The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-07-24
THE GOOD FRUIT.

As streams from rvulet How,
But II you trhe to your manhood
Have courage. my boy, and say No.
THE GOOD FRUIT.
Two little boys were once returning
from church, where they had assisted at q
| pious exercise in honor of the Holy Angels.
The kind words of exhortation which had
| been there addressed to them had taken
deep root in their hearts, and one of them
remarked to the other,
"Do you not think Philip, that the in
| struction that our kind pastor gave us was
very beautiful How very true his words
were, to the effect that the only true happi-
ness ever felt, is that which follows an ear
nest effort made in the spirit of true devo-
ton to please God"
His friend assented and they passed on
their way unconscious that their remarks
had been overheard. But a gentleman
who was walking near them had listened
with much attention and appeared to be
wondering deeply upon them.
True happiness!" he thought, "why I
have long since given that mp as something
unattainable. I have had all that those
around me call productive of happiness,
yet am the most miserable of beings, be-
cause have never yet found peace or sa-
tisfaction in the possession of that which
know passes away with time. Can it be,
as those children said, that the service Of
God produces that feeling of completeness
and sufficiency that SO desiref My pa
rents taught me that religion was only q
secondary thing in life; and my friends tell
one that religion makes people gloomy and
unhappy"
just then he met an intimate friend to
whom he confided this new thought; but
the friend only laughed at him and drew
him away to place of amusement. Yet
thought all the gentleman felt troubled,
and the next morning he resolved to call
iupon the-Catholic priest, ut the church
whence he bad seen the little boys come.
He did so, and after stating his case to the
good father, implored his assistance and
instruction. Two years after, this gentle
man died most edifying death, for the
desire which had sprung from thirst for
happiness, brought as its fulfillment, firm
and lively faith, and a pure and 'unswerv-
ing zeal in the service of God; and with
his last breath he blessed the children
whose words had done him such good.
Do not, my dear children, neglect slight
opportunities Of doing good as unworthy
of time and attention, for while you wait
greater ones, you might die, and appear
empty handed at the tribunal of God. If
the children of my story had been engaged
in frivolous conversation, the gentleman
would hardly have noticed their words;
ment Of his salvation. Strive bravely then,
and IF your good actions bear not fruit,
yet if you persevere, you will one day be-
hold them written in theGRoOk of life, for
God not only blesses the success but the
attempt-Guartfidn Angel.
A STORY FOR YOUNG MEN.-Several wears
ago youth of sixteen years of age, of good
sense, and fair English education, not
having profitable employment at his
fathers home in Kentucky, sought for en-
ployment among his enterprising neighbors
were low in those days of gold and silver
currency, he saved from bis first years
wages $40. He was then seventeen years
old, healthy, lively looking, aspiring and
ambitious to become useful, noble, and
perhaps great. He had already learned
was oppressive to the borrower, and re-
acted on the loaner, and in the falling of
prices of nearly all the articles in the COM
mercial world, that men sought justifica-
ton for their delinquency and bankruptcy
in the fact that they had paid large rates
of interest. Feeling, therefore, that
liberality as well as justice was necessary
to every mans dealing with his fellow men,
he loaned his $40 dollars to an exemplary,
enterprising and prosperous trading man
in his neighborhood, at the lowest rate of
interest known in business in that State:-
six per cent. per annum. He worked
another year, clothed himself in Kentucky
jeans and other cheap but neat articles of
apparel, and went to a country school three
months in tho winter of that year, and
learned the rudiments of Latin and some
thing of the higher branches of mathema-
tics, working for a prosperous and
liberal farmer evenings and mornings to
pay his board, and at the end of the second
year, or when he was eighteen years of age, !
he had saved 500 more. His character for
industry and integrity began to be better
known in the neighborhood, and his SER
vices were sought for.
He worked on o farm and rode as col
lector for trading men and the sheriff of
the county; and at the end of his nine
teenth year had saved $40 more. With
the interest accumulated on his other two
years. wages, he had now $500, was COM
fortably clothed, and had a good business
education, which he improved from one
winter to another, till he became scholar,
both literally and scientifically. His influ-
ence and usefulness increased, he had, at
the age of twenty years $3.50. At twenty
one he had accumulated $3.50, and was well
known for his activity of life, as young
man of intelligence, virtue, aud usefulness,
as we'll as being young man of very at
tractive manners and ways.
He moved to Western State where
land was cheap, and entered l60 acres by a
land warrant, which he purchased with
$50 of his money. He made good selec-
ton of land, in good region of the country,
he used portion of the balance of his
money in improving his land, buying
little stock and a few implements for farm
ing, and the second year he raised a small
crop.
Having gone to his new neighborhood
with about $500 in money, and used it eau