The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-06-24
asrnIng Star and Catholic nssssuger.
Nsw oRLEAss. SUNDAY, JUNE "a 1877
JUVENILE COLUMN.
THE FINGER OF GOD.


nice yard with smooth cut grass and great
trees, where tho birds would sit singing
and swinging On the boughs. Patty had q
swing too, one that papa had put up, made
of good stout rope, that would 60 up ever
60 high into the branches.
A short distance back from the bnuse
and garden stood three great barns, filed
with such stores of hidden wonders that
Patty never tired of playing in them. Bat
perhaps she liked best to 60 with mamma,
in the early spring time, into the woods to
gather the flowers, and search for the deli
cate ferns and the lovely, soft, green moses.
Or, who knows, perhaps she liked better to
60 into the fields where papa was at work,
and make him little visit.
One morning, in the summer time, Patty
was In the kitchen n. Jane was churning,
mamma was baking. Patty was helping
her mother, and the way she helped her
was by eating small Jumps of sugar, and
listening TO a story that mamma was tell
ing. She wanted very much to roll out
the crust fora pie, but mamma said that
she would help most by sitting still and
listening to the story. The butter had
come, and Jane had gone to carry it down
into the cool cellar, when the door bell
rang, and mamma, busting the flour from
her hands, went to answer it.
Patty, left alone in the kitchen, began to-
grow lonely, aud to wonder what made
mamma stay away such long time, and
where Jane was; then she opened the eel
lar door, and called in a sweet little voice,
Jane janet" But Jane was gone up the
outside way, and could not hear.
Patty waited for minute or two, and
not getting any reply she shut the door.
Out of doors it looked bright and sunny.
Through the open window came the soft
ened hum of the distant reapers. Patty
thought she would like to go and see papa,
and 80 in another moment the little feet
were trotting away across the fields
When she came into the wheat field she
could see the men going down one side,
following the reaper, ard leaving shining
row of bundles behind.
Patty tried to catch up, but they worked
very fast, and growing tired, she sat down
to rest on q sheaf of wheat. By her side
the uncut grain waved back and forth in
the sunlight; an old beech tree cast cool,
pleasant shade where she was sitting it
was very beautiful there. She eat quite
still, thinking such sweet little Thoughts.
Suddenly tird few out of the wheat
near by, singing rich, clear song. Patty
clapped her hands in delight, and as the
bird rose higher, and the notes grew fain-
ter aud sweeter in the distance, she fairly
held her breath lest she should lose one of
those delicious sounds.
"Perhaps there is 8 nest in there"
Thought Patty, when it was still again,
and "in there" che went, looking with a
pair of bright eyes eagerly about, and yes,
there it was surely, a nest and three of the
dearest, sweetest, little brides. Was there
ever anything so funny as those downy lit
tie heads with the tiny bills wide open
Such o nice place for q nest, too, Patty
thought. 1t was like being in a golden
forest in there, for the grain was high above
her head, and she laughed softly to herself
thinking of it. The yellow straw laughed
too, waving, murmuring laugh, but never
whispered to the child of danger, nor even
~ he 0orniun nj alnOD tha
story of the little girl in its midst. The
men came on, the machiHe leading them,
the borses drawing steadily, and the knives
cutting sharp and sure.
What was it, do you suppose, that made
the farmer stop his team all at oncef Did
he know that his little daughter was in
danger? No, indeed, he thought that she
was safely cared for at home. But he Yves
q noble man, with large. kind heart, and
he would not willingly hurt the least of
Gods creatures 30 he said to one of the
men,
!" Here, Tom, come and hold the team
There is lark's nest somewhere near the
old tree yonder. I'll hunt it up, and you
can drive around so as not to burt the
BIRDS"
Alb, what cry of surprise papa uttered
when he found bis darling Patty sitting
therel How fast his heart beat when he
thought Of the danger she had been in, and
how it thrilled and softened him as he
caught her up in his arms, aud covering
her face with kisses, said -
" It was the birds that saved her J"
When the first excitement among the
men was over, and Patty had been carried
safely home in her fathers arms, and the
men were going around thu field again,
leaving wide, uncut space around the
lsrk's nest, eomebody-it was a great,
rough looking mau-said, while the tears
glistened in his eyea, and his voice grew
husky.
"God bless the little birds"
"The finger Of God" Let us recognize
it.
"Jn each event of life how clear
Thy railing hand see," etc.
When we can say CHS, we shall be safe
and happy.
AT.~-, cro,v ,,o, Dove Mostar Pich