The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-12-24

! Give them from your pienfyy4
Make s the sl ss%as c %iis snssr
| Best OF all the year.
| A BOYS FAITH.
One of the most beautiful illustrations Of
! believing prayer which have ever known
was furnished lately by little boy some
four years old. His grand parents were
talking about the drought.
Yes," said the grandmother, "my
flowers will be all burnt up, and we shaiI
have no Strawberries"
| Little Bozzy listened with deep interest.
but said nothing. A few minutes after.
ward he was seen kneeling in one corner nj
the room, with hts banda to his face. and
was overheard praying thus: 80 Lord
| send down rain, so that grandma's flowers
snan't be burnt up, and SO we shall have
plenty Of strawberries"
he then arose and came to his grand.
mother, saying Your flowers WON'T burn
>" How do you knowi"
"Oh J" said little Bozzy, "I have been
praying for it, and it will Gomez SEEM
ed to have no doubt of it.
The next morning the first thing the listle
fellow did, when he came down stairs, was
70 60 to the back door and open to see if it
rained. According to his prediction, the
rain was falling upon thirsty flowers and
the perishing berries. AS soon as lie saw
it, he joyously shouted: ]" It's come. it's
come, l knew it would! I prayed for it."
Examiner and Chronicle.
THE BETTER LAND.
A father and mother were living with their
two children on desert island in the midst
of the wide ocean, ON which they had been
shipwrecked. Roots and Vegetables served
them for food aspiring was their drink
and a. cavern in the rock their dwelling
Storms and tempests often ragged fearfuliy
on the Island.
The children could not imagine how they
had reached the island /; they knew nothing
OF the vast continent; bread, milk, fruit,
and whatever other luxury is yielded there,
were things unknown to them.
There landed one day upon the island
four Moors in small boat. The parents
were greatly delighted, and hoped now to |
be rescued from their suffering. But the |
boat was too small to take them all over
together to the adjoining land, SO the father !
determined to risk the passage first. The
mother and children wept when he en-
6arked in the frail wooden boat and the
four black men were about to take him
away. But lie said: sweep not it ia a
better land /; and you will all follow soon"
When the little boat returned and took
away the mother, the children wept still
more. But she also said "Weep not In
The better land we shall all meet again.
AT last came the boat to take away the
'wo children. They were frightened at the
black men, and shuddered at the fearful
'ea over which they had to pass. 1t was
With fear and trembling that they drew
lear the land.
But how delighted were they when their
parents appeared upon the shore, offered
hem their hands, led them into the shade
Il lofty palm trees, and RECALLED them on
ne howery turf with milk, honey and de-
iciOus fruits.
Oh how silly was our fear,n said the
hildren. 1--WE ought not to have feared,
ut to have rejoiced, when the black men
anne to take us away, to the better laud.n
My dear children" said their father.
our voyage from the desert island to this
eautiful country conveys to us still
igher meaning.
We are all destined to make a much
'nger voyage-to q much more beautiful
ountry. The whole earth on which we
we'll resembles an island; this glorious
md is an image for us, although only a
lint one, of heaven; the voyage hither.
yer stormy sea, is death that little boat
,sembes the bier, upon which men in
lack apparel shall sooner or later carry us
nth. But when the hour strikes for US,
II myself, your mother, or you, to leave
lis world, be not afraid. Death is, for l.
ious men who have loved God and have s.
Dne His will, nothing else but voyage to O.
e Better Land. II