The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-05-06
THE FLAMING CROWN.

California home, and having just left
the cold, snowy Eastern winter, they
we're in raptures over the beauty all
around them, the masses Of flowers,
the gay singing of the birds, the blue
sky and brilliant sunshine.
Their aunt's pretty bungalow stood
on road skirting the top Of a deep,
narrow valley, formerly the he'd Of a
fair-sized river, which is now often
mere trickling stream. perfectly dry
in the summer, and therefore, called
the Arroyo Sacco, or ''dry river"
This Arroyo is charming to look
upon with its great live oaks, syca-
mores, pines, and Towering shrubs,
and the minute the children saw it,
they longed to run down and explore
it's beauties. They were much dis
appointed and not little indignant,
therefore, when their aunt strictly
forbade them to do so until she could
accompany them, as harm might come
to them if they went alone.
81 have invited some little friends
to come and meet you, and we will
all go picnicing in the Arroyo together
tomorrow afternoon" she continued,
"but until then you must be patient"
Patience was not one of Earl's good
qualities, however, and he and his
youngest sister, Loretta, had been
sadly spoiled at home and accustomed
to having their own way, SO they quite
resented Aunt Mary's decisive orders,
and Earl determined to elnde them,
if possible. ......, /, ....@., !.
Aunt Mary said we weren't to go
down into the Arroyo, but she never
said we weren't to walk along the
top he suggested the next morning,
when they had been sent to play in
the garden. Il vote we try it.
"Auntie wouldn't like it, I'm afraid"
hesitated Charlotte, his elder sister.
ooh, you're no good ever! Always
| finding something to be afraid of.
Come along, Loretta, we'll go with.
out her." cried Earl, eagerly.
mind you don't get run over by
| an automobile" called Charlotte,
anxiously.
"You make me tired! I'm no baby.
Hurry up, Kiddy, let's hike it," and
Selling his little sister by the, hand,
Earl sailed forth, and they wandered
| along the dusty road, gazing longingly
down into the fresh green valley.
ooh, look Earl!' cried little Loretta
after minute, do see those beauti
full red leaves? They are as bright
as flowers! Wouldn't they make a
lovely wreath to put in my hair?
They look almost like little flames"
"Just like you,. Miss Vanity, always
thinking Of primping up; but golly
they are summers, aren't they! Pity
they don't grow along the road. All
here are some only just little bill
down the slope. Yon hold my hand
and / can reach them" And so say
ing the little boy stretched down ant
gathered quite a bunch of the beauti
full foliage with which, after some
trouble, they managed to weave {
pretty crown, WHICH Earl fixet
proudly on his sisters head, where
it looked almost like coronet o
, flames. l@ w.
A few minutes later one of Aun
Mary's maids came running afte
them, and utter shrek of horror a
the sight of the wreath.
Throw it down, throw it down, an
run home as fast as you can, Missy
. or you'll be poisoned" she cried i
dismay.
Terrified, little Loretta snatched Of
the pretty crown and threw 1t to tn
ground, then ran home bowling at tn
thought of being poisoned Thei
!, Aunt received them angrily Il at frs
j but when she heard what they ha
i done she became SO anxious she yforgo
D to scold any more. She had quantit
4 of baking soda dissolved into basin
r of hot water and plentifully battle
d the children's hands, faces and neck:
] but though this may have mitigate
Y the evil, it did not prevent the punish
e ment the children had brought upo
: themselves by their disobedience. J
8 few hours later Loretta's pretty fac
r was swollen and disfignred by a stint
1 ing burning rash, and her hands wer
( all covered with it, too. She had t
be put to bed and was sick for severa
Y days and Earls face also broke on
s in ugly, disfgured blotches and sore
: which lasted for a week or more
Needless to. say, Charlotte was tn
D only one who could go to the picni
and enjoy the first days of their visit
: and that the two younger ones bitterl
/: regretted their disobedience.
:, They never forgot the painful e
!, fects of touching poison oak, nor tn
!, lesson it had taught them, The
: understood in future that il those i
charge of them forbid anything, it wa
because harm would come to theI
!, through doing it, and they were thu
e cured of their spirit of insubordins
e ton.
= We are all but big children, an
there is in this world much spiritus
> poison oak which will punish us, tOt
by causing us to disfgure and eve
kill our souls if we are foolish an
ungrateful enough to disobey tn
Commandments of God, our lovin
; Father, and of our holy mother tn
Church.
s JOLLY TREE.