The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-01-06
GaIcs, SktttBes, 5meOotss, 1t.
Capital FUN,''

1t 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 la
ter and they would be scattered in every
direction at their play but first they
must attend TO the contents of weIl>fllcd
pals aad baskets, where their dinners are
slowed away.
81 should like to know" said Howard
Colby, "why .Iuc Green never comes out
here to eat his dinner with the rest of US,
always sneaks off somewhere till we all
get through %
Guess he brings SO many goodies he's
afraid we shall rob him." said another.
Pho" said Will Brown, throwing
himself back on the ground, ''more likely
he don'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 ard
proud"
'.Weh," said Sam Merrill, 81 know
Mary Green asked my mother TO have
plain sewing 10 do; but then folks do that
sometimes that aren't very poor"
''Aud Joe is wearing his winter clothes
Isl! this warm weather, and his pants a,e
patched behind - saw i!lem," said How
ard Colby, with "a very complacent look
at his new spring suit of light gray.
Il tell you what, boys" said VIII
,rcwn, ''Iet's look TO o-raorrow and see
w hat the old fellow does bring anyway.
You know he is always in his seat by The
time the first bell rings, and we can peep
into his basket and sull be in season fer
roll call"
The boys all agreed to this except Ned
Collins, who sat qrietly eating his dinner
and taking no part in the conversation
Now lie simply remarked, as he brushed
the crumbs from bis lap, Il can't see what
fun there will he in that, aud it looks real
mean and >neaking 10 me. I'm sure il is
none of OR business what Joe brings for
dinner. ur where he goes 20 cat it,
Yours always such "a granny, Ned
Collins said VIII Brown. contemptuous-
sy. you've got every cne of your old
aunt Saliy'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 minute, and then he sprang
up, shouting ''fIurrah, 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, a half dozen roguish faces peeped
into the school room, and, sure enough,
there was Joe Green, busy plying his pen
cil over the problems of the algebra lesson.
1t was but the work of an instant 20 hur-
ry into the little clothes room, and soon
the whole group WAS pressing around Will
Brown, as he held the mysterious bask ct
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.
ct is big enough to held days rations
for regiment" said Howard Colby, as
Will pulled out nice white napkin
Mex; came a whole newspaper-a large
one, too-and then, in the bottom of the
basket, was one lille cold potato that
was all Will held it up with a comical
grimace, and the boys laughed and cheered
as loudly as they dared in the school house.
''See here,'' said Howard, ''let's throw
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
on the top, and before the bell commenced
tolling they were on their way down stairs
Ned Collins was The last to leave the
room, and no sooner had the others dis
appeared than, quick as flash, he emp
tied the coal into the box again, replaced
the paper, and half-filed the basket, large
as it was, with the contents of the bright
tin pail that aunt Sally delighted to store
with dainties for her darling's dinner