The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-06-28
JUVENILE COLUMN.
THE STORY OF THE WELL.

ing me all manner OF fairy tales, one was
about o wishing cup.
ga wishing cup" said May, fixing her
large tired eyes ON her sisters beaming
countenance show / wish those fairy
tales were really true and that too pos
sessed a wishing cup"
"Aud what would poor sick May wish
for p said Jennie kissing Ter little twin
sister softly on both cheeks. -
"What would I wish for 2" added the
other dreamily, ''perhaps for green fields
and bright singing birda; imagine would
grow stronger and brighter, Jennie, if l
could sit in a large green field, under some
old shady tree, and listen to the birds war
bling in the sunshine"
''Your wish is granted, May darling !"
cried Jennie looking through the window
and clapping her hands merrily, "for here
comes uncle Benny all the way from Oak
dale. Dear, kind uncle Benny, we must
coax him to take us with him to the farm.
kerchief," she added in a hutter of de-
light.
May leaned forward from her easy chair
with little flush of excitement, and feeb-
ly waved a blue scarf which she caught
from her neck at Uncle Benny, who slowly
refining in his horse and hitching him to
the iron post at the door, bounded up the
steps and the next moment had the little
invald's face between bis great rough
hands, telling her she must come with him
to the country, until blooming roses would
grow on her cheeks again.
Papa and mammals consent to this plan
was obtained, and after Uncle Benny speat
pleasant morning at the little girls city
home, he tucked them snugly in his carriage,
placing soft cushions at Mays back that
she might rest more easily and then
when a pleasant Shy bye had been ex-
changed with their parents who fingered
lovingly at the gate, the carriage rolled
away and May felt indeed that the long
wished-for journey to the country had real
ly and truly begun.
The sun was just rosily sinking behind
the high hill of Oakdale when the little
girls alighted at Uncle Benny's home.
1t was q handsome, roomy farm house,
with glorious orchard attached to it, and
tall old trees hedging it in.
Uncle Benny's wife gathered the little
girls to her heart in a fond welcome, and
then hand in hand led them to the house.
The next day their kind uncle put up q
swing foH them among the shady trees and
built them charming little summer house
that on very warm days they might enjoy
the open air and still be protected from the
beanng sun.
Many happy hours they passed thus in
the peaceful shade of the old farm, and
often during their stay if they wandered
away in the woods, their arms twined
around each others waist listening to the
birds and forgetting the dinner-bell, Uncle
Benny would follow them with the steps of
affection, and perhaps find them trem bling
with delight at sight of some newly dis
covered flower, or gathering the light
transparent harebell, or plucking the rich
festoons of the bindweed from the hedges,
or its trails from the fresh sweet grass.
Then he would lay down two heavy bas-
ketS and spread asnow white cover over the
daisies, and place before them a meal that
would make their mouths water with deli
clous expectation.
"Dear Uncle Benny !" they would ex
claim in the fullness of affection, and clasp
their arms about his neck, and kiss his
rough bearded cheeks, and think there was
no one in the world half 60 kind or beauti-
full but the time at length came when Jen
ME and May must return to their city home.
They were out in the wood, some pretty
fritillaries had led them into a marsh, and
they were busily pluckipg them, standing
on stepping stones to keep their feet dry,
when the sound of cheerful voice caused
them to peer excitedly through the bushes.
The next moment they were clasped in
their dear papa's arms.
"Wby, May, darling!" he exclaimed,
kissing her over and over again, show
bright and healthy you look"
"And, oh papa, 1 am 80 happy here" she
cried.
"But you must come home now, darling"
he said smoothing her soft curls, "mamma
is lonesome for her pets; by and bye
shall buy a nice little country cottage near
Unci6 BennY'S ana We snall all come mere
to live, won't that be nice what pretty
flowers my pets have been picking" The
girls held up their bouquets and placed
them in their fathers hand.
"See the harebells, papa" said Jenny,
aren't they really beautiful"
eyes," said be, "they are 30 light and
delicate, one can almost think he can see
the atmosphere through them"
"Or that an angel dropped Them" broke
in May. "And papa, do look at the leaves
il on the trees, how beautifully they hutter
in the sunshine"
"Yes," said their father walking on and
holding each little daughter tenderly by
the hand, "and in short while autumn will
change those same leaves into the richest
huee, you shall come here again in the
autumn and go into the wood and notice
what great painter Godjis, no artist can
transfer to his work of art the delicacy of
nature, the most beautiful leaves and flow
ers created by the genius of man, are but
feeble limitations of Gods work it is we'll
for my little darliugs to often look around
them and think what beautiful place
God has given us to dwell in duxinG our