The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-12-12
RAKiNG LEAVES.

my SON. you ca0ose 20 ePend part
of your time to- day in raking mp she leaves
in front Of the yard, will give you fifty
cents for your trouble. / do not require it Of
you, because Patrick Dugan would be
glad of the job, but you can earn the money
fit pieases you"
penny, how much more of half dollar.
So he answered quickly. "I'l do it, father,
and thank You, tOo.n
Thoroughly, if at all, remember, Ben
nie,n said Mr.. Dayton, as he put on his
hat to go to the depot, on his way to
business in the city.
Yes, father" answered the boy, and be
started for the yard to get rake, broom
and large feed sack to hold the leaves !;
the job was to be done in the best manper.
Two sacks full of dead leaves were gath
cred and carried away, and then lad
came along, whistling..
Halloa, Ben, what are you about u
sse!"
.Isee. a paid job"
eyes, sir"
"Don't bother now-too busy to talk"
"Bsn 2"
1H,m."
"Say, come bown in the back lot mo-
ment, the fellows want you."
"Don't think cam" Bennie said, atber
hesitatIngi he was AIN ost persuaded.
"Come on, just for Eve minutes" urged
All Temptation entertained, boys, is
victory won-remember that.
Down went the rake, and away went
Ben, thinking there was time enough by
and-by. And an hour or SO after, his mo
ther, coming home from up in the village
saw heap of leaves, the empty sack, and
the rake, just near the gate, whore any
thieviDg urchin could lay his hands upon
them.
"George, where has your brother gone 2"
a6 ha
"Down in the back lot playing ball with
crowd of boys"
"Go and tell him that want him at
once"
Bennie returned and fiDished the work,
at any rate to his satisfaction. Next moro
ing his father left fifty cents with his wife
to be given to Benrie, if she thought he
had earned it. The truth was, she did not
have very strong opinion that the money
had been earned but Christmas was draw
ing near, and she knew the boy wanted to
save and earn all the money possible, 80 she
gave the money to him saying:
Bennie, father left this money for J you.
DO not really call the work we'll done, and
II were you I would rake it up little
more, so that he can notice how clean you
have left it,"
I'm bet WON'T" said crusty Benz
'f you please, would like to know to
whom you were talking, my son."
Well, raked the leaves clean /; George
can proveit; and don't mean to do it any
more. II you don't want me to have the
money, don't care"
You will leave the room instantly.
shall speak to you no more until you
remember the respect you owe to your
mother"
"Ill come back" commenced Ben.
But he did not finish, for his mother said
"Go," and he dared not linger. He went
out to play; but the mother sat there in
her low chair rocking babby Robbie to
sleep, not singing to him, for her eyes
were go full tears that her voice was choked
with them. Was it not bard to 6evo @
her whole life to her children and get SO
poor return as this 2
Bennle was uncomfori able, too, and
could not play, but stole quietly in and
@raked up all the leaves both front and
back OF the house, fixing all in prime
That night Bennie received no good
night kiss, and after getting into bed cried
long and hard. And he could stand it no
longer he went down stairs to his mother,
and, kneeting beside her, begged most
earnestly for her forgiveness.
She q1ieted him first then she had a
good, honest talk with him. She told him
that, at the very best, mothers life was a
hard one, a life full of anxieties and cares.
But children could make it SO much harder
that 1T would become unbearable whereas,
they might help over the rough spots, and
make her path easy.
Above all, she explained to him that God
was grieved when we sinned, and that if we
asked strength from him more sincerely
we would fall before temptation less.
Bennie was sincere in his sorrow, for he
mas tried very hard since that Saturday to
oe q good boy, and his mother is proud of
his efforts TO do right.
None of us like the moral of a story to be
eet before US, but If we look forapne in this
little sketch it will not be hard to fiad, and
here it is -
Honor thy father and thy mother, that
thy days may be long in the land which
the Lord thy God giveth thee"