The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-06-13
asrning Star and Catholic Mess eng er.
NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY. JUNE 10 1915.
JUVENILE COLUMN.
HoP-o'- THUMB.
Young Crusader.l

Young Crusader.l
Once upon a time there lived q poor bas-
katmaker who had seven children, who
were in height one above another, like
80 many steps, except the youngest, who
was go very diminutive that ne was called
horn he was no bigger than his fathers
thumb. Truly he did grow bit as years roll
Cd on . Init the name which he first received
cling to him, for he never attained height
proportionate to- his age. But what he
Wanted in stature'he made up IN cleverness
and agility, and in those two accomplish
ments he beat all his brothers put together.
One year the parents of these seven
children were reduced to great poverty; for
basket making and straw weaving are by
no means such good and certain employ
meht as baking bread or killing fat calves.
What to do they did not know and espec
tally they were puzz ed to think how they
should manage to fill the stomachs of their
seven boys, who were all blessed with
good appetites. So one night, when they
had put their children to bed, the husband
and wife determined, after much considera
tion, to take their boys into the wood, to
the spot where they gathered rushes, and
there secretly to leave them. But Hop o.
. my thumb, CHANGING to lie awake that
night, heard this cruel scheme planned;
and the rest of the night he passed with
out sleep, endeavoring to devise some mode
to escape the impending danger, and to
save his brothers aud himself
Early in the morning Hop -o'-my Thumb
got mp, and going to stream which ran
close by the honee, filed his little pockets
full of small white pebbles, and returned
home as quietly as he went. He said not
q word to his brothers of what he had
overheard and by and by the basket
maker and his wife called to their children
TO accompany them into the forest. Now
Hop-o' Thumb Jagged behind, which
passed unremarked, because of his being so
small and soon getting tired but he was
secretly dropping pebbles as he walked,
that he might find the path home again.
When they reached the destined spot the
parents slyly slipped away without being
perceived by their children. But presently
the young ones discovered that they were
alone and then all, except Hop-o'my-
Thumb, raised loud and dreadful Outcry.
But he only laughed, and said to his broth
ers, "There,--do not howl in that frightful
now Hop o'-my- Thumb went in front, and
not behind, as before, and looking, as he
walked for the white pebbles, he discovered
the right path.
Mean while the parents having reached
home, found to their surprise that an old
by a neighbor /; aud soon they bought vic
tuals, beneath which their table groaned.
But when they sat down to eat, their
hearts were full of remorse on account of
their conduct to their children, and the
wife began bitterly to lament them. "Alas,
dear children I" she cried, "Iwould to Hea-
ven you were here now you might all of
you eat as much as you liked but perhaps
the wolves have already eaten you! Oh,
my dear children oh, that you were
here!"
"Here we are, mother I" cried the voice
of fHop-o' my-Thumb, who had arrived at
the cottage, and overheard his mothers
lament. And opening the doo-, in he trot-
ted with his brothers,-one, two, three,
four, FIVE, sig, seven! They had brought
their good appetites back with them, and
the table go richly spread was famous
feast for them. There were great rejoIcings
on the return of the children, 80 long as the
money lasted, as is the custom with too
many working people, they lived extrava-
gantly in every way. So it naturally, fell
outtha ip very little while there was
again great poverty and distress in the
basket makers house, and the temptation
became stronger than before to leave the
children alone in the forest. But Hop o.
my-Thumb luckily overheard this second
time the diologue between his father and
mother, and he Immediately acted as be-
fore.
Early in the morning he went down
stairs, intending to slip out and fetch some
pebbles; but, alas! the door this time
was bolted, and Hop .o-my Thumb could
not reach 80 high. So he was compelled to
Lty anoIner plan ana putting MS break
fast in his pocket, instead of eating it, he
resolved to drop crumbs as he went
along.
Everything happened as before, with
this difference, that Hop-o'my Thumb
could not find the way home, because the
birds had picked up every one of his crumbs.
Now his brothers made a most terrible up
roar, such as might have moved stone !;
ont they still walked on through the wood,
following Hop-o' my Thumb, who was too
sensible either to cry or fear imaginary
dangers. When night overlook them, the
seven brothers slept upon a mossy bank
beneath wide spreading. .beech-tree. And
as as soon as daylight appeared, Hop-o'-my-
Ihnmb climbed up the tree to survey the
surrounding country. For some time he
length he deserted a email Cottage. and
taxing observation of it's direction, he de-
ssoenoed s from the tree, and walked boldly
iorAWaro,, accompanied by his brothers.
4, Aiter hghting their way through many
CnlcReCe of bramhle brUab wood. and thorn