The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-06-22
CAPITAL FUN

little later they would be scattered ir
Ievery direction at their play; but frs
they must attend to the contents of the
well filled pals and baskets where thei,
dinners are slowed away.
| "I should like to know" said Howard
tColby, "why Joe Green never comes out
here to eat his dinner with the rest of us
but always sneaks off somewhere till We
all get through"
"Guess he brings so many goodies that
he is afraid we shall rob him." reptile
another.
"Poh!" said Will Brown, throwing
himself back upon the grass, "more like
ly he does not bring anything at all. !
heard my father say the family must be
badly pinohed since Mr. Green was killed;
and mother said she did not pity them.
for folks had no business to be poor and
proud"
"Well," said Sam Merrill. "I know
Mary Green asked my mother to let her
have plain sewing to do; but then folks
do that sometimes that are not very poor. "
"And Joe is wearing his winter clothes
all this warm weather, and his pants are
patched behind; saw them," said How
ard Colby, with very complacent look
at his new spring suit of light gray
II tell you what boys" said Will
Brown, ''let's look tomorrow and see
what the fellow does bring, anyhow
You know he is always in his seat by the
time the first bell rings, and we can get
peep into his basket and then be in good
season for the roll call"
The boys agreed to this, all but Ned
Collins, who had sat quietly eating his
dinner and taking no part in the conver-
sation. Now he simply remarked, as he
brushed the crumbs from his lap:
Il cant see what fun there will be in
that and it looks real mean and sneaking
to me. [ am sure it is none Of our bust
ness what Joe brings for his dinner, or
where he goes to eat it."
"You're always such granny, Ned
Collins, said Will Brown contemptuous.
ly, "You'vesgot every one of your aunt
Sally's notions"
Ned could not bear to be laughed at,
and 1T made him little angry to hear his
kind old aunt sneered at, but his eyes
only flashed for minute. and then he
sprang up, shouting: gaa
"Hurrah, boys, let's have game of
football 9af
a In Eve minutes the whole playground
vas in an uproar Of fun and frolic.
The next mornsng, at the first stroke
of the bell, a half dozen roguish faces
peeped into the school room, and sure
enough, there was Joe Green busily ply
iRg his pencil over the problems of the
algebra lesson. 1t was but the work of
an instant to hurry into the little clothes
room, and soon the whole group were
pressing around Will Brown as he held
the mysterious basket in his hand. Among
them, in spite Of the remonstrance of yes
terday, was Ned Collins, with his face
fairly crimson with shame, or something
else; we shall see.
1T is big enough to hold day ration
for regiment said Howard Colby, as
Will pulled out nice, white napkin.
Next came whole newspaper, large
one, too; and then in the bottom of the
basket one poor little cold potato. That
was all. Will held it up with comical
or mace, and the boys laughed and cheer
ed as loud as they dared in the school
house.
'sSee here" said Howard, ''let's throw
it away and fill the basket with coal and
things; it will be such fun to see him
open it
The boys agreed, and the basket was
soon filled aud the napkin placed careful
fully on the top, and before the bell COM
menced toiling they were on their way
dow stairs.
Ia Ill -
the room, and no sooner did the last head
disappear than, quick as flash, he emp
tied the coal into the box again, replaced
the paper, and half filled the basket, large
as it was, with the contents of the bright
tin pail that aunt Sally delighted to store
with dainties for her darling's diuner.-
Ned was in his seat almost as soon as the
rest. aud all through the forenoon he
looked quite as guilty as the rest, as he
saw the sly winks that were exchanged
! between them. Noon came and there
was the usual rush to the clothes room
for dinner baskets, but instead of going
out to the yard the boys fingered about
the door and hall. Straight by them
marched Ned Collins, with his pail on his
arm.
sHello, Ned" said Sam Merrill, "where
are You going now?"
"Hon!e;'' said Ned laughing. al saw
aunt Sally making chicken pie this
morning, and they cant cheat me out OF
my share" r}4a.a. .-.-.z
'"Ask me to go too,'' shouted Howard
Colby; but just at that moment they spied
Joe Green carrying his basket into the
school room. i....s.l-;
II should think: he'd suspect some
thing" whispered Will Brown, shat Goa
must be awful heavy
Zoe disappeared into the school room
and the curious eyes that peeped through
the crack of the door were soon rewarded
By seeing him open his basket.
| "Hope. his dinner won't lie heavy OF
his stomach" whispered Howard Colby
But apparently Joe only wished TO &c
paper to read, for he took it BY the cor
ner and pulled, but it was fast II
! looked in,--and then in sort of Devil
dered way took out couple Of aun
Sally's great crispy doughnuts, then on
Of the delicious round pies he had SO of
ton sean IN Ned's hcuds and such hone