The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-07-18
sern,ng Star and Catholic Messenger.
new oRIEAss. sUNDAY. JULY 70 Is7s.
JUVENILE COLUMN.
THE BEGGARs.

and stick, and each beggar was making
separate heap. :, -,
Evidently the aim of one ard all OF the
begRars was to gather together as large an
assortment of rubbish as possible. The
appearance of the men was most wretched
their rags hung loosely about their thin,
emaciated bodies, and through the rents
in their garments, one could plainly see
that they were all covered with some
loathsome disease. yet they did not appear
to be aware of their misery, and every now
and then they made jokes among them
selves, and sometimes laughed loudly, but
their laughter had a hollow sound about it.
When they had been occupied in this.man-
ner for some time, man of venerable as
pect drew near, he was the bearer of a
message from the owner of the mansion on
the summit of the mountain and the mes
sage he had to deliver was an invitation to
the beggars to come and take up their
abode 10 his matters beautiful dwelling,
"My master has seen your misery" the
man said, in grave, kind voice land he
is cory for your poverty and great need
80 he has sent me to invite you to his
mansion. 1t is q more beautiful place than
you can think OF, only come atonce."
He waited after he had delivered his
Lords message expecting the men to get
up ut once and leave their heaps ofrabbish
to follow him joyfulfy mp the mountain
but how great was his surprise, when they
began instead to mock him (all except two
j,
and to affirm they wished for nothing bet
ter than their present condition.
"Onr misery !" they said, with an indig
nant laugh 1--WE are perfectly happy! Our
poverty! See how rich we are! And they
pointed to their heaps of rubbish, and as
listen to his words, they began to renew
their search after pieces Of straw and stick.
The man who had delivered to them the
message was amazed, and stood few min
utes gazing at them. He repeated the
message over and over again, thinking the
time he painted in glowing colors the de-
lights of the mansion to which they were
invited, and explained to them how useless
and beggarly was their present occupation,
but still they needed him not.
At last, weary and sad at heart because
of the folly and blindness of these men,
the messenger turned to depart: then it
was that the two beggars who had at first
stood apart from their brethren, drew near,
and casting themselves at his feet, they
begged him very earnestly to lead them to
the beautiful mansion. Tenderly he raised
and Of the fidelity of his Lord to those who
believe in his message. One of the men
wished to carry his. heap of straws with
him, but the messenger forbade him, say
ing, "You will not need them, they will
cucumber you on the journey up the noun
tain"
Hand in hand the two beggars set out,
humbly following their leader. Their com.
panions set up shout of derision as they
saw them depart, and at first the pilgrim
beggars were discouraged by their attempt,
6ut the higher they got mp the mountain,
the moro contemplate did the occupation
Of their old companions appear-and the
distance they were from them only served
to make their wretched clothes and loath-
some sores the more visible.
At length they reached tie mansion.
Never had the two beggars seen anything
90 beautiful. They dared not enter, but
stood trembling at the entrance gate, when
man of princely aspect came to them, and
kindly and most lovingly welcomed them.
This is henceforth your home, my child
reD, ," he said, and the men, hardly know.
ing what they did, fell at his feet, and said,
in great humility, "We are not worthy"
Reader what think you of the beggars
who refused the invitation of the lord of
the mansion Think you that they were
fools to prefer their straws and sticks to all
the glory and beauty which was SO freely
offered to themf
Of course they were foolsP but what,
then, must we think of those who refuse
Gods free invitation to be His sons and
daughters, refuse to accept a place in His
moot beautiful Heaven-that land of light
and love, which no mortal can describe, its
joys are 80 surpassing great : of those sOula,
stain of Sin, who yet will not fly to the
physician who can cure themf of those
souls who are busily occupied in gathering
up the treasures of the earth, it's pleasures,
Its riches (which m ust all perisb) that they
Will not give themselves time to mount the
hill which leads to God Z What words can
express their folly And yet we see men 80
acting day by day.
What must the angels think, when, look
ing down upon the earth, they see the
miserable sinners to whom their Lord
WHOSE msjesty and beauty they so love
ana reverence) has sent message of par
1on and most generous invitation to His
KEIlngdom1 What must these holy beings
eplnk when they see these sinners rejecting
Tue message, preferriDg their own short
mVso and beggariy pleasures to all the joys
ana riches of Heavenf
surely, if angels can weep, they must
weep over the blindness of mems hearts.
now can they Bee Gods creatures rushing
W Lnelr own 0aatrncfi0n in anita nf the