Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1865-09-29
How the criekets brought good Por-
tune.

shop one day to bay little cake which be
had fAneied in passing. lie intended IL for
a child whose appetite vas gone. and who
could be eosxed 70 eat only by amusing
hin- lie thooght that such pretty loaf
: might tempt even the sick. While be
, waited for the change. q little boy six or
eight years old. m poor. bat perfectly clean
clothes. catered the bakers shop. ''Ma'am. ;
said be TO the bakers -ife. my mother
sent me for loaf Of bread The woman
climbed upon the counter (this happened
an country town.. took from the shelf OF
four-Pound loaves the best one she could
find. and put Il IN the arms Of The little boy
Ny friend Jacques then 6rst observed the
thin and thoughtful face Of The little fellow.
Ia eontrAsted strOngly with the round. open
eOuntenanoe Of the loaf. Of which be vas
taking The greatest care.
" Have you any money p said the bakers
wife.
The h;tle boys eyes grew sad.
q" No. mA'an." said he. hagging the loaf
closer 10 has thin blouse - bot mother told
NE 10 say that she would come and speak
20 you about Il tomorrow
Ran along said the good woman
carry yo1r bread home. child"
Thank you. mA'AH. = said the poor Little
fellow.
Nv friend Jacques came forward Tor has
money. He had pa, his purchase into bis
pocket. and vas about to 90. when be found
The ehild ~iia the big loaf. whom he had
supposed 10 be half way home. standing
stock still behind him.
What are you doing tLsre?- said the
bakers ~iie 70 the child. whom she had
thought to be fairly OF Don't you ike
the breadS''
Oh. yes. mA'Am. said the child
Well. then, carry IL to your mother.
my little friend Ifyoa wait any longer.
she ~ill think yOG are playing by the -ay.
and you vii get soOlsling
The child did not seem 70 hear. Some
thing else absorbed his attention. The
bakers wife went Up 70 him. AMI gave him
a friendly tap upon the shoulder. What
are you thinking abosi?- said she.
"MA'Am.- said the little boy. VIA, i
1t that sIngs'T
There Is no singing. /" said she.
Yes cried the little fellow. Hear
IL. QueAk. queak. queak. qaeak,r
Ny friend and the woman both listened.
bot they could bear nothing. unless II was
the song Of The eriekeis. frequent guests in
bakers houses.
" Il Is \ little bird. =" said The dear Et,le
fellow. ." or perhaps the bread sing. when
II bskes. a. the apples do =
" No. indeed htile goosy,- said the ba-
ker's wife. those are crlckeis. They sin.
in the bake-house because we are lighting
the oven. and they like 10 see the Ere
" "Crickets,~ said the child; are they
really cricketsY~
Yes. TO be sure. =" said she good banor-
edly. The ehild's face lighted up.
Ma'am said be. blashing at the bold
ness Of the request. II would Ike "a very
much II yoa would give me a cricket"
cricket cried the bakers -ife.
smiling " what in the world would you do
With a cricket. my little friendY would
gladly give you sn there are in the house.
% get rid Of them. they run about %"
Oh. ma'am. give me one II you please p
sad the child. elasping his little thin Aands
under tbe big loaf. 4" tlcy say that eriekets
bring good luck into houses; and perhaps
y Ne hsd one a. home. mother. Who has 80
much trouble. would not cry any more
Why does your poor mother cryY'' said
nay friend. vbo could not help joining in
thc conversation.
On account of Der bills. sir said the
liule felios Father = dad. and moth
~ sorks very hard. but shs oannos pay
them all
Ny friend took The child. ard w,sh hin
the great loaf ia bis arms. and really b.
licve be Kissed then both. Mean-hile.
the bakers vife. Who did not dare % touch
cricket hsrsef. had gone INTO the bake
house. She made her husband catch four.
and put them into a box vitb holes in the
cover. 80 that tbey might breathe. She
gave the box d. thc cldi. vho vent suav
PERFECTLY happy When b. hsd gone a..
baker, rii- ssi ny ir,rnd gave each oiber
good ,.Iaeere Of the hand Poor liuis
ielio~ ssid they both Together. Then
sie fook loun be- sccouui-book. snd ind
80 tle page shere tb- nofhers Changes
uere srnten. made great dab sn dosn
ths pace. a1l vrote ~ ile bottom. '' Pad 0
Mesnvhiie ny friend. % lo-e ~ time.
hai pat up in . paper All the money in ri.
pockets. where fOriunaiely b. had quite