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Show jar fjoys and Girls EC C .' BU5Y. department Is conducted solely la tb lotw "four pirl and boy readers. fAunt RuF" ,s p1a1 to ,,ear "ny l,mo trorn th , md nephews who read this page, and to gtri f f nil the advice and help In her power. r tvrlte on cn flde of the PaPer only. " ot fcave letters too long. ir Aia! stories and verses will be gladly received ;rc,1(,fury edited. The rraMUscr'P18 t contributions not accepted will iritsx e!' 9 to Aunt Bust. Intermountals j a;ioilr. fait Lake City. LUCILE'S EASTER LILY. (By Grace Strong.) w;i- a charming: girl, but those who i. iii r l'--t found a streak of selfishness in her ' h ih' .v regretted. Loving her they tried to ex-' ex-' In I'.v pointing out that circumstances had tl" :n,, to jiid in its development. She had lost '''.'"iiintlicr arly in life, and having only a father ' 0 ;nilcl and petted her while a child, and gave lr full u:1.v "ver 3 e an home when she was She knew nothing of the duties and re-' re-' ilin'1' of life- n practice of her re-;,.! re-;,.! lived strictly by the letter, and missed ':r,.v the spirit of its teaching. I If 'oiily something would happen, her friends tl'.iii"!!- t rnuse her good heart sufficiently to tn'-ik the ever-hardening crust of selfishness, Lucile ff ,,',, (,t le only more lovable, but happier. She ; ff!;s -iveii 1" bewailing the loneliness of her life, v; !imt M mother, and sisters or brothers; and this f!.i'i..lainintr spirit was increasing as she grew ,,lcr. Si li'-lmess and melancholy are undesirable II iife-i ,'iiipir.iions. They are more powerful in jruiiir ell' friends than poverty and affliction. i 'win it bent began this year, Lucile, as usual, I wfl one of its strictest observers. She sought no (iijKH-aiioii from the flesh, the weather was never ! too inclement to prevent her from attending the I jn,,r!. jisir :ii'd vrnitig services; and all social pleas-j pleas-j vr, . fi;ri.rMiisly avoided. The one diversion j (.he permitled herself was inspection of the shops; i -tit thnt she felt was somewhat of a duty, for one ,,-.! it to others as well as to oneself to appear in ; new prh on tlx? feast of the Resurrection. : A c;;n t'ul study of new styles and new mate- yj.,, jiinl many an earnest conversation with her , fesi!iaker. had resulted in a seelction of gown i.iid liiit that promised to be among the most beau- i it'n! St. X church would witness on the swift- ;nv;'i)rin;r Kasler morning. This morning Lucile Lu-cile had received her allowance from her father. n view of the change of seasons it had been made more liberal than usual, but as he gave it to her, he jij.lnl a v.onl of advice as to care in its expending, cince times were still hard. Lucile drank her coffee and ate her regulation tlire ef thin bread; then hurried off to the half-jiaM half-jiaM o'clock Mass. As she prayed, she tried to drive tf the distracting thought of the pleasure iilifiiil of her. when the sharp scissors of the clerk vmilil give to her the dainty material she had se-.-dd. a;nl the charming hat she had induced the milliner to set aside for her, would repose in her rni vnnlrobe. After carefully performing her devotions, Lucile Lu-cile left the church. She proceeded leisurely along the street. The day was fair, with the hint of sprintr in the mellow sunshine. The sparrows appreciated ap-preciated 1 his. and their twitter was gay. The Ili.trricles- dug curled up against the wall where the hid f(il. looked supremely contented. The poor liimrui strays also looked less desolate, as they miked aimlessly along, or stood on street corners watching the hurrying crowds of the world's worker? work-er? the nun who had found the places which the ctlier- l:ad missed. Lucile thought the city was exceedingly pleas-itiit pleas-itiit that, morning, for we are apt to view the world liirmigli the spectacles of our own mood. As she wa thus sauntering along, she heard a piping voice at Iht i-ide saying: ''Please lead me across the street." Lucile turned her head, and saw a fragile little pirl standing near the electric light pole. Dark, pathetic eyes were set in a p.ile, but pretty face. An eli thin shawl covered the thin form, hiding the patched and faded calico dress. ''Vou are big enough to cross the street by your-f your-f !f." said Lucile, who had rigid notions regarding the instillation of self-reliance in the hearts of the young. '"I'm I am blind." said the little girl, sadly. "Oh! forgive me!" cried Lucile, with swift sorrow, sor-row, as she hurried to the child's side. She took the child's little hand in hers, and led her across the Mrect while the thought beat against her brain that nil the fairness of the day was lost to this helpless help-less creature. They reached the opposite side, but Lucile did ii"t relinquish the child's hand. "Were you always blind?" asked Lucile. ''-o. ma'am," said the child. "I could see until fil'i ut tw-ti years ago. The doctor says I could see "gain, if 1 could go to the hospital." "And why do you not f" asked Lucile. "V';v. you see, ma'am," said the child, taming ji'T pathetic little face toward the speaker, "there no one to work but mother . She has to go out evt ry day and I have to stay with the baby." "Is it possible," exclaimed Lucile, "that there no nciclibor -who would take care of the baby for ycur in. .i her f ma'am." said the child. . iiat selfish people!" she cried, her heart burn-i burn-i r'g with indignation. ''Even when they know they aiv depriving you of your eye-sight!" I says people have troubles enough of their i.v.-n and do not want to have to share other's trr.uU, ..." j.,,;, tlle e,;d. "But, oh! I wish I could f,e! I could be so much help to mother. She has to work so hard, and she is not strong and she says u ai.ytliinnr xvcro -to happen to her, she does not I what would become of me and little brother." 1 iieni,s(.jousy the child was leading Lucile into the wrvtched tenement district where she lived. Presently she stopped, and said: ''I am now home, ma'am, and I am much obliged ' J'"') for coming with me." "I would like to go in and see your mother," yvi Lucile. The delighted child escorted her to :ae dark stairway and together they mounted the stt'i"-- The poverty, the distress of the situation "Twhehncd Lucile. How could people live in Hich ph;,rs; T,e ajr pecme(l to stifle her, and she ln't as if she should never free her clothes of the Jlrl "hat covered the place. The child's mother, in patient way of the poor, repeated the story J-tici!e had earlier heard; and when she looked from ' vad, delicate mother to the fragile, pathetic "'"M, Lucile's good heart took on strength suffi-('1(M suffi-('1(M to burst its bonds of selfishness. In her purse lay money enough to free the child lr"ni this perpetual night, and lift the burden 'Hiewhat from the shoulders of the poor mother, ut to do so meant the sacrifice of her spring out-: out-: 1 1 meant the wearing on Easter Sunday and many jj following Sunday of last year's hat. But the re-'ection re-'ection did not cause her a moment's hesitation. ';t 1ue little girl ready, Mrs. Mays," she said. ' e must go immediately to the hospital. These '"'i'utiful eyes must not be sacrificed because of a : dollars." Lucile, once engaged in a good cause, did not J - stop half-way. After seeing the little girl intha hospital, and promising to return in the morning to be with her during the operation, she went back to the mother. Mrs. Mays told her story. Her husband hus-band was dead. She had been wel ltrained in housework, house-work, but, on account of the children she could not take a place as housekeeper or cook; and had to earn her livelihood by cleaning during the day and washing. Lucile thought of the inefficient service she was receiving from her ill-trained cook and maid, and she resolved to give this woman, whom none wanted on account of her children, a chance. There was PlJy of wom, she reflected, in the house for the children, and their presence would brighten its loneliness. So she engaged the surprised Mrs. Mays to come as soon as her cook's month was up; and then with the blessings of the widow showered upon her, Lucile hurried away. Little Lillian Mays had not kept silent regarding regard-ing Lucile's goodness, and the physicians and nurses were kindly disposed toward her and came to look forward to, her daily visits to her protege. Among the former was one who was especially impressed im-pressed by Lillian's story and the oftener young Dr. Lawton saw Lucile, the greater became his admiration admira-tion for her. The operation was successful, and one joyous day, it was announced that the bandages might be removed on Easter Sunday. During Holy Week Mrs. Maya entered Lucile's service, and in the course of a few days, preparations began to be made for the coming of little Lillian. "Where, Lucile, did you get the money to do all this?" asked Lucile's father, as they walked home, arm-in-arm, from the early Mass on Easter morning. morn-ing. "You dear old daddy!" cried Lucile, "I think you need an operation on your eyes, too! Don't you recognize this hat and gown and don't you remember re-member this is Easter Sunday?" "Oh, I see!" he exclaimed, "you gave up vour spring outfit! My sweet, unselfish daughter! How like your mother in all things !" "Oh, no, daddy!" she cried. "I was a selfish girl until God led me that morning to meet blind Lillian. She was not only the one who gained sight. I have learned that observance is the mere shell of religion, and service for others its fruit. Oh ! there is the carriage ! Lillian has come home. Daddy, I have invited Dr. Lawton to take breakfast with us. He was very good to my little girl." In the library Dr. Lawton and Lillian were waiting wait-ing for them. "Call Mrs. Maya and tell her to bring the baby," said Lucile to the maid. "I have a surprise for Lillian," she said, in a low voice to Dr. Lawton. "Her mother is keeping house for us now." Trembling with emotion, Mrs. Mays came in, and then the bandages were removed. "Oh, mother, I see you!" cried Lillian. "And little brother! O Miss Lucile!" and she threw her arms around the young woman's neck. "I knew you were lovely before I saw you." "And here is Dr. Lawton!" cried Lucile, who was crying and laughing at the same time. Afetrward the bandages were put on and leaving leav-ing Lillian with her little brother in the library, Lucile and her father, with their guest, went out to breakfast. That was the beginning of Dr. Lawton's visits to the old home, and when the next Easter rolled around Lucile walked between her husband and father to the late Mass at St. X , and on this occasion she was not wearing her winter hat and go win. AN EASTER LILY. (Dr. William J. Fischer.) She grew, and God's smile kissed her face, And filled her pure, young soul with gTace; And good Saint Anne the mother fair Upon her lips a gentle prayer, Folded her child in sweet embrace, And when star legions filled the skies, Sang: "Lily mine! Come, close thine eyes!" " In Bethle'm's stail, a Lily glows It smiles upon an opening Rose ; And shepherd-stars night's high peaks climb, And angels carol forth sublime, While midnight shadows, silent, still, Creep swift around glad Juda's hill. On Calv'ry's mount, a faded Hose, Its blood-stained petals does disclose ; And tear-kissed, 'neath the sacred Cross, The Lily weeps a ower's loss And mourns upon its tender stem, Love's death the Eoce of Bethlehem! Good Friday's lights sad, mournful burn But with the Easter gleams' return They fade, the shades of fear and gloom A dead Rose blushes into bloom I A Lily, with re pure soul, brave, Glows sweet beside an empty grave. OUR LADY'S EASTER. The Gospel says nothing of the appearance of Our Lord to the Blessed Virgin on the first Easter morning; but neither does it describe His appearance appear-ance to St. Peter, which we hear of only in the Acts o fthe Apostles. There is a beautiful old Italian version of the legend, which describes Our Lady, who had kept all Christ's sayings in her heart, waiting in her chamber for the fulfillment of His promise: "After three days I will rise again." While she waited, longing and praying, came angels who knelt before her and sang the anthem Regina Cali, which is sung after Compline, and said instead of the An-gelus An-gelus by the Church during Paschal Time. While the angels sang, Christ, clothed in -the white garment gar-ment of ictovry, stood in His risen glory before His Blessed Mother. And she worshipped Him, and thanked Him for having deigned to make her the instrument of redemption. Ave Maria. CATCHING THE TEACHER. A young teacher who had a good opinion of his . ability to catch the pupils tripping was conducting an oral examination. Calling on the "smart boy" of the class, he asked: "How many sides has a square?" "Four." "And a hexagon?" "Six." . "And an octagon?" "Eight." "And a circle?" "Two, sir." "What!" exclaimed the examiner, delighted at the boy's apparent error. "Yes, sir, two inside and outside." AN ALPINE CUSTOM. In some of the Alpine districts of Piedmont and Savoy, in which the entire population consists con-sists of shepherds dwelling in scattered habitations, a beautiful and reverent custom still prevails. As the shades of evening are closing in on the valley, and only the crests of the mountain ridges remain lighted by the last rays of the departing sun, the shepherd whose dwelling is situated highest on the mountain side takes his Alpen-horn, and using it as a speaking trumpet, cries to the valley below "Praise God the Lord.' . Each of the neighboring shepherds takes up the cry in turn as it reaches i them, and thus for a space of about a quarter of an hour the quiet Alpine glen echoes from side to side with the solemn cry of "Praise the Lord," until un-til the reiterated call dies away in the far distance. |