The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-10-05
THE CHlLDREN'S HOUR.
MARY JAMES BIT.

EI1ZaDeth'S faVOrlte doll, was falling
out at an alarming rate. Elizabeth
brushed it, shampooed it, and even
used fathers hair tonic on it, Yet
the little ivory brush collected more
and more glistening threads of gold
and he head of poor Mary Jane be-
came more and more bald.
Elizabeth asked mother whether it
would be wise to buy a new wig for
her cherished Mary Jane-a wig of
real hair; a wig that would curl
naturally and that should be brown
instead of yellow.
Mother agreed that it would give
Mary Jane just the added touch that
she most sadly needed in order to be-
come truly delightful dolly.
But mother also said that, charming
as that touch would be, it was an ex-
pensive one in time of war. Elizabeth
herself must give it to her almost
bald-headed darling. War time or
not, Elizabeth could do errands and
perform certain new duties that in
time would earn enough money to buy
the longeu-for wig.
So, early and late, Elizabeth worked
for her Mary Jane. No matter how
tired she was, she always reused her
| self to go in search of mothers spec
tacles; no matter how interesting the
game, she hunted for the lost needle
OF PIN
The cents began to rattle in her
little bank When she shook it wildly
to and fro joyous clatter rang
| through the house. Whenever Eliza
| beth was discouraged, whenever er-
rands seemed many and the pay small,
the family were awakened by a sudden
clickerty- click, clackerty-clank! At
| sound to pleasant music sorrows
| few away not only from the
breast of Elizabeth but from all
| those who dwelt within the house;
| for, after all, there is nothing
that swallows up troubles or wor-
ries much quicker than glad sounds.
| Sometimes the sound is bird; some
| times a brook; sometimes a cracking
| fire, at times it is music. And some
times it is only happy voice. Just
| try it and see!
Well, the money in the bank grew
and grew The beautiful brown wig,
the naturally curly, brown wig, that
Elizabeth had already priced, could
| now be bought! Elizabeth skipped to
school with her money tied neatly in
a fresh handkerchief to show to the
| girls and boys. Well she knew that
| when afternoon came the wig would
rest for all time on the head of her
Mary Jane.
| But when the morning exercises
were over, a lady rose beside the
come over here to tell>you about your
little sisters and brothers in Belgium
/ have come to let you know how
hungry they are, how cold and how
lost they are--lost not only from
/ mothers and fathers but from homes
and from all that they once held dear.
They were exactly as you are-happy,
contented girls and boys. They had
comforts and pleasures just as you
have. But now-they have nothing
and"
Before the lady could finish, Eliza
beth rose from her seat, rushed to
the platform, and, sobbing, thrust all
her money into the hands of the lady
and said
"Oh, give them thisi"
! The ladys voice sounded queer as
she said to Elizabeth, 'Will your
mother let you give all this money
away without asking her permits
sion?"
Not sound could be heard, except
| the voice of Elizabeth:
Its minei You see, earned it
myself to buy naturally curly. brown
wig for Mary Jane. She's waited all
these weeks for it, but | guess she
can keep on waiting a little longer!"
Then a strange thing happened.
Right there in the schoolroom people
began to clap their hands. People be-
gan to laugh, and some even stamped
their feet. But the best part of all
was the next day, when every little
boy and every little girl went into the
schoolroom with his or her own sep
arate offering for the Belgian children.
Some brought ten cents, some brought
five, some only cent. But it was
Elizabeths generous act that started
the gifts.
| The lady sent Elizabeth beautiful
ribbon, woven of the national colors
of Belgium ribbon to tie Mary
James remaining golden wisps Of
hair. Elizabeth has decided to let
the ribbon take the place of the once
longed-for wig. For Mary Jane has
now taken on new and altogether
distinctive air; a certain added dig
nifty. as if she, too, had done her
bit
I Youth s Companion.