The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-06-04
THE CHILDREN'S HOUR,
THE WAY HOME.

One summer afternoon two little
sisters, Ray and Cassie, started out
to walk. They both wore big hats
to shade them from the sun. and
each had gingersnap tucked into
the pocket Of her apron.
Their plan was to walk down only
to the edge of the woods that lay
at the end of the garden, but soon
they began to chase butterflies. and
after that they forgot to notice where
they were going. They ran in and
out among the trees, on and on, far.
Their and farther, until all at once
they found that they were lost.
1t was growing dark in the woods
and the gingersnaps were gone. Ray
and Cassie were hungry and little
frightened.
eve must ask some one to show US
the way home" said Cassie.
But there's no one to ask" said
little Ray.
They sat down on some moss and
looked round them. Suddenly big
yellow butterfly that they had been
chasing, lighted on bush near by.
Butterfly, butterfly" Ray said soft
ly, "do you know the way home? We
want to go to bed"
BED? Bed?" said the butterfly
Come with me-. know where there
is beautiful flower bed, big enough
for you both"
ooh, dear, MOI" said Ray. eve
mean a real bed with pillows and
Sheets"
Never heard Of such a thing" an
swered the butterfly. Then he flew
to vine and sat there waving his
beautiful wings. ... 49,
"And we want our supper" said
Cassie.
The butterfly opened and shut his
wings. "You like honey, suppose,
he said. ''I'll show you bush that's
full of 1.-THE best I've seen this sea
son. You may help yourselves"
But we can't eat honey that way!'
cried the children.
That's the way I eat it," cried the
butterfly little GROSSLY, and away
he flew.
A squirrel came racing round the
foot of tree. He stopped short and
stared at the children with his bright
little eyes.
Whats the matter?" he asked
"You are lost? Then come home and
spend the night with me. III, give
you lots of nuts for supper-hazelnuts
hickory nuts, chestnuts, butternuts-
all you can eat"
The chillren frightened at that
They jumped to their feet "Where
do you live?"
"Just follow me-" the squirrel an
swered. He was off like a gray flash
A moment later the two little girls
heard him calling high above thei1
heads, Gust up this tree, down the
second branch to the pine, \one goo6
jump-and we're home!"
Ray and Cassie gazed at him ir
much dismay. ave can't run up the
| tree" they said. 1--WE never coulc
in the world"
well, that's the way I get home,
said the little squirrel, and he, too
seemed cross. On he ran down the
second branch of the tree to the pine
and was gone
A bird had been watching the chill
dren from an opposite tree, and nov
he flew down to a branch just above
their heads.
81 never could run up trees like
that either she said. ""You car
spend the night with me. That's my
nest up there; you shall cuddle righ
down and rest, while find something
for supper-worms, or bugs"
At that, Cassie began to cry. &c
won't eat bugs!" she said.
tits what l eat" answered the bird
"Come on! Fly right after me-
"But we can't fly" Ray objected
''We can't get there that way"
'It's the way get there" said the
bird, and she spread her wings ant
| SCARED away.
THAT bird has no sense" said q
| little voice suddenly. 'How ridicu
i lous to ask you to spend the night il
r q hO0I oS InO wy VI q t1SC. A>OW lily
nest is snug and warm on the ground.
1t was a little field mouse thai
/ spoke; the children had to look twice
before they saw her.
"And how foolish" the field mouse
went on, "to offer you bugs ant
worms. I know all about children
My cousins lived one winter in 6
nursery, and they told me what chill
dren eat Come into my nest anc
I'll find you something"
| where is your nest?" inquired
Cassie and Ray, much relieved.
why, right here! Don't you see
I'm sitting in it now
"But that's too small to hold u.s.
said Ray regretfully. I'm very sor
ry," she added.
| The field mouse looked disappoint
ed. 'Tt's big enough for me-" she
said, and she shut her little bright
eyes and pretended to be asleep
| Their next invitation came from
rabbit. Lots of room at my place
and warm as toast he said. Right
at the foot of that big tree. Snuggle
right in"
But the children shook their heads
sorrowfully, 1--WE could never. never
in the world sleep in the grass" they
declared. eve want to go home!'
| they added, with one voice.
| well, here is the way / go home,
said the rabbit; and he began to snug
gle down in the grass.