OCR Text |
Show . BESSIE'S DRESS. "I wonder," said Sister Dot, as she took her place in the circle one evening, "who can tell me anything- about Advent?" Ad-vent?" .... "I know it means poe in' bout coming," com-ing," answered Mary Hill, " 'cause sister sis-ter said so." . - "And if sister was here 6he would say that Mary did not ipay much attention," atten-tion," said Carrie Blackmore. "Well, -Carrie, suppose you tell us what it means, and we shall judge whether or not you paid attention," said Sister Dot. Carrie then told what she had understood un-derstood of the instruction given to the- Catechism class that morning. She said she had learned - that the .word advent means coming, and -the season j is so called because it is a time set I apart by the church to prepare for the coming of Christ, When she had finished fin-ished Sister Dot gaid: "Very good, flow-, how many hare wish to make a garment for the Little Infant"? v At first there was no reply, then Maggie said: "I's too 'ittle to sew, and I sticks my finders." At the same time she looked closely at the ends of tier fingers fin-gers as if to find some trace in proof of her having handled a needle. "I'll make one all of lace," eaid Mary Hill. "No, that wouldn't do . for winter time,"objeeted Lucyv .."Silk, or velvet, or somethin' of that sort'd be better, with beads and pretty things on. it." Susan had been watchinsr Sister Dot; and saw she looked much amused, so she eaid: - "I don't believe Sister means that' "No,-Susan," answered the Sister. "I do not mean a real dre&s, but my story for this evening will explain my meaning," At the word story the children, drew nearer, every face became animated, and csome who had been oni the point of discussing the proposition were signaled sig-naled to silence by a companion, who placed her fore finger over her- mouth. "Some time ago I asked a certain class of little folks how many wished, to make a garment for the Little Infant. In-fant. When I had explained- my meaning, all -were eager to begin at once. Each garment was to be made of ' little sacrifices, and each sacrifice was called a stitch. Every child made ohoice of some offering. One little girl, for instance, who was very fond of candy, decided to see how 'little she could eat' during-' Advent. Every morning when she started to school her mamn'Ja gave her some pennies to buy candy." Here Mary Hill interrupted the story by exclaiming: "Oh! Sister, how could she make a dresa of candy"? "Hush! Leave Sister tell it" whispered whis-pered Susan. "The dress was not made of candy, my dear," continued Sister Dot. "Bessie had learned that whatever we do to tine poor for love of Christ He accepts ac-cepts as done to Himself. Next morning morn-ing I t'aw Beg&ie standing on tiptoe to drop fiome pennies in the box which is placed in the Church to receive offerings offer-ings for the poor. It is called the poor box sometimes. Have you ever noticed one"? "Yes, Sister, I have," answered Carrie. Car-rie. "It has 'Remflmber the Poor'' on it." "Well,", continued the Sister, "at first Bessie put in only, one or two pennies pen-nies and bought candy with the others, but he found out she did not miss this much, and fhe added another. Later she felt it would net be mueh of a sacrifice sac-rifice unless she put all of her ppnnies in the box. She asked me one day if I thought the Infant Jesus would be pleased if she offered only half her pennies, as .she must have some candy every 'day. I asked her if she knew what would have happened If Our Lord had said He just couldn't leave Heaven and beeotriA an Tnfant for US. Ressif ! did not answer. my question, but took hold of this medal of the Little Infant which is attached to my rosary. She looked very thoughtful for a few moments, mo-ments, and then said she would give up her candy for the two weeks which remained of Advent. I encouraged her by telling her that the more generous her offering was, the more Our Savior would show His love for her. From that time no more, mention was made of the candy or of the pennies. "Immednately .after Mass on Christmas Christ-mas morning Bessie came running into my room looking as happy as any little girl could look. . , " "Merry Christmas, Sister,' she said. "I returned her greeting and asked what had brought her in so early. She answered: . ""Cause I just couldn't wait 'no longer to tell you my dress was -all right.' ' " Youi drees?' I asked, not understanding under-standing to what she made reference. 'Is this dress so much nicer than all the other, nice ones mamma has made you?'. " - - . . ' " -. , , " 'Oh. ' Sister, don't you know? I don't mean my dress which I wear.' and Bessfe first looked- impatient, at being misunderstood. then laughed j heartily at my mistake. "I knew bv this time she meant her offering, so I asked how she knew it was all right. ' " ' 'Cause, Sister,' she said, 'last night when I' was in bed, the Little Infant was standing by me and said He had on the dresSs I had given Him. It was so pretty, Sister. I could hardly believe be-lieve it was my pennies had made it so shiny like all over, but the Little Infant In-fant told me so and I believe Him, and it made me so happy. When I went to church I went straight to the little crib to see if He had on my little dress, and I felt like crying 'cause He didn't, but you see I gucs a whole 'lot of people gave one. too, and He couldn't wear just mine.' "I waited for Bessie to finish. Then I explained to her that , we had only called the good actions a garment and that little sacrifices were most precious prec-ious in God's sight. I suppose Bessie merely ftreamed that she saw the Little Lit-tle Infant,, but she really believed ,He had appeared to her. I am sure, ' ''.-- though, her offering- was pleasing to God."- ' ''- ' "Sister, please,, what did the other little girls do?" asked Mary Hill. "Various resolutions were taken, such as not to be unkind to anyone, to keep strict silence in school, to learn every lesson perfectly, to make a little visit to the Blessed Sacrament every day when going from school, and other similar things." " "And did all do it?" asked Lucy. "I am sorry to say . all did not," answered an-swered the Sister. "Some tried for a few days, but had not enough love for the Little Infant to continue. Others tried different things, each time wanting want-ing something easier, and ended by doing very little of anything, but I be-lieve be-lieve the greater number Were faithful. Now. if you choose a practice for the comdng Advent, do not tell others what it is, but just do it. faithfully, to show our Divine Lord how much little children can love Him, and how much you thank Hitm for leaving His beautiful throne in1. Heaven and. being born in a cold stable for love of you." |