The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-08-28
JUVENILE COLUMN.
THE vIoLET,s WORK.


Freddy Weir opened his eyes, one bright
spring morning, and, jumping out of bed
ran to the window to discover what kind
of weather it was. Being fully satisfied on
that point, he dressed himself quickly,
and having said his prayers, hurried down
stairs and into the garden.
AZ At the lower end of it, near the bower,
was his own little plot, which in summer
time was very gay, can assure you; but
just then the plants were only sprouting,
excepting few snowdrops and crocuses
that had managed to String up in spite of
the snow, which, until lately, had covered
the ground.
This morning Freddy ran straight down
to his garden to count the flowers, and
while stepping very carefully across some
green leaves to look at one of the crocuses,
he. spied, to his great joy, dropping it's
little head, a violet.
1t was the first he had seen since last
it carefully in his hand, for fear any harm
should befall it, and scampered back to the
house again. So quickly did he run that
he frightened all the little birds away to
the trees that stood round the house.
He was almost breathless when hereach-
ed the house, and at the door of the break
fast room met his mamma.
go, mammal" he shouted, "look!
violet!"
eyes," answered his mamma, it is the
first have seen this year. The scent is
delicious. Now, Freddy, what will you do
with it, the first violet Of the year! !"
80, mamma, will wear it in my button
hole; it will look SO pretty and smell 80
nicely"
"That would be rather SELFISH" said
Mrs. Weir. "Cannot you think of a better
use for it =,
You shall have it, dear mamma" said
Freddy.
There is better use for it still"
"What! better than giving it to you,
mamma 2" Freddy said, looking grave. 81
know, will take it to poor Nell, ;" he shout
ed, joyously. "She cannot go out, you
know, mamma. That is the best use for
it, is it not z"
:" Yes" answered Lis mamma, smiling,
" but now come in to breakfast"
Not far from the house of Mr.. Weir,
Freddy's papa, stood little cottage, where
Mrs. Reynolds lived with her lame daugh
ter, Nelly. Mrs. Reynolds was a widow,
and had to work hard to support herself
and Nelly, whom she was frequently
obliged to leave several hours alone.
Few cottages could be found SO we'll
kept and clean as the widows; and a. little
garden in front of it was always free from
weeds.
Nelly was about eleven years old and
had been a cripple since her babyhood !;
but her mother had taught her to read and
knit, so that although she was entirely con-
fined to the house, she was not without en-
ployment.
On the morning we have mentioned,
little Freddy, having finished his breakfast
and obtained his mammals permission,
fastened down the lane to Mrs. Reynolds.
II dare say any one that passed him would
notice that his hand was closed, and that
he held it very carefully as though he had
In
know the secret, though it was the violet.
He opened the green gate and walked up
the white footpath, white with broken
cockleshells-fOr it was not far from the
sea -sbore-up to the cottage door. Nelly
was sitting at the window, longing to be
out, poor child, when Freddy came in with
his rosy face, which of itself was enough to
cheer any one.
"Good morning, Nelly" he said, "see
what have brought you! 1t is the first
we have seen this year"
You should have seen how Nelly's face
frightened up when the violet appeared.
go, thank you, thank you, Master Fred
to you. do love violets SO much. Now
l shall smell it and talk to it when mother
is away"
GLOW can you talk to flower 2" asked
little Freddy, in establishment.
go, cam" answered Nelly, cit will
tell me how good God is to make me SO
happy, and when mother comes home she
will be SO pleased to see it,"
"Weli, goodbye, Nelly" he said, I must
go home to my lessons now )" and off he
went accordingly.
Freddy felt very happy, for he had done
kind action. When he reached home he
said: " Mamma, 1 am very glad took the
violet to Nelly, instead of wearing il in my
button hole. She looked SO pleased when
l gave it to her."
Yes, my DEAR" replied his mamma,
$50 am I. The violet has certainly done
its work it has made three people happy
IN it's short life"
"Three people How mamma 2" ~
"It has made Nelly happy, think did
it not7 1t made me happy by telling me
that my little son is trying not to be self
ish; and 1 think the consciousness of
having done good and kind act has made
Freddy happy, too. Is it not 2" >
children always did their work equally
well with the violet.-EE.
How TO GET GOOD FEELINGs.-"I can't
be good" said little girl. cit isn't in me-"
81 think you are right" answered her
mother. cit isn't in you, for none of us
are born good"
"Then what's the use of trying to be
good 2" said the child.
"There is more use in trying not to do
bad" the mother replied. 1--WE can't be-
come good of ourselves, no matter how
hard we try but we can keep from doing
wrong if we will, for God has made us free
to do good or evil just as we choose. Now,
things, and our hands from doing evil
thiD0o God will on chanpa that after a