The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-11-25

Il Philadelphia Catholic Record for september.
AFive boys! Five boysl"
Dpripg does not awaken the same exu
bcfence of Joy in Southern hearts as in
th1se of colder climes, for there her breath
uosvsdes the winter months, but when sbe
sss.ns her face full towards us she greets us
ml8 with the same suggestions of youth, and
8ope, and happiness.
AZ least the balmy April air brought such
xEoup phts to One-a woman-who, as she
I'D upon the table near her five pairs of
xaatly folded socks, thus recalled in mono
|~7llables the number of her household
fseasuree.
The par ticular trouble in connection with
&hese boys was the getting everything
|x2ady for them this Saturday evening, go
1fakt Sundays ueual routine should move on
a achecked and satisfactorily.
There was no sound of sorrow, no mur
iur of regret, in the voice that said the
lords. 1t was rather the tender conscious
oess of the heavy burden on her hands,
|8&e loving realization of the great care
|ithin her heart.
The five boys were all asleep, but each
|Hne, as be kissed her for the night, had
minded her of something that was needed
|<0r the morrow. The Oldest was seventeen,
lie youngest seven. One just on manhood's
|&feshold, the other just beyond the realm
|#$ baby hood. 1t is true she still Graded
harley on her knee, but even the Church
lid her that at seven years the child is a
|seaponsible being, and so she called them
s2fboys now, no longer babes and not yet
|nsen.
The April breeze outside was busy drop
|3fpg down upon the groupd d Its wealth of
|t&Apge- blossoms, the southern snow of
ling time, while inside, the mothers
md was busy with its wealth of fancies,
bich, pure and fragrant IS the orange
Ids, settled down as noiselessly upon the
sh sleepers in the house.
For seven years this widowed mother
|4a earned by her own labor the scanty
erewithal to support herself and boys.
&aed by Hope aud Patience, and working
| Loves sake only, as Jacob did, she had
ched day when there came II change
10 her life.
Will, her eldest, had found employment,
|snd his young hands were now Joined to
here in the upholding of their little world.
For seven years she had kept her Will
school, but teaching him more herself
his hours of home study, than did the
+ sisfactory lessons.
3he had done all she could for her boys
the past, and she was still to continue
labor of love /; but as there had been
fering and want in those years of strug-
|e, so she knew there would be many pri-
ations in the future. Yes, it would be
|png before each of her boys had all he
peded but, at least there was chance
r Will, here, In the present, and as she
ok up the one white vest he owned, and
hich was mended every Saturday, she
&rly revelled in the thought that he would
pn be able to buy q new one.
Gother-like, she told him this next day
they walked home from church, and he
Rwered carelessly-he little realized all
|s patient efforts to supply the wants of
last seven years-"And many other
pgs. mother, which 1 must have, you
Fhen, at the close of that eventful
Ath, Will received his first earnings and
hight them to his mother, she was the
to enumerate the vest, the hat, the
be, and the "many other things" which
se required by her boy.
If there is a surplus it will go towards
rent" Will said, with a sense of fimpor-
ce never known before, and q great
ling of eelf satisfaction.
As time went on and Willis wants or the
eessities of his wardrobe became gradu-
~ supplied, the mother thought of Tom,
next in age, still at school, and always
fully in need of either hat or shoes, the
ther finding it difficult problem to
end at once to the heads and heels of ali
boys.
We will buy poor Tom a complete out
this time,n said the mother to her Will,
needing nothing now, was not sur
ed to learn that Tom was his a0tipodes
5hls respect. Henry's torn came next,
Johns, and at last even little Char
ALI FIVE were remembered in the
hers plans, and by her careful man
nent each enjoyed a moderate comfort.
herself she seldom seemed to think, or
Pc did, she never brought her wants
re her boys or worried them by any
ement of the fact. She made her own
an humble woof, on which she wove
golden threads of their existence. IT
was a cent to spare, che suggested
disposition of it which included the
being of all the precious five.
e placed herself within their thoughts
be fountain of their joys and comforts,
ence poured the stream of love and sac
Zee over all their lives. They never
pght of checking it's abundance, or
ning back the waters on their source.
few years Tom followed Will in
ing work, and earning money, and so
Henry, until "the boys" decided that
bert must teach no longer, for che had
Rgh to do at home.
hey kept her very busy, but she made
ppy home for them, suitin9 herself to
heir hours, and forwarding by her help