The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-04-29
s srntng STAR iad Catholic messenger.
HEW orEEAa5, SUNDAY. APRIL 20 Is47.
JUVENILE COLUMN.
THE BOY HERO.

S France, aud his father was a~av fghtin
in the army of the first emperor Napoleon
Before he went be- left in Jeans charge hi
mother and two young ststers, and, thougl
Z he was only twelve years old, right vel
did he fulfil the trust Cum United to him
II Did his mother want water from the spring
jean was off in minute to get it for her
Did she want the goats nIilkedf Jear
never needed To be told twice, bat, snow
pr sunshine, would bound over the ocks
Enough he had neither shoes nor stocking s
i End up the mountain path until ! q found
the goats. lie was harder work to get back
again with the milk on his head but he
was SO careful that he very teldom spilled
The mountain air had made him hardy
u body and perhaps the sight of the wild
beauty around him had helped to strength.
81 On MS MIND, for he was thoughsfu and in
curing beyond his years. When evening
came, ana there was nothing more to be
gone for his mother, he did not go to sic ep
beside the wood fire, but would set off aud
Walk three miles to the nearest village,
wnere the parish priest kindly Taught him
Teading, writ ng, and arithmetic. Alb,
Wisn we were all as anxious to improve
ourselves as jean the mountain boy.
what scholars We should be, how wise we
would grow, If we only made as much OF
oor great advangtages as re did ofhis mall
ones.
One day jeans mother was obliged to
quite easy in leaving the two young girls
under Jean's charge" Was he not" she
thought, "the kindest Of brothers. az well
as the most attentive of sons7" He was
always happy in being uscful, so she was
sure that no would not go off to his own
book or play, but spend bis time in trying
to amuse his Sisters.
AT last 1t was necessary for him to go |
aud get the faggots with which to prepare |
ms mother's supper. He would have left
earnestly to go with him that he consent.
ed, and they all set off very happily to-
gether.
1t was a lovely aftern DON in the early
spring the snow was still lying ON the
mountains, but Its wintry reign was over,
ana the bright patches of green were every
where peeping through to refresh the sight.
In little sunny hooks, there smiled tue
nrst sweet Spring fowels, the birds eye
primrose, the dark blue &c ntian, and OF hers
which these mountain children hailed with
the same shouts of joy that you would the
ylolets of our English hedgerows. The
streams had burst their icy chains, and
the birds were making their sweetest
music.
1t was two miles to the the forest, and
woe9 they got there, Jean began to chop
wood, while his sisters went on gathering
nosegays, or playing at hide and seek be-
hind the trees. All at once q frightful
scream from both together made Jean look ,
around In alarm, and what he saw was q :
monstrous wolf in the very act of spring :
ment for thought; to throw himeelf in !
'front.' OF them was the work of an instant, y
and to aim e blow at the wolf with his g
chopper was the work of another, Had it >
been done by stronger arm it would have
severed its head from the body, BIO we'll q
directed was it. But, as it was, it only :,
snraged the savage beast, aud it few at the ~
boy like fury. y
1t was hard conflict; for wolves are =
strong, and this one was a large one, and -
While Jean. although be was fighting for =,
ms own and.his sisters lives, had but boys =.
strength after all. But God, who deiiverd
David from the lion and the bear, was :,
present to help aud succor. The wolf was ~
dreaming with blood; jean bad many T,
eemed as if the fierce beast was getting -
ne better of him, and suddenly losing his II
oothold, he fell to the ground. You would -
ave Thought that it was all over with him; a.
'us he collected his strength, and gave q h.
desperate lnnge with his chopper as the a
volt spraug upon him, 1t staggered, fell a.
ack, and with one wild and terrible howl ~ u'
J rolled over and died. Jean and his little 90
listers were safe. Faint aud wounded as De
Q was, he took one of his little sisters on r
Ould to the cottage. w
What tale it was to tell to his mother Is
nd how thankful che felt for her boys II. -,
ravery, especially when the ueighbors W. W.
rho went into the forest said that it was r,
he largest wolf that had ever been seen in
hat part of the country.
The stOry soon spread, and at last it
cached the Emperor's ears, and be sent for "
leans father to talk to him about this VI
rave son of his, and the result was that
lean was placed in a military school to th
t9dy at the Enperor's expense. rit
The poor mountain boy, who had waited sic
N his mother, and killed the wolf in de-
ence OF his infant sisters ended his days as p
General in the army of the Emperor Ma Oh
'oleon But although he was great and az
IGNORED be retained through life the same tie
uprightness, and kindliness, an
II character which had distinguished him
n his youth. ul
Goo has promised blessing to those de
mo honor their father and mother, and
Ious promises always come true. The W
9oys who honor their mother as Jean did, al
'nlhk are among those who arc most likely ex