The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-09-03
JUVENILE COLUMN.
A BOYS AFFECTIoN

where he was stationed. he TOOK advantage
of respite which tue prince allowed him to
frequent the baths, and he set out in the be-
ginning of July to settle himself for two
months in q beautiful house in tue country.
One day in the garden the children gathered q
fine heap of strawberries for their parents.
"Sit down here" said their father to them,
"and listen to mo. I can never SEQ or eat
strawberries without calling to mind an event
about thirty years since, on the Feast of the
Visitation, that the Inhabitants of town at q
short distance from the Rhine overjoyed at
being at last delivered from the presence of
soldiers who had long been stationed about
the country, and whose officers had dwelt in
tho town itself, went out in crowd to inhale
the fresh air: Without the town great pre-.
games; an enchanting music echoed around q
sweet melody it was too q splendid day, and
it seemed to invite the Inhabitants to GO ard
engaged in gratifying himself in these pleas
ures, poor little boy, about ten years old,
was sorrowfully seated upon gatepost in
front of Q very splendid house, offering to sell
every moment, 'Buy some strawberries, ladies
and gentlemen, they are very fine ones.' Ne
body, however, paid any attention to him.
Inc cnia was clad IN sne dress o. an hussar,
pair Of worn out shoes, an old threadbare hat
overed, or rather hid his head, for the hat
was gift, All the clocks in the town had
little hussar remained there all the while hold
ing ont his strawberries. He was greatly dis
appointed, and began to weep at not being
able to sell his strawberries. Nevertheless he
waited there for some time longer, and at last,
seeing that no one wanted his trawberries,
ho became inconsolate. His eyes were filed
with tears, and he was cruelty tormented by
hunger, aud still he durst not beg.
"'My God said he at last in n heart-rending
voice, take pity on my poor father; for him
was intended the money which reckoned on
obtaining from the sale of these straw berries.
1yc~ n GrNA bot L. h
ing but truth. Have mercy on the unfortu-
"These words " ere heard by the master of
the house, who was standing at o window,
and he Immediately came down and went to
the boy and said:
."'Give me these strawb erries, together with
tho basket. Here is q crown piece tor You 60
and buy some bread and wine for your father.
little friend.
"The boy gave up his basket to his gener-
ons friend; thanked him for the gift, and de.
white loaf. some eggs, and bottle Of wine,
and few to the forest where his father was"
Here Wingold paused to wife away tear /;
sensation. His children were ike wise moved;
the father thus continued In few moments.
1.-THE little hussar then returned to his ia
ther Represent to yourselves, my children,
en- invalid lying upon q wretched bed, in q hut
covered with moss, half in ruins, and support
ed by an oak tree. An old rusty carbine, q
sabre, aud q log of wood-these were the fur
placed an old Old knife and bottle Of water, and
beside them might be seen scattered some
crusts of black bread, without doubt the
leavngs of their frugal mig htly supper.
10y sssarS man M ssS
heretofore distinguished himself in war, and
had lost a leg. Obliged to beg leave to retire,
which was paid to him with regularity, until
on the day when the enemy had seized the
revenues Of State he saw himself deprived OF
this scanty support. At a loss how to act in
had been waiting for his son long time, and
seeing that he did not return, he recommended
himself to God and went to sleep.
Scarcely had he commenced to taste the
sweets of q refreshing sleep when his son a.
rived quite overjoycd; but when the boy saw
that his father was asleep he placed himself at
the side of the bed, and laid upon the ground
what he had bought. In about quarter OF
an hour the old man awoke.
$50, you are here,' said he to his sou, why
have you remained 30 long in town. was
much afraid that some accident had befallen
40, my father replied the boy, God has
! taken pity on us to-day, and has been most
merciful to us. A generous man came and
| took my berries for ten times more than theil
value. 1 have bought a white loaf, a bottle Of
wine and half a dozen eggs, and l have still
some money left
"God has been good thus to have touched
|
| invalid; 'let US not fail to thank Him for Hi
gifts. DO you know the charitable man who
has given you this money!"
"Here he is, said at the same time mar
who had been listening at the door, and VIII
could not help entering to convince himself o
the state of the old man.
1.-THE boy looked round and recognized hi
benefactor, Yes, cried he, approaching thu
unknown man; 'this is truly the case, sir
and he covered with kisses the hand which
had given him the crown:
"Good night, my friends said the unknown
man; 1T was who gave this boy the crown.
had heard his lamentations, and his filal af
fection moved ME. l wished to convince my
self if all that was true which he had said
and followed him here.'
"The invalid and the little hussar thou Oh
they We're dreaming when they heard thes
words of the generous man. Gould it b
true,' cried out the old man at length meltiu
} into tears, that the Lord has at length deigue
to take pity on usf Oh! hallowed be Hi
name u thousand times! Never will we abus
the gifts He is pleased to bestow opon u.s.
The unknown man seemed greatly move
by these words of the invalid, placed himse
by his bed, put to him number Of question
: and at last departed. 49,
1.-THE next day there arrived carriag
, which received the old man and his son I'll