The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-07-08
MAYS HOUSE PARTY.
(By Expedit in Our Young People

anxious to be waited upon so they could get out
of the jam, into the fresh am May went to one of
the stores and while waiting to be served. was
gazing around at the grand displays, and the shop
pers, when her eyes rested upon three weary and
very young cash girls who looked as though they
ought to be home taking afternoon nap, i'll their
cool tidy bedrooms. So thought May as she eyed
them with an expression of deep sympathy for the
hardness OF their lot; but perhaps like the stories
60 they live III tenement houses. OF SKY scraper
where breath of fresh air. such as can be felt in
the suburbs can never be possible. thought on May
as she wrinkled her fair forehead over the per
picked question
After she had been waited upon May left the
store, with those tired, pale faces still in her mem
DRY, and after she arriver home while eating lunch
with her mother, and little brother Dick she said:
Oh Mamma, | saw three little cash girls in the
store today, and they looked so tired that [ Just
pltled them. and heard girl telling the other
one, that her feet hurt her dreadfulIy. How | do
wish | could do something to make their lives
brighter and cheerful They seemed so young to be
earning their own living" concluded May with
sigh.
After a few minutes silence, during which time
Mrs Days face thoughtful expression, she
said brightly:
Why May, [ think have bright idea as you
children are wont to say, when you play that new
game, and this is it. Why not ask them to spend
their two weeks vacation at our house We have
PANii'S
room that uncle occupied when he lived. You may
read stories to them from Our Young People, dur
ing the long afternoons, when you spend the time
IN the grape-arbor, and our lawn is so large that
many games can be played upon the thick carpet
OF grass Then you have two or three picnics
down by the river, and we'll take old Ned with u.s.
to bait the fishing hooks kill the snakes and keep
the cattle and horses away. About o'clock we
could have a nice lunch hot drink of coffee made
over the old-fashioned camp fire, and then return
home at sundown'
That would be glorious and 1 know that the
treat will make the little girls think thah they are
in another world" said May ioyfully. May L ask
them to come the next time | go to the city,"
Yes, dear, when we go to select your jacket.
We will accept Mrs. Nous invitation, and have
dinner with her, and then during the clerks dinner
hour you will have time to say few words to each
of them"
The following week May went to the store and
after inquring found the three girls eating their
lunch, while seated on dry goods box in the back
of the store. 1t grieved May to see them eating a
cold dinner cheerfully when she always had hot
dinners consisting of the good things of the sea-
son, and she realized how well provided she was in
this selfish world, and how weakly she had thanked
God for his favors After she had told the trio
her intentions, they all stopped eating for few
minutes, and looked surprised and bewildered at
this strange girls benevolent offer that she smiled
outright.
The little thin, sweet faced girl said slowly:
Il will ask if | may go, and if she says
yes 1 will let you know if you come in the store
again before vacation time"
The second girl TALL slender specimen of neg
ect, said with some hardness in her voice while
her eyes glistened with unshed tears
My folks won't much cause mas out
washing and scrubbing every day of her life, and
Pas always drunk, and he hardly ever says more
than three words week to me. He doesn't care
where l go, but Mas particular, she cares. When
I'll tell her that swell girl asked me to spend my
vacation her house, she'll be so proud of it that
she'll tell all the neighbors in the tenement. but
know | coud never come to your house if you hadn't
told me you was a Catholic concluded the girl
seriously.
"Wel that's too bad about your father" said
May her eyes filling up with tears. "Do you ever
pray that your father will change and be sober?"
added May, who well taught to confde in God
with all her troubles.
Yes, sometimes [ do. but when he keeps it up
/ get tired and quit" said the girl, in her usual
way,
"Well l know that if you keep praying for
your father" said May hopefully and persstently |
that your prayers will be heard"
AS May looked at the third girl she said tim |
idly:
Il will ask aunt if may go but I think she will
not let come"
Time passed quickly, and one fine morning the |
bell on the door of the large DAILY house rang and
when May went to answer the summons she beheld i
her three visitors. Come right in" she said hos
ptably as she relieved them of their bundles, and |
hats and led them into the large, cheerful sitting |
room, where Mrs. DAILY gave them motherly wei |
come, which drove their timidity away, and made !
hem feel at home at once.
Those pleasant weeks were never forgotten by
he three visitors, who gained in weight and had
'osy cheeks when they left the DAILY home to go
pack to work. This visit was not the end of their
lists for they often spent Sunday afternoon with
May who often read to them, and played and sang
Tor their amusement.
The tall thin girl who was named Ella Buck,
became more prayerful, making novenas with her
mother. for their fathers of the drink habit,
md they were rewarded by the return of the father
o church going. keeping steady at work, and final
V his slow persistent abstaining from drink Eli
always declares that she would have given up the
thought of ever seeing her father decent man
lgain if ii were not for the encouragement from
Nay Mr.. Buck then provided for the family and
ella was allowed to attend the sisters school, and
hen business college, and now she is competent
for leading law firm
The sweet faced little girl who had to work, be-
ause her mamma was sickly and could do very lit
lie sewing-that is beyond keeping Tic pfoyerbal
Volt from the door, received AN invitation to stay