The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-10-05
INITIATING THE SAINTS.

Frances had been reading the Lives of the
Saints" and bordering deeply upon the sub
liberalization. The saints had done such
n&onderful things that it was hardly possible that
she could initiate them to great extent, so she
would try something not too hard at first, and per-
haps she would be able to do more heroic things
after a while
What should she do? At last an idea occurred
to her. She had read of saint who had slept on
the bare ground and though she could not very
well do this still she would sleep the floor. Hav-
ing determined upon this she could hardly wait for
bedtime to come, and such a mysterious air
that her mother inquired if there anything the
matter with her.
At last night came and Frances started off to
bed. Her mother was longer than usual in COM
ing to tuck her in bed and turn down the light,
and Frances had hard work to keep awake. As her
mother bent over to kiss her goodnight, she said,
"Why, Frances, what makes you so restless! Are
you liz"
NO mamma" answered she, feeling that some
how her mother would not quite approve of her
contemplated action.
AS soon as her mother had gone she jumped out
of bed, and, wrapping a blanket about herself
stretched out on the floor. She had now made
good start at least in the path of perfection, she
began to plan heroic deeds for the future that
would astonish everyone
Soon. however, the novelty wore off, and she
feeling quite uncomfortable The floor
tainly was hard and she had never before realized
in through the open window and Frances, recalling
the beautiful Home beyond the skies, determined
to persevere, and full of these thoughts she fell
asleep.
The morning dawned wet and dismal and the
chill wind blew sharply into the room. Frances
avvoke, chill and sore and she knelt to say her
morning prayers she realized that she had done q
rather foolish thing after ALL She went to the
breakfast table in a fretful state of mind, but
found that she had appetite for her meal. Look
ing up from his paper her father said, Frances,
why are you not eating your breakfast"
II can't Papa my throat is Sore" and the tears
welled up into her eyes.
Frances" said her mother. who had just en-
tered did you not tell last night that you
perfectly wellP
Eyes, Mamma, but"
"But what. Frances"
ooh, mamma, wanted to be like the Saints
sTo be like the Saints" echoed her father 'Why
what does that have to do with your being sick?"
Seeing that no one understood her poor Frances
broke down and cried bitterly.
Come. Frances" said her father, as she gath
cred her into his arms; "tell me what the trouble
Is" Thus cOnsoled Frances sobbed out the whole
story.
q am glad to learn that my little daughter had
such worthy motive for what she did, said her
father after she had finished, "but Frances, God
does not require extraordinary things from little
girl like YOU. All that is necessary for you just
now is that you be a good and obedient child and
later on when God requires more of you He will
give you the grace and strength necessary for its
accomplishment"
Happily the bad effects of her cold wore off af-
ter few days and l am glad to say that Frances
soon learned that real perfection lies in doing ones
best by ordinary means-Sister M. E. in Orphans
Friend.