The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-01-13
/" Capital Fun.o

IT was little past twelve o'clock, and
a merry group of boys were seated on the
young grass, under the trees that shaded
the Academy play grounds. A little ater,
and they would be scattered in every di-
rectiOn at their play but first they must
attend to the contents of well-filled pals
and baskets where their dinners were
stored away.
81 should like to know" said Howard
Colby, " why Joe Green never comes out
here to eat his dinner with the rest of us,
but always sneaks off somewhere till we
all get through?"
"Guess he brings so many 60 )dics, he is
afraid we shall rob him." said another.
"Phoi" said Will Brown, throwing
himself back on the grass, more likely
he doesn't have 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, at know
Mary Green asked my mother to have
plain sewing to 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-I saw them," said How
ard Colby, with a very complacent look
at his new spring suit of light gray.
"I tell you what, boys" said Will Brown,
"let's look tomorrow, and see what the
old fellow does bring anyway. You know
| he is always in his seat by the time the
| first bell rings, and we can get a peep into
his basket, and then be in season for roll
| call"
The boys agreed to this, but Ned Col
lins, who had sat quietly eating his din
| ner, and taking no part in the converse
ton. 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 sneaking to me- I'm
sure it is none of our business what Joe
brings for dinner, or where he goes to
| eat it"
you're always such a granny, Ned
| Collins" said Will Brown, contemptuous-
ly. you've got every one of your old
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
flashed for a 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 rOguish faces peeped
into the school-room, and, sure-enOugh,
there was Joe Green, busy plying his pen
Gil over the problems of the algebra les
son. It was but the work Of an Instant
hurry into the little clothes room, and
soon the whole group was pressing around
ha ho1I ha tnr,c
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 rations
| for a regiment" said Henry Colby, as Will
pulled out nice white napkin. Next
came a whole newspaper, large one, too
| and then, in 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 loud
| ly as they dared in the school house.
"See here" said Howard, let's throw
| it away and fill the basket with coal and
things; il will be such fun to see him
open it."
| The boys agreed, and the basket was
soon filled, and the napkin placed care.
fully on the top, and before the bell com
menced tolling they were on their way
down stairs.
| Ned Collins was the last to leave the
room, and no sooner did the last disappear
than, quick as flash, he emptied the coal
into the box again, replaced the paper
and half-filled the basket, large as it was
with the contents of the bright tin pan
that aunt Sally delighted to store with
dainties for her darling's dinner. Ned
was i'm his seat almost as soon as the rest
and all through the forenoon he looked
and felt as guilty as the others, as he saw
the sly looks and winks that were ex.
changed among them Noon came, and
there was the usual rush TO the clothes
room for dinner baskets; but instead o
going out to the yard, the boys fingered
about the door and hall. Straight by then
marched Ned Collins, with his pail on his
arm.
"Hello, Ned" sale Sam Merrill, "wher,
are you going now ,"
"Home," said Ned, laughing, al saw
aunt Sally making chicken pie this morn
ing and am going home to get some"
"Ask IRE to go, too" shouted Howard
Colby; but just at that moment they saw
Joe Green carrying his basket into tn
schOol-room.
81 should think he'd suspect something
whispered Will Brown; "that coal mus
be awful heavy"
Joe disappeared in the school room, an,
the curious eyes that peered through tn
crack of the door were soon rewarded b,
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
his paper TO read, for he took it by tn
corner and pulled, but it was fast. HI
looked in surprise, and then in sort O
bewildered way, took out a couple of aun
Sally's great crispy doughnuts, then on
of the delicious round pies he had oftel
seen in Ned's hands, bread and butter, an
such honey as nobody's bees but her eve
made, and the plump white breast of
chicken. 1t was dinner fit for a king
SO poor Joe thought, and so the boy
thought, as they peeped wonderingl
from their hiding place. But Joe did nc
offer to taste it he only sat there, an
looked at it with pale face, over whic
the tears began presently to flow very fas
Then he leaned his head on his desk, an
Freddie Wilson, one of the smallest boys