The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-02-27
snlng Star ana Catholic Messenger.
JUVENILE COLUMN.
THE LITTLE SENTINEL.

enOW besides us own roofing OF thatcD, ant
The trees were bending under their white
load. 1t had been showing hard all day
and towards evening the wind got up, 81
eaat where the snow had drifted i5 was very
ueep, The cold north wind blew in ftful
( Hqete, shaking the trees and carrying away
tR long fantastic wreaths the white burdens
fhich their branches bore, and rattliug al
he windows and doors of the houses, max
\ ia people draw closer to their coy fires
one was stirring ont of doors except
81 old shepherd, accompanied by his dog,
mo was returning from folding the sheep
or the night Even old David did not
secm quite to approve of the weather, used
ID he WINS to the wind and storm, for be
slouched his hat over his ears and confided
t0 fls dog that he had never known such a
n2Hht, not these thirty years; and that, for
III part, he wouldn't turn dog out in it
- which Snap replied by coming close to
re shelter of his masters legs, as if
&e were quite of the same opinion.
The light of fires and candles shone
Arough the closely drawn curtains Of the
A45uses, and the sounds of laughter and
voices In merry conversation came pleas
AntEy ont into the gathering darkness.
Even the ale house at the end of the viii
lSTe had it's shutters closed against the in
ql2E1ent weather, and across the glass
es Of the upper part of the bar-room
10 thick curtain was drawn. Inside,
= 8ple were making merry-Ioud talking
A laughing could be heard, occasionally
sne one was called upon for a song, and
whole company would obligingiy join
II The chorus, humping en- tables and clink-
of glasses, to no tune in particular but
&xefy tune in general, as if noise were at a
RE9nium and music nowhere,
ne wind swept around the house, shak-
M ehe shutters with no light touch, and
istling in at the keyhole. 1t even stir
TH4 ehe curtain across the door, and thus al
fain Toll
~ re small figure of little girl. She was
ling timidly, with one hand resting on
z4k9ARtch of the door, the other holding to- |
EgtAer an old petticoat which she had
ths9M1n over her head; her feet were bare,
ma her poor thin frock did little to pro-
leet BOT from the cold. She shivered as |
@ Wtpd bowled around her, but she did I
e4e s0ve from the door.
xkff story was common one ; 30 COM
1tFaEs hardly to excite horror or even pity. |
years ago Maggie Donaldson had |
3ler to love and care for her now her
pr was dead and her father was
Hnkard. He had not been SO bad while
sie wife lived. She had done her utmost to
EeNn him from Incorporate habits, and al.
'AgyHeA she had not entirely succeeded, she
mi Influenced him more than she ina
for after her death he had gone rap
ase own the road to ruin.
liner Lacordaire, the great French
er48 guardian angels; his mother,
~ wife, and his daughter. Matthew
mother was dead, and his
sne fVas dead, and now it was Maggle's
uEntO watch over him. She had promised
u her mothers death bed to bring her ia
her from the le-house when he went
here-the wife hoping, no doubt, that the
InoEIedge of his child waiting for him
You'd be restraint upon him. Since that
zHass However. his Visits had increased in
E4alency, and now no evening passed
slehpnt his i" looking in at the bar. room.
gind OF rain, Maggie took her station at the
se-hOuse door, and waited for her father.
e1nnOcent in the midst of Gin and contain
n9tsNn, with an instructive shrinking from
VIZ end, perhaps, guarded from harm by
6E Altal love, Maggie saw only the misery ;
sn AHpught, and was blind to its supposed .
s1nEeznents. To night she was earlier than
enRss hoping that the bitter weather would
81Hce the company at the ale house to
up earlier than usual, and thinking |
tAther would need the help of her little 6
W@ % lead him through the deep snow. {
gent on, the cold grew more intense, ]
~ Father came. Old David passed on his 7
pme and saw the little sentinel at her a
Indeed all in the village knew her h
I'd many kind word and look, and =
scrap of bread or mess of porridge /
II Il Notberless little girl get from those t
lemseIyee. ''''-'0O AVA !
:. :. Syatshing for father 2" David asked.
s xessm Maggie replied, I" am early to- 3
'yasyl thought father would come home 3
aifs 30 cold" n
:. Cold enough" with a compassionate v
,ok 81 the ill clad shivering little figure c
look ye here, take a drop. of thisEit 4
lllEarm you," andhe offered her his peck 2
Maggie shook her head, not rudely, b
e eOuld'nt; promised MOTHER" she a
"a aB as repeated his offer. b
old shepherd looked ut her, and D
wly began rummaging in his peck. n
nee after some search he produced b.
of Oatcake and be begged her to O.
II. Maggie took it gratefully and a
81 pa a parting nod, David betook him lie
y AQhae' CT
le watched the light of the shep- re
friendly lantern down the struggling q
eeling the night darker and the cold tt
earching as it finally disappeared. 81
ae turned back to peep through the g