davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-30
A LITTLE BOYS TROUBLES.

Late again!"
The disheveled boy, who had just
rushed breathlessly into Room 1,
skunk abashed into his seat before the
exasperated reproach in Miss Whit
ney's voice and eyes.
What shall l do with you, Bernard
This is the fourth time you have been
late this term with no excuse except
your laZiness. l will see you after
school"
That was the beginning of an irri
tating morning session. AS if it were
not enough to come late for the
fourth time, Bernard went about his
tasks in his usual half-timid, half.
sulky manner, until Miss Whitney
feared that she should scream with
annoyance and her attitude was faith
fully reflected in the strained little
face upturned to her.
At last came the five-minute story
period before dismissal, and forty-one
weary little pupils heaved signs OF
content Bernard, however, gazed
dreamily out of the window and Wrig
gled noisi1y in his seat.
Bernard, you may leave the room
during the story"
Miss, Whitney glared at the of
fender, then stared in startled unbe
lief. Surely that was smoke rising
from beneath his desk and that odol
was burning cloth! She hurried
down the aisle A match that served
as buckle on Demands garter haC
been lighted by the friction of hi:
movements, and a large hole wa.
smoldering in the knees of his trou
sers. Miss Whitney rubbed the clotl
between her hands until the last sparl
was extinguished.
Bernard, why did you use mattel
on your garter?" she asked, Will,
Bernard gazed ruefully at the burned
spot. Does your mother know tina
buckle is gomez
s'No'm, mothers never there when
dress. She gets up at o'clock t,
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-30
IT HAPPENED IN JAPAN

An ocean steamer, sailed males
tically out of her harbor into the wide
Pacific. The sun shone on her white
decks, and her fresh painted, glisten-
ing tunnels poured out huge graceful
streams of black smoke The people
at the rail waved farewells to those
on shore, and the "good-bys" were half
drowned by the shrieking whistles.
The good ship was on her way to
Japan and a large number of pas
sengers were on board. Slowly the
shore receded, the beautiful outlines
of the Golden Gate were lost in the
distance and the passengers gradually
scattered, some going to their state
rooms, some to the smokingroom,
some remaining in their deck chairs
looking out on the sea-
Among those on board the vessel
were Mr. Grace and his wife. They left
America to try for fortune and health
in Japan. Having reached there, the
man began the brewery business and
ere long prospered and finally became
wealthy.
They were not Catholics, but were
very charitable and kind to the poor
They had no children, but Mrs. Grace
loved to bestow little favors on the
tiny japanese children around her.
They loved her as bountiful friend,
and when she died after a short ill
ness, the whole neighborhood was in
mourning. Her husband was heart
broken and neglected his business,
which soon declined, and ere long he
was thrown out of it altogether by a
successful rival. He still had enough
means to live comfortably, and as he
had no children, he took life easy. He
had no scruples about bringing a ma
tive woman to his home where he
lived with her without the bond of
| marriage This was not against the
ethics of the country, where such i'm
morality was openly practiced.
This young Japanese woman had a
kind heart, and Mr.. Grace lived annie
ably with her for several years; she
made his home comfortable and served
him with devotion.
/ Mr.. Grace could not bear to see
sickness or sorrow of any kind, and
although he was entirely without
church membership. he cherished a
reverence towards God and respect
towards the faiths of other people.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-30

Now what in the world did you
do that for?" complained Alice just
as they left the counter. "You might
just as we'll as not have had that
extra dollar. You are quick as light
ming at figures, know; but when you
had figured it out in your mind why
didn't you keep still? There is such
a thing as being too smart
Il don't think you can accuse me
of that" laughed Catherine; "but the
amount really was two forty-fiVe, and
it would be fraud for me not to pay
it when l knew it. But saying moth
ing about that part of it, there was
for dollar forty-fTe, the examiner
would have discovered the mistake,
and the extra dollar would have been
deducted from the girls wages-if they
amounted to as much as that"
We'll, that is her lookout. Any
conductor thinks I'm reading my
paper so earnestly that l must have
paid my fare, l don't run to him and
beseech him to take my nickel. Last
week a restaurant cashier gave me
back fifty cents too much change.
didn't call out the fire department;
walked away as steady as you
please. If l am smart enough to
copy your examination paper without
letting Miss Spectacles see me, why,
she's the one to blame, not l"
Now, there's a big question that
goes with this little story: Which
of these girls was really the one
that was too smart? And will it
be too late when she finds it out?
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-30
TOO SMART.

Catherine and Alice were shopping
together at sale" and at last drew
near counter where some goods
were displayed that they wanted.
Il will take two and half yards"
said Catherine to the salesgirl.
The latter was new at the work
taken into the department store to
help out on that side. The crowd
confused her; she hadn't become &C
customed to handling her pad of
sales slips. Two and half yards
at ninety-eight cents would be-she
couldn't think in such a babel OF
voices; she figured on the back of her
slip, and then said: "One dollar
forty-five, please"
Catherine tilted her head a trifle
did a bit of mental arithmetic, and
spoke pleasantly and quietly: I'll
must be two forty-five, think"
The girl flushed painfully. "Ot
course" she murmured, thank yoJ
ever so much"
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-30
DUTY FIRST.

A gentleman had little pet dog
that always came the moment it was
called One day this gentleman
thought he would put the little dogs
obedience to the test, so he told his
servant to put plate of mutton chops
on the floor for him. The servant did
so, and the little dog came running to
the plate, for he was very hungry.
But just as the poor thing was think
ing what a fine treat he was going
to have, and was about to help him
self to the meat, his master called
him away.
The little dog heard the call, and
looked wistfully at the chops. They
were nice and fresh from the butchers
shop, and certainly very tempting to
hungry dog. But the little creature
knew that the first thing was to obey
his master. He, therefore, turned
from the plate of meat, without touch
ing, it, and ran to see what was
wanted, not with his tail between his
legs, but wagging it so pleasantly
that it just meant a smile.
That little dog, 1 think, was de-
servedly a favorite; and it would be
we'll if all little folks followed his
example, doing what they know to be
their duty before seeking their own
pleasure or qualification.
More than once I have heard a
mother call her little girl, who has
answered, yes, mamma" but never
gone She was busy dressing her
doll, perhaps, or undressing it for bed,
or just finishing her lessons, and did
not wish to leave them, or putting the
last touch to the picture she had been
painting and wanted to complete it.
When little folks do so they are
pleasing themselves instead of obey
ing mamma, and cannot expect a
blessing from God.
DUTY first and pleasure after
wards" children; that is the way to
be truly happy.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-30

scrub out officesJ and the girl in the
next room calls me when she goes to
work at ~
do you dress yourself and get your
own breakfast"
Yes m-yes, Miss Whitney, I mean
II wash and dress me. | have three
pence to get some milk for breakfast,
but sometimes button comes off and
l have to hunt for pins, and | don't
have time to get milk. Sometimes
we don't have pins, and | can't find
nothing but match. But they never
lighted before, and | wouldn't have
been late if l could have found one
sooner"
Only six years old! No breakfast!
And she had said there was no ex-
cuse! There was different express
sion in Miss Whitney's eyes now.
Why had she not investigated before
condemning? If she had talked it
over with the boy, and gone to see
his mother, she could have worked
wonders long since. In teaching, it is
fatal to forget that persons and not
things are the working materials.
She gathered the surprised youngster
| into her arms.
We'll go to my house, dear, and
| patch that hole nicely. You shall
have whole package of safety pins,
and we'll have some buttons here, so
you can keep fastened together. I'll
even teach you to sew on button
but don't ever come again without your
breakfast, even if you have to be two
hours late. Understand?
Bernard did not understand, but he
beamed.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-30
AMBITION.

Ambition is the spark plug that
ignites the oil of effort. No man ever
succeeded without ambition and some
have failed because of it.,
Be ambitious, but don't be too lazy
in that ambition. Focus ambition and
it will turn defeat into victory. The
man who vaguely imagines that he
wants to succeed-to own a business,
to be rich, to get on-will never find
the tabled Castle of Achievement.
Men who travel, if they wish to
reach destination, know in advance
where they are going. We live in
practical world; we aim to eliminate
waste and lost motion; we want re-
sults-quick! Therefore, know where
we are going.
Brutus was ambitious, but his am
bition was not tempered by a desire
to serve and benefit. Brutus was the
original Wallingford. He wanted to
get rich quick, to become Caesar over
night. Brutus' ambition led down
ward.
If man would grow big in life, let
him never lose his ambition. When
one goal is reached, let him marshal
all his armies and resources to win
again on the morrow. Be up and do
ing! Never let the sun go down at
night with your ambition dead and
your ardor cooled.
Men who are ambitious never grow
old, for they have found Ponce de
Icons magic fountain. Ambition leads
men on and on, through every ad-
versity. When success has crowned
our efforts, we find that ambition has
taken wings again and on the morrow
we break camp to follow.
Ambition has built cities, titled the
fields, populated the waste places,
drained swamps and dug graves.
Ambition is the child of Eternity
Eternity is the distance between Sun,
rise and Sunset. We are in the Now;
we are fighting for our ambition-and
we are winning! There is no other
way to win.
Ambition is power.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-30
THE USE OF LEISURE.
Ambition is power.

At the recent meeting of the Ameri-
can Federation CT Catholic Societies,
held in New York, Dr. Walsh deliver
ed a splendid address on the Guilds
of the Middle Ages. Speaking of the
use of leisure he said:
The trouble is that like child with
a new toy our generation does not yet
know what to do with it's leisure. We
are ready to do anything that will help
pass the time and so all sorts OF cheap
amusements and trivial reading, and
then as these pail, occupations OF
various kinds with sensuous appeal
succeed them until what ought to be
a healthy diversion of mind has be-
come dissipation. Here is where the
most important social problem of the
modern time lies.
We must devote ourselves to helping
our generation use it's leisure properly.
AS l have said, the proper use OF
leisure means much more than merely
the rejuvenation of bodily strength
and powers. The one object of the
present time seems to be to make it
a period of rest. On the contrary it
should be a period of active occupa
ton of mind, and, above all, of artistic
taste and feeling, so far as that is
possible for the individual. When lei
sure is thus occupied it becomes the
source of great intellectual and arts
tic achievements. The right use OF
leisure means more for a generation
accomplishment, if we can judge by
the past, than all the peoples occu
patton of mind with the serious bus
mess of making living.
The old guilds took up this problem
of regulating the amusements of the
people, but, above all, providing appro
pirate entertainment for them. In do
ing so they accomplished much fol
future generations by awakening the
interest of the public in things OF
beauty and so encouraging the work
of the artist and the poet until these
were capable of doing things that
we're to be precious treasure for al
time. Here is the message that ouI
time needs. The abuse of leisure may
be the most serious thing III Me
world. Let us not forget that the
Romans, who, in the midst of the
luxury and refinement of the Imperial
times collected Greek art and affected
at least liking for Greek literature
who made their houses beautiful with
art objects that had been obtained
from Greece and who lived lives oil
luxury and occupation with whatever
they wished, were the ones who went
to see gladiatorial contests with the
shedding of human blood and the
brutal killing of animals in the amphi
theater and, above all, were the
spectators when the Christians were
thrown to the lions. Refinement does
not protect against moral degeneracy
but, on the contrary, sometimes &C
tually seems to foster it, when the
body is constantly thought of to the
exclusion of the care for the mint
and the soul that rational beings mus
have.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-30


him and recalled the dying leper, and
told him she could not understand how
he tried such a thing as self-murder.
He begged her to return and her visits
were repeated Mr. Grace had been
set thinking. He knew he could not
live, and the resignation and peace OF
the dying leper were continually be-
fore him, gradually leading him to de-
sire to know more of the religion
which could generate such sentiments.
Day after day the Sister unfolded
the beautiful doctrines of faith.
Priests are few in some of the dis
tricts of Japan, and wonderful work
is open to these good Sisters. Nobly
do they live up to it, and in this in
stance the Sister did all the prepare
ton for the conversion Of the poor
man.
There was another listener at the
bedside-the Japanese woman. Eager
ly did both of them drink in the Sis
ter's instruction and they soon de-
sired baptism. A priest was found,
both were baptized and were lawfully
married. Within very short time
Mr.. Grace died happily in the faith
and went to the reward of those who
give even cup of cold water i'll
Christ's Name.
| The poor Japanese woman, now
Mrs. Grace, begged to be allowed to
live at the orphanage and help to take
care of the abandoned little children
who were under the Sisters care.
Her request was granted, but she
could not rest. The spiritual condi-
ton of her parents haunted her. They
| lived at Toxic and were very poor.
Bidding farewell to the good nuns,
she began her missionary journey.
She reached Toxic and found that her
life would be henceforth long round
of unappreciated toll She supported
| both of her parents by hard work, and
| they often spoke to her harshiy and
ridiculed her new faith; but the good
woman was patient and prayerful.
She explained her holy religion and
showed its beauty by her conduct.
God could not resist such devotedness
Her mother at last begged for bap-
tism and died in the faith, and two
years later, in 1908, her aged father,
for whom she never ceased to pray,
implored his faithful daughter to
make him a Christian, that he might
join her mother in heaven. Mrs.
Grace gladly had him baptized, and
almost at once he sank into insensi-
bility and so remained until lie died.
Mrs. Grace had finished beautiful
apostolate. Begun by her husband, in
his charity to the poor, abandoned
leper, it ended in her husbands bap-
tism and her own and that of her ia
Their and mother. Five precious souls
admitted to the kingdom Of God! How
wonderful and far-reaching is d simple
act of charity! If the world would
only think of it!
-SiStnr NJ Antonio GALLAGHER.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-30
THE CHILDREN'S HOUR.
THE FOOLISH ROSE.

While l was walking in the garden
one bright morning a breeze came
through and set all the flowers and
leaves a flutter Now that is the
way flowers talk, so l pricked up my
ears and listened.
Presently an elder tree said: GLOW
ers, shake off your caterpillars.
"Why?" said dozen all together,
for they were like some children who
always say, "Why?' when they are
told to do anything.
The elder said: eff you don't,
they'll gobble you up"
So the flowers set themselves
a-shaking till the caterpillars were
shaken off.
In one of the middle beds there was
a beautiful rose who shook off all but
one, and she said to herself: ooh,
that's a beauty! l will keep that
one"
The elder overheard her and called:
Zone caterpillar is enough to spoil
you"
But" said the rose, look at his
brown and crimson fur, and his beau
tiful black eyes, and scores of little
feet. | want to keep him. Surely
one won't hurt me-"
A few mornings afterwards | passed
the rose again. There was not a
whole leaf on her. Her beauty was
gone; she was all but killed, and had
only life enough to weep over her
folly, while the tears stood like dew
drops on the tattered leaves.
Alas! 1 didn't think one cater
pillar would ruin me-"
One sin INDUCED has ruined many
boy and girl. This is an old story,
but true lesson.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-30

One day as he was leisurely walking
along the beach on the way to battle,
he heard pitiful moaning proceeding
from some low brush not far off.
Guided by the sound, he discovered at
last poor young man in an advanced
state of leprOsy, whose friends had
cast him forth to die. Mr.. Grace was
and although he knew the danger of
the disease, could not bring himself to
desert the miserable creature. He
took off his own coat and threw it
over the man, who was absolutely
naked, and then looked about for some
way to protect him from the blazing
sun which poured down upon his face
and limbs.
Bribing a Japanese youth, he took
him along and, securing four poles and
some sailcloth, they managed to erect
sort of tent, carefully keeping away
from the poor sufferer, who by his eyes
and weak voice thanked them for their
charity. He begged for water and
Mr.. Grace brought cup and a small
pitcher, which he filled with water and
placed beside him. Having made him
as comfortable as possible, and believ-
ing that the poor fellow had not many
hours to live, Mr.. Grace left him in
his lonely shelter and full of pity went
to his home. He charged the Jap
anese youth to say nothing about the
matter, lest both might get into
trouble.
Next day, feeling sure the poor boy
was dead, Mr.. Grace could not help
going towards the tent, and found to
his amaZement that his invalid was
actually better and had propped him
self up on the brush and leaves and
coat and lifted up his hands in graft
tude to his benefactor. He cried fol
something to eat, and, with his kind
heart ever prompting him, Mr.. Grace
brought bucket of water, filled the
pitcher again and returned home to
seek for some food. He asked his SO
called wife to make some 'rice-balls,
dish of which the Japanese are very
fond and prefer to any other kind OF
food.
The woman prepared the ''rice-balls'
with considerable curiosity, knowing
there was something unusual in prog
ress. Mr.. Grace took some japanese
tea and the 'rice-balls" in basket
| and brought them to the miserable
| leper, who devoured them ravenously
| blessing and praising his benefactor
Mr.. Grace took great care not tc
touch him or go too near him, but he
could not help being filed with com
passion as we'll as sort of horror fol
| this poor, wretched, deserted being.
In America he said to himself
I'VE would treat a dog better!" He
wondered why some one did not come
| along, or even that no relative ap
| peared to see if he were dead.
This went on for a week, when the
Japanese woman, growing jealous, in
sisted on knowing where the rice
balls" went Mr. Grace told her, anC
she accompanied him as far as the
| tent and looked with horror and pit!
on the poor boy who could onl!
| stretch out his hands in his misery
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-30

Far more, real good would be done
for Gods glory and the salvation of
souls if more time were spent in
prayer-Fdther A. III. Lac.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-30

and thank them ard plead with them
not to forsake him. He was wretch.
eddy weak and looked as if he were
dying.
There is in the City of Yokohama a
community of nuns, a French order,
with several Japanese members. The
Superior was Sister Mary Louise, who
had been in America, and was even in
the White House where she met Presi-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt and obtained
aid from many ladies in Washington
The Japanese woman had heard of
Sister Mary Louise and knew the
nuns cared for the sick; she had great
pagan. She suggested Mr.. Grace
should go and state the condition of
this poor leper and see if the Sisters
could give any relief.
] Mr.. Grace went at once and stated
the case and begged that some aid
might be given to the poor boy. OF
course, he meant temporal assistance,
religion having never crossed his
mind
! But Sister Louise had higher mo-
| tive. She made ready at once and
accompanied Mr.. Grace to the tent
behind the rocks on the shore. There
was soul at stake, and zeal for the
salvation of single soul led her to
brave everything to save him.
Reaching the patient, the Sister saw
| that death was not far off, and i'm
mediately prepared to stay with him.
In order to revive him she gave him a
little wine and in a calm, soothing
voice spoke to him of Christ and His
sufferings on the cross. The poor
leper listened attentively; he was
eager to know more. The Sister in
structed him in the mysteries Of the
true faith; he seemed to imbibe them
instinctively; his resignation and eff
forts to obey the good nun in utterine
little prayers were touching. There
was no time to be lost; he was in the
last stages of this horrible disease
Mr.. Grace stood at the door of the
tent watching the good woman as she
fearlessly gave him a drink and knelt
at his side. The prayers she said anC
the words of instruction, necessarily
brief and to the point, awakened {
strange emotion in his breast. He
watched her touching at last the only
touchable spot on his forehead with
the waters of baptism, and he saw the
poor boy die, blessing God and his kline
benefactor and the Sister. Another
soul had been won through an act O.
kindness!
After his death the Sister kept il
mind Mr.. Grace and his unusual &C
of charity and often prayed for him
One day, to her grief, she heard tina
he had shot himself, and, while no
dead, would surely die. At once thu
Sister fastened to his house and fount
it was only too true. Suicide is yer!
common in Japan, and when Nh
Grace found one reverse piling upol
another and dire poverty confronting
him, in despair he tried to take hi
, own life. But the good God remem
bered his charity to the leper and sen
him an apostle of mercy in the person
of the Sister. She spoke gently t.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-30
AN ENDED SONG.

I sang of love to many string,
With many sweet conceit and rhyme,
And everywhere and every time
Of love, and love, l could but sing,
Until my own heart felt the SPELL
All, then, how soon my lips were mute!
How silent lay my untouched lutte,
Since what Love was knew-too we'll!
Century.