The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-03-27
JUVENILE COLUMN.
"CAPITAL FUN

young grass, under the trees that shade,
the Academy play grounds. A little later
and they would be scattered in every direc
ton; but first they must attend to the con
tents of we'll filed pals and baskets, wher,
| their dinners are stored away.
81 should like to know" said Howard
Colby, "why Joe Green never comes GU
here to eat his dinner with the rest of us
but always sneaks off somewhere till we al
get throughw
"Guess he brings SO many goodies, he ii
afraid we shall rob him." said another.
Poh J" said Will Brown, throwing him
self back upon the grass, more likely he
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, 81 know
Mary Green asked my mother to have plain
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 c0mplacent look at his
new spring suit of light gray.
d ~ tell y you , what, boys" said i'd W sia
nas The S fellow oes brns
You know he is always in mis- seat by the
first time the bell rings, and we can get a
peep into his basket and then be in season
for the roll call"
The boys agreed to this, but Ned Collins,
who sat quietly eating his dinner, and
taking no part in the conversation. Now
he simply remarked, as he brushed the
crumbs from his lap, " I can't see what
finn there will be in that, and it looks real
mean and sneaking to me. I'm sure it's
none of our business what Joe brings for
dinner, or where he goes to eat it."
You're always such granny, Ned Col
Inns" said Will Brown, CONTEMPORARY.
" You've got every one of poor old Sally's
notions"
Ned could net 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 - minute, and then he sprang
up, shouting: "Hurrah, boys, for foot
ball !" 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 roggish faces peeped
into the school-room, and, sure enough,
there was Joe Green, busy plying his pencil
over the problems of the algebra lesson.
It was but the work of an instant to hurry
into the little clothes-room, and soon the
whole group was pressing around Will
Brown, as he held the mysterious basketin
his hand. Among them, in spite of the
of,yesterday, was Ned Col
Inns, with his fine white face fairly crimson
with shame, or something else we shall
see.
for regiment" said Henry Colby, as Will
Brown pulled out nice white napkin.
Next came whole newspaper, q large one,
too and then, at the bottom of the basket,
was one little cold potato that was all.
Will held it up with comical grimace, and
the boys laughed and cheered as hard as
they dared in the schoOl-house.
p1 of fhrnx
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
,n the top, and before the bell commenced
;olling, they were on their way down stairs.
Ned Collins was the last to leave the
Dom, and no sooner did the last disappear
han, quick as a flash, he emptied the coal
nto the box again, replaced the paper, and
lalf filled the basket, large as it was, with
he contents of the bright pail that aunt
sally delighted to store with dainties for
Ter darling's dinner.
Ned was in his seat almost as soon as the
est, and all through the forenoon he looked
md felt as guilty as the others, as he saw
he sly looks and winks that were ex-
hanged between them. Noon came, and
here was the usual rush to the clothes
DOM for dinner baskets, but, instead of
y
bout the door and hall. Straight by them
marched Ned Collins, with his pail on his
rin.
"Hello, Ned" said Sam Merrill, (" where
re you going now ?"
Home," said Ned, laughing, az saw
unit Sally making chicken pie this morn
ng and Pm going home to get some"
+" Ask me to go, too, shouted Howard
;olby; but just at that moment they saw
oe Green carrying his basket into the
chool- room.
az should think he'd suspect something"
Will Brown, that coal must |
,e awful heavy"
Joe disappeared in the school room, and |
he curious eyes that peered through the
racks of the door were soon rewarded by
eeing him open his basket. I
81 hope his dinner won't be heavy on |
lis stomach" whispered Howard Colby.
But apparently Joe only wished to get !
lis paper to read, for he took it by the cor
Ter and pulled, but it was fast. He looked
n surprised, and then, in a sort of be-
yildered way, took out couple of aunt
,ally's great crispy doughnuts, then one of
he delicious round pies he had often seen
n Ned's hands, bread and butter, and such
nd the plump white breast/of d chicken.
t was o dinner fit for a king; so poor Joe |
bought, and so the boys thought, as they
,eePeaE weHderingfy- from their hiding
lace. But Joe did not offer to taste it !;
le only sat there, and looked at it with a
,ale face, over which the tears began
presently to flow very fast. Then he leaned
lis head on his desk, and Freddie Wilson,
me of the smallest boys, whispered: 81
.uess he's praying;" SO they all stole away
o the play ground without speaking an