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“ VOL. 4.‘-N0. 20. , ' .
‘ THE CATHOLIC WEEKLY INSTRUCTOR,‘
‘Is printed and Published Weekly.
.‘ BY
. 1Vll.LlA.Vl J.,ClJ.VN ‘Gil.-till,
1- v 104 South Third Street. Philadelphia.
, 7'EIIMS:‘
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I . a liberal reduction will beln e.
From the Catholic Advocate.
‘..‘I’ E PROTEGE.
.4 leaf from the Portfolio of an Oclagenrriizn.
"' "ariu.x.iu.
C H A P T E R I.
“ You Pat l you little runaway." harshly
exclaimed a female voice, '" if you don't come
here this minute, I'll whip you well." I involun-
tarily stopped, as this rude speech set to flight
some ' of my most lofty and fanciful ideas.-
Surely that cannot be gentle woman's voice,I
mentally exclaimed. But it was, for a woman
appeared at the door of a smoky hut-but alas!
her countenance andmanner forbid the epithet
gentle. She might have been called handsome.
and must have been eminently so when young,
but that gloomy, irritable look, that always ob-
scures beauty, added to the worn and soiled
- attire of Mrs. McCleary,’gave you at the first
glance. a disagreeable impression. l
. fgwhat has kept you so Iate.I say. and what
were you standing there for 1" she repeated
angrily. as a very ragged little boy. who had
been watching though not joining in the sports
of a troop almost as ragged as himself; left them
and moved slowly towards his mother: '
, “I dare, say you have been idling all day
instead of going to the factory, asI told you
this morning." '. '- - ‘ -‘ V ‘-
. -.-“I did go there, mother; and ‘a man the
boys, called foreman,.pushed -me back as I
,entered the door. and said they did not want
any scarecrows there; that Mr. Harris might
promise as many ragged imps as he pleased.
but as he had to stay at the factory and direct
‘them, it depended on him who shnuld.enter;
that if people,would not keep their children
decent, they could not expect to get employment
" ‘ 4 i i .
from. him. ' : u 2 . : .. ;.
, .," The insolent fellow !‘- This is too bad; but
I will go directly to Mr. Harris, i am sure he
wvill see to it himself. He seemed -.very kind
when I applied to him to take ynu.’.’ .. . -
. “ You needn't go. mother. for I went to h'
ihouse first, and he had just left for New York.
I would rather cut off my right hand than enter
that factory again. even if he were here. I
'; will go out tomorrow morning and find work
somewhere," said the boy resolutely.
now mother. If you will give me something to
eat I will go to bed; I have not tasted anything
since] left home this morning" V M ‘
“ And it's very littlel have for you now. my
P001‘ b0.V." said the mother. in a softened voice.
-“Ir.Ml'- ,0. had paid me for the last workltnok
home. I would have enough to keep us from‘
5ul'Tefl“'.=' at least for a week or two; but those
Clmhlng merchants think they, pay too dearly
lbr the time and health of those they employ.
-‘0 Si“? u'e'm0“9S’ immediately." And she
sighed bitterly, as she thought of the sleepless
nights and toiling days. that procuredher
. , hardly two dollarsa. week.'.>-God help us!-
she exclaimed; “ if something does not occur
'to better our prospect for the coming winter, 1
,don't know what we will do." ‘V w 2
"God will help us, mother," said the boy,
.
‘ if mi: nrrrosiox or cnrnomc KNowr.cocc AND run msrnucriox or YOUTII, SIIALL
PIIIl..l‘I)ELl.'lII.-I. SA"I‘l.'llD.-I 1 .
‘"Don‘t you remember Father J
last Sunday, that God loves the poor and never
lforgets them, if they try to do what is right,
land if they are not poor through their own
fault. I feel almost sure thatl will get work in
a day or two.”
Is it not strange that the companionship and
sympathy even of a child. will take from grief
half its sting‘! The mother did feel comforted
and re-assured. ‘without any foundation for that
assurance but the hopeful spirit of her child.
Let not my reader ilrmgine. fromlhe introduc-
tory sentence of Mrs. McCleary, that she was
naturally a coarse, unfeeling woman; nn the
contrary. she was warm-hearted and self-sacri-
licing.WThere are some rocks that the fretful
waves of the ocean wear not; there are cer-
tain trees that only the tornado can uproot;
and the same with man, There ‘are some
tempers that only great evils can affect: there
are others which, though kind and gentle. not
having that fortitude so necessary under trials,
become irritable and give way to an excessive
occasion. thus rendering their own situation
no better, and that of their companions infinitely
worse. -‘ . ‘ ‘
Mrs. McCleary loved her son tenderly. and
though from her habitual liasliness she often
threatened him with severe chnstisement, she
never put her violent threats into execution.
box, or a sudden jerk, was all the correction he
ever received. for real or imaginary offences.
This inconsistency between his mother's
wnrds and actions. might have had a bad effect
on a child inclined to evil. but want and care
had made Pat very thoughtful hvr his years.
without sharpening his cunning.
m the forgoing Imperfect sketch of my
hero, I think my reader will perceive the foun-
dation for a noble structure; the promise of an
upright, honest. and useful man. After eating
his scanty supper. we will leave. him for the
night on his hard. comfortless bed, and prepare
to follow him in the nforning. in ivhis resolute
search after work. , ’ . . ' .' .
V True to his resolve. little ,l"at started on his
search the next morning: and proceeded with
some alacrity for two or three hours. applying
at‘ every door where he thought thcrc was a
possibility of getting work. At one time seeing
a load of wood before a noble mansion. he rang
the bell and begged lobe employed to put it
away. The housemaid. upon seeing nnly n
ragged little boy.‘ began to upbraid him for
daring to ring a ge-ntleman‘s door bell. telling
him that he was not fit to come into the kitchen.
much less the hall. The mistress hereIint:-r-
3
SE . .
“Betty, why are you making that horrid
noise! ' You really distract my nerves."
‘-I can‘t help it, Ma‘am. You wouldn't wonder
if you seed the sorry brat that wrung the bell.“
‘ “ What can he wantff .. Begging Isuppuse,
of course.“ ' , ,‘ . ‘
“He pretends to want work. but I expect it's
to get a chance to s!ea.L" . r ‘ '
“Send him away." said the voice faintly;
adding, to some one in the room, “ It is shoc '
ing the arts those poor children employ, to in-
sinuate themselves into one‘: houses. where
they always pick up a great deal more than
they earn. >Really Miss Echo. you would be
struck with the innocent expression of, the
orange girl. that stole my gold pencil." .
“ 0 lamrna." cried a little girl, “ don't
you remember I told you that Frank took your
pcncil thatday. and that his teacher took it
from him. and is keepingit for you 1" . ,
“ Don't interrupt me. daughter; that Is not
ladylike. If she di<ln’t take that. I suppose she
didn't see it. and picked something else. I
mu E’
impatience. which displays itself on the least g
V1.11’ I9, I 849.
um oun orucclr
Asp oun AIM.
WHOLE NO. 155
table rcrrmrks did ’not wait to hear them. but
turning quickly out of sight to conceal his
morlification from the pampered servant. he
proceeded with lcss confidence, fearing to stop
at the houses of the rich and feeling the inuiiliry
of applying at those of the poorer class. '
lie was passing :1 large, showy house. when
a fine little fellow, three or four years old.
called out toghim from the hall. “Come here.
little boy; do come.jf1st a minute. and see my
new rocking horse. Only see how well it goes.
don't it! The finest horse in the world".
Put stopped. without any intention of enter-
ing. and glancing at the horse. was about to
praise it to gratify the liltle fellow. when a
pompous gentleman arose from a sofa. and wa-
ving his hand imperiously. exclaimed- ' I
‘ "Move on, sir. move on; I hope you don‘t
expect to play with Master Orlando Simpkins!
Really. if I did not keep a constant watch. my
son would be contaminated by every kind of
association." ' , v
Pat‘: little heart swelled with indignation on
this rude nssaultl but walking hastily past a
pluin though comfortable dwelling. he saw a
lady and little girl standing in the door. The
lattcrhad just been presented with a pair of
pn:ltyitc..I shoes, and childlike, could think of
nothing else. - ' ‘ ‘
, I .
“U! Momma. just look at that poor little h
boy‘: bare feet. See. he has not even an old
pair of shoes. poor boy. .Won't you get him
a pair. Mammal" . " , ‘
“ No. my child; he don't want shoes now,
and he ls large enough to cum a pair before
wintrr."' . .
Pat was fully sensible of the justicebf this
rcply, but he began to feel something like re-
scntnwnt against u- world that condemned him
to cam a livelihood. yet seemed to conceal the
means; however. he began to Ieam by expe-
rivnrn. that it was vain to ask for work at
dwellings; he had been told at one or two.
that thcre was not the place to look for work.
ct he knew not where he would have better
success: at last, he thought that instead of
asking for work. he would enquire whr.-rc'he
might find it. His next application seemed
more successful; it was to a mechanic, who
employed several boys. Ile had thonya sum-
cient number. but one spoke of leaving him,
and he would send Pat word; adding. that as
his boys had rather dirty work to do. and didn't
have to dressfinely, he didn‘t pay very high
wages: nothing the first three weeks. then Elly
cents per week for three months. after. one
dollar per week for six months more, afier that.
one fifty. which was his highest price. , ‘
-‘But where and how shall I find you. my
little man, when l want you 1"‘ .
" You might, if you please, leave word with
Father 1-; he lives near this, and he
would let me know.” . . I ' ,
“What! the Roman’ Priest! So you are a
little Papist! Why didn't you tell me that at‘
first!"
‘' llerause I did not think ‘of it. s ." said Pat.
somewhat alarmed at the change lh
countenance.‘ “I didn't think that would make
any difference." l. . .
. “But it ‘does make a difference; we can‘t
think of helping to raise children in idolatry.
No. no! 'If we assist the poor. we must prefer
those of our own (i. e. anti-Catholic) religion
f'lrsL I can't emplay,'y'ou.',chil.I. ut' I
help it.. I’m sorry for ir.‘f he added, as he per-
ccived the boy's tearful eyes.
an is not that you refuse me work. sir. but I
am sure if you knew anything about my reli-
gion. you would not call it I ldnlatry."' , , '
-4 Well, begnne ! It would be a pretty’ thing
0
av
3.
.-
inlways expect to lose something when a beggar
ior ddlcr comes into the house." ,
l v " Most truc," said Illiss Echo.
hr me to stand arguing with .1 child; I who
have road the bible and commentaries through
I dozen times !"
flc nil?-in the humblclcadsemoftliese chalrl-I
‘completely failed. Ile se
My little hero's courage had by this time
ated himself on tl.e
steps of a dilapidated church. and gave way to
the clespundency that had been gaining strength
at each successive hour. It was now nrnt
sunset. and hunger added to his other causes
of sorrow. There he sat. dreading to go home
with his missionpnaccomplislied. Iears from
time to time dimming his eyes, and falling un-
heeded on his clasped hands.
N What is the matter. my little friend," said
a kind old gentleman, who stopped. struck with
the child‘s despairing attitude.
“I want work, sir.“ " ,- ‘ '
f‘“r'Ell. my little man, cryingrht-re won‘t
bring it to you. What kind of work do you
1!“ ‘
ny kind. sir. I have been hunting for
work of some description. all day. There is
no use in trying any longer." ' "
" Never despair, my boy. I suppose you
did not look in the right place.‘ But it is nnt
likely that one of your age should know all
about these things, so come to me about ten
o'clock tomorrow morning. and’I will see in
the mean time what can be done for you. Cheer
up, cheer up; make it a rule never to give up.”
Saying this the old gentleman opened an iron
5
av
:
..
rate. and passing through a small though beau-
tiful y:xrd,‘he entered I neat, commodious
use. ‘ i ' : "
o .
Pat had been so often disappointed when he
thought his object almost attained. that he at-
tached but little importance to the old gentle-
man's kind words. and still sat on the steps,
though in less despairing reverie. ' ' I‘ ’
Pat cast occasional glances towards thr. gate
which the old gentleman rntered. now wonder-
ing what he could possibly do‘ for him. then as-
suring himself that the mdrrnw would bring
nothing but disappointment. I"rescntly the gate
burst open. and a beautiful little girl came
partly running. partly rolling out. her arms
round the neck of a large dog. The dog
seemed to enjny the sport as much as the child.
Now he would raise his head and fore ft-5!. lift-
lng her l'rom the ground. then letting her down
gently. and putting his paws round her feet.
compel her to hold firmly to his neck to prevent
falling. " ‘
Pat forgot his grief fur a moment in watch-
ing the lively sport. They now gained the
middle of the street. and the dog had laid his
playfcllow down quite gentlyin the deep. soft
dust. where she lay struggling to rise, he hold-
lng her down with one of his powerful pa'ws. '
But hark ! There is a sudden cry from the
next street. “Clear the road! A horse run-
away! Head him! Stop him? Clear the
road!" And a rush of human feet on the
adjoining square was heard. at the same mo-
ment with those of a flying horse. and the rapid
rolling of wheels , x '
Sce with what lightning speed that power-
ful horse. unchccked
dashes right’ up the street where yet lies the
rosy child. On they, come: the maddencd
horse. and behind the rushing crowd. ; The
parents beheld the ‘danger of their, only CIIIIII
before they had missed her from their side.-‘
A wild shriek from the mother; an agonizenl
crylfrom the father. The horse and carriage
dart by. over the very spot. The dust clear:
away. andlthe father looks forth again. The
mother has fainted.
“Can. oh can it be true!” he ‘cried. as he
saw part of the crowd enter his gate. bearing
in alive and uninjured. that child whom he ma
expected to behold all mangled and disfigured.
or agmoment he cnul not speak; (ears of
joy and gratitude poured down the father‘:
manly cheeks. ' ,
“Who saved my child 1" he at length ex-
claimed. “ I saw her almost beneath the horse‘:
. Point out her dcliverer, that I may thank
rn." .
by‘ the light carriage, '
I