The Family Circle

New Zealand Tablet, 20 October 1921, Page 45

The Family Circle

THE LITTLE BOY'S LAMENT. Oh, why must I always be washed so clean And scrubbed and drenched for Sunday, When you know very well, for you've always seen, That I'm dirty again on Monday? ? My eyes are filled with the lathery soap, Which adown my ears is dripping, And my smarting eyes I can scarcely ope, And on my lips the suds are slipping. It's down my neck and up my nose, ) v And to choke mo you seem to be trying; That I'll shut my mouth you need not suppose, For how can I keep from crying? You rub as hard as ever you can, And your hands are hard, to my sorrow; No woman shall wash me when I'm a man, And I wish I was one to-morrow. , GRACE BEFORE AND AFTER MEALS. A good old Catholic custom, which nowadays appears to be more "honored in the breach than the observance," was that of saying grace before and after meals. It is still followed, of course, in genuinely Catholic families, as in religious communities; but all too often it is abridged to a perfunctory Sign of the Cross, if it is not entirely forgotten or suppressed. Very many twentieth-century Catholics would be benefited by some such lesson as King Alfonso of Aragon once gave his courtiers. Observing that they did not ask a blessing before their meals, or return thanks after them, he invited a beggar to the royal table, forbidding him most strictly either to make a bow on entering the dining hall or to express his gratitude on departing. The beggar obeyed orders, and went away without a word or sign of thanks. The courtiers were highly incensed at this lack of good breeding, but the king checked their complaints, saying: "Is not this exactly how you yourselves act towards your Heavenly King? You neither ask a blessing nor return thanks, and accordingly He has much more reason to be indignant with you than you have to abuse that poor mendicant." THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOWER. I read a story the other day of an angel that came from Heaven down to this world. He roamed through the fields and cities, and when his roaming was over, he said: "Now that I am through this visit on the earth, I'.must gather some mementoes of my trip." And he looked at the beautiful flowers in the garden and said: "How lovely and fragrant!" So he plucked some roses and he looked further and said: "Ah, a bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked child! That baby is prettier than the flowers, and I will have to take that." And then he looked and saw a mother sitting beside the cradle. "Ah, that mother's love is the prettiest thing I have seen on earth. I will take that, too." And with these three treasures he went back, and he said as he stopped in front of the gate. "Before I go in I must examine my mementoes." He looked at the flower, and it had withered. At the baby's smile and it had faded. He looked at the mother's love and it glistened in. all its beauty. He threw away the withered flowers and cast away' the faded smile and with the mother's love pressed to his heart, he passed through the gates into the heavenly city, crying to the angels in glory: "The only thing I could find that would keep fragrant, from earth to Heaven, is a mother's love." — The Llguorian. ;.).•'(■. :-/.'■.."/£:'.; '"" ■;'.: c /','■

LITANY OF THE PATRON SAINTS OF THE DIOCESES OF IRELAND. Lord have mercy on the children of Ireland. Christ have mercy on the children of Ireland. Lord have mercy on the children of Ireland. Christ have mercy on the children of Ireland. God, the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on the children of Ireland. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on the children of Ireland. God the Holy Ghost, Protector of the Elect,. Have mercy on the children of Ireland. Holy Mary, conceived without original sin, i All ye holy Angels and Archangels, \ \ All ye holy Orders of Blessed Spirits, ... , I St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, « St. Brigid, Patroness of Ireland, ? St. Malachy, Patron of the Archdiocese of Armagh, = SS. Lawrence and Kevin, Patrons of the Archdiocese o of Dublin, ~ g St. Albert, Patron of the Archdiocese of Cashel, § St. Jarlath, Patron of the Archdiocese of Tuam, 2, SS. Columcille and Eugenius, Patrons of the Diocese 3 of Derry, % SS. Conleth and Brigid, Patrons of the Diocese of Kildare, St. Callan, v Patron of the Diocese of Down, St. Macanisius, Patron of the Diocese of Connor, St. Macartan, Patron of the Diocese of Clogher, ' St. Felim, Patron of the Diocese of Kilmore, St. Mel, Patron of the Diocese of Ardagh, St. Colman, Patron of the Diocese of Dromore, St. Eunan, Patron of the Diocese of Raphoe, / SS. Laserian and Ciaran, Patrons of the Dioceses of Leighlin and Ossory, St. Aidan, Patron of Ferns, St. Alibe, Patron of the Diocese of Emly, St. Colman, Patron of the Diocese of Cloyne, St. Fachanan, Patron of the Diocese of Ross, St. Flannan, Patron of the Diocese of Killaloo, ? St. Finbarr, Patron of the Diocese of Cork, St. Munchin, Patron of the Diocese of Limerick, ° St. Brendan, Patron of the Diocese of Ardfert, £ SS. Otteran and Carthage, Patrons of the Dioceses of £ Waterford and Lismore, £ St. Asicus, Patron of the Diocese of Elphin, =» St. Nathy, Patron of the Diocese of Achonry, 2 St. Colman, Patron of the Diocese of Kilmacduagh, ll St. Nicholas, Patron of the Diocese of Galway, §. St. Fachanan, Patron of the Diocese of Kilfenora, St. Muredach, Patron of the Diocese of Kilalla, / Pray for us, 0 holy Patron Saints of the Dioceses of Ireland, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us Pbay. 0 holy Saints of Ireland, whose names are still in benediction in the dioceses where in past ages you exercised spiritual rule, intercede for the children of Ireland, that they may retain and glory in the faith which St. Patrick preached to their forefathers. O holy Missionary Saints of Ireland, whose names are renowned in lands to which you bore the torch of faith, intercede for the children of Ireland, that they may be enabled to conduce to the spreading of that ever glorious light, and so, like you, arrive at a happy eternity. O all ye holy Irish Anchorites, who, fearing the seductions of the world, secluded yourselves therefrom, obtain for the children of Ireland the grace to suffer cheerfully the loss of earthly goods rather than yield to the temptations unceasingly placed in their path to allure them from their allegiance to the faith of their forefathers. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen. THE REAL SUCCESS. ', It isn't power or wealth or fame; It's holding fast to an honored name; / It's doing right in the face of sneers; "".' It's putting might in the place of fears; It's helping others to happiness•.■" ,; . '." , That means success t v -\

Not always crowned by a laurel wreath, ' It may be held by the man beneath Who's shabby but yet has the inner glow Of the eyes that see, and a heart to know That it's serving your fellows amid the stressThat means success! WHICH WAS SMARTER? An Inspector having gone into an elementary school, began what he called "a test in the powers of observation." He turned to the class and asked one of the pupils to give him a number. A smart little chap stood up and said "43." The inspector turned to the blackboard and wrote 34, but no one took any notice. Once more he turned to the class and asked a number, and another little boy said "29." The Inspector turned to the blackboard and wrote 92, but still no one corrected him. Feeling rather annoyed, he turned to the class and asked once more for a number. Then a bright little lad stood up and said: "Please sir, 77, and see if you can make a mess of that one."" WHY THEY WENT TO WAR. A certain king sent to another king, saying: "Send me a white pig with a blue tail, or else" The other, in a great rage, made the hasty' rejoinder v—"I have not got one; and if I had —" ' I On this weighty cause they went to war. After they had exhausted their armies and resources, and laid waste their kingdoms, they began to desire peace; but, before this could be secured, it was necessary that the insulting language that led to the trouble should be explained. "What could you mean," asked the second king of the first, "by saying, "send me a white pig with a blue tail, or else?' " "Why," said the other, "I meant a white pig with a blue tail, or else some other color. But what could you mean by saying, ' I have not got one, and if I had —?' " "Why, of course, if T had it I should have sent it to you." The explanation was satisfactory, and peace was accordingly concluded. Most quarrels are quite as foolish and needless as the war about the white pig with the blue tail. —Ave Maria. SMILE RAISERS. From an Otago school, —One of our pupils writing an essay on the skylark, states that, "The male bird is the better singer of the two for he has mqre time to practise than tho female." • ¥ Hostess: Well, Tommie, you can tell your mother for me that you are the best behaved boy at table I ever met. Tommie: Thank you, ma'am, but I'd rather not. Hostess Rather not —and why pray Tommie:" She'd think I was ill, ma'am, and send for the doctor. Didn't you know it is against the law to beg for money?" said the lady to the tramp at the back door. "I wasn't goin' t' beg for no money, ma'am." "It's just as bad to beg for bread." "I wasn't goin' t' beg for no bread, ma'am." "What were you going to beg for, then, pray?" "Only for one o' your photographs, ma'am." ■'.*,.■' In a school a member of the committee asked the members of a class which was under"examination, "What is the cause of the saltiness of the ocean?'' ... v Soon one little girl raised her hand. "You may tell," said the committee-man. "Salt fish, sir," said the pupil. - •■"".•