The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-09-17
THE ANGELS BOWL

Once upon time there lived in a
forest widow and her only son.
They were very poor, and it was all
they could do to earn sufficient mon
ey to keep themselves from starving.
The mother kept some poultry and
a few cows, and by selling the eggs
and the milk she was just able to gain
enough money to buy frugal food and
clothing for herself and her son.
The boys name was Jack, and, al
though he was only twelve years of
age, he did his utmost to help his
mother, and take the place of his ia
Their, who had died whilst he was only
baby in arms.
One day terrible misfortune hap
pened to the widow and her son. A.
great flood swept down from the hills,
and, although it spared their little cot
tage, it swept away all the poor ami
mails and birds upon which Jack and
his mother depended for their liveli-
hood.
The widow was in dreadful state
of grief and anxiety. She saw star
walton staring them in the face. Yet,
with Christian fortitude, she turned
a brave face to the situation, and with
Jack knelt down and prayed to the
heavenly Father for help and conso-
| lation.
The dreadful flood had subsidized,
and the sun was again bathing the
Landscape in golden sunshine. On
the hilltops, where the food waters
had failed to reach, the blackberry
bushes were heavy laden with rich
punches of luscious fruit.
Telling his mother not to worry, and
that Providence would surely see them
safely through their troubles, little
Jack sailed forth with large enamel
bowl to gather blackberries, which he
could sell in the village, and so, for the
time being at all events, keep his
mother and himself from starving.
He climbed up the hills, and set
busily to work. All the afternoon he
toiled industriously, and just as the
sun was sinking in sea of golden
glory, he had filled his bowl with
blackberries, and turned to retrace his
footsteps.
Just as he turned, however, he was
confronted by poor, feeble old wo.
man, clad in rags, who, in a quavering
voice, begged him to exchange his full
basin of blackberries with an empty
one she held in her hand.
Jack hesitated, but only for mo.
ment.
IF work harder than ever" he re-
Elected, II can fill my bowl again be-
fore night comes on and straight
away he handed his bowl of blackber
ries to the poor old beggar woman.
Though he was tired, and his arms
and little bare feet were bleeding from
the scratches of the sharp thorns on
the bushes, he turned back and com
menced to hunt for more berries.
| Though he hunted high and low
however, he could find none. Nigh,
came on, and poor little Jack return
ed home with his empty bowl, broken
hearted, and not knowing how to
break the bad news to his mother.
| With tears in his eyes, and sob in
his voice, Jack told his mother what
had happened, after he had gathered
all his blackberries.
| ''But what is in your hand?" ex
claimed his mother, as she beheld the
empty bowl the beggar woman had
| given him. She picked it up and ex
lamined it, and then, in voice of grea,
joy, she cried out:
i my son, we will never be unhappy
or poor in this world again. See, II
is of purest gold, inlaid with precious
stones Of priceless value. The little
old woman you met was an angel IL
disguise, and your charity and unset
fishness have been rewarded