The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-12-06
JUVENILE COLUMN.
ON THE PIER.
4 STORY FOR poYs.

be on the tops of the houses. wish peo-
pie would not be SO stupidity particular,
but would let me have my way little
oftener."
So said Fred in q grmbling tone, and
the reason of it was that he was brought
home by. policeman, who spoke very
gravely about him.
81 found this young gentleman In
man to Fred's mother. .'He was standing
on a ledge over the shop door OF Mr..
Smith in High street, from which he might
have fallen, and broken all his bones and
his neck in the bargain. l have had my
eve upon him for some time, and it is my
oninion that he has climbed every street
lamp in town. like to see boy good
climber, but when it comes to standing In
front of other peoples bed windows
or dangling his legs on the tops of high
chimneys, think it is time to interfere"
$50 it is policeman said Fred's mother,
"and am much obliged to you for bringing
him home. Fred" she added turning to
the boy, "you see the danger you are in
If you do not leave off being 80 bold and
venturesome,' you will get into all sorts of
trouble"
eyes, that you will, young sir," said the
policeman. "Be bold and brave by all
means when any good is to be done by 1t;
but man or a boy who risks his life for
nothing is just fool and deserves 10 DC
treated like one."
his mother were left together.
ssIt is very true what the policeman
saws, Fred You will certainly go too far
some day, and then you will be sorry for
it."
ooh. no, mamma! 1t is quite safe, as
sure YOU. / am very surefooted. You
never knew me to fall and hurt myself, did
you9 And am confident you never VIII.
"Do not be so certain, Fred. 1t is dang
erous, and should be very much pleased
if you would give up the habit"
But Fred did not attend to his mothers
words as he ought to have done. He liked
climbing too we'll to be easily persuaded to
give it up. He had always INDUCED IN 1t
ever since he was u very little boy and
the fondness for it had grown upon him.
He could never feel that he liked to walk
down stairs in an orderly way. He liked
to let himself down by the banisters, to
slide down the rail, or to drop from one
story to the other. But as for walking
down as other people did, that he called
slow and uninteresting.
He received lesson, however, that he
did not soon forget.
He was staying with his father and
mother at the seaside, and OF course he
had very happy and good times there. In.
deed he ought to have been SO sat,sn res
with the pleasures that were provided ioi
him that he would not care for those Whlct
were forbidden. Whenever they were al
going out together, Freds mother reminded
him to be careful. ''Now, Fred, walk OF
the ground and do not get climbing abou
all sorts of dangerous places"
~ tsAn right, mamma"
saDo you mean to do what your mother
says 20 asked his father.
eyes, papa, l always do, only sometimes
I forget just at the moment when "ush
to remember. But will try to be bette
to-day"
So they went ous together on the pier
and had pleasant time, watching tn
waves and the people, and listening to tn
band.
But Fred's thoughts began to wander OF
to his favorite amusement.
'sI should like to walk along on the out
side of the pier" he thought. There i
plenty of space for me on the outside o
the wall, and should be safe. | dare no
go tho, if mann ma were looking"
He walked away and tried to wear
look of Indifference on bis face.
"I should like to run along on the top q
the stone parapet," he thought, "and
would be quite safe, only suppose nobod.
would think 80.
He gave a rapid glance around. A youn!
lady among the musicians was beginnin
to sing, and all the interest of the bystand
ers was conferred in her,
"Now is the time" thought Fred, as h
sprang on the wall and over to the ledS
Of brick work on the other side. No on
saw him. do it, and be ran along an,
climbed among the iron supports beneath
the pier until he began to be tired. Thel
he sprapg to the top of the Pararet again
and there, to his great discontinue, TIL
first person ne saw was his mother. Thei
eyes met, and perhaps it was chat clrcum
stance that caused Fred 70 lose his self
control and his hold at the came time
Whatever might. have caused it, his fee
stumbled and he fell backward, and th
next moment he was in the water.
loud scream rent the air and wa
heard above the music.
40, look at that lady: How i'll she is
She is going to faint"
They ran to her, and for a moment sh
was too much agitated to speak; but pres
emily she made them understand.
"My boy is in the water" said Fred
mother.
But others had seen him fall, and alread.
couple of boats had been lowered, ant
some len were anxiously looking for him
All the people who were on the pier rushe'