The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-03-22
THE CHlLDREN'S HOUR.
THE PRIZE.

Seph, as he came nome from school,
flushed with excitement and radiant
with his good news, Sister Mary is
going to offer prize for the best car
nation or any flower we choose to
plant | think, mother he said ear
nestly, Il will choose the carnation.
l have seen it growing in the garden
of old Mr.. Leonard and | want to raise
one like it. Do you think | can do
it," looking anxiously into the sweet
face.
Mrs. Joseph sighed. John was such
a fine lad-the eldest of her three
children, SO like his father, the grave,
handsome, Woodworking mechanic,
who did SO much work to keep his
family together and the nice little
home they lived in now.
ASK father, dear, he will help you"
Il will, mother dear, and with your
and papa's aid l will surely win
When the father came home that
evening the little fellow told him. He
smiled. "My boy" he said teasingly,
so you want to raise flowers like rich
Mr.. Leonard. Why you must be a
millionaire to do that"
"No, father, | only want to raise
carnations now l do love those flow
ers-they are very popular and our
national emblem, and who knows, ia
Their, if | win the prize | may be able
to plant them and other flowers in
that little space you gave me back
of our house and can sell them and
help pay for my education at col
lege."
When the father gave his consent
John was wild with joy-he believed
he would win because he loved flow
ers-all flowers, Gods jewels, he
called them, but of all the flowers he
chose the carnation. He went to
work with a will-his father watched
him with pride, but would not help
him, as he must do all by himself.
How the little fellow worked, and he
was soon rewarded for his efforts
with beautiful plant abloom with
crimson flowers. There was much ex-
element in school over the contest,
everyone had something to say about
their work. Tom Sully, big over
grown boy, listened with frowning
face to the chatter and with envy
when he heard of Johns success. His
flower was not doing so we'll because
he did not give it such care and hard
labor as John had his carnation. He
was too lazy.
wait, | will fix him." he muttered
sullenly.
| Biding his time he waited until the
| day of the exhibition when he sneaked
| in the hall where the flowers were
| placed, before they were to be in
spected by the judges. He looked
| cautiously around; no one being in
| sight, he quickly took the card off
Johns, put pit on his own scrawny
ill-kept flower, and placed his own
en- Johns beautiful blossom with
look of triumph he skipped away
believing no one had seen him.
Maureen O'Connor came to the
door just in time to see Tom make
| the exchange of cards and deter
mined to expose the sneak when the
lroper time came.
| All the contestants were wondering
who would win the prize. John was
anxious to be at school early for he
i was sure his lovely carnations would
get first prize. For had he not made
novena to dear st. Joseph to helI
i, him, and was he not sure the great
saint would do so, for the love of the
boy Jesus, whom he had tended in his
: childhood. Only that morning he had
p; received his God in the little Church
OF the Annunciation, where he was
an altar boy, where all during the no
vena he had pleaded with the deal
| Infant Jesus and st. Joseph. He knew
our dear Lord loved boys and took {
| tender interest in all they did. He
could hardly wait for the time to pass
when the hall would be opened
Dressed in his best, his blue eyes
! shining, his fair face flushed in an
+; ticipation, his mother and father hat
hard work to keep him still until the
judges came.
| The hall was prettily decorated. the
| Sisters and children had worked hare
and it was a pretty sight to see the
little girls in their white dresses, the
boys in their best suits and white ties
Suddenly there were loud whispers as
| the Judges arrived. Who would win
There were to be three prizes fol
different kinds of flowers and al
| were anxious to win. Amidst the
clamor and above the noises the
Judges went from one to another
plant, down the long hall they came
their keen eyes bending over the ar
| ray of bright hued flowers. The chill
dren squirmed uneasily in their seats
and bright eyes watched eagerly FOL
the decision. One of the judges
stopped a good while before a Grim
son flower in large pot. He in
spected the card thoughtfully for {
while, then called his companion ant
together they wrote something iI
their note books When all were in
spected. they. compared notes and an
nounced:
1--WE find that the largest and mos
beautiful flower here has the card o.
| Tom Sully, so we award him the
prize
Everyone was dumfounded as Ton
/ Sully walked up to get his reward
IT, Ioo1yod Of moor IOhu &c ho naccod