The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-05-07
JUVENILE COLUMN.
THE RAINBOW PILGRIMAGE.

m
ssamsd to be losing itself in thick
swampy wood about quarter of o mile
S;stant We had Just had u thunder storm
~ hint now the dark heavens had cleared up,
fresh breeze was blowing from the south,
the rose bushes by the WINDOW were oash
robins were singing nerrily from the
!. eherry-trees, and ali was brighter and
II pleasanter than ever. 1t happened that
no one was in the room Wild ME, then, but
my brother Rufus, who was just recovering
from O severe illness, and was sitting
propped up with pillows, in an easy chair,
81 fookino ont with me, at the rainbow.
Msee. brother,"I said, sit drops right
down among the cellars, where we 60 in the
spring to find wintergreens
MDo Won know, Gracie," said my broth
ar. with q very serious face, " that, if you
sbould 20 to the end of the rainbow, you
Il would find there purses filled with money,
4 and great pots of gold and silver Z"
ais it truly 30 7" asked.
"Truly So" answered nay brother, with
8 smile. Now, / was a simple-hearted child
who believed everything that was told me,
although / was again and again imposed
upon; so, without another word, 1 darted
out of the door and set forth toward the
wood. My brother called after me as loudly
as he was able, but did not heed him. /
cared nothing for the wet grass, which was
Rsdly drabbliDg my clean frock On and on
ran l was eure that knew just where
that rainbow ended. l remember how
glad aud proud was in my thoughts, and
what fine presents 1 promised to ali my
friends out of my great riches.
So thinking, and laying delightful plans,
almost before knew it, had reached the
ceder grove, and the end Of the rainbow
was not there! But I cav it shining |
down among the trees little further off; |
80 on and on struggled, through the thick |
bushes and over logs, till came within the |
eOund of n Rtr6am which ran fhrOnUh tho
swamp. Then 1 thought, "What if the
rainbow should come down right into the
middle of that deep muddy brook !"
Alb! butt was frightened for my heavy
pots of geld and silver. and my pn:ses of
money. How should I ever find them
there and what time should have get
ting them out! 1 reached the bank of the
stream, and " the end was not YETI But l
could see it a little way off on the other
side. crossed the creek on a fallen tree,
and still ran on, though my limbs seemed
to give way, and my side ached with ia
tigue. The woods grew thicker and darker
the ground more wet and sWampy, and
found, as many grown people had found
before me, that there WAS ratter hard trav-
Cling in journey after riches. Suddenly
met In my way large porcupine, who
made himself still larger when he saw me
as cross cat raises it's back and makes
.ails at dog. Fearing that he would
shoot his sharp quilts at me, and hit me all
t., | 1
feet would carry me.
p In my fright and harry 1 forget to keep
my eye on the rainbow, as had done be-
ore and when, at last, l remembered and
ooked for it, it was nowhere in sight 1t
had faded quite away. When saw that
T was indeed gone, burst into tears for
had lost all my treasures, and had moth
ng to show for my pilgrimage but muddy
eet and a wet and torn frock. So set out
or home.
But 1 soon found that my troubles had (
only begun l could not find my way
vas lost. could not tell which was east
or west, north or south, but wandered
about here and there, crying and calling, t
though I knew no one could hear me.
All at once heard voices shouting and 6
lallooing; but instead of being rejoiced at | g
Ills, was frightened, fearing that the In i
Iome bushes, by the side of large log,
md lay perfectly still. 1 was wet, cold, '
cared altogether very miserable indeed; 9
Jet when the voices came near, did not t
tart up and show myself. v
AT last l heard my own name called 8
mt I remembered that Indians were very q
unning5 and thought they might have a
Oono IL out some way ; 80 did uot an g
Wer. Then came q voice near me, that d
ounded like that of my eldest brother, q
lad not seen for many months but I dared
lot believe the voice was his. Soon some d
ne sprapg upon the log by which lay, a
nd stood there calling. 1 could not see i
lis face could only see the tips of his ?
oeS, but by them 1 saw that he wore a {
ice pair of boots and not moccasins. Yet v
remembered that some Indians dressed t
ike white folks. l knew young chief t
Who was quite dandy ; who not on y p
.'Got him and breeches b
AND looked like n Christian man. b
'ut actually wore fine ruffled shirt out t.
ide Of all So l still kept quiet, till l h
leard shouted over me a pet name, which j.
his brother had given me. 1t was the g
unniest name in the world. c
/ knew that no Indian knew of the name,
IS it was little family secret 80 1 sprang r.
Up, and caught my brother about the an
lies. hardly think that an Onondaga II
ould have given a louder yell than he
ave then ; and he jumped SO that be fell b
If the log down by my side. But no.
body was hurt ; and, after kissing me till Fl
le had kissed away all my tears, he hoisted k
ne on to his shoulder, called my other
lrOthers who were inning in difarant di= | r