The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-07-04
Sernlng Star and Catholic Messenger.
NEW ORLEANS. SUNDAY. JULY 4 1875
JUVENILE COLUMN.
DEcEIvING PARENTS.


naniop, Ellen Sturgess, were returning
tom school together one afternoon. 'What
hook is thatf" inquired Ellen, perceiving
that her companion had in her hand vol
nme which did not look like a school book.
1.-THE Romance of the Forest!' che contin-
ned. reading, with some surprise, the letter
inc upon the cover of the book. "Does your
mother allow you to read such books as
that Louisa ~ "Wby, no she does not
exactly allow me to ad such books; but
she does not know that have them" re
nlied Louisa $50 1 am very careful not to
let her see me reading them. She little sus-
poets how many of these volumes l con.
trive to see every week." continued the
heartless girl with laugh.
An expression of unaffected surprise es
capped from Ellen she bad never suspected
Louisa of deceit, and last of all, would
she have supposed her capable of boastipg
openly of her success in deceiveipg her
mother. Involuptarily she almost with
drew her arm from Louisa's, and for few
minutes their walk was pursued in silence.
"Why, what is the matter, Ellen !" said
Louisa, at length, affecting laugh. Do
you think there is really anything really
wrong in reading novelsf'
do any thing that my parents would
be unwilling to have me to do" replied
Ellen, gravely. Here they reached
Louisa's house, and the conversation drop
ped. Louisa had been as we'll instructed as
Ellen, and equally understood her duty to
her parents but with this difference, that
she did not always care to perform it. She
knew that she had the kindest of parents,
and could not deny that they cheerfully al
lowed her every proper indulgence, and
provided amply for her improvement and
amusement. She was also abundautly
supplied with proper books, but her pa
rents were desirous, as every judicious
and considerate parent should be, that
only such books should be read as would
afford profitable employ ment for her mind,
and, to this end, they wished that her
reading should be under their own direc-
|tion.
What reasonable, considerate daughter
could suppose that her parents would deny
her the qualification of reading, for any
other reason, than because they judged it
not to be for her interest or happiness7
What can be the feelings of girl while she
|clandestinely peruses book, which her
parents have prohibited her from reading
|or which she knows they wish her not to
read 1t must be that she is destitute of
proper thought; but the time may come,
when she will reflect with bitterness upon
her deceitful and undutiful conduct.
At to return to Louisa and the Romance
|of the Forest. 1t was not until she had
retired for the evening, that she had an op-
|portunity of reading without interruption;
for it happened that as often as she drew
forth the volume, when left alone for a
minute, she was startled by approach
ing footsteps, before scarcely paragraph
was finished, and thus from time to time,
compelled to hurry the book out of sight.
But when she had retired to her room and
fastened the door, she felt secure. 1t was
q winters night she threw shawl over
her shoulders, and sat poring over the book
until completely benumbed with cold. At
length she began to feel a soreness in her
throat and uneasy sensations in breathing.
She reluctantly laid aside the book, but it
was IN vain that she tried to sleep. She
had caught violent cold, which every mo-
ment increased. Her mothers anxiety was
greater than her OVID, when, upon entering
ner room in the morning che found her
feverish, suffering from headache and sore
throat. "You have taken a violent cold"
said her mother "were you in any way
Exposed to draught yesterday 2" Louisa
|hesitated at fret, and then framed reply
which, though not amounting to a direct
falsehood; was not the simple truth. This
|dRplicity she had to reflect upon during
the period she continued i'll and, until it
had been freely confessed and forgiven, it
remained heavy burden upon her con
science. The very sight of her mother,
from whom she was receiving unceasing
attention and kindness, caused feeling
OF self-reproach, which she tried in vain to
Danish. She sought forgiveness, and re-
solved never again to be guilty of deceit,
or of undntifulness towards her parents
When she recovered, the lesson she had 80
|dearly learned was faithfully remembered.
Perfect opeDness now characterizes her
conduct towards ber parents; she feels
|mere pleasure in referring every thing to
their decision than she ever received from
|stolen qualifications, and SO will every
|daughter who tries the experiment.
Never do any thing that you are unwilling
should come to your parents knowledge
|-necer be guilty Of deceiving them in the
|.noSt tr!fing case. Undutful behavior, on
|she part of the children, is not always at
Tended with immediate punishment, but
|thls, at least, is certain-it never goes un-
punished. The pangs of remorse and self
PeProaeh are, sooner or later, sure to fol-
low, whether there be any other direct pun
|shment or not.
III Inc New York World inquiries why it is
inS SnaS We who furnished the looms of Eng
no9to ,Sat last year with s75 600 900, pounds of
ehNtton, valued at $l36 $50, ,Ie7 who are
|the equals of her nnnnlatinn in indnstri