The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-02-01
Morning Star and Catholic Messenger.
JUVENILE COLUMN.
FRANK, THE SHOEMAKER.

FRANK, THE SHOEMAKER.
Franks father and grandfather were |
weavers, and as he was an only son, they |
thought it matter of course that Frank
should become the came and learn the
business from his father. And yet Frank
wanted to become q shoemaker, and gave
his parents no rest till they had given
their consent. I will now tell you why he
wished SO much to be o shoemaker. His
parents could not understand it for many
years and when they had grown old and
lie was able to support them, he cared for
them most tenderly as long as they lived,
and told them also why he had become q
he expected to be a weaver like his father.
He went to school. and like most boys was
diligent and then again indolent. At homo
he was not very good, and as his father
dealt severely with every act Of disobe-
dience, it happened that Frank was often
punished. He had but few pleasures
often his parents earned but little often
their means were hardly sufficient to buy
food for the little family, and their cloth
ing at times was very scanty. The hap
piest days in Franks life were when the
teacher took an excursion with his scholars
into the country. He looked forward to
this time with delight. Sundays also made
little change in his dreary life. In the
forenoon he went to Mass with his parents,
in the afternoon to Vespers. This he en-
home and had to sit still to learn the long
lesson his father had given him, and which
was so hard for him to commit to memory,
he thought the weekdays were better than
Sunday.
Frank was twelve years old when the
e.. prepare for next w ednesday to take long
excursion. At home he was very faithful,
and begged his mother to fix his Sunday
clothes as we'll as possible. All was ready
in due time-but shoes were wanting.
What could be done! The father said
not be the only one. Tuesday came. 10
morrow the excursion was to be. Ihen
the teacher sent Frank with note to the
house of a rich gentleman. He rang the
bell, entered and handed the note, but
had to wait alone in the hall for an an
with several pairs of nice shoes, and pair
of boots. "Oh," thought Frank, these
boots If they were only mine. They
surely would fit !" A servant appeared
with the reply just then and Frank was
left alone again.
What did he do 7 He took the boots
and fastened into the streets ! When nc
found himself in the open air, he hardly
knew what had become of him. His con
science burned like fire and said Thou
hast stolen !" Then he looked again a.
the boots and thought: "To-merrow
might wear them-that is all want then
for. If carry them back secretly, it will
not be stealing. One day cannot hur
them much"
"But if my father should find it out !!
The fearful voice of seif-a accusation ,aa 1 an,
he had reached home, the fret thing wa
to hide the boots in the stable. o, ho1
restless his sleep was ell night In ever
new dream he saw the boots before him
Early in the morning Frank hurried t
Al. ~ Afn Loo
home, he went to the stable and took tn
boots, and after walking a short distanc
he put them on. He entered the school
house we'll dressed. All were happy, bu
several of them were in their bare fee
Frank was the only one with boots-an
and jumped, the girls gathered flower
and made garlands and were full of JOY
Frank looked with envy upon the cheerft
boys with bare feet, and thought agar
and again "Ob, if it were not for thes
boots !"
When one and another boy looked dowl
he was frightened and dreaded Of beip
asked where he had got the nice boot
At last-at last evening came Fran
came home all tired out, he took of tt
boots before entering the Louise, an
them!D But when he looked at the
he noticed with terror, that they wei
torn They could not be returned-an
if that was impossible,he had stolen
Sorrowfully he went to bed. He cou
not pray. The whole night through fea
full dreams haunted him.. and when
awoke in the morning and heard PeoP,
talk, he imagined something would
said in regard to the boots: By day an
night he was disturbed by the thought,
would come to light. The severity Of b
father, the sorrow of his mother, the di
grace before the people-all stood in Il
strongest light before his soul. In tn
state Of feelings he threw the boots in
the water. Several times he was ready
go to the rich gentleman to confess all
him. But he did not do it. Whenever
had to pass his house, he tried to quiet b
COINCIDENCE with good resolutions for IL
future, but he was not happy. he mat
up his mind to become shoemaker, an
then the first pair of boots he made shou
be for the gentleman. Then he would al
his pardon.
This was the reason why Frank gave
parents no rest, till they gave. their col
sent and took him to a shoemaker to lea
that trade. The master praised Frank +
his faithtulness, and he truly deserved