The Family Circle

New Zealand Tablet, 8 April 1920, Page 45

The Family Circle

A LEGEND OF THE LILIES. . ' Once, ’tis said, the dainty lilies - " Not St. Joseph’s lilies tall, But the lilies of the valley. Purest, sweetest flowers -of all Once, the 'heads now shyly bending With the wealth of snowy bells, Were in conscious beauty lifted. So at least the legend tells. Said the lilies, one day whispering: “Earth has nothing half- so fair. Half so pure, as we white lilies, And the spotless robes we wear. “Every fragrant chalice lifted, Holds an incense sweet and rare, And within our hearts deep hidden, Is a perfume like a prayer.” So tho lilies, low communing, Spoke in arrogance and pride— When among them walked a maiden, ■ In her beauty glorified. Glorified beyond all telling, And the purity she shed, From her gentle, modest glances. Made each lily hide its head. It was Mary, Jesus’ mother, Who among the lilies went— Since that day, in silent homage? Every lily’s head is bent! —Mary Corroy. HOW HE WON A SCHOLARSHIP. The principal of a school in which boys were prepared for college one day received a message from a lawyer living in the same town requesting him to call at his office, as he wished to have a talk with him. Arriving at the office, the lawyer stated that he had in his gift a scholarship entitling a boy to a four years’ course in a college and that he wished to bestow it where it would be best used. .“Therefore,” he continued, “I Jiavo concluded to let you decide which boy of your school most deserves it.” “This is a hard question to decide,” replied the teacher, thoughtfully. “Two of my pupils— Hart and Henry Strong— complete the course of study in my school this year. Both desire a collegiate education, and neither is able to attain it without assistance. They are so nearly equal that I cannot tell which is the better scholar.”

"Well," said the lawyer, "if at the end of the year one boy has not gone ahead of the other, send them to me, and I will decide between them." As before, at the closing examination, the boys stood equal in attainments. They were directed to the lawyer's office, no information being given as to the object of the visit. Two intelligent, well-bred boys they seemed, and the lawyer was beginning to wonder greatly how he should make a decision between them. Just then the door opened and an elderly lady of peculiar appearance entered. She was well known as being of unsettled mind and possessed of the idea that she had been deprived of a large fortune which was justly hers. As a consequence she was in the habit of visiting lawyers' offices, carrying in her hands a package of papers, which she wished examined. She was a familiar visitor at this office, where she was received with respect, and dismissed with kindly promises of help. This morning, seeing that the lawyer was already occupied with others, she seated herself to await his leisure. Unfortunately the chair she selected was broken and had been set aside as useless. The result was that she fell in a rather awkward manner, scattering her papers about the floor. The lawyer looked with a quick eye at the boys before moving himself, to see what they would d. 6. " Charley. Hart, after an amused survey of the fall, turned to hide a laugh he could not control. Henry Strong sprang to the woman's side, and lifted her to her feet. Then, carefully gathering up her papers, he politely handed them to her. Her profuse: and rambling thanks only served to increase Charley's amusement. After the lady

had told her customary story, to - which the lawyer ; listened with every appearance, of attention, he escorted 4 Her to the door and she departed. :.f : . : 0- * | > Then he turned' to the boys - and, after expressing pleasure at having formed their acquaintance, he 1 dismissed r them. The next day ’the teacher, was informed of the occurrence, and told that the scholarship would be given to Henry Strong, with the remark: “No one so ell deserves to be benefited as he who feels it his duty to help the humble and the lowly/’ TWO TIMES. Two little girls are better than one. Two little boys can double the ” fun. Two little birds can build a fine nest, Two little arms can Icve mother best, Two little ponies must go to a span, Two little pockets has my little man. Two little eyes to open and close. Two little ears and one little nose, - ; ; 'i Two little elbows, dimpled and sweet, .: i; Two little shoes on two little feet. l;V Two little lips and one little chin, Two little checks with a rose set in. Two little shoulders chubby and strong, Two little legs running all day long. Two little prayers does my darling say. Twice does he kneel by my side each day, Two little folded hands soft and brown, Two little eyelids cast meekly down. And two little angels guard him in bed. One at the foot and one at the head. ' CULTIVATE YOUR CHILD’S CONFIDENCE. A little child begins by “telling mother” everything. Bumps or bruises, joys or sorrows, all are brought to her as naturally as the child draws breath, and this continues as long as ho is totally unconscious of himself as an individual.- The time for special care is when he becomes aware of himself as a separate entity. From this time on, a cold look, an indifferent air, an uninterested attitude, a word of ridicule or sarcasm, may wound the child’s sense of confidence or justice so deeply that he will shrink within himself and never again show his inmost thoughts or most sacred feelings to his mother or to anyone else. Incalculable harm is done through thoughtlessness, even by the most devoted parents, in failing to recognise this stage of the child’s development and to reverence his individuality and his right to it. The mother loses the greatest power, for good she possesses, and misses the greatest joy and recompense she can have by not sharing her child’s hopes and fears, his troubles and triumphs. The bitter experience will come to her sooner or later of realising that her child is sharing these with another person, who must, therefore, be spiritually nearer to him than she is. There are a few absolutely certain ways of avoiding this catastrophe which have been used over and over again by wise and devoted mothers. One is, never fail to listen attentively and sympathetically, no matter at what inconvenience, giving your best wisdom to help your child see his problem clearly for himself. Another is, respect your child as a spiritual being, an individual as different from all other individuals as God meant him to be. Meet him on his own ground, and do not try to make him conform to a pattern of your own. Respect your child’s confidence absolutely. Once betrayed, it may never bo given again. CATHOLIC FURNITURE. Every Catholic home should contain certain articles which we shall call, for the sake of convenience. Catholic' furniture. The pictures on the wall, the crucifix in its place of honor, the little ornamentation of the house should speak and do speak the character of its occupants. There is’ one, however, perhaps more important than the rest, and that is the books which are kept and used in every home. They need not be many in number, if they are well chosen. We subjoin a short list of books (says an exchange) that should be found in every Catholic home: Catholic Bible. " •■■■"■'-'■l The Life of Christ. Life of the Blessed Virgin. Short Lives of the Saints. , yy Bible History. ‘ Bible Stories for Children. - i. Books on Catholic Instruction. x Books on Catholic Piety. ' y Catholic Magazines. The local Catholic paper. ‘ V: With this small library it will be possible not only to understand the faith, but to be familiar with the events of tho day. , . ,

,‘. ‘ - . THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH.* . - ;>V' --. An unpopular officer in^the British Army ; one .night slipped into some deep water, and a private who happened to see the accident pulled him out. The officer was very profuse in his thanks, and . asked his rescuer how he could reward him.’ - .'" , ■ ; ■■■ ; ‘ • “The very best way you can reward me,” replied the private, “is to say nothing about it.” “Why, my good fellow,” asked the astonished superior, “do you really mean that you wish me to say nothing about it?” • “Ay !If the other fellows knew I pulled you out they’d soon chuck me in!” was the frank response. THE SECRET WAS OUT. It was the custom some years ago for a publican and his wife to preside over a lottery and goose • club every Christmas. The country folk round . about always took part in it, with the hope of getting a cheap goose or the price of one. The publican also took tickets for it, and somehow always came off well, occasionally winning as many as half of the prizes. The simple country f oik wondered'at this, but attributed it to good luck. The prizes were drawn as ■ follows; —Small pieces of metal were cut and numbered and put into a large bag, and drawn by the publican’s young daughter. One Christmas the drawing was proceeding gaily, when suddenly there came a stop. The little girl was puzzled, and held her hand in the bag for a long time. Her father called for her to be quick, and was almost stunned when she replied: “I can’t find the hot one, father.” SMILE RAISERS. Youth: “Got a job as shop-boy, sir?” Shopkeeper; “My lad, I do all the work myself.” Youth; “That’s just the sort o’ place I want.” “My boy,” said the uncle, “when I was your age I thought, like you, that I knew everything; but now 1 have reached the conclusion that I know nothing.” “I reached that conclusion about you years ago,” murmured the irrepressible nephew. “Just fancy, Willie, years ago these fields were covered by the sea, and fish were swimming where we stand!” “Yes, papa, here’s an empty salmon tin I” “How old is your baby brother?” asked little Tommy of a playmate. “One year old,” replied Johnny. “Ah!” exclaimed Tommy, “I’ve got a dog a year old and he can walk twice as well as your brother.” “Well, so he ought to,” replied Johnny; “he’s got twice as many legs.” Little seven-year-old James came home from school the first day with a determined look on his face. He was decided ,on one point. “Mother,” he cried, “I’m going to leave school and become a school teacher! * “Why, James,” said his mother, laughing, “how can you? You don’t know enough.” ■ “Don’t know' enough!” exclaimed the would-be teacher. “You don’t have to know anything. All you have to do is to ask questions!” Jones had stuck the beach concert as long as he could, and was just moving off when he was collared by the man with the hat. Jones’s face beamed. “Ah, here you are at last!” he exclaimed, helping himself liberally. “I knew you wouldn’t expect us to stand all that row for nothing. But you were a deuced long time coming round!” CLINCHER CYCLE TYRES are guaranteed six, nine twelve, and fifteen months. If your dealer is out of stock, try the next Cycle Shop.