The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-04-14
JUVENILE COLUMN.
WHERE FOUND MY FoRruNl


time of it. You have to get mp SO early in
the morning, have so many lessons to learn,
aud SO little time to play. Let me tell
yon-of mig boy hood, and the youth of many
who are>now sturdy. honest men.
You kpOw>it is not many years since this
country was a wilderness. Those who lived
here then had to struggle hard to get along,
and the children of those days had to 60
without many comforts and pleasures which
are now within reach of every child. My
father bad settled in wild place, and there
his four children were born-Walter, Fred,
Eliza and I. Our home, a nice cabin our
playground, the woods; squirrels our play
mates, acorns and crooked sticks our toys,
and the bears in the woods the enemies we
had to guard against. Barefooted we ran
over the rough ground, and at night we
were happy children if we had our big
bowls full Of bread and milk.
When Walter and were old enough, we
helped father on the farm. As soon as the
day began to dawn, we were up and busy
as bees-no time to turn over in bed, tuck
up the clothes, and shiver at the thought of
getting up, for fathers cheerful voice would
cry out; Wally, where are youi Robin,
is that you snoringf Come on, boys! the
cattle are hungry, and the birds are up,
singing over their breakfast"
The sound of fathers voice was enough
to put courage into the LATEST of Us, and
we were off to the barn in a short time.
Eliza and Fred would join us on summer
morning, and fancied they gave us great
help when they handed Billy and the dom
KEEP wisps of hay.
When father went to the town we had
only mother for a protector. At evening
she would call us to her to say our little
prayers and sing hymn to the Blessed
Virgin then, after tuckipg US up in bed,
she would get out the big pistol and put it
near her pillow, to protect US against the
wild animals that would in their hunger
prowl around the house seeking for food.
Sometimes you little folks grumble be-
cause you have to go SO far to church.
How do you think it waS with usf
The nearest church was twelve miles
away, and in order to reach it we had to
start very early, mother and Eliza on Billy's
back, the two boys on the donkey, while
over a rough wild road. And yet we were
only too glad to 90, for it was 80 sell
dom the priest could come there to say
Holy Mass.
AS we grew older, we saw how hard
fathers life had been, and Waiiy and de-
termined to spare him little, and 60 forth
to earn our own living.
When we asked his blessing before leav-
ing, he said, "Ah, my lads, how cap let
you go, and yet how can 1 keep you herei"
With only our little bundles, we started
forth. But we felt very rich: Had we not
health and strength, and a faith to sustain
us under all trials.
Walter chose to enter store in q neigh
boring town, and patiently work his way
up. Then came a second parting, for my
restless mind would not be content with his
quiet life. 1 sought the busiest city in the
Union, hoping there to find something to
satisfy my craving for knowledge, and fit
myself for an active life.
How lonely feftamong the strange faces
i--x~-~au a.---J
heart, +" Oh, to be.at home once more Even
the bowling of the wolves would be music
to me-" Brushing away the tears, | re-
called my mothers parting words, Never
alone, Robin you have our dear LORD, His
Blessed Mother, and the angels always"
clan or an author; bat h5wto accomplish
this was the question.
secured little room, and then looked
for work. In the next room to mine was a
to him. told him of my poverty and my
need of work, and all that hoped to be.
He, like myself, was starting in life, and
eked out his means by lighting the street
lamps. He generously offered me q share
| of his work. I gladly accepted it., and
then I saw the benefit of early rising, it
being my part of the work to put out the
lights in the morning.
Seeing my wish to study, my new friend
sent me to his benefactor, and through him
1 obtained admission into the best o!
schools. Many day we lived on bread
and water. Finding this would not do, !
thought of plan, and started off to try
paper and begged permission to distribute
his papers and get subscribers. This un:
dertaking proved successful, and we Jared
much better.
Sometimes grew discouraged over the
difficulties before me, and then L recalled
the promise made to my mother. went
to church. There, before the Blessed Sacra,
ment, 1poured ont my troubles, and AWAY
after these visits my mind was clearer, my
heart grew lighter, and the clouds Vanished
The letters from home came like ange
messengers. In one my father wrote
"You mention your companion. Who is
hei Is he good and faithful Is he who one nc
will help you rather than mislead your II
not, make him all he should be, by your
example, yonr steadfastness and goodness
Alb, dear father did not know Michael. He
was almost saint-far better than I. AS
1 became successful, grew little giddy
but his quiet devotion, his kindly advice
and love, always brought me to my senses
was anxious to begin my studies as 9