The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-06-13
JUVENILE. C0LUMN-
m BApS ooMPANT.
BY EBEN e. RRxroRb.

everything about home, and HELM his mother
rs every good boy should. If he did all these
things well, Mr.. Gray said, like enough some
body would get the books he wanted so much.
Johnnie knew we'll enough who somebody"
was. There was a complete set of the Rolla
Books" at the village bookstore which Johnnie
longed to possess. They were Just what he
liked to read, and he had coaxed his father to
buy them for him.
to you about" Mr.. Gray said, "that is about
being careful of the company you keep. We
cannot be too careful in choosing our associates.
There is Tom Bryan, in particular. L don't
If anything of disgracefnl nature is done, it
is sure to be laid on him, because he has been
thing to say to him if he comes here"
Mr.. Gray went away the next morning, and
Johnnie was left as temporary manager of all
outdoor work. There was not great deal to
be done outside of the garden, but that needed
hoeing quite badly, and Johnnie commenced
his weeks work in q patch of sweet corn.
The corn was in one corner of the garden,
close by the road. As evil chance had it, the
first one who came along was the very Tom
Bryan his father had warned him to have no.
thing to do with.
Yes,n answered johnnie, " warm, amt It Z"
81 rather guess it's" answered Tom. Had
any apples yet, Johnniep
"Applesi Hadn't thought of such a thing
yet. Too early, amt it 7"
"Some in old Griffin's orchard" said Tom.
"Pd like a few" said Johnnie.
know how to get them," said Tom.
How ~ asked Johnnie.
"Take 'em," answered Tom, winking very
knowingly. "You understand, don't you For
the fun OF the thing, you know: Nobody will
know anything about it but u.s."
But that would be stealing, wouldn't it 2"
asked Johnny, as if he didn't know fVwould.
"Stealn'w exclaimed Tom You must be
green. We'd take only jest what we wanted
Johnnie answered that he didn't know.
Let's go over tonight and get some" pro-
posed Tom What dye say 7"
" Pm afraid we'll be found out"
"'Fraid" sneered Tom. What are you
'fraid off Can't get away from your mother,
can YEP
sneers. " could go if wanted to-"
" III bet you can't; you dassent! Come, now,
whatll you bet?"
~ won't bet" said Johnny, "'cause L amt
'fraid to go, and there amt use betting"
Then why don't you CO." persisted Tom
believe you're 'fraid, or you'd go, cause you
like apples well as do"
CHOW, see here, Tom Bryan" said Johnnie
. amt afraid to go, and Pll do it, just to show
you amt a coward don't care much about
the apples, but 1 WON'T be dared to do any
thing" .........-........---.
Bully for you'll" cried Tom. "Pll be at the
big rock down in Your pasture at dark, and I'll
wait for you there iii bet you'll back out
before the time comes"
See if do" answered Johnnie.
Johnnie went back to his work, feeling just
n little uncomfortable. He knew that it would
1t would be in reality stealing. But he didn't
like to be dared to do anything you know. He
was afraid of being called a coward. 49,.
The day passed very slowly, johnnie thought.
Perhaps he did not feel quite easy in his mind.
think he must have remembered his fathers
words conuerning this same Tom byran with
whom he was going to robMr Grifhn's orchard
" just in fun. u
Night came, and Johnnie went down through
the pasture to the big rock, where Tom was to
meet him. Tom was there, aud they set OFF
fnr Mr. Grif SnIo ri yrna M far an
soon they were over the fence, and under the
tree whose fruit had begun to ripen. The
apples were not very good, Johnnie thought.
They were too hard Yet,-an too sour. But
they ate as many they could, and Tom filed
his pockets. He urged Johnnie to do SO, but,
fearing detection if he carried any home he
declined. $685.. 80 e.. -
Next day Johnnie had terrible headache.
He didn't feel bit WELL" he told his mother.
and SO he was allowed to rest. He knew well
enough what the matter was. He had eaten
too many half-riPe apples. H..
But the next day he felt better in body, at
least. But there was constant fear in his
mind of detection. How he would feel if
people knew that he had>been stealing apples.
The week passed away. Mr.. Gray came
home on Saturday night. Johnnie told him
how much work he had performed, but you may
he sure he said nothing about that mean piece
of work he had helped to do in their neighbours
orchard.
81 guess somebody'll have to have those
books" his father said, looking pleased, for he
about how well he had performed the work
& " M evening MF.-GFifffn- came o7erto
Mr.. Gray's. Johnnie was frightened when he
saw him coming up the path from the gate.
What if he had found out.
Mr.. Griffin came in and Sat down. They
talked about the weather and the prospect of
the crops; and then Mr.. Gray, spoke of the
splendid crop of apples which Mr.. Griffin
would gather from his large and splendid
orchard. , ..- .... 81 ... - .,. .a. - a. .-
Some one has been making a raid on my
orchard" remarked Mr.. Griffin. " was down
in the lower part of it the day, andfound
that some one had taken the liberty to help
themselves to some of those early apples which
bring such good price in market. l shouldn't
care much about that, if the tree had been left
pninjured, but it isn't. Several limbs are
where the person climbed up the tree"
"Do You know who the thief or thieves
were :" asked Mr.. Gray.
"No,. 1 don't" answered Mr.. Griffin. e" /
found this knife there, however, but don't
know who owns it,"
"WhyD exclaimed Lucy, Johnnies sister, as
Mr., Griffin held up the knife he had found,