"I think I can use you over in my office. One of my clerks is going to leave me soon. When he goes, I shall notify you by letter. It will be in about ten days."

John was delighted. Surely his prayer had been answered now. When Mr Gray had departed, John, with his mother and Benny, went to May service and offered the Rosary and Benediction in thanksgiving for the blessings they had received.

"Wasn't it strange, mother," said John, after they had finished, "that I found the wallet just as I was about giving up hope. See how it has led to Mr. Grey's offering me a position."

"It was strange, John. It very often happens that our prayers are answered in a way we little expect."

At the end of the time mentioned by Mr. Gray, John entered that gentleman's office, there to begin a most promising career.

He never ceased to be grateful to our Blessed Lady for his good fortune, and he was often known to grace her statue, in the church which he attended, with the most beautiful flowers he could procure.

For the first and best set of answers to the puzzles in May, June and July numbers, a bat and ball, a foot-ball, an autograph album or a work box will be awarded.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS' CADETS.

BY AQUINAS.

THERE is a martial spirit born in every boy—in every girl also we may say a spirit of fight. If in no other manner, they will at least fight for their own way very naturally, and therefore it remains for those in whose care God has placed them so to train them that they will put their way according to God's law, and then the fight will ever be for the right, a just, a noble, and a holy one.

The boyish hands that in to-day's sport toss the ball and swing the bat will cast the votes for the future, and the destiny of the country will be in their keeping. Hence too much cannot be done to teach boys to revere and to obey the laws of country, of the Church and of God.

Societies of a military character appeal to this martial spirit in the boy; hence are they for many more effective for good than are sodalities.

Intemperance and disobedience to lawful authority, two great evils of this age, are the enemies against which the youth of St. Vincent Ferrer's parish engage to fight, when they enlist in the ranks of the St. Thomas Aquinas Cadets. Boys cannot be admitted to the Cadets until after they have made their first Holy Communion. The cadets are divided into three companies. Three evenings in the week are devoted to them, one for each company, during which they are trained in calisthenic exercises and military tactics, and the drum and fife corps in martial music. They possess a well-stocked armory; their uniforms are pretty and graceful.

At a regular hour the roll is called and with equal exactness is the hour of dismissal observed, so that parents know always at what moment to expect the cadets to reach home.

The rules enforced at the armory are as far as practical, those which govern United States armories. To these are added special rules for the reception of the Sacraments and for the warfare against intemperance. The cadets pledge themselves to total abstinence till they are twenty-one, and also against even the carrying of intoxicating drinks.

It was a day ever to be remembered by the cadets, that upon which their beautiful flag, the gift of the Sunday School teachers, was solemnly blessed, at High Mass in St. Vincent Ferrer's. Long may the Flag of our country wave in the light of the Cross! Long

may obedience to the laws of country, of the Church and of God. preserve in the hearts of the St. Thomas Aquinas Cadets the angelic virtue of purity.

THE BLESSING OF THE FLAG

GLOWING and red, as the blood that was shed
On many a battle field;

Spotless and bright, as the lives chaste-white
In noblest of struggles sealed;

Heaven's own azure, with red and white blend,
Star-gemmed e'en as the firmament;
Tri-colored standard, starred and barred
Never by stain of dishonor marred!
Silken thy folds and thy staff secure
Lifted aloft by the young and pure!
Fearlessly keep they their Altar tryst,
Bearing thee e'en to the feet of Christ!
Oh! in the light of His Cross alway,
Flag of our Country! wave e'en as to-day!

Do we defy those who fain would deny
That sons of Christ's Church can be
True to her laws, yet staunch to the cause
Of a country from bondage free?

Nay! Let no word of defiance ring,
But from the archives of glory bring
Records preserved from oblivion's mist
By truth, the unerring annalist!
Read of the Church who unfurled

Her standard, and 'neath it discovered a world;
Read in the names of its rivers and seas
What was their faith who discovered these.
Read in the names on the tombstones white
Their faith who died for freedom and right!
Oh! fearlessly keep ye your altar tryst-

Your Country's Flag bears the blessing of Christ!

WITH OTHER YOUNG FOLKS.

The charming dramas for young girls, prepared by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Indiana, for their pupils, the Ave Maria tells us, will be published for general use. "A World's Affair," a comedy will be the first to appear.

In the Children's Corner of the Catholic Mirror, we find the legend of the Fuchsia very sweetly versified by T. M. R.

We quote from "Old Fairy Scrapbag," a reply to one of its young people—it is in keeping with our own apostolate: “When our petitions are granted, we ought always to make a Novena of Thanksgiving."

The Merry Band is the catching title under which "Aunt Rowena" conducts the young folks department of the Michigan Catholic.

The Annals of Our Lady of The Sacred Heart, and Le Couteux Leader, have both a noble mission. The former to win help to the Apostolic School, Watertown, N. Y., for the education of poor boys with vocations to the priesthood; the latter, to win it for the school for deaf mutes in charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Buffalo, N. Y.

The Young Eagle, St. Clara's Convent, Sinsinawa Mound, Wis., and the Salve Regina, St, Mary's Academy, New Orleans, La., both issued by Daughters of St. Dominic, are bright journals of school life. We greet them warmly to our Exchange table.

NOTES,

Two hundred more young people have enlisted in the Angelic Warfare. Of these eighty-eight have come from the far off state of Washington. For conditions of membership see the March number of THE ROSARY. We shall be glad to hear from societies of the Angelic Warfare anywhere.

We acknowledge the receipt of one dollar from a Rosarian for the fund for little First Communicants. In this happy hour of their lives poor children will be tenderly cared for by the ST. JOSEPH'S AID, which aims at helping souls in both their first and last Holy Communion. Read the article "St. Joseph's Aid," in this present number

WE refer our young people to the list of prizes in the beginning of the April number. In addition to these we now have some fine White Mountain Views, oil paintings, which we shall give, according to value, to solicitors sending in from fifteen to one hundred subscribers.

A LEGEND OF THE ROSARY.

BY ANGELIQUE De Lande.

Long ago, in sunny Provence,
Dwelt a peasant maiden mild,
Orphaned in her early childhood,
She was called, "our Lady's child."

For the simple folk around her
Thought such little ones as she
Were by Mary's self protected,
'Neath her robe ofpurity.

So the maiden grew in beauty,
Modest as a wild-wood flower,
Walking in the path of duty,

Day by day, and hour by hour.

Bounteous Nature was her teacher; Books or pictures had she none Save the little chapel windows, Where was pictured Mary's Son.

There, at eve the child would linger

At her Blessed Mother's knee, And with simple fond devotion, Nightly say her Rosary.

Once, when she was over-weary,
She forgot her beads to say,
And, within her little chamber,
Slept her weariness away.

Suddenly a wondrous radiance

Filled the room with heavenly light,

And a perfume as of roses
Made her waking a delight.

For her eyes beheld a vision
Of a Lady, pure and fair,
Starry-crowned and azure-mantled,
'Twas our Lady standing there.