The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-07-26
HE CHILDREN'S HOUR.
THE THUNDERSTORM.

Splendid, Leo, splendid-all blue
and gold, eh?" .
"We're going nutting, Uncle Dick,
he small boy went on, away past
Sawyer's farm, a whole crowd of us
BOYS: jim Watts and Frank Gilroy
and John Boyd and Peter Doyle,
Henry Lynch and Bill Collins and
ne"
"Me" repeated Uncle Dick. "A boy
n the fifth grade says me is going'?''
ooh, say! Uncle Dick, I meant |!
is hard to remember grammar on
9aUrday-espe when you're go
lng nutting. I've got my lunch here"
ra aNnlained, holding up a basket for
ac,a Dicks inspection.
But Uncle Dick had waved his hand
and turned the corner.
Leo sat down on the top step to-
vait for the boys. Inside the hall
clock struck nine.
There's twenty minutes yet he
bought. 'Tll run down and ask
.T;a,mie Clarke to go with us-and
make st. Paul's tiny visit"
Ha snatched off his cap as he ran
an he wide stone steps to st. Paurs.
II vas early and the big church was
almost empty. Leo slipped into a pew
half way up the middle aisle, and q
little voice inside whispered, you
amt get too near to our Lord, you
Ilnow." he quickly slipped out again
and went right up to the altar rail.
After moment he raised his head and
looked straight at the tabernacle.
Dear Lord" he began, I'm going
rutting this morning with some other
bows, and | want to ask You to take
care of us. | wish | could do some
thing big for You today, something
brave and grand like the knights did
for their kings long, long ago."
Then the curly head went down and
Leo listened while wee voice seemed
to whisper to his heart: "You can be
kind to every one you meet today for
NV sake and offer every little thing
you do to Me-"
Even climbing trees and picking up
nuts?"
Eyes"
81 will, dear Lord, I will. l offer
YOU all my thoughts and words and
everything l do as acts of love for
You. Good-by, dear King, must hurry
now to the boys
Jimmy was putting in wood when
Leo found him. The heap looked very
large and Jimmie looked unhappy.
wish l could CO." he said when Leo
had invited him to join their party,
"but this wood has got to be put in
the shed before noon. Aunt Martha
aid so-and piled up, too. I'd like to
60"
Gould you go if it was put in?"
SEQ asked.
Sure! But it's going to take two
hours, I know-it did the last time"
Leo looked thoughtful. He placed
MS lunch basket on the ground and
.drlst his hands deep into his
p1Ckets.
Say" he began, at wouldn't take
sew en- of us two hours to put it in. I'll
let the other boys
They came in a hurry, whistllng,
s1zyn the street. In exactly twenty
minutes the wood was in the shed and
reyen pairs of eyes looked with salts
faction at the neat pile.
Aunt Martha" Jimmie called in
trough the kitchen door, may | go
d. lawyers farm?"
OF course not; there's the wood to
D45 in"
ISIS all in" said Jimmie, "and piled
on. too-the boys helped"
Then run along" called Aunt Mar
ra. who was making doughnuts, and
didn't like to be bothered.
SO Jimmie went along; and some
hoN the sun shone brighter and the
as< looked bIuer and the trees more
Jol ely than they did two hours ago.
They were far out in the country at
The foot of little hill when Jimmy
topped suddenly and pulled Leo's
sleeve.
Il didn't bring my lunch, Leo"
he whispered, land the other boys all
have lunches. l forgot to ask Aunt
rlrtha. I'm going home"
Leo turned and looked at him.
You are the queerest boy, Jimmie"
he began. after helping you with all
lat wood you're going to leave us!
Going back home? No, Jimmie, you're
loming right along-that's what you're
.oing to do And what's more you're
ICING to eat half the lunch in this bas
ket-see? What's more, you've got to
larry this basket the rest of the way
we carried it half way already. Let's
see who can get to the top of the hill
tirst"
And away they ran. They ate their
9rch-and no indoor lunches taste
like lunch in the wholesome sitting
on the grass under great trees, others
on top of the old stone fence.
Me for the trees and the nuts"
said Frank, springing up. "Well have
to hustle to get these. baskets filled"
And the little band dispersed.
Come along over here, Jimmie"
called Leo. Guess there's nuts
enough on this tree to fill ten baskets,
SO we needn't go any further. My, but
that's dandy breeze" ~
Half an hour later the two boys
swung lightly to the ground. why,
where are all the other fellows?", Leo
asked, for there was no one else in
sight.
'They cut across the field and went
dox,n that LITTLE hill a long time ago.