The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-06-05
JUVENILE COLUMN.
From the Young Crnsader.Jr :. =
SOPHIA FORSTER'S FIRST COMMUNION.

From the Young Crnsadsr.I
SOPHIA FORSTER'S FIRST COMMUNION
When Mrs. Forster, the mother of on
heroine, had parted from her parents i,
Belgium, to accompany her husband to tn.
United States, she was already the mothe,
OF sophia and Alfred, though the former
The old couple, in taking leave Of her, gave
her many warning, for, unfortunately
Mrs. Forster had been q willful dauphtei
rather than affectionate one, and had cared
more tor show, and dress, and fashion,
than for her religion. She married young
mutual dashing propensities soon involved
them In considerable difficulties. Mr..
Forster, indeed, soon became rigorous in
the economy he exacted of his family, but
ms Unframed, undisciplined mind, did not
ne MIN for prospecting in business. He
schemer; but he possessed neither steady
| application nor business knowledge. He
came to America with that vague idea
which has been the ruin Of thousands, that
he could make money by his wits, and was
ready for any speculation that promised
wealth.
Wealth does not, however, come so
readily; unbusiness- like habits, and a new
country, were not favorable to progress in
this respect, 80 Mr.. Forster was com PEELED
to become a clerk in store, and Mrs
FORSTER gave music lessons when she could
ma n time, for her family increased pretty
iast, and when our tale begins, she was
the mother Of five little ones, and Sophia
was twelve years old.
visit from Mrs. Forster's father, who
had become a widower, now benefited
them very much, for the old gentleman
soon built a house for his daughter, and
set her husband up in business for himself;
so the whole flmIIV m for toh 10
ana the music Lessons were given up; and,
at the old gentleman's request, the children
we're to be sent to some Catholic school, in
stead of the district schools, which, by fits
and starts, they had sometimes attended.
Then came the revelation to themselves. !
and their surroundings, of their actual
state. They still called themselves Ca
they still believed them
selves to be Catholics-but the father was |
absorbed in business, the mother in cares |
and and anxiety ny to keep up good appearance,
thought of in the family they had, as It
were, let it slip from among them, and the
children were quite unprepared for it's
After few times attendance in the
IS Sisters" school, these were the words
they addressed to their mother on their re-
turn:
Mamma, say, is it really, really true,
that our Blessed Lady was poor woman,
lived in mean little house, kept no help,
did her own work, and spun fax for q
livingf"
Z" And, mamma, was our Lord really a
carpenter, and did he work all day at his
trade with st. Joseph, before he went out
70 preach, and did he say, blessed are the
poorf"
"And, mamma, was yesterday fast day;
why then did we all eat meat three times 2"
And, mamma, are we really and truly
ICQd tn Eony, Of oh |
;hese enlightened daysq" asked Sophia, for
The had been CALLED at being laughed at by
Ter Protestant chum, Susan Blair, for such
practices.
Mamma" said Mary, Sister says it /.
8 mortal sin not to attend mass ON Sun
Poor Mrs. Forster did not know how to
'eply; she could not give up the name of
belonging to her religion, while her father ]
ived, for she feared to offend the
I'D man, who was sincerely pious; but ,
omply with its requirements, renounce
his was too hard; so, unfortunately, she l.
ad recourse to the worst possible means +
he taught her children to say one thing
nd do the other to love the pleasant part G
religion, to seek to please the Sisters" o o
y learning their catechism, but to live as t
he most gentee1, who in the neighborhood II
'ere non-Catholics, and ignore the fasts B
nd penances prescribed by the Church.
The poor children did not mean to be F
ypocrites, butunder these influences, their =
nth could scarcely stand it's constant
and when the time came for
Ophia to prepare to make her first COM NJ
union she was in entirely wrong dispo- la
tions. eI
Her grandpapa was there, and prese nted
er with q beautiful veil and a splendid Is
ress; of all the little band then preparing,
ophia looked tfle-most magnificent, and 4
her hand a wax candle trimmed with
,lendid artificial flowers, which alone cost
We dollars, as she proudly informed her
In this she exaggerated -
tile, though, perhaps, unconscieusly, for
1T instructions were to manifest q zeal for
ligion when practicable, and she thought, es
very truth, that this pleasure she took
having expensive things for her own ssff
lornment on such day, was zeal for re- of
yion.
Now, dear children, do not mistake my in
Gaming here, there is not only no harm,
ere is absolutely propriety, in being ca
itably dressed for q first communion; 10
hen you are older you will observe with u
eat edifcation that in all the ceremonies
the Church, the exterior demonstration n,
intended to correspond to the interior
so that whenever you witness
te of Holy Church, the exterior observ-
ce will be found to typify their meaning 's'
1t we are bound to show our reverence ,
exterior adornment when we would pro- I'll
him our sense of the benefit left us by our ]
,rd in the Blessed Sacrament. ne.