Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-06-02
stlttt storp.
CAPITAL FUN.D

the contents Of the we'll filed pals and bas-
kets. where their dinners are slowed away.
II should like to know" said Howard
Colby, why Joe Green never comes out
here to cat his dinner with the rest of us.
but always sncaks off somewhere till we all
get through" "
Guess he brings so many goodies that
he is afraid we shall rob him, replied an
other.
''Poh!" said Will Brown, throwing him
self back upon the grass, more likely he
does not bring anything at all. I heard my
father say the family must be badly pinch
ed since Mr. Green was killed; and mother
said she die, not pity them, for folks had no
business to be poor and proud "
well, said Sam Merrill, II 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; L saw them," said How.
ard Colby, with a very complacent look at
his new spring suit Of light gray
Il tell you what boys, said VIII Brown,
let 5 look tomorrow and see what the fe-
low does bring, any how You know he is
always in his seat by the time the first bell
rings, and we can get a peep into his bas-
ket and then be in good season for the roll
call "
The boys agreed to this, all but Ned Col
lins, who had sat quietly eating his dinner
and taking no part i'll the conversation :
Now he simply remarked, as he brushed
the crumbs from his lap:
II cant sec what fun there will be in that
and 1t looks real mean and sneaking to me-
| ann sure 1t is none Of our business what
Joe brings for his dinner, or where he goes
to eat it. -
"l ou re always such granny, Ned Col
Inns" said VIII Brown contcmptuouslv.
You We, got every one of your aunt Sally's
notions"
Ned could not bear to be laughed at, and
it made him little angry to hear his kind
old aunt sneered at, but his eyes only flash
ed for Il minute, and then he sprang up,
shouting
"Hurrah, boys, let's have game of
football.
In five minutes the whole playground
was in an uproar of fun and frolic.
The next morning, at the first stroke Of
the bell, half dozen roguish faces peepcd
into the school room, and sure enough,
| there was Joe Green busily plying his pen
ell 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 yesterday, was Ned Col
lins, with his face fairly crimson with
shame, or something else; we shall see.
1T is big enough to hold Il days ration
for a regiment" said Howard Colby, as
Will pulled out nice, white napkin. Next
came whole newspaper, a 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 grimace and the
boys laughed and chcorcd as loud as they
dared in the school house.
See 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 and the napkin placed carefully on the
top, and before the bell commenced tollng
they We're on their way down stairs.
Ned Collins was the last one to leave the
room, and moo sooner did the last head dis
appear than, quick as flash, he empticd
the coal into the box again, replaced the
paper, and half filed 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 dinner. Ned was
i'll his seat almost as soon as the rest, and
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,
Hello, Ned" said Sam Merrill, "where
are you going now?'
Home" said Ned laughing. 81 saw
aunt Sally makinga chicken pie this morn
ing, and they can't cheat me out of my
share
Ask me to go too" shouted Howard
Colby; but just at that moment they spiel
Joe Green carrying his basket into the
school room.
'lshould think Io'd d suspect something,
whispered will Brown, that coal must be
Joe disappeared into the school room
: and the curious eyes that peeped through
= the crack Of the door We're soon rewarded
I by seeing him open his basket.
Hope his dinner won't lie heavy on hi
stomach whispered Howard Colby.
, But apparently Joe only wished to ge
paper to read, for he took it 10y the corne
anu lttllcNl, Dul IL WIS luSl. IlG lOOhcu III
: and then in q sort ofbewildered way tool
} out Il couple of aunt Sally's great crisp,
? doughnuts, then one of the delicious rouno
pies he had so often seen in Ned's hands
and such honey as nobody's bees but her
: ever made, and the plump, white breast o
| a chicken.
1t was dinner fit for a king, as poor 10
a thought and so the boys thought as the
| peeped wondering!y from their hiding place
a But Joe did not offer to taste it; he onl
I sat there and looked at it with very pal
5 face, over which the tears began present.
/ to flow very fast, Then he laid his head o.
/ his desk, and Freddy Wilson, one Of tn
A smallest boys whispered:
D II guess he's praying,
Then they all stole away 10 the play
ground without speaking another word.
/ That is some of Ned Collins work,
n said viii Brown; after while. Its JUS
5 like him. f" ..
, II am glad of it any way" said San
0 Merrill, I've felt as mean all the forenoon
r as if | had been robbing hen roost Th
Greens are not TO blame for having only COLI
potatoes to eat, and | don't wonder 10,
f did not want all US fellows to know abou
S it.
: II like Joe Green the best of any boy il
/ school," said Freddy Wilson, ''and l thinl
S it was too bad to try TO make fun o
him.
Nobody asked you what you thought
a said Will Brown 'fiercely ''wait till you
, = III c.