The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-05-20
DECORATING THE DAY.


Aunt Linda deftly manipulated her
pie dough as she listened to Sues
glowing description of the hike that
she and Madge had taken the day pre-
vious. No experience was ever quite
complete with Sue until she had
shared it with Aunt Linda.
"And, oh, almost didn't put in
one of the 1oveliest things about the
day!" exclaimed Sue, happiness dane
ing through her tones. "While we sat
on the log in the bit of woods eating
our lunch, there was beautiful rain
bow. The end of it just dropped down
on the fringe Of trees at the edge of
the meadow, and made them look like
brilliant bouquet. Think Of it, Aunt
Linda-our day was even decorated
with a rainbow"
"A day decorated with a rainbow"
repeated Aunt Linda smilingly, as she
transferred the last plump pie from
the baking board to the oven. "You
know, Sue, your saying that reminds
me of something that happened years
ago when mother and lived in lit
tie cottage at Eastman's Corners"
ooh, tell me about it," begged Sue
eagerly, for we'll she knew what in
teresting experiences Aunt Linda
brought forth when she delved back
into the past.
Aunt Linda seated herself in the
| broad-armed rocker near the window
where the geraniums bloomed, and, a
remembering light in her soft brown
eyes, began her story.
Whenever | heard of anything new
in the cookery line l always wanted
to try it. Mother never minded my
fussing around, so usually tried out
pretty nearly all the new recipes the
neighbors told me about. Sometimes
when my experiments turned out
extra good, I'd take a bit over to our
across-the-road neighbors, Mr.. and
Mrs. Drugan. They were quite old
folks, with all their six children grown
and living some distance away from
them. ALI the neighbors were friend.
ly to these old folks, and ready to do
| any little things they could to help
them. And they always seemed just
as happy and cheerful whenever one
ran into their house."
Aunt Linda interrupted herself to
take look at her pies. Returning to
her chair, she went on:
| Zone morning tried pudding that
| certainly turned out wonderful. ]
| got down one of mothers prettiest
| glass dishes, and put some of the pud
ding in it. A little later slipped over
to the Drugan's with it, letting myself
in the back way, as often did. But
just as I reached the doorway into
the living room, stopped short Some
one in there was crying-not loud
but the way folks cry when they feel
pretty sad about something. almost
turned around and came back home
without letting anyone know I was
there. But then I took a second
thought. l set the pudding down on
the table in the kitchen, and STEPPED
quietly into the living room. In he1
little old rocker was Mrs. Drugan
bowed over, her face in her hands
sobbing. dropped down beside her
and put an arm around her. After
a while she grew quiet and told me
what the trouble was. A letter had
come that morning with bad news
When finally came away, she came
through the rooms with me. In the
kitchen she noticed the pudding, so
told her about it. At the door she
held my hand tight as she said, IT'S
been a long dreary day with us, but
you with your dear neighborliness
have put rainbow into it, &c." con
cluded Aunt Linda as again she took
a peep at her beautifully browning
pies, when you spoke of your day
being decorated with a rainbow. ]
straightway recollected that other day
of which I've told you
There was very thoughtful ex
preston in Sues eyes as she watched
Aunt Linda take the pies from the
oven and place them with careful
hands on the kitchen table. Finally
she spoke, Il never thought about
rainbows in just that way" she said
slowly, looking over at Aunt Linda
who was busy putting coal on the fire
Dropping the shovel back into the
scuttle. Aunt Linda said, 'eWeil, !
never had either before Mrs. Drugau
said that to me. After that"
"Yes-after that?" asked Sue eager
ly. did you-did what Mrs. Drugar
said sort of keep you reminded to pu,
rainbows in other folks days thai
needed such brightening?
YES" responded Aunt Linda. soft
ly. "Yes-her words have kept me
sort of reminded through all the years
I hope"
HAnd now" There was a tender 1T
tie infection in Sues tones though he,
eyes smiled ever SO little as they met
Aunt Linda's brown ones. And now
you're passing the little reminder on
to me SO that /, too, may know the
joy of decorating days with rain.
bows?"
Exactly" confessed Aunt Linda. a
kindly twinkle in her eyes as she
spoke.
i