The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-08-30
JUVENILE COLUMN.
A LESSON FROM A BED-oU1LT

III shall never forget" said lady one
day, my first, and l think may Justly
saw. my last theft. When 1 was between
seven and eight years old went to the
Sisters in the neighborhood, and nearly
every morning, on my way there, used to
step in at Mrs. Bennet's to see her little
girl, Lizzie, the dearest little thing ever
knew, about three years old.
zone morning found Mrs. Bennett max,
ing dress for Lizzie, of the most oeaptiiu,
calico. thought it the prettlest had
ever seen: wished had piece OF IL 10
put in patchwork quilt W when zen ~ was
ooh. how pretty it was! The longing
oraw intense. Mrs. Bennet's back was
fnrned. picked up a three cornered piece
from the floor and hid it in my bosom.
ain two or three minutes was on my
way to school, every now and then looking
at my beautiful calico, and thinking how
cleverly managed to get it. But all at
once it struck me that had stolen it and
1 began to feel very unhappy. At school Il
couldn't attend to my lessons there seem
tricornered piece of calico in my bosom
felt as if it were piercing me with every
point. NV teacher asked me If felt sick.
[ was going to reply 'Yes,' but fortunately
I thought in time "No will not tell
lie besides stealing; 80 answered that
told me to 60 in the play ground for little
while. oh, how wished she had not been
SO kind!
said to myself, 'if she only knew what
a wicked girl am, would she speak to me
AGAIN y went out and determined to get
r;S Of the calico, but where was to put it
Every body would be sure to see it, and
know stole it. I spied a hole in post,
and thought that would do for a hiding
Mace. eauee zed it in, and fancied that
felt happier, but the bright and beautiful
colors haunted me yet. The children
would see it. must find some more Sc
cnre Mace, 1 got it again, and tried to
chew and sw allow it. But it wouid not
do. Oh, how wretched l was beginning to
feel On my way to school had 20 cross
a bridge over running stream of water,
and there could get rid of it. threw 1t
over. and watched it slowly floating along.
Now it whirled in little eddy and now
il came swimming back again. Would 1t
never float out of sight and II 1t did,
to float in front of come one who would
know that it was Mrs. Benefits calico.
and that had stolen it While Leaned
over the bridge, and watched 1T with all
the agony of childish remorse, 1t caugh'
on the bank. Yes, there it stuck where
every one would zee it. was sure they
couldn't and wouldn't see anything else.
heard agon-wheels coming, coming TO-
ward the bridge.
and playmates, and every one that knew
me, They would all see the calico, anc
know that 1 had been stealing. elm oet
over the bridge at the risk of breaking my
neck, crept down the bank, and HID Until
the wagon had passed.
When all was quiet, 1 came out Of my
hiding place, and tried to reach the calico
but my arms were too short. TOOK OF
INV shoes and stockings. Oh, If any opt
should see me now! With desperate eff
r 1,oL f1n what RhOnl(
lido with it, now had got it While
uniting on my shoes and stockings, de
termined what to do. I ran along TOWARD
home. I reached Mrs. Bepnet's. She wal
sitting near the open window: opened
the gate, went up to the window, ant
threw in the piece of calico, and was run
ming away, when she called after me.
"sSarah, my dear child, what ails you J
hardly turned back, but she called again
went in slowly.
vou7 You look quite pale. What dit
you throw the piece of calico in the window
"sI stole it, said desperately, expect
-ipe that she would look horrihed, and tel
me never to come in her house any more
that she couldn't have such wicked cir
play with her dear little Lizzie. She pu
down her work, laid hold of my hand
drew me toward her, put her arm aroun'
me, and said, pityingly, MY poor child =
"1 had not shed q rear ali Ihae eaS, ou
my head felt as if it would split, and m!
throat ached. Those three words openet
the flood gates of my poor little heart.
leaned my head on her bosom, ard burs
into tears Sarah, DEAR she said, as sh
held me close to her, tell me all abou
it,
"I did tell her, and my heart grew lighter
When / had finished che said, Il am sure
need not say a word to add to your sorrow
You have suffered enough to day, and
DON'T think you will be tempted to be dis
honest again. Take some of these piece
of calico, and put them in your patch work
and whenever you see them remember thi
day"
HMy children sleep under the quilt now
and it is On unfailing Onitor."-Gttardta
Amael.