The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-12-31
JUVENILE COLUMN.
THE PIcruns A.rccr HOMO.

high and the trees were shedding their last
yellow leaves, and the wind was rolling
them through the walk, and one looking
out would be sadly reminded Of the coming
winter and the trials the poor have to I'M.
dergo before It 10 over, man had just left
load Of coal at the door, and few mo-
ments afterwards the door-bell was rung.
went the door, and q poor, miserable
looking man was standing there. He said {:
tho Lady LAZY, !, 20 you want that coal put into
He was very repulsive looking, and 1
feared him because there was NO one at
| home but myaelf and hesitated q mo.
| ment. He appeared to be about forty
years old his shoulders wer6 high and
square, and drawn mp toward his ears ;
| and heavy, hair thin and black, struggling
over his forehead, bis face broad. yery
pale and sallow; his clothes were once fine
black cloth, but glistened with soil, and
| only one button fastened the coat at the
faat his shoes were broken, and his
describe him to you, dear reader, be-
cause if he had appeared like poor labor
| ing man, with coarse or neatly patched
clothes, would not have feared him.
Bnt to return: He saw that hesitated,
and he said:
"Lady, can put the coal in for You 1
want little money, am hungry" and the
tears fell down his pale face, and he wiped
them with his sleeve.
What heart can remain unmoved and see
the tear of misery My timidity vanished,
and said to him:
Poor man, you shall have it to do if
you think you can do it."
gave him q shovel, and told him to
come in when he got done. When he had
finished his work, be presented himself at
the door. l led the way to the kitchen
bread and butter and meat. We had to
pass through the sitt:ng-room. Now there
were two pictures hanging in the room ,one
"The Last SUPPER" the other, the "Ecce
Homo, or the orn.crowned head of
Christ" very large and striking one.
The moment he entered the room and had
taken two steps, his eye caught sight Of
the picture. He took his hat in his left
hand and crossed himself with his right,
and bowed his head, and said, as he burst
into tears:
mon Disa! mon Disa! what a wretch
He came into the kitchen, and after
washing his face and hands, sat down to
eat, and, with frequent sobs, related to
me little of his life. He said his father
was in the silk business in Lyons. where
he was born-his father was in good cir
cumstances. He had sister and q brother
and their father had given them a good edS
ucation. Afterwards he wanted to 60 to
Paris to see that gay city. He had some
money, his yearly allowance. He went to
Paris, and while his money lasted lie had
gay life. His father died while he was in
Paris-he did not return until his father
was buried, and then went home and de- |
manded his portion of the money, and
then returned to Paris to spend it in dissi-
patton, as before. His mother did not
long survive lis father, and on her dying
write to him to como home, he being the
youngest of the family, and her pet !; but
he disregarded her dying request, and she
died without seeing bim-and here the
tears fell down his cheeks like rain.
Lady, he said, 81 have not been inside
Of a church since then until to-day. That
picture reminds me of my home and church.
When spent all of the money but q tri-
fling sum, I came to this country; and now |
l am wanderer, a miserable creature for |
saken by God and man.
said to him:
Oh do not despair, poor man God is
merciful; remember the prodigal son.
Those tears you are shedding are very |
healing to your soul; God has touched
your heart with contrition, and if you go
now in the disposition you are in, and tell |
all your sins to tie priest, and be heartily
life, you will gain Gods grace and die
happy.
as he went out he turned, gave one glance
at the picture, then at me, and said =
God bless you! pray for poor wretch
ed man." and he went out into the cold
street and never saw him again-but
offered up a prayer that the poor man
might have time to confess his sins to
priest before he died, and be reconciled
with God.
In conclusion, my dear young reader, al
low me to say, we may be poor and in
want of the common necessares of life,
but we are not miserable until Gods grace
is withdrawn from us and we are left to
our own destruction by living in mortal
sin.
IN A PET.
"Give me my doll! You can't have my
doll o, you'll break it! Give it to me,
Jimmie"
There! take your old DOLL guess
you'll be sorry-Pve got something better
than that old doll you'll like to have"
Hearing these sounds of strife the mother
opens the door to inquire the cause of the !
With sorrow she sees her
only son presenting the disagreeable sight