelI," added the nurse, 81 venture to
~ that the boy never thought of this from
imself, some one must have talked to him
bout it,"
"What do you say to that ?" asked the s
aron of Ellie, who blushed crimson.
"No one suggested the thought to me,
" lord and father" answered the boy. c
"Well," objected Jacqueline, "you never
fought of such thing until you made
isit to the castle of Agonac with madame,
our mother"
"That is true" said Ellie.
GLOW singular" said the baroness, 81
rs with my son and have no recollection