The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-05-06
THE
CHILDREN'S HOUR
THE WAY THAT WINS.

the blue water and the singing wind.
The boat rocked unevenly into the
slip. 1t was little difficult for pas
sengers to stand steadily. The jerk.
ing and swaying was disconcerting
even to the strongest and it was not
strange that the smaller children,
clinging to their mothers hands, STUN
bled.
The steps from the upper deck to
the lower were covered with a soft
ridged material to make it easier for
passengers to keep their footing and
this floor covering was held in place
at the edge of each step by shining,
polished strip of brass. No one need
ed to step on the slippery brass if
he looked where he was putting his
feet, but several small boys were
watching the gulls, or looking up at
the Ferry tower, or interested in the
chains that lowered the draw bridge.
They slipped at the top step and
were jerked up sharply by impatient
grown folks.
Stop staring around Don't STUN
ble," an impatient big sister was say
ing:
Its your own fault if you hurt your
knee. Serves you right for not pay.
ing attention" said another fretful
voice in reply to small boys whim,
pering complaint over bump.
Look at the pretty edge of each
step and put your foot down careful
ly. Then you'll see where you are go
ing and we can count the steps," said
another voice, cheerfully and quietly.
The little boy who had been watching
le gulls light on the piling and was
umbling heedlessly, was diverted by
is new suggestion. "a pretty edge
count the steps,
He was interested because ii. was
jmething definite to see and some
hing positive to do and he gave his
Attention to it.
All the small passengers were soon
at the bottom of the treacherous steps,
One was bumped and crying aloud,
one was whimpering and mad, anoth-
er was sulking, but one little boy was
laughing happily.
There are fourteen shiny steps,
Aunt Ruth
Wise Aunt Ruth, who knew that
there is winsome, happy way to &C
complish things more easily than by
friction and fret, went on serenely
to do the afternoons errands with a
contented little lad at her side.
Through the open windows of the
kitchen the next morning came the
rhythmic chug of an electric washing
machine on Harding's porch. Abbie
and Anna putting out big wash were
arguing in strained, almost fearful
fashion over the trivial question OF
whether to put fiat pieces on the grass
to bleach or on the line to blow in
the wind.
Their energy and peace of mine
were fast being dissipated by the fret
full disagreement when Ruth came ou
to the porch, humming a gay little
tune and saying:
I'm all done with the upstair.
work. Let me hang this basket O
clothes and give you lift. The WING
will dry them in no time"
The sunny morning passed quickly
on to brilliant noon hour and the
fresh, clean clothes were dry ant
heaped in the big basket. Differences
were forgotten and the three girl
were laughing together as they Sc
the lunch table.
Call Tom, will you, Ruth? He's il
the garage"
What are you doing, Tom?" aske,
Ruth, as she stood in the garage door
Been fixing that knocking in tn
engine. Putting in oil. Almost burn
out the bearing"
Ruth knew by experience that
meant a dead standstill when friction
in an engine was neglected. Sh
knew, too, that lubricant was the rem
edy for lack of smoothness in the run
ming of machine, for Ruth was hel
self somewhat skillful driver. Pei
haps the very definite lesson she ha
learned about a knocking" engin
was the secret of her success in dea
ing with household friction.
Certainly this one of the three sis
tiers went through a days experiences
a weeks duties with less friction an
more joyous quietness than the otl
J.. ers did.
Knocking" in family is irritatio
and annoyance expressed in speec
and conduct. 1t is friction that wear
out the temper and strength and hil
ders progress, but there is always
winsome, happy way to approach pet
pie and problems.
Courtesy is one lubricant that r.
moves many a cause of irritation
home, in the street Car, when shol
ping or telephoning. Kindness is
oil that turns harshness to smootl
i. ness when dealing with the needles
aildren who run across flower bed
careless delivery boy, the tryin
curious, the idle and argument;
can fight and argue his wa
Oh the days work, but he wi
~ gged and provoked at the day
and he will have caused irrit
Ill the way along.
3 can put himself in another
/, use the oil of kindness, tt
cant of courtesy and thoughtfu
oss and be surprised at the end I
the day that hard things became
easy