The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-03-01

Donot then, stand idly waiting
For some greater aoork to do;
Fortune is a lazy goddess,
She will never come to you
Go and toll in any vineyard,
Do not fear to DO or darei
If you want field Of labsr,
You can find it any,rhere.
AN INCIDENT IN THE BoYHooD OF ANTOINE
CAREME.
Get up, wake up, Antoine, my little
one Take thy clothes, GOD knows what
clothes y go and embrace thy mother and
thy sisters, and then come with me-"
1But where shall we go, father - de-
manded the little one, who could not un-
derstand the strange directions of his
father.
HThou wilt see soon enough" the father
renlied s.but come, am waiting"
Antoine arose quickly, dressed himself,
embraced his mother, and joining his faith
or, went with him out into the street.
It was a miserable and dirty street in
one of the poorest and most crowded parts
Of Paris. It was yet early in the morning,
and very few people were moving about.
Antoine's father took him by the hand,
and walking quickly, led him long dis
& lance in one direction, then suddenly turn
inc. he partly retraced his steps, then turn
al into another street, aud at last entering
4 a small eating house, he made Antoine eat
a and drink, but touched nothing himself
Coming out, he again walked up and down,
"a If unconscious where he was gong !;
but after two hours spent In this way, ne
snddenly stopped in the midst of crowd
] ed street and said, "Antoine, we must part
here forever" ~.
"Forever!" cried Antoine, fixing his
! large eyes upon his father Vs.
"Yes, my child, it is necessary. You
must not return home again, tor l can oo
No more for you. cannot, and do my
best. earn food enough for you all. You
are now twelve years old, and strong
Good fortune may come to you, as IL mas
to so many others. Leave us to our mis-
ery, and 90 make o way for yourself. PIER,
haps to- night or tomorrow some gooo
home may open to you. Go, my little one
60. with what the good God has given
thee"
Saying these words, the poor man threw
4 his arms around his little son, kissed him
two or three times, and then turning quick
" away, was soon lost in the croWd.
Antoine stood for few moments over,
come with amazement and fright /; at last
he came somewhat to himself, and began
5ss tn repeat the last words of his father, "Gt
with what the good God has given thee"
To this poor child it seemed az t nlse oo ~
pavement of the streets of Paris to SLEEP
npon at night, and perhaps, at last, over
come with hunger and fatigue, to lie do"l
upon and die. 1t is true he might nav
inquired and found his way home again
Init had not the sentence OF exile beer
4 pronounced by his father Why shoul'
/ he return to a home where they could d'
nothinp for him 2 Antoine, though 81
Young, was a high spirited boy, and 81
raising his head with gesture of resoin
ton, he said, Yes, will go with VIVA
the GOOD God has given me-" Saying thes
words he walked bravely forward Tor
few moments then remembering that u
knew not where he was going, nor In VIVA
direction he could find that goou nom
\ that his father had said might open to him
he stopped and wiped from from ms, ms eyes :"
But his encouragement did not last long
uS1rely.n he said to himself. "there mus
he some work for me to do somewhere
and although 1 am little and poor an
alone, God has not forgotten me-" Cheer
and after some time found himself at on
of the gates of the city, where there 1 Wer
number of small eating houses, nile
with people laughing, talking, eating an
a drinking. Antoine stopped and looked ~
and presently saw little boy a9ouG ~
own age serving those who were drlnkln
at a table. "S1rely I can do that" b
said, " and will offer myself at one
81 these houses"
He walked up and down before the dool
M for some time, not daring to cross the slll
s# In some he saw numbers of servants, an
he knew he would not be needed Their
At last, just inside low door, over whic
was painted in large letters "To the r.
nown of the good rabbit stew" Anton
saw large, jovial- looking man, weHrin
the badges of his Office, white vest au
apron and cotton cap. He was filling IL
glasses of the drinkers, and laughing an
Il talking in a frank and pleasant name
Antoine longed to enter, but could d
find courage, so he renal ned looking il
saying to himself, :'If only be might wal
me-"
His continued gazing at last attracte
the attention of the man, and coming on
onef What do you want ~
Antoine replied sorrowfully, "Alas' 81
ann looking for place, and it you on
take me, will do all that 1 can to plea
Won Won will eee."