郝先生皺着眉頭，坐在那兒看報紙，他的太太看起來很生氣，彼此都不說話。小艾琳走進屋裏，到他父親那裡說：

「爸爸，跟我玩遊戲好嗎？」
父親很不耐煩的說：「我沒時間，我必須到俱樂部去。」

然後，這孩子拿了一本書，要求媽媽念故事給她聽。

「我要去看電影，快要遲到了，告訴珍妮帶妳去睡覺。」這是唯一的答案。小艾琳很傷心地上了樓，期望著她的母親和父親不要那麼不近人情。

   次日在學校裡，老師解釋耶穌聖心的特恩。下課時艾琳到老師那裡說：

 

「修女，請妳給我一張耶穌聖心像，我要帶回家。」修女就給了她。

「謝謝，修女，我相信我們將會有平安。」

   艾琳回了家，就跑進起居室，很快地將聖心像貼在牆上。

郝太太說：「艾琳，妳不可以在牆上貼東西。」

「但是，媽媽，耶穌聖心已經許諾：恭奉聖心像者，我要賞賜他家裡平安。我每次經過聖像前，我要說『耶穌聖心，我愛祢』然後，我們會有好的時光－爸爸和我玩遊戲，媽媽會講故事給我聽。」

   她的雙親緘默不語，記得這教訓。小聖心像留在牆上，過了些日子，因為艾琳常常親它，像就髒了。艾琳常常告訴耶穌聖心，她很愛祂，並求祂答應她的祈求。

   幾星期過去了，父親不再去俱樂部，母親對電影也不感興趣，家裡有了快樂的遊戲。

  一個黃昏，艾琳等著她的父親回來，她看見父親從車上拿了一大包東西，艾琳很興奮，也很好奇。

郝先生笑著說：「這是對耶穌聖心的感謝，因為祂履行了祂的諾言：

    「恭奉聖心像者，我要賜給他的家庭平安。」

  一個美麗的耶穌聖心像就掛在牆上。

艾琳靜靜的注視著聖像，一會兒，輕聲的說：

「親愛的耶穌聖心，現在我們全家都愛祢！」

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7.Sacred Heart of Jesus Gives Us Peace

       Mr. Howard, with a scowl on his face, sat reading the paper.   His wife was looking very angry.   Neither spoke until little Evelyn came into the room and, approaching her father, said, “Daddy, will you play ‘bear’ with me?  “I have no time, I must go to my club,” was the impatient answer.   Then the child took a book and asked her mother to read a story for her, only to receive the reply, “I am going to the movies and I shall be late, so tell Jane to put you to bed.”   Evelyn went sadly upstairs, wishing that her mother and father would not be so cross.

        The next day in school the teacher explained the promises of the Sacred Heart. When dismissal came, Evelyn approached the desk and said,   “Sister, will you please give me a picture of the Sacred Heart to take home?”   The teacher smiled and gave the child what she wanted.   “Thank you, Sister!  I know we shall be happy now.”

        When Evelyn reached home, she ran into the living room and quickly pinned the picture on the wall.   “Evelyn, you must not stick pins in the wall,” said Mrs. Howard.   “But, Mother, the Sacred Heart has promised that He will bring peace to the homes where His divine Heart is honored.   I am going to say, ‘Sacred Heart, I love You’ every time I pass this picture and then we will have a nice time, for Daddy will play games with me and you will read stories.”

        The parents said nothing but took the lesson to heart.   The little picture remained in its place, although in the course of time it became rather soiled, owing to the kisses which Evelyn imprinted on it.   Very often she told the Sacred Heart that she loved Him, and begged Him to answer her prayer.

        In a few weeks father no longer sought his club and mother had lost interest in movies.   Merry games were played at home.

        One evening as Evelyn waited for her father’s return, she saw him take from his car a large parcel which greatly excited her curiosity.   Mr. Howard smiled as he said,  “This is a thanks-offering to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for having fulfilled His promise, ‘I shall establish peace in the home where my Sacred Heart is honored!’”   It proved to be a beautiful picture to replace the small one. Evelyn gazed at it a few moments in silence, then softly said, “Dear Sacred Heart of Jesus, we all love You now!”