The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-07-11
aerning Star and Catholic Messenger.
NEW oRLEA ss, SUNDAY. JULY IL, 1875.
JUVENILE COLUMN.
MRS. FAGAN's BOY.

about the place with the greaLesC cobtou1-
ment, while the children Played qaletly
herself within, attending to her domestic
antics. She was cleanly to fault, and
fond Of having everything quiet and or
derly about her but she was not able to
do this, for Danpie, her favorite son, the
nSis;est and most mischievous boy of the
neighborhood, was always getting into
sone commotion or trouble. Mrs. Fagan
herself by the way, was somewhat excit-
able. as the storv will show. just now, all
was quiet and orderly about the place, for
Dannie had gone to school had gone to
school, but had n OF reached there.
The watcbfnl mother had summoned
Dannie in good time, had washed his face,
and made him look as neat and clean as pos
sible had seen him, with great bundle of
books under bis arm, start along the canal
in the direction of the school-house; and
with sigh of relief had returned to her
work, invoking blessings on the school
that kept Dannie ont of mischief the greater
part of the day.
Imagine the astonishment and displeas-
ure of Mrs. Fagau when, an hour later ,
Dannie came running back again, his
clothes dripping with water, and the face
she had washed SO carefully but short
time before daubed with mud. In an in
slant the broom with which Mrs. Pagan had
been sweeping the floor YVES raised in the
air, and Dannie saw the threatening figure
Of his mother rapidly approaching.
"Didn't / tell you not to go in swim
ming J" said Mrs. Fagan, in very excited
voice.
"I haven't been in -" but before
Dannie could say what he had not been in,
down came the broom on his damp shoul-
ders. -.
Dannie from q safe distance.
"No, won't listen to you go be off to
school-be off with youw And he was off !;
for Mrs. Pagan had again started with up
raised broomeapd Dannie did not care to
have his excited mother come too close to
him.
"That boy will be the death of me-" abe
said, as she looked at His retreating figure !;
and comforting herself with this reflection,
she once more returned to her sweeping.
Dannie feeling very wet and ill-used,
went his way to school. He managed to
borrow a dry coat, but contrary to bis
usual custom, was somewhat inclined to be
seen as little as possible.
About an hour after he had been at
school, a gentleman entered, and remained
for some time in conversation with the
teacher. The curiosity of the scholars was
greatly excited, for the teacher and the
strange gentlemen looked occasionally
about the room, as if trying to recognize
some one. At last the gentlemen appeared
to have found the boy he was looking for !;
the teacher then called the school to order,
and told the boy to come forward.
Then the gentlemen told the scholars
that he was g stranger in the place, that he
had come there only few days before on q
visit, bringing with him his family; that
one of his childrep-a little girl-had
Z been playing that morning near the bank of
the canal, and had accidentally fallen into
the water, and would undoubtedly have
been drowned but for the great courage
displayed by the boy who now stands be-
fore them, who had jumped into the canal
at the risk OF his life, and had saved his
child "and," continued the gentlemen.
"after doing this, he would not even wait
to be thanked. but ran away. If had
notseen him for a moment, and had not
been told by some one who happened to
know him that be attended this school, /
would not have known, nor could I have
rewarded, the perserver of my child"
"That isn't the right boy !" said a
timid voice from corner of the school
room, interruptiDg the grateful father in
the midet of his remarks.
"What boy was it that spoke z" said the
teacher, somewhat sternly.
"Please sir, )" said a diminutive boy, rise
ing to his feet, "Dannie Fagan is the right
boy as saved the girls life"
The gentleman looked at the teacher
and at the boy that stood before them. He
then asked the boy to whom be had been
addressing his remarks if he were the boy
that saved his child.
mo, sir" answered the boy, somewhat
confnsediy.
why did you not say SO before Z" asked
the teacher.
'Yeu didn't give me a chance" said the
ooy, as he walked back to his seat.
Then the boys pushed Dannie Pagan
Forward, and the gentlemen and the teacher
could not repress smile. When the child
Ten saw the smile, it was the signal for a
nearly laugh from all.
There stood DannIe. in his wet clothing,
looking very sbeepish and confused, as
though he would like to run away again
without being thanked. This time the
gentleman did not make a speech, but de-
9@Sended from the platform, and taking
Danle DDannle by the hand, thanked him warmly.
men the scholars gave a cheer for Dannie
Sagap' and would have given two more,
in Hus tue teacher interrupted them by call
J.. Dannie told how he bad returned home
70 change his clothing, and how his mother
hsnu oal! not listen to him, thinking he had
Seen zen IN swimming. Dannie modestly of
,e,eo this explanation for his not being in
Vre prominent place in the schoolrOOm
a fho