The Family Circle

New Zealand Tablet, 24 March 1910, Page 477

The Family Circle

HER MISSION She was only a little woman, 'tis true, """- And hers was a common story; , She had never dreamed of a thing to do That would lead her to fame or glory. She could not paint and she could not sing, And she could not write a sonnet She had not a face that could lend a grace To a stylish love of a bonnet. And yet she dreamed that her life was blest In its humble sphere of duty, Though only those who knew her best - k ;;'; ..' Guessed half its hidden beauty. For hers was a genius of little things, , The realm of home to brighten; . ; And she scorned not the humblest work that brings Some force to cheer and lighten. And some who loved her were half afraid • That her sphere was far too small But oh! the happy home she made Was a great thing after all! And when her beauteous spirit shall flee From its realms of loving and giving; Her stainless monument shall be The hearts she cheered while living. COMRADES ' Are you sick, Jimmy ? ' asked Mrs. Spencer, looking anxiously across the table at her son. ' No, ma,' replied Jimmy. . 'You're not eating as much as usual.' Oh, I'm not very hungry,' murmured Jimmy, with a guilty look on his face. But after dinner was over and his father had left the house, Jimmy still hung around the table where his mother was cleaning off the dishes. ' Say, ma,' he said coaxingly, 'may I take the rest of my dinner out in the yard and eat it? 'Why don't you eat it in here?' asked his mother. 'Oh, —because there's a friend of mine waiting for me, and I'd like to give him some.' 1 Now, Jimmy,' said Mrs. Spencer, ' I thought you had more sense 1 You go right out and fetch your friend in here, and I'll give him some dinner, but I'll not have you dividing your meal like this.' * Oh, ma exclaimed Jimmy, in a most alarmed voice. 'He wouldn't come in for anything! He's very bashful, and such a little fellow.' Mrs. Spencer looked at her son. She had noticed his strange conduct during the last three days— he stole out when he thought he was unobserved, with his pockets bulging with bread and other food left from his meals. But she was a wise mother, and knew that sooner or later Jimmy would let the secret out. So she only said: All right, son; run ' along.' ; ; VV And Jimmy, with a most relieved look on his face, left the house. A chill November wind was blowing, and everything about the farm looked dreary and' frost-bitten. Jimmy cut across what had been two big corn-fields. At the end of one stood the remains of a deserted chicken house, well sheltered from view by a row of sturdy oak trees. At his approach a small shaggy dog arose barking joyously, and tugged frantically at the rope which fastened him to the chicken house. , . ./i."'■- . -,-,' ; Hush, there now, Comrade,' said Jimmy, fondly hugging him, while the dog licked his face and hands in an ecstacy of delight; 'some one might hear, you.' ""•'•-"„ He fed the little dog, petting and talking to him all the while. ■ : ' .; . /, ,1 T j. 1 Oh, Comrade' he said sadly, ' how will I ever part with you? But it's got to come. I never can keep you; pa's so dead set against dogs! . •„'-,"'• .- ,-' * : . V. Jimmy knew better than to;ask. his father if he might keep Comrade. When Mr. Spencer was a young man hp had been -severely bitten by a dog, and since then had both hated and feared them. In spite of all the advice of his neighbors, that she should keep a watch-dog,%and the entreaties of Jimmy to have a dog as all the other boys had, he had remained firm, declaring he would never have one on his farm. ' .:-'-.. „ , ~,,, i- ' Jimmy met Comrade,? a poor forlorn little tramp, one rainy afternoon on his way home from school. The two had become friendly at once, and* Jimmy, in spite of many twinges of conscience, had hidden the little dog # . in the chicken house. But his better . judgment told him that he could" not keep him tied there, and that sooner or later his father would discover the dog. ;'.>..

i ■.-,, After'many: pats and advice to 'be a good dog and keep still,. Jimmy said good-bye to f Comrade and slowly returned to the house He had finally /made up his mind to tell his mother all about it, and see what she would say, secretly hoping that she would undertake to plead with his rather to keep the dog. ■- ' f; V, ,/ . ; -,■ 0. >.-.-*,■' r -j <r- • Now, Jimmy,' said Mrs. Spencer, -when he told her. you know better than think of such a thing! Your father would never consent, and besides, he's nearly worried to death trying to raise money to. pay the mortgage on Friday, and he must not be bothered. Go and untie the ho S se' m: rU " &Way! D ° n ' t bring him near tho ■ 1 Jimmy didn't trust himself , to speak, and turning abruptly, left the house. He wandered around, trying to get up courage. Finally he made his way to the chicken house, and slowly untied Comrade. The little dog frisked gaily about, expecting a frolic. Jimmy led him out on the road, and they walked along some distance. Soon a farmers waggon was heard coming down the road, and a jolly voice hailed Jimmy: 'Want a lift, youngster lu' mi ' I don't want one, but wish you would give my dog one,' replied Jimmy. J , 6 'Trying to lose him?' said the man. 'Alright, I'll take him along a pace or two. Tie him in, behind those barrels. , , -.. "Slowly Jimmy lifted Comrade up, and tied him in the wagon. -"-■■", \ ;>;■.-: ,-/"■■- .-.;:;-> v-.. .'.',;';■>; ' There, now,' he said brokenly, ' I'll always remember you, Comrade, and don't you ever forget me, will you old fellow ? ' ■ With a last hug, he turned without a word of thanks to the man, and ran sobbing down the road. When he reached home, his mother was ■ standing at the door, waiting anxiously for him. -' , ..■ ' It's about time for father to be back from town; he started out early this afternoon,' she said. It commenced to grow dark, and still Mr. Spencer did not come. Mrs. Spencer started to get supper. At last the sound of wagon wheels was heard coming along the road, and soon old Ned's head turned in at the gate. Supper nearly ready ? called Mr. Spencer cheerily. I was delayed in town a bit.' -" .': ' : Jimmy helped his father unharness Ned, and then they went in to supper. Mr. Spencer seemed in better spirits 1 than he had been for months, and he failed to notice Jimmy's downcast face. . .;':- 'l've got the money,' he said to his wife. . ' I'll tell you all about' it after supper.' . . ; . So when the meal was over, the 'table cleared, and they were gathered about the cheerful grate fire, Mr. Spencer reached for his overcoat, which he had carefully placed on a chair beside him. ' Slowly he put his hand into ,an inside pocket; he quickly withdrew it, and drove his hand into a second pocket, then a third. Carefully he examined each pocket, then finally shook his coat. At last he sank into a chair, his face suddenly grown old and gray. Marie,' he said slowly, ' my. pocketbook. is gone! '...-., In vain his wife and Jimmy frantically searched the coat. A treacherous hole was found in one side of the deep inside pocket. It was through this. that the pocketbook must have slipped. It was a sad family that sat there and looked despair* ingly and hopelessly at each other. Suddenly Jimmy's heart gave a great bound, for something was scratching and whining outside the door. He sat motionless, as his mother rose and .opened the door. ~ - : V A shaggy little dog bounded in, making straight for Jimmy, and with a delightful little bark,,laid a small brown article at his, feet. .With one bound, Mr. Spencer had it in his hand. ; ;:"' - ''""' f\'-■'■';•■ -■v. My pocketbook!' he gasped. Opening it, * he found the contents undisturbed. / - *£r";v> s ■,-•.. .C". Trotting - up to Mr. Spencer, Comrade politely offered his paw. To the utter amazement of his wife arid Jimmy, ;* Mr. Spencer stooped and picked up the little dog in his arms. '/-.■" . * .".- ",'"'•" ' : "'■". Mother,' he said, 'couldn't you find something for this splendid little fellow to eat ? ~ , v BAD NOVELS AND PLAYS : ; The quality of the literature read by our youth determines their mental. and moral decay and ruin. Everything that does not elevate our minds and I increase our capacity for pure thoughts, leaves disease spots on our delicate brain-cells. When we stimulate the physiological i| process of the hrain in a certain direction, we must" expect it to work in the capacity for which it was trained. The thoughts, even though they are not uttered, are able to leave a path over which other brain impressions can travel. FRIENDSHIP The way to have a friend is to be a friend. ': •:•. Life is made up to most of I us of little things, and many , a; friendship withers through sheer 5 neglect. ; ,~ ;' /• .: ; ':, Hearts are ■• alienated, because each is waiting for some great occasion for displaying affection. ' ' The .great spiritual value of friendship is the opportunity it affords for

service,; and if these are neglected it is only to be expected that the gift should be taken from us. / ; : I Friendship, which begins with sentiment, will not live and thrive on sentiment. There must be loyalty, which finds expression: in service. It is not the greatness of the help or the intrinsic value of the gift, which gives its worth, but the evidence it is of love and thoughtfulness. '• V JUST IN TIME A lady was very solicitous about her health. Every trifle made her uneasy, and the doctor was called immediately. , The doctor was a skilful man, and consequently had a large ;1 practice. It was: very disagreeable for him to be so often called away from his other cases for nothing, and he resolved to take an opportunity of letting the lady see this. One day the lady observed a red spot on her hand, and at once sent for the doctor. He came, looked at her hand, and said: .' ' ': ,' You did well to send for me early.' The lady looked alarmed, and asked: f Is it dangerous, then? ' - ■ Certainly not,' replied the doctor. To-morrow the spot would have disappeared, and I should have lost my fee for this visit.' % \ ; " * THE OTHER GANG Here is a story, and a good one; the incident actually happened (says the Newark Monitor): Some weeks ago, when the great Holy Name parades were taking place in New Jersey, four or five men from a little interior town in the State, resolved to go to Jersey City to witness these demonstrations. In the party was a whole-souled Irishman, proud of his, fellow-Catholics and rather boastful of their numbers and achievements, ' and a non-Catholic, who had travelled little, and so was filled with a narrow provincialism quite natural under the circumstances. As the mighty body of men marched along, parish after, parish falling into line, the non-Catholic was overcome with astonishment at their numbers, and he said to the Irishman 'I never knew there were so many Catholics in New Jersey!' And the Irishman answered: 'Sure, that is nothing. Them's only the fellows that don't swear. You ought to see the gang that does.' CHINESE EPIGRAMS Some hunts are vainno earthly gain has he , .Who searches for his needle in the sea. • As the long string will let the kite s go high, So a long purse a world of things will buy. Although the drum you carry be beaten in, Stick to your standarddo not yield to sin. An honest beggar i is by far more fair ■■'.' . Than the high-headed, tricky millionaire. THE WORD « LADY * "When a woman has to advertise herself as a lady beforo it is found out by others, she should mend her manners. It is always a subject for a quiet smile when a ' young lady advertises for a position as a general servant, and, more than that, no one wants her. That she may be a lady and still do that work is a recognised fact. When a woman says ' My daughter is a young lady ' it sometimes. provokes the wonder how the girl comes to be a lady, as she is not one b„' inheritance. There is no higher title than to be a woman. Let a woman be a lady and others will give her the honor of the title, but it is showing ignorance when she persists in calling herself a lady when propriety dictates that she should call herself a woman. FAMILY FUN Will a Needle Float? There are \ several ways of making a needle float on the surface of the water. The simplest way is to place a piece of tissue paper on the water and lay the needle on it the paper soon, becomes soaked with water '.. and sinks to the J bottom, while ; the needle is left 'floating on the top. Another method is to : hang ; the needle in two slings made of threads, which;must be carefully drawn away ; as soon as the t needle floats. If you magnetize a sewing needle by rubbing it on a fairly strong magnet, and float it on the water, it will make an extremely sensitive « compass, and'' if you place ; two needles on the water at the same time you will see them slowly approach ! each other until they float - side, by side—that . is, if they do i not strike together so heavily as to cause them to sink.