The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-01-18

do here we do WE'LL and as the children who are
brought here have not studied long enough to
speak English either correctly or fluently and we
have no schools in which to teach them, we com
mand them, under the severest penalties, not 20
speak at all Now you understand why they did
not answer YOU when you spoke to them
Munei was frightened. This was new aspect
OF affairs; she began to think she did not like
the Moon as well she had at first concluded
How terrible 1t would be. she thought, to be
oollged to keep silence all the time. Why, it
worse.
"oh l want to go home!' she walled. Take
me away from herep'
That IS not so easy" sighed the dame "You
Wi! have to go before the court ere that can be
decided"
So before the court Muriel went. There sat the
Man IN the Moon" stroking his long gray beard
IN most imposing way; and in front of him. in
semi-circles sat the judges and councillors, all in
gray Muriel, pale and trembling, stood before
them not daring to look up
~ GU are accused Of hating school," came in
sonorous accents from the MAN in the Moon"
Prisoner, do you plead guilty."
OH sobbed Muriel, 81 did hate school but III
never hate 1t again; and I'll study hard, if you
will only let me go home, please, dear Mr. Moon
Mani"
There was a moments silence; then "Send her
back to earth!" came the deep voice again. "and
give her another chance
little later Muriel found herself on her way
to earth having this time her guide stray sun
beam on its way to the damp noisome places on
earfh where seldom ray of sunlight is seem The
clouds through which they passed were all ag1ow
with a soft, rosy brightness: and the sunbeam
passing through, tinted their edges with gold. At
last she the tall church spires piercing through
the early morning, mist and then, little by little
other buildings.
On and on they flew, and finally lowered over
green meadows and fields of golden grain swaying
IN the gentle breeze Little white houses nestled in
groves OF trees or at the foot of protecting hills
and there at last she the schoohouse Muriel's
heart leaped as she saw it. little while and she
would be at home-yes there it stood, the place
she loved above all others; and there was her own
little room, with the window wide open, and the
curtain ruffles flutterng in the breeze Just as she
had left 1t when she was taken away bv Mr., Moon
beam.
The sun was IN blaze Of glory when she babe
farewell TO the little sunbeam which had guided
her so well; and she snuggled close in her coy bed
as she thought how good it felt to be home What
noise is that which keeps disturbing her? 1t
sounds again and again. and at last she sits up 10
listen. 1t is her mother calling:
Muri9, Muriel! Get up, dear! You viii be
late for school,"
Muriel jumped ont of bed
All right she cried, "I'll be down in a min
ute"
In a flash she remembered her strange dream.
III keep my word,' she whispered looking out
of her window toward the great blue heavens: and
the dim outline of the moon, still visible in the
morning sky, seemed to register her sweet promise
And keep her word she did, carrying off the high
est honors when school closed that year-Ave
Maria.