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Show ..Our Boys and iiri$ F - - -'- - -Ed ie12lv' (This department is conducted soleKTTTr estsNrf our girl and boy readers lnter" them a,, the advice aS 2 ,0 " Wnteon one side oi' the paper only Do not have letters too Ion Original stories and verses win - i Jt and carefully edited. be gladly received The manuscrips of contrihnti., be returned. ntnbutions not accepted, will j Address all letters to Aunt Busv t ' I , Catholic. Salt Lake City. ' Inteiuntain I ' AUNT BUSY HAS HER SAy! I P'-nr Nirrcs and Nephews : Aunt Busy is pondering so few letters ire n.'arhnijr her of late. "-ucrs. aie She hopes that she has not made the dear ehil- Ir. ii anjrry in any way. 11 Perhaps the beautiful sprint UV- ,. .IrrHdful disease, really more MrioUB th ' a n, or any such troubles, so write Td r. lieve your worried old AUXT BUSY - LETTERS AND ANSWERS. P,.r Aunt Busy: 8dtLake Ci9'1 1 will write to you and tell you we have eighteen .mle ch.ckcns out I forgot about you Easter tZ day, but. I wont forget you again. I must close jok1 oye. lour loving niece. . i . ALICE EXXIS. , r,.i 'V- 1S ghl: ou did ot forget her cn-i.n cn-i.n :ly little niece. She disappointed when' vou do not write because she looks on you as one of ii r regular little correspondent Aunt Bu; would like to the cunning Utile Ut-ile chicks. AV hat eolor are the wee things? n . . t alt Lako tity; May 1G. Dear Aunt Busy: .My brother will 0t write to you because he ;;iy ;vo" do 110t lik boys. Is this true, Aunt busy.' 1 am very sorry if so, because I have five i'lvtiiers. lour fond niece, NELLIE CAMPBELL. Xo dear; this is not true. Aunt Busv has s.'ine vi the nnest ne.hews. who write to her frequently. fre-quently. She can prove that the bovs are her bet i in. nds by referring you to her Ogden bovs alone. I She knows that they think her a fine old ladv. There are many move nephews who think the same, but Aunt Busy has not the time or space to mention all. Tell brother to write to Aunt Busy. A CHILD'S MAY HYMN. Ave. Blessed Mother! Keep -us through the night; In thine arms enfold us, v Till the morning light. Ave, .Virgin Mother! Ave. Lr.dy sweet ! Kneeling at thy feet. Tray for us, dear mother, To the Father pray; Jesus, dear Saviour, Yill not sav thee nav. Ask, O holy Virgin ! Ask thai we may be Little children always Listening unto thee. I Patient, kind and gentle. I Hearts as pure and white I As the snow in winter, I I As . the morning light. 1 Pure a? thine, dear Mother, ' " ; I Who still lov'st so, - I Ever keeping near us, I Whercsoe'er we go. So we love, thee near us. Morning, noon and night; Only keep us. Mother, Cleanly clad in white, Till we see thy b?auty, Call thee all our own, 'Worship ihec and Jesus, - . Bound thy Father's throne. THE TALE OF LITTLE BEN. Aunt Sally was in a brown study. Little Ben, nith a scared look on his sad little face, watched her from his corner. When Aunt Sally was very silent, and her knitting needles flew with uncommon uncom-mon speed, there was usually trouble ahead. Ben.' the old lady called out suddenly. Hen started uneasilv. "Yesm." "lien. I have just been studying." cs'm." " V. -u are getting to be a great boy" Surveying -. ini eritically "eleven years old." cs'm." nit in Ben, '"going to be eleven next F-nr?!t of July." . ' "L tliem your manners, interrupting your el-M' el-M' ; - i) ' When J say you're eleven, then you're e-'m." ftdinitif-d Ben. "'Aii'l l ii;ivo been a-toiling and slaving for you !;''' .e:irs. havetvr If " ' answered Ben. ruefully. "And I :,j ii-thiiiki.n' it's time you did somethin' lur ; "urs"-?'." ' euni.j run (-n-ands." said Ben. "''''""'"'-..iii'l.-od! The laziness is in him; '"""niliy by it. Kunning errands. It's time v,,il I'ariH,! t ,..arn vnur brea(J bv the sweat of , ""1.:-'r'.'wilk" li''-,'t Christian." ' . ' ' " In' I' l'licd Men, downcast. t "lV- 1 y( .i'l-t l.e.'n a-calculatin' that if you'd l.o to y,,ur I .),. ,lti., jK.'s pot ag much and more riyiji !,, .)., ,,. v, llia)) a poor lone widow woman. Im i jv;i- ;,i "')'- f.ir an answer this time.' , '. " V(' '"'ieind,.,! y.,uM better pack 'your be-I'-ngrngs. nnd ,,!.,. ,, of ,(in milld vou and start tor yonr Vu-h .iakf.-s tomorrow morning." ben was ag;dn a; ;i ls. for an answer. He had nev,.r s-e I. m l,. .!:,k.; but Aunt (Sav gaYe him nnnutc duvct,o. )l0w 1o h aud at an early Jmur vu l, 1o hjs 1MMi- little bed in the attic and cautioned ,jm i be 1Ip at ijroak of day. f.cn l)ad hti a very joyless lif,. al Widow Grey's oUage: slill he shrank from funnp; the unknown, "l on 11 find your bundle and a bit of lunch yea, y for yon, Benjamin, and start right off early in the. morning. y C;ui-t (.XJMt.t ,)1C at niv time "f life, to b,. UJ, . ,1,. UIIcaPjj,jv 10ur)" s.he called i'i 'er him. '' . "Do,,',, ueed to. Aunt Sallv: I'll get on all " riglii." ' 1 "Don't need, indeed. Well, that's gratitude for i,rr 11 I've done, so impudent; 'don't need to.' "Bin Aunt Sally, 1 " "I'on'i interrupt mo, young man. I was jest go m" to tell you. to be honest and not disgrace the family." "T will, sure. Aunt Sally." "Well, get to bed. and I do hope you will learn 1 'ake care of yourself and stop being a burden to other people." "I won't be a burden to .anybody as soon as I get to work." . "Well, ihe independence of him! That's the thanks for raising other people's children." Poor little Ben's sleep was troubled. He wa8 awake long before daybreak. The lunch was ready, hut his poor little heart was too full to allow him to eat. He shouldered his bundle. and stole softly out into the grey dawn. Was that Aunt Sally's voice, with a very perceptible quaver in it, calling out : ''Good-bye, Ben; be a man and don't disgrace the family.'' . i The sun arose in unclouded glory, flooding earth and sky with beauty. The birds woke the woodland wood-land with their thrilling songs of joy. But oner sorrowful young heart was very heavy. The morning morn-ing deepened into the sultry noontide. Poor little lit-tle Benny was weary and footsore; but he hurried on to reach the next station before the night would overtake him. At last, quite exhausted, he reached a little village. ,-.'.- "What was that gleaming in the waning light of departing day; A cross-crowned steeple. That was surely a Catholic church. He would go in for a few minutes. Good Brother Anselm had often admonished ad-monished him never to pass a church without making mak-ing at least a short visit. The coolness and quiet of the holy place was refreshing. Benny thought he might stay to recite his rosary , and, perhaps, some one might come, and he would ask about the trains. He began his rosary very devoutly, but ere long the tired little head with its crown of clustering auburn hair, sank lower, and he was soon fast asleep. The sexton closed the windows and locked the church, but Ben slept on unperceived. He was in dreamland and so happy. Xo doubt pitying. angels brought sweet dreams to cheer the lone orphan boy. Suddenly he was awakened by a rasping noise. He started up in horror to find himself alone in the great dark church. But was it dark; What light -was that gleaming gleam-ing in the sanctuary? It was not the sanctuary lampand those dark figures, what were they ; Ben held his breath with horror. Ghosts! Oh," not in God's holy house. lie saw distinctly now'. There were, several men. They were at the Tabernacle; In an instant Ben had realized the situation. ' "Oh! they are wicked robbers, and they want to lay their wicked hands on the adorable Sacrament!" Sacra-ment!" thought Ben. ' The boy started to his feet and took a step forward. for-ward. He wanted to tell the robbers not to do anything any-thing so horrible. But they would not listen toV little fellow like him. y Heedless of consequences, lie rushed to the window win-dow and smashed a large pane of glass with his little lit-tle fists, which were soon bleeding. Calling out into' the night, "Bobbers! Bobbers in the church!" his voice was heard by some men passing. I The thieves were struck with fear. Whence that cry; Who had" witnessed their fearful crime; One ! of the number discovered the boy and, rushing on him. felled him to the ground with a heavy blow. But the alarm had been heeded and hurrving feet were approaching. The robbers sought safety in a hurried flight, leaving their tools behind them. When the pastor had ascertained that the adorable ador-able Sacrament was untouched, he was deeply I thankful to the merciful providence of God which ; had interposed to prevent so horrible a crime. But i .who had given the alarm; No one was to be seen. They proceeded to the broken window, and there, very white and still, lay-little Ben. "Here is the little hero that saved us from a great calamity," said the priest. -with -emotion. "Has the child fainted or is he hurt?" Ilis hands were bleeding, and from a deep gash in his head the blood flowed freely. "Let us take him to the rectory immediatelv, and get Dr. Cornices instantly." said the kind priest! 'Ihe boy was still living, but that was all. He breathed faintly. "Where there's life, there's hope," said the physician, phy-sician, "and we'll do our best to save our little hero." The kind doctor's efforts were crowned with success. suc-cess. When the good priest learned the little waif's sad history he was deeply moved. "Benny, suppose you ask Aunt Sally and Uncle Jacob to give you to me." "I think," said Benny, sadly, "they'd give me to anybody; but 1 would love best to work for vou Father." " ' "We'll see about the working part when vou get' strong again, my boy," said the good father. Aunt Sally and Uncle Jacob were dulv consulted, con-sulted, and were glad to be rid of the boy. When Ben Avas able to be about again he was very anxious to work, but the good priest insisted on his attending school. The boy had a bright mind and a pious heart, and progressed rapidly. Our Lord singled out His little champion to work in His own vineyard. He became a zealous priest, aud led many to the love and service of the Kedeemer, for whose sake he -was readv on that lone summer night to sacrifice his life. Vesper Bell. THE DISCONTENTED DOLLS. The house was all still. Everybody had gone to bed, for it was after 12 o'clock. The nursery was quite dark, and quiet for a long time. But after a while a queer little voice spoke up and said: "Is anybody awake?" "Your voice sounds very squeaky tonight, Jacky," said somebody. "Squeaky; Why wouldn't it;" asked Jacky in an injured tone, "when that baby drags me all day by a string tied tight around my throat. It has worn through my skin now, so that I have a sore throat. Some day, 1 suppose, he'll hitch the string over the back of a chair and leave me there and I fchall die." Oh, no, Jacky, not so bad as that," said the voice. ' ' '"Why shouldn't it?' said Jacky again. "Don't people die when they are hanged?" "Cheer up, cheer up, old boy," said the voice again. "It's all very well for you to bo cheerful," replied re-plied Jacky, morosely. -Tt ain't your throat that has a string tied to it. You're Sir Lauiicelot, and they think so much of you they would never allow you to be treated like that. If you were a-poor sailor boy, without friends or good clothes, you'd see. what it was to be turned over to the' baby to maul." ' V "But it's because you re a sailor boy that the baby loves you so" said Sir Launeelot. "He loves to suck the paint off my face, I know that," replied Jacky. ''One eye is gone already, al-ready, and they won't even get me an artificial "one. I hope he swallowed it," finished Jacky, vin- dict'ively. There was a general murmur of horror 3t "I won't wish anything like that," said a gentle gen-tle voice. "The baby might have appendicitis if he swallowed your eye, and then we would all feel very sorry." . . 1 . . "That's right, said Jacky, in an injured tone; "all of you jump on me, and stick up for the baby. You ain't the baby's dojls. They won't give you to him. If they vfrould, you might talk out of the other dde of your mouths. Besides," said Jacky, sitting up and throwing his legs over the side of his cradles; "besides, Aunt Patience, no one would maul you. You're a Quaker doll, and an old lady. Thev'd have too much respect for.you. "iou ain't just" a boy," finished Jacky, bitterly. "There, there, never mind, Jacky,' said Aunt Patience, soothingly. "Come over herc, and I'll give you some chocolate drops. I saved them for vou from the tea party this afternoon.' , ' "That's real frood of you, Aunt Patience," said Jacky, gracefully, as he hopped down from .his cradle' and went over to Aunt .Patience's big arm-( "chair. He walked with a queer little stump, be-, : - , cause one of his feet was gone. , The baby had pulled it off for the kitten to play with. "Can I have some too, Aunt Patience?" asked Sir Lancelot. A burst of laughter came from another corner. It was a funny little laughter that sounded like the tinkling of tiny silver bells. "Well, really," said a new voice, "such a fine gentleman to be begging for chocolate drops! Don't give him any, Aunt Patience. He'll get them all over hid fine velvet clothes." "You needn't laugh, Lady Geraldine." replied Sir Lancelot, in a very cold voice; "you would like them, too, if you were not so afraid of your dignity." dig-nity." "Children, children!., said Aunt Patience, placidly, "don't quarrel; it isn't nice. Come here, Lancelot; there arc plenty for you, and Geraldine, too, 'if she -wants them." Sir Lancelot got down rather stiffly and walked across the floor to Aunt Patience's chair. He wore very beautiful clothes of crimson velvet, with lace ruffles, and a velvet hat with a white plume, and a flashing sword at his side. Most of the dolls did not like him very well, because he was so stiff, and wore such elegant clothes. "Ought to go back to England, where he came from," muttered Jacky; "we don't want no such thing as that in America." Jacky was a rather vulgar boy. His early education has been neglected. "Oh. oh; me, too!" called a smothered voice from the other end of the room "Come and pull me out, some of you. I want some chocolate drops, too, and they have done gone and left the express-wagon express-wagon right on top of me. Us mos' dead. Sir Lancelot turned toward the sound, but hs moved in such a slow, stately way that Jacky was ahead of him in spite of his lame foot. Ho stumped across the room very fast, and found Chloe lying flat on her face, with the express wagon, bottom side up. on her back. Jacky could not lift it until he had stumped over o the toolbox tool-box and got out a long iron spake. This he put under the edge of the express wagon, and so lifted it off. Then he helped Chloe up. Chloe -was a little negro doll, but the was very jolly and funny, and all the dolls were very fond of her. They began to talk about her accident all at oner. Even Aunt Patience was displeased. "I declare, it's a shame;" said she. "Somebody should speak to those efiTldren. They should be taught better. The idea of going off to bed and leaving one of us on the floor, with a wagon on top of her, to suffer all night!. It's a wonder poor Chloe isn't dead. Are you hurt much, honey?" "Use got a misery in my back," replied Chloe; but she was such a cheerful little girl ..that as soon as she got a chocolate Cream she forgot all about her trouble and was quite happy again. Catholic Citizen. |
