The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-09-06
MernIng Star and Catholic Messenger.
SsT ORLEANS. SUNDAY, sEPTEMBEn q. lsT4.
JUVENILE COLUMN.
CURIOUS ALICE.

CURIOUS ALICE.
Alice Brooks should have been very
happy little girl, for she had many things
around her to make her SO. She had a
pleasant home, kind parents, and dear
little brothers and sisters to play with ;
but she had a very serious fault, which
often brought her a great deal of trouble
and unhappiness: she always wanted to
know what was going on around her;
she wanted to hear everything that was
said. If her mother epoke to one OF her
brothers or sisters, and she did not happen
to hear, she would 1mmediately ask
stMamma. what did yeu-say I" and she
would not rest until her curiosity had been
sat,sfiea. If her mother had company, she
inyepted numberless excuses to run into
the parlor, to hear what they were talking
about; no package could be brought into
the house, but her busy imagination was at
work to find means of becoming acquainted
with it's contents. This fault in Alice was
a source of great anxiety to her mother
she had tried many ways of correcting her
daughter, but with very little success.
One morning, at breakfast. Mrs. BROOKS
received letter. and she told the childfen
that their Aunt Kate was coming o1>a visit
They all clapped their hands with joy; for
they all loved their aunt, and>epJoyed her
visits very much.
The next day, late IN the afternoon,
Amt Kate arrived.
rem concluded she was going to make q
long visit. She also had a curious looking
box.
Giad<as the children were to see her,
they did not forget that she had present
for each one from grandma; and although
u they were very impatient to know what
abe had sent them, they were too we'll
bred to ask any questions. AS soon az
Aunt Kate had taken Off her bonnet, and
refreshed herself after her journey, tea was
announced. -
AS it was pleasant summer evening,
Mrs. Brooks and her sister walked in the
garden, after tea, to enjoy the fragrant
flowers, and talk of absent friends and re-
latives. Alice slipped away, and ran up
stairs into her aunt's room to take another
look at the box. She approached the table,
and perceived, for the first time, that this
curious box had a number of small holes
drilled through it. Why, what can these
holes be for % she thought; sit is q pretty
box, too; wonder if it is present for
me ." she put her eye to several OF the
holes, aud tried to see inside, but all 30 no
purpose, -everything looked dark. l
wish I could know what is in here" abe
thought; "I wonder if it is locked !" She
examined in more carefully, and found it
was closed only by hook. "Oh!" she
thought, there can be no harm in my
opening it just for a second, and taxing
one look, then can close it just as it was
the hook, and threw up the lid; but nc
sooner had she done so than goldhnch,
with beautiful plumage Of various and
gorgeous colors, finding way open, new
out, and perched upon the back of chair
Alice, frightened at the mischief she had
done, put out her hand to catch him, but
unfortunately the window was open, and
he few away.
IOh!" she thought, "what shall do
What viii Aunt Kate sayf Oh, know she
will be very angry How | wish L had
never touched the box l am so sorry
What shall do,-what shall do Z" AS she
again approached the box, to close it, she
noticed slip of paper in the bottom, on
which was written u: "To my dear Ahce,
with graudma's love-" "Oh, such beau
tiful bird am so sorry" she said again,
and closed the box.
She did not join her mother ard aunt,
but went to her own little room, where she
induiged in bitter tears of regret anu SELL
reproacb.
An hour afterwards she heard her aunt
come into the house, go to her room' rema ain
there for some time, go down again, and
call the children into the parlor. She
heard her name called so she went re-
luctantly down, to find all the family as
J.. sembled, and her aunt distributing her
gifts She aaw the box on the mantle, and
next to it beautiful gilt cage; che felt
deeply the modification in store for her.
After toys and picture-books had been
given to the children, her aunt, taking the
box, said: "Now, dear Alice, as you are
the oldest, grandma sent you very pretty
present-something that will become dearer
to You the more care you give it-some-
thing you will not tire Of" Saying this,
she opened the box, and uttered an exclam
alton of surprise to find it empty.
" Somebody has touched tbis, che said /;
81 wonder who could have done it,"
Mrs. Brooks looked severely at Alice,
whose guilty face and tear stained eyes
explained the mystery. She threw herself
at her aunt's knees, crying: "Oh, Aunt
beautiful bird few away. am so sorry !;
forgive me,-do, please forgive me this
time I"
"But, Alice, what business had you to go
to nv room, and touch anything there .