The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-12-28
Morning Star and Catholic Messenger.
. NV eREEAns, SUNDAY. DEcEMBER r. 1873
JUVNENILE COLUMN.
GOLDEN CHARITY.
A LpaHNp.


A LbanNp.
Many years ago there dwelt on tho Island
of Rugen, which 10 in the Baltic sea, two
women. The first was very rich, aud
dwelt in . castle built between two hills.
She had servants without number at her
command, and every luxury the heart could
wish for, but with it all she was very mlser-
woman was q poor widow with large
family who had but COW whose milk gave
her and her children scanty support but
with all her misery she was charitable,
and prayed to God and our Lady. and her
children followed her examp,e.-One night
the:nountain side, and the rain fell fast and
faster the more the wind blew. That night
the King of Rugen WAS to give grand
ball, and among those he had invited, was
the lady who lived in the grand castle.
You may be sure she was very proud of
deal of money in the dresses and jewels
she was to wear. She was not happy
though, for che envied the Kings wife
whom she knew would be clad in far more
costly dresses than ever abe could afford
to bny. So cross did this thought make
her that she was more than usually spite
full towards her maids, and made them
very unhappy indeed. At last, after abe
had her hair dressed three dozen and five
times in as many different styles, she went
down to tho hall door, where waited her
carriage with . bran new patent top to
the carriage atep, she hoard q voice say,
1For the sake Of golden charity kind lady
take pity on an old man." Turning round
sharply she saw an old man with white
hair and beard, and clad in garments that
were wet through with rain: "Pity," cried
on you, if you are not outside the castle
gates this instant. Amt you ashamed of
yourself an old man like you begging, why
don't you go work J"
With that she banged the carriage door,
and was driven off to the Kings ball.
The poor widow was almost in despair.
Her COW was dead, her children were al
most without clothes, and nnless they got
help they would starve for they had but
one loaf of bread in the house. With
weary step she went to the cupboard and
taking down the loaf was on the point OF
heard timid knocking ut the door. "Come
in" she called out, and the door slowly
opening the same old man who had been at
the castle, walked in. Again he begged in
the name of golden charity for pity. The
poor widow looked at her small loaf and
was to feed, and then she thought of Hin.
who had promised SO much for the cup of
cold water given in His name. She babe
the old man be welcome, and giving him
her easiest chair, she wrapt about him her
only blanket. The largest quarter of the
loafwa given him and the rest was divided
as far as it would go, and would you believe
it that, though they only got one little
piece of bead each, they felt as though
they had eaten big supper.
The next morning the widow and the
children were up early to sec the old man
of on his journey. breakfast did not
be troubled about. The sun shone bright
" on them as they stood at the corner OF
the road whore tho old maa was to leave
them. "Good bye, my children }" he said,
"and God reward you for the golden
charity you have di played to me: What
ever, widow, you frat touch on going home
that shall you always have plenty Of" and
with these words he left them.
The widow did not think much Of what
the old man said, but turned honne YEARLY
to see what she could dc to get food for the
children.
Conld che believe her eyes, there was q
fable all act, and full to OVERLOOKING with
good things. The children acreamed and
clapped their hands for joy. The widow
then knew that she had entertained GOOD
spirit, and tesrs Of joy came into her eyes
abe caught up fine papkis that lay or
the table to dry them, when what was the
results An enormous warehouse sprung
up on the roadside full of fac t linen, ano
sales men, who from that day forth had Al
much 60 they could do selling liren, and thu
good widow and her children got all the
money, and il they were charitable wher
poor, how much more so were they wher
rich Z Why the whole land was full o
houses for the poor, built by the goo6
woman who sold linen.
Now when the grand lady at the castle
heard of this, very angry was she will
heraelf that she had turned the old mai
away. She sent her servants out far ant
near to fipd him, and when they could not
she sent them beyond the hills, to SEQ il hi
was there. One night when all the ser
wants were away and tho grand lady wa
alone, who should come to the castle doc
but the very same old man, and she tool
him in and gave him the verg best she had
and not for the sake of the golden charity
but for the sake of tho reward Hhe was sur
she would get. She coald hardly wait TO
morning to see what the reward wonld be
and when morning did come, she, like thu
widow, walked with him to the castle gates
a thing she seldom did a. she had tho gou
in the foot from high living. Add pov
when they got to tho gates the old mai
said, " For all your charity to me you will
receive full reward, whatever you toucl
when Won 90 home Won will ALWAYS haTt