Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-05-11
For the Enung.
" Capital Fun"

grass unuef Nnc tItcs lnat hnuucu ine Acaue-
my play grounds. A little later and they
would be scattered in every direction at their
play; but first they must attend to the con-
tents Of well-flled pals and baskets, where
their dinners are stored away
9" should like to know, said Howard Col
by, why Joe Green never comes out here to
eat his dinner with the rest Of US, but always
sneaks of somewhere till we all get through 3"
Guess he brings so many goodies he is
afraid we shall rob him" said another.
Pho :" said Will Brown, throwing him
setback on the grass, more likely he doesn't
bring anything at all. | heard my father say
that the family must be badly pinched since
Mr.. Green was killed and mother said she
didn't pity them, for folks had no business to
be poor and proud"
Well, said Sam Merrill, " l know Mary
Green asked my mother to have plain sewing
10 do but then folks do that sometimes that
aren't very poor"
And Joe is wearing his winter clothes all
this warm weather, and his pants are patched
behind saw them, said Howard Colby,
with a very complacent look at his new spring
suit Of light gray.
tell you what, boys, said VIII Brown,
" let's look tomorrow, and see what the old
fellow does bring anyway You know he is
always in his scat by the time the first bell
rings, and we can get peep into his basket,
and then be in season for roll-cal."
The boys agreed to this, but Ned Collins,
who had sat quietly eating his dinner and
taking no part in the conversation. Now he
simply remarked, as he brushed the crumbs
from his lap " can't see what fun there will
be in that, and it looks real mean and sneak
ing to me. I'm sure it is none Of our busi-
ness what Joe brings for dinner, or where he
goes to eat it,"
You're always such granny, Ned Col
lins," said viii Brown, contemptuously.
" You've got every one Of poor aunt Saly'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 flashed
for a minute, and then he sprang up, shout
ing, Hurrah, boys, for football !" and in
five minutes the whole play ground was in an
uproar Of fun and frolic.
The next morning, at the first stroke Of
the bell half dozen roguish faces peeped into
the school-room, and sure enough, there was
Joe Green, busy plying 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 was
pressing around Win Brown, as he held the
mysterious basket in his hand. Among them
in spite Of the remonstrance of yesterday
was Ned Collins, with his fine face fairly
crimson with shame, or something else: we
shall see
at is big enough to hold days ration'
for regiment" said Harry Colby, as vii
pulled out nice white napkin. Next can't
a newspaper, large one, too and then a
T the bottom Of the basket, was ONE LITTLE COLI
POTATO; that was ALL VIII held it up with
comieal grimace, and the boys laughed, ant
cheered as loudly as they dared in the schoo
, house.
/ See here, said Howard let's throw i
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 soor
filled, and the napkin placed carefully on tn,
top, and before the bell commenced toling
they were on their way down stairs.
e Ned Collins was the last to leave the room
and no sooner did the last disappear, than
quick as fash, he emptied the coal into tn
r box again replaced the paper, and half-hle'
the basket large as it was with the content
n Of the bright tin pail that aunt Sally delighte
to store with dainties for her darli1r's dinner
l Ned was in his seat almost as soon as therest
! and all through the forenoon he looked an
= felt as guilty as the Others. as he saw the ST,
looks and winks that were exchanged anon
- -
rush to the clothes.room for dinner baskets
. but instead of going ont to the yard the boy
> fingered about the door and hall. Straigh
1 by them marched Ned Collins. with his pai
4 on his arm.
Hello, Ned said Sam Merrill. wher
4 are YOU going now ?"
E Home" said Ned, laughing, " saw aur
q Sally making chicken pie this morning an
= am going home to get some"
? "Ask me to 90. too" shouted Howar
6 Colby. but lust at that moment they saw Jo
4 Green CARRYING his basket into the schoo
!. room.
. | should think he'd suspect something,
. whispered viii Brown that coal must b
!. awful heavy"
n Joe disappeared in the schoolroom, and th
IT curious eyes that peered through the crac
y of the door we're soon rewarded by seein
n him open his basket.
!. Hope his dinner won't be heavy on h
!. stomach" whispered Howard Colby.
But apparently Joe only wished to get h
4 paper to read, for he took it by the corn,
u and pulled, but it was fast. He looked
"a surprise and then in sort of bewildere
N way, took out a couple of aunt Sally's gre.
n crispy dOughnuts, then one of the deliciOr
round pies he had often seen in Ned's hand
bread and butter, and honey such as nobody
bees but hers ever made and the plum
breast OF chicken IL was dinner Mt Il
KING SO poor Joe thoIgnl, ana 50 tne ooI
y .nousu', ~ 'ney P'oPea W. %o"Iei,nsy I;I ~
% .ne'r n'ulns P'a0e Du. I ooo ~ I'u no. o,io,
ID 'aste . II, nc 0nly SAT 'neLe, aup ,ooNeI az