The Family Circle

New Zealand Tablet, 10 July 1919, Page 45

The Family Circle

THE OLD PLAYGROUND. Our schooldays they come to us Like shadows through T the haze; We view the kindly faces, and we Mind the kindly ways Of all the little boys " and girls We played with long ago. Upon the old school playground, Those curly heads of tow.

And too the bright and laughing eyes Are looking through the mist The years have flung about us, ■■ That we forget I wist; But all the old-time friendships Learn to linger if we say, "I'd love to take you romping Out upon that ground to-day !"

I'd love to take you romping out Upon the old broad walk, I'd fain go with you arm in arm 7 To have an old-time talk ; I'd like to see you. hustle at The tap of recess bell, A topsy-turvy one and all —■ I'm weary as I tell.

A sad old sight 'tis some would make Upon that ground to-day, With blear old eyes and memories That lead them far away; Of home ties sadly torn, alack: The world were none too kind

I'd walk with you and tell it all, If you, old chum, don't mind.

How many paths that led away From that old hurtling spot: How many faces die in mist, How many joys forgot ! How dear to us 'twill ever be, The feast that youth hath spread ; Alas! how many of our throngAll silent, now lie dead !

OUR'LADY OF SORROWS. Catholics are wont to consider that significant appellation "Mother of Sorrows" as ranking next to Our. Lady's most glorious title, "Immaculate Mother of God." Every true mother participates in a marked degree in her, children's sorrow. So Mary, who was the best of mothers, was permitted by her Divine Son to feel the bitterness of Calvary's Sacrifice. Sorrow purifies a mother's love.

'The Man of Sorrows, in confiding Our Lady to the beloved St, John's care, would have us to take His Mother of Sorrows to our hearts and hold her as our very own.

Who has not known the healing power of Our Sorrowful;, Mother during sickness, trials, and gloomy days? Whose consolation was more; soothing than the Blessed Mother’s when death’s angel deprived us of a loved one? Who can sympathise like a mother? If we but seek Our Lady of Sorrows’, intercession when disconsolate, she will , prove a veritable “Mother most amiable.” :; y ;o # ~*»•••„.,, wear's nave passed since we knelt at love’s 'dreary shrine called a mother’s grave. How we thought then that our cup of sorrow was indeed .filled to the : very brim. . But we . said { the . * ‘Hail Mary,’’ which mother, now cold in death, had placed on our. baby lips. rid as we left the dead, courage was renewed in our sad heart, courage ,to take our plate among ; the living and fight - life s battles, confident of Our Lady of Sorrows’ daily guidance. M —Father Jerome Gross, Q.P. - 1- ■ ■ , . . . \V\r\-A ‘ ■ ' '

POPE BENEDICT XV.

The New York World correspondent was recently received in audience by Pope Benedict, with other American journalists. In giving his impressions•'' of the. personality of the Holy ; Father, he says"I had a very good opportunity a few hours before to meet his Holiness in * the same chamber where he received the President, and yl have no doubt that he made very much the same impression en the President that he made on me. : Within three minutes I made up my mind that the Pontiff was of an unusual type of men. In stature he is probably sft sin. His figure was concealed by the long white robe of most exquisite texture that reached from collar to the ground;'l concealing the low-cut shoes of white leather in which feet were encased. <:• jossß •■

His only ornaments were a belt of whit&tsatin richly embroidered in purple and gold, and of course the Fisherman's ring. .-....--.-.-_ The small, round, well-shaped head, set squarely on the narrow, sloping shoulders of the Pontiff, was surmounted by a cap of the sort worn by the humblest monks of the Trappist Order, though it was of "1 white velvet. The only word that' could accurately describe the face of the Pope was that it is "sprightly." .The features, , though small, are exceedingly well chiselled. The nose is of the pronounced Roman type. The forehead is high and broad, the cheeks full and round, with a healthy glow, and the jaw strong, almost aggressive. The severity of the lower part of the face of the Pontiff, however, is softened by the firm, full lips that incline upward at the corners and through, which flash an unusually regular array of small milky white teeth. The ears, fringed by coal black hair in which there gleam fugitive skeins of silver, are almost perfectly modelled, and stand generously away from the. head. But by far the most attractive feature of the Pontiff's face is his eyes. They suggested at once the student, and dreamer, "the eyes of introspection, that look in as well as out." They are of dark brown, and there is in the conformation of the brows, almost a suggestion of the Oriental. And how they sparkle with kindliness and animation ! I do not believe I have- ever looked into more friendly or patient eyes than those of Pope Benedict, nor into any two in which there lurked so -much good humor. They are the sort of eyes that register the keenest appreciation of a good story. - - " When he talks, the face of the Pope lights up with wonderful mobility, his eyes seem to emphasise with exact appropriateness each point he seeks. to make. His voice is soft and musical, but firm and of great, carrying volume. His enunciation is delightfully clear and distinct. For a full five minutes during the interview that he accorded a score of American- newspaper correspondents and officers who were granted a special audience, the words of welcome uttered by the Pontiff flowed in a mellifluous flood, always in splendid control.

NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

Little Jackie had just finished his tea. "Oh, mother," he sighed, ecstatically, "I do love cake! It's awfully nice!" y " . ,' "' But mother didn't like her son's habit of using fervent language. * _>~ '.', , '_'.:• '. _ "You shouldn't say you 'love' cake, sonny," ; she ..reproved gently. "You should say you like it. And 'awfully' is the wrong word. You should use 'very.' Now, dear, say the sentence over again, correctly:" "I .like cake; it's very nice," repeated Jackie, obediently. ... :..-■-'.;.■:.? j.imsi"», mat s fatten octier, saict his mother approvingly. ' -. , . ,a; 'V • But Jackie looked disgusted. :; v: -uvTi ,; "Sounds just as if I was talking about -bread he muttered. .. . . V,,.-., r Vn

NO VISITS FOR THEM.

.-•■.' : The kirk was in urgent need of repair, and Sandy McNab, a" very popular member, had 'been i invited to collect subscriptions for the purpose. ■rs.Sihca.'tM.:

One day the minister met Sandy walking irreso-1 lately along the road. f The good man? at once guessed ! the cause. V t .. ‘ : “Sandy,” he said, earnestly, “I’m sorry to see ye in this state.”.,-: .... -j: •.••• ; ; p.. -,v;. •>•; ' “Ah, weel, it’s for the good o’ the cause,” replied the delinquent happily. ? “Ye see, ! : meenister, it’s a’ through these subscreeptions. I’ve been doun the glen collectin’ fun’s, an’ at every hoose they made me hae a wee drappie.” ; .. ..;-.-/re > .1 ■ “Every house! But—-but surely, Sandy, there are some of the kirk members who axe teetotallers?” “Aye, there are but I wrote tae * those PARDONABLE CURIOSITY. ; A commercial traveller was advised by a friend to call on a certain tradesman with whom he had no account. He took the hint, called on the man, and. was received most genially. “May I show you my samples?” inquired the traveller. The tradesman had no objection, and from an insignificant-looking bag the visitor produced quit© a surprising quantity of specimen goods. “Well,” said the affable shopkeeper, when the bag was at last emptied, “there’s only one thing I want to-day.” Out -came the order book. “Thank you, Mr. Rinks,” remarked the traveller delighted at opening a new account : “and what is that?” “Why,” was the reply, “I want to see how you’re going to get all those samples into that little bag again!” SMILE RAISERS. Customer: “I’ve had two bottles of your stuff to make the hair grow, and it hasn’t done it.” Baxher; “That’s very odd. I don’t quite understand it.” Customer: “Well, look here. I don’t mind drinking another bottle, but that’s the last.” O 7 Benevolent Old Gent; “But that is not the same tale that you told me a few days ago, you know, my man!” Cheerful Mendicant: “No, mister; you didn’t believe that one.” “Happiness,” declaimed the philosopher, “is only the pursuit of something, not the catching of it!” “Oh, I don’t know',” answered the plain citizen. “Have you ever chased the last train on a rainy night Teacher: “Willie, have you whispered to-day without permission?” Willie: “Only wunst,” Teacher: “Johnny, should Willie have said * wunst ’ ?” Johnny; “No‘xn— should have said twist.” Vamper (having failed for the third time to get the key of the air, hummed over by a bush vocalist) ; “I’ve tried you on the white ones, and on the black ones, and on the white ,£iid black ones mixed. It’s no useyou’re singing between the cracks!”