Catoctin clarion., 1923-03-29
Editorial STAFF.
Bertie's First Easter

BERTHE was sitting in the room at
her home. 1t was place called home
in spite of the fact that it had only
one room and that was very small.
Her mother was ill and there was no
one to tend her except BERTHE who was
only seven years. Her father who was
a drunkard and who continually came
home intoxicated treated his family
very cruelty.
This night contrary to custom he
was kind and gentle to his family.
The mother was so glad that she even
forgot her illness and tried to be
cheerful with the rest. AS the night
drew on the father told of some good
luck which had come his way on the
plantation on which he worked. This
of course made the mother very hap
py because she then could have money
for medicine which she needed very
much.
About ten o'clock the family spread
their blanket on the floor for the night
when low rap was heard on the door.
Father opened the door and to his sur
prise beheld a woman outside. This
woman was on her way to nearby
city.
The light in Bertie's home had at
tracted this woman who happened to
be a missionary travelling along from
one city to another telling and teach
ing people about Christ.
It was now only short time until
Easter and she wanted to tell the peo-
pie about His death and resurrection.
: She was made to feel at home at Ber
ties and soon began telling them of
Christ. They listened very attentive
ly for they had never paid much atten-
ton to our Savior before. At last,
the mother said, Maybe if l believe
in the Lord, He will make me WELL"
The missionary then told her that the
Lord was willing to help any one that
asked his help.
The mother at once begged her hus-
band to stop his drinking and to lead
the life of clean, honest christian.
At first the father didn't have much
to say on the subject for he liked his
drink as well as his family. After
the missionary talked long time to
him of what he could make of him
self If he would turn from his ways,
he expressed his willingness to give
this new sort of life a trial. 1t was
just before Easter, however, that Ber-
ties father showed in his actions that
a change had come over his heart.
When Easter time came Bertie's ia
ther told her that if she would gather
all the eggs she could find she could
have an Easter party. When the word
party was mentioned BERTHE was very
much excited over the fact. She in
vited every child near her home and
told them to bring some hens eggs
along. Naturally every one wonder
ed what was going to happen.
BY this time the mother had recov-
cred sufficiently to be about. She
helped Berthe make preparations and
when the children came all the eggs
were put in big kettle and boiled.
While the eggs were boiling the moth
er told the story of Easter. She also
told of the Easter Bunny. After the
eggs had boiled the larger children
hid them in the grass near the house.
An egg hunt brought the party to con-
clusion
When the children returned home,
they told their parents of the story of
Christ as Bertie's mother had told it
to them. AS a result many women
went to hear the story told to them.
The missionary who returned from the
city sometime later found many of the
people of the village ready to do as
she had hidden them do.
Mary Firor "a