The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-07-28
JUVENILE COLUMN.
ONLY I'm FUN.

i've was an old uncle Who lived in distant |
CITY; This old uncle did not seem to be |
m9ca Interested re in the boy, aud Will
the village grocer.
His most cherished desire was to obtain
an education, and his greatest fault was a |
love OF fun, as he called it.
~, II there was pane Of glass broken in
Mestvllie, tin kettle tied to dogs tail,
every body In the place Immediately pointed
to Wi! Rattieton. In this way, he got
more blame than he deserved, but he had
no right to complain, for he had made q
very bad reputation for himself.
Often and often he promised Father John
not to do any more mischief, and it was
said, lbut only few believed it,) that after
one Of the good Fathers lectures he had
passed Farmer Grey's ripe cherries every
day in week without touching one.. If he
had taken the fruit and any one called him
thief' ne would have been shocked and
1t was only "in fun" what was it but
genuine stealingf
AS said before, Will wished very ar.
IDENTIFY to grow up learned man. He had
gone to school q short time, and had
learned to read and write. He worked
from early in the morning until late in
the evening, 80 he had not much time for
| reading, but he was saving email sum
very small indeed from his wages, in the
hope that one day he might be able to OBJ
| tain an education.
There was carpenter-shop in Westville.
It was surrounded by yard we'll. stocked
with lumber. The carpenter who owned
| 1t was worthy, industrious man, whose
large family of children was credit to
| the place.
It was the fourth of July. Will had
half holiday. He sat on the green bank
just behind the carpenter shop, alternately
| reading n vnInma If Tinuor ida hiatnru
which Father John had lent him, and
IS setting off fire. crackers"
Six small feet came pattering over the
grass towards him. Two belonged to
Johnny, his employers little boy, and the
others were the property of Bruin, a fat,
complacent-lo looking dog.
"There's q letter in an envelope come
Win had never received a letter before
in hislife, but he didn't feel like stirring, 80
he said: "Ith keep, l guess, Johnny"
And Johnny trotted off to play on the
green, leaving Bruin behind him.
Bruin seated himself beside Will, look
ing the very picture of self-satisfed dig
nifty, and not even condescending to snap
at the flies that few within an inch of his
sharp, white teeth.
"1wonder if that dog ever ram" thought
Will, she shall have good race for once,
at any rate.
He picked up his bunch of fre-crackers,
aud, stealing softly around the bank, tied
them to Bruins tail. Will chRckled as he
:. applied q match to one of the crackers
Poor Bruin started to his feet, and rushed
crackers went off in rapid succession. The
frightened animal leaped over the low
!, fence into the carpenters yard, and finally
after running around the yard several
times, jumped through a small window
: into the cellar Of the shop. This cellar
contained piles of shavings and great
. deal of light wood. Will turned pale al
the thought of what might result from hii
thoughtless act came into his mind. HI
hastily climbed the fence and looked intt
, the cellar. .Hisapprehensions were realized
The shavings had caught from the explod
, ing crackers, and Bruin was racing to ant
) fro, spreading the fire. The smoke begar
: crowd of people were collected.
1 Westville was not noted for the efficiency
, of its FIRE department, aud in o short tin'
!. the carpenter.shop, with it's piles OF lum
. Der, was q charred mass Of ruins. Bruin
}, much singed, had managed to escape:
e The carpenter stood, looking sadly on
r. est was worth five hundred dollars" h
8 said, with sigh, "but there's the end o
n it. III have to begin life over again."
8 Will heard him say these words. Pal
D and trembling, with his heart foil of re
= morse, he went home. No one knew tn
F., real cause OF vO0 uF0. IL was BcuoI1iy VIC
q lieved to have originated from a spark cas-
:. from some of the fireworks 80 lavishly use'
on the Fourth.
d The letter addressed to Master VIM
J, Rattleton, of which Johnny had spoken
lay on the table. He took it up and rea'
d that his uncle had been dead some time
The old man, by will, had left four hun
o dred dollars to his nephew. A check TO
b that amount was enclosed. The letter wa
> Si1ned by his uncle'e lawyer.
= Poor Will could scarcely believe tn
+ evidence Of his senses. Was 1t dream
i CorJd he really be the poesessor Of such
q large SUM Now he coald stndy and bu.
: books and 90 20 school to his hearts con
tent. Bat moi He thought Of the burn
y carpenter-ahop. After all, nobody knew
who had done thss he tried d to thinE: .h gu
;; struggle took place In his mind: He tool
J. q blank piece Of paper, wrapped the ehecl
: in IL, directed it to Che carpenter, and wen
= ont to seek him. Though night had fallen
; he was still among the smoking boards o
> his shop.
, WIN stole up to him, put the paper in hi
, hand, and whispering, This 10 20 build