CRUSADERS FOR CHRIST
  • Blog
    • Staff only
  • About Us
  • Downloads
    • Catholic Homeschool - Study Guides
    • Handwriting
    • Student Planners
    • Coloring Pictures
    • St. Catherine's Academy Gazette
    • Printable Children's books
  • Catholic Reading
    • Books We Have Enjoyed
    • Saint of the Day
    • Just Stories
    • Chapter Books >
      • Jesus of Nazareth - The Story of His Life Simply Told
      • Little Therese
      • Lisbeth - The Story of a First Communion
    • Sermons for Children
    • This and That
    • The Blessed Mother for the Child in all of us!
  • For Moms
    • Popular Instructions on the Bringing Up of Children

Chapter Eight - The Arrival at Lisieux

2/26/2013

0 Comments

 
One autumn evening in the year 1877, a train from Alencon drew up at the station of Lisieux.

A cab was soon seen jolting over the ill-paved streets, passing by the old Norman houses, the picturesque medieval appearance of which gives the town a poetic touch in striking contrast to the black smoke rising from the tall factory chimneys. The cab stopped at the Place St. Pierre near the ancient Cathedral of the same name. A few inquisitive heads appeared at the windows, and some loiterers stood still to look at the newcomers.
 
The first to alight was a man about fifty. A little girl jumped out after him, and put her hand confidingly in his. A tall brown-haired girl came next followed by another, small and frail, and two younger children. They formed a charming group, but the shyness visible on all the young faces, together with their deep mourning, made the passersby look at them sympathetically and say to one another: "Poor children! they have probably just lost their mother."

The door of the house before which this interesting family had alighted now opened, and two little girls  rushed out, followed more sedately by their parents. For a few moments nothing was to be heard but delighted exclamations from the children, and the more sober greetings of their elders.

You w i l l easily have recognized the family I have described. The tall white-haired gentleman is Monsieur Martin, the father of Therese. But perhaps you would like to have a few more details about his children.

Marie, the eldest, was then in her eighteenth year. Hers was a sunny and affectionate nature. She was tenderly devoted to her sisters, who loved her dearly in  return. Her father called her his "Diamond," because she was always sparkling with fun and originality.

Pauline, aged sixteen, had just left school. She was shy and gentle, and her father's name for her was "Precious Pearl." But beneath her sweetness and her retiring ways was hidden remarkable force of will and judgment unusually well balanced.  Marie, who since  her mother's death had become mistress of the house, although herself possessing rare gifts of mind and heart, often had recourse to Pauline's advice in domestic affairs.

After Pauline came Leonie, aged thirteen. She too was gentle and retiring, her loving nature prompting her to constant unselfishness and self-effacement.

Celine was just eight, and somewhat shy, though her eyes danced with mischief, and she was full of life and spirits.

Therese, the little fair-haired Queen, was five. She won all hearts by her charming ways and her bright smile.

The four that came out to welcome the newcomers were Monsieur Guerin, brother-in-law of Monsieur Martin, his wife, and their two little daughters. Jeanne, the elder, a very intelligent child, was about the same age as Celine. Dark-eyed Marie, two years older than Therese, was a great rogue, and something of a tomboy.

This was the family which was henceforward to play so large a part in the life of Therese.
A printable file of this chapter as well as a coloring picture can be found below:
little_therese__chapter_8.pdf
File Size: 47 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

little_therese__8_color.pdf
File Size: 630 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

0 Comments

    Archives

    October 2013
    September 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All
    Chapter 1 - Birth Of Therese
    Chapter Eight
    Chapter Eighteen
    Chapter Eleven
    Chapter Fifteen
    Chapter Five
    Chapter Four
    Chapter Fourteen
    Chapter Nine
    Chapter Nineteen
    Chapter Seven
    Chapter Seventeen
    Chapter Six
    Chapter Sixteen
    Chapter Ten
    Chapter Thirteen
    Chapter Three
    Chapter Twelve
    Chapter Twenty
    Chapter Twenty-four
    Chapter Twenty-One
    Chapter Twenty-Three
    Chapter Twenty-Two
    Chapter Two
    Introduction
    Little Therese

    RSS Feed

© Crusaders for Christ 2012