The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-02-11
SOMETHING To N

Complaining and grumbling this ne pleasant morni
Look just two yards round aud do t0hdt
That's just what yeu1 have to do whom you're a man
There's pin to pick up and shoe. string to tie
You the pont sns yGu Ootbr oc
It will please sister Jane or be useful to mother.
y By the way. Iemember You said you would draw
wi Ss but 1e%s%0ss 1s dear 9sasin that
Or If you're too busy at working to-day.
Iat can araw al the same and will do what ssy
III There are many 1 want, so my paper II fetoh.''
Tho dinner-bell ringingl the dnuerbsl ruue
aSF P
For an hour at least for We SO much to do!'
THE TORN CURTAIN.
A striking example of the truth that a
kind action is never thrown away, is illus
trated by the following story from the His
tory of England.
The date was that of the civil war between
two parties had taken mp arms and were Wig
orously carrying on the conflict. The kline q
army had been defeated several times, and
those of his adherants.taken with arms in
their haIds were led before judges, appoin-
TED oy Cromwell in every town, to be con-
demned as rebels.
Sir Nicholas Newcastle was one of those
Judges. He was man of austere manner,
but without fanaticism his devotion to the
new govoTnment was we'll known, and
CROMWELL had special esteem for him. His
weakly constitution did not allow him 70
serve in arms for the cause which he thought
the just one, but he was looked upon as The
most active and able, as we'll as the most
vigorously just magistrate in his county,
One evening Sir Nicholas was at supper
WIN MS family and few of his friends,
when band of soldiers arrived with row
allst prisoner, whom they had Just sue
ceeded in capturing. It was an officer
VINO, a1ter the Tout of Charles army, had
been vainly trying to reach the cuast, and
mere ma means of escaping to France.
Sir Nicholas ordered his hands to be un-
pound, and another table to be placed near
the fireplace.
1T is my birthday" said be, I" and I
wish to finish merrily the supper which l
nave begun. Give refreshments to this ca !
Waller and his guards. At present would
only be his host in an hour l will act "A
his judge
The soldiers thanked him and sat down
at the table near their prisoner ,;who did not
appear to be much affected by his position,
and fell to on the provisions set before him
Win as good an appetite as any of them.
Sir Nicholas returned to his place at the
head of the large table, and resumed the
conversation that had been interrupted by
the arrival of the soldiers.
Well, l was telling you" he continued,
that at the age of fifteen, was still 30
weak and puny, that every one scorned my
feebieness, and took advantage of it to ILL
use me. First 1 had to endure the bad
treatment of step mother, then that of nv
schooitelloWs. Courage in boys is only the
consciousness of strength. My weakness
made me coward, and, far from hardening
me, the roughness and harshness to which I
was exposed made re only more shrinking,
aud more sensitive to pain. / lived in a
continual state offear. but above all feared ,
the masters cane. Twice l had suffered |
thie cruel punishment, and had preserved )
such an acute remembrance of the pain that
the very thought of a third infictiou made
me tremble all over.
was at Westminster School, as have
already told you. The forms were taught . .
In large room together, and were separa :
ted one from another by curtain, which :
we were expressly forbidden to touch. One
summer day, Growsiness had overcome me
for moment in the middle of a Greek les v
son ; then slight noise started me ont of = =
my nap, only saved myself from falling y
Oft my seat by catching at the curtain, d
which was close beside me. 1t gave way
at my grasp, and, to my horror, saw that y
had made in it tear big enough to see the !,
next class through. The two masters turn =
ed round at the noise, and at once perceived =
The damage that had been done. The blame :
appeared to lie between me and the boy q
next the curtain on the other side but nv II II
confusion soon pointed me out rs the cul. y
'rlt, and my master angrily ordered me to
'ome and have dozen bio Ms of the cane
ried to speak, to ask pardon, but fear had +,
'lued my tongue to my mouth my knees Il
rembled under me; n cold perspiration q,
roke out on my face. The instrument of ~
punishment was already raised me, pt
'hen heard sOna say y,
"'Do not punish him. 1t was my fault!' sa
1t was the boy on the other side of the al
urtain. He was at once called forward, ty
nd received the dozen blows. My frst
npulse was to prevent this unjust punish
lent by contessing the truth !; but could sh
OF summon up courage, and when the tb
rst blow had been given, was ashamed af
} speak. w
When the fogging was over, the boy ed
assed near me with bleeding hands, and g
to me with a smile that l shall m
ever forget all my iife,- tn
"' Do not meddle with the curtain again, ~
Oungster. The cane hurts.'
sank down in fit of sebbing, and ia
ley had to send me out of the room. %n; 10
e Since that day have been disgusted &
18th my cowardice, and ,have done all hi