The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-04-23
JUVENILE COLUMN.
(From tho Young Crusader.l
OUR READING ROOM.
(Concludod,l

L must admit we were put up &c
this fine talk by few hints Tom got
at College from hia favorite professors
Father D., to whom he had confided
tho newspaper plan, and who actually
came to the first reading, and clapped his
hands hard at Toms speech. think Un-
Gle Mike half regretted his quarter, for he
said grumly, "N0w, let US see what enter
money, 80 much ahead of the illustrated
weeklies." 81 don't pretend we are ahead of
them," Tom said "everyt thing goes for
money 10 this world, and we haven't had a
hundred thousand Catholic ten cont pieces
week, as these have,to hire smart writer's
money, and~the bookcase, Uncle Mike,
and you'll see what we will furnish you.
"But you haven't any illustrations, she
urged" "Give us the hundred thousand"
began Tom, but uncle Mike hushed him up
(not ~ another quarter, am sorry to say),
and Jack read the paper, which was not
quite as brilliant rs it might be. 1t was,
however, highly praised BY all, as giving
wonderful promise. We were highly graf
fled with the commentator, but lost no
time in counting the money taken at the
door, forty-eight cents, (papa, mamma,
Uncle Mike, and Aunt Martha, the Rev.
Fathers ticket was complimentary and
uncle Mikes quarter, our pennies sub
scribed and saved and put in, gave US as
gross receipts, one dollar. After that we
never made more than three or four shil-
lipgs a week, and would not have made
that, fear, had not our readers sympa-
thized more with our cause than they APP
preciated our literary efforts.
Our bookcase was bought at last; it was
only set of shelves OF Imprinted pine
wood, a yard and q quarter across, reach
ing almost to the ceiling. We all helped
to pairt it, every one had hand in it, aud,
SO great was our joy, that Margaret had
not the heart to scoid us when on her
hands and knees, poor thing, with rags,
scrubbing brush, sand and soap, she rub.
bed and mopped at the big blotches of
brown and maroon our unskilful hands had
spatteled all over the floor. 1t was painted
dark brown inside and out, and ornament
ed with deep red that passed for maroon.
We could hardly wait for it to get at all
dry before we brought in our books, and
attempted to fill it. How few they were,
lost in that great book case The grown
people all helped us little, by giving US a
book or two, and Father D., in return
for the complimentary, gave us the gem of
our library, Fabiola, bound in green, and
little poem by Mrs. Norton, the Ladye Of
La Garage. / suspect they would all have
very few Catholics books to be had that we
would have cared for. Now, it is different,
and our book case is full and running over,
and it does my heart good to See the fash
of pride in Toms eyes, when he says "Not
a book in it, sir, that we are ashamed of,
or that you need be afraid Of" as he does
when occasional visitors climb up the two
flights of stairs, and come in to see the
" Children's ROOM" as they still call it.
We like to call it our Reading Room.
In the evenings, when the boys come
home, we have very jolly times. Nell has
pictures in straw frames, which she makes
with much taste. Shecaught Uncle Mike
once, when he was in q state of grace, and
got promise from him which she holds him
to with grip of iron, soft as are A2er little
hands. Every time he is on the point of
buying any of the flashy sheets of the day
he is to give it up and buy instead ten
cent photograph, or illuminated card, or
prayer book picture, for her, as a fine for
having listened to the tempter SO far as
even to have thought of bringing such a
paper into the house. As he pretended he
bought them more for the illustrations than
anything else, s'to show to the Children"
could. Yet Uncle Mike does not spend
any more money than he did before Nell
got one hand on his conscience and the
other in his pocket, and our Reading Room
feels the difference, in the shape OF a new
volume from him every few weeks. So that
on the whole we consider him a very NUM-
fcent patron of literature and the fine arts.
of life, as capacitated for and destined to
high and noble purpose. Study closely the
minds bent for labor or profession. Adopt
it early and pursue it steadily, never look
ing back to the turning furrow, but for
ward to the ground that ever remains to be
broken. Means and ways are abundant to
every mans success, if will and actions are
rightly adapted to them. Our rich men
aud our great men have carved their paths
to fortune, and by this internal principle
that cannot fail to reward him who reso-
lutely pursues it. To sigh or repine over the
lack of Inheritance is unman)y. Every
man should strive to be a creator instead
of inheritor. He should bequeath instead
of borrowing. He should be conscious of the
power in, him and fight his own battles
with his own lance. He should feel that it
is better to earn a crust than to inherit cof
fers of gold. When once this spirit of self
reliance is learned, every man will discover
within himself the elements AID capacities
of wealth. He will be rich, inestlmably
rich in self resources, and can lift his head
proudly to meet the noblest among men.
A LITTLE HERo.-A boy in the town of
;,, nlo Il