Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-04-22
Vhe family Circle.
Capital Fun.

Capital Fun.
1t was Il little past twelve o'clock, and II
merry group of boys was seated on the
young grass, under the trees that shaded
the Academy playground. A little later,
and they would be scattered in every di-
rection at their play; but first they must
attend to the contents of certain wcll-tilled
baskets and pals, where their dinners
We're slowed away.
Il should like to know" said Howard
| Colby, why Joe Green never comes out
here to eat his dinners with the rest of Us,
but always sncaks off somewhere till we
get through"
Guess he brings 50 many goodies. he
is afraid We shall rob him. said another
youngster.
POOH" said Will Brown, throwing
himself back on the grass. More likely
he doesn't bring anything at all. | heard
my father say 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 SO poor and proud.
Well" said Sam Merrill, II know
Mary Green asked my mother to let her
have plain sewing to do; but then folks
do that sometimes, who aren't very poor.
And Joe is wearing his winter clothes
this warm weather, and they are patched"
said Howard Colby, with very compla-
cent look at his new spring suit of light
gray.
Il tell you what, boys" said viii
Brown, lets look tomorrow, and See
what the old fellow does bring, any way
You know he is always in his seat by the
time the first bell rings, and we can get
peep in his basket, and then be in season
for roll-call.n
The boys agreed to this, all but Ned
Collins, who had sat quietly eating his din
ner, and taking no part in the conversation.
Now he simply remarked. rs he brushed
the crumbs from his lap, Il 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 granny, Ned
Collins said Will Brown. contemptuous-
ly. You've got every one of Your Aunt
Sally 5 notions
Nell could hardly bear to be laughed at
and it made him a little angry to hear his
kind old aunt sneered at but his ewes only
flashed up for Il minute. and then he sprang
up. shouting, " liurrah, boys, for foot ball >
and in five minutes the whole play ground
was in an uproar for fun and fi-Olic
The next morning. ut the first stroke of
the bell, half dozen roguish faces peeped
into the school room, and sure enough
there was Joe Green, busily plying his
pencil over the problems of the algebra
lesson. 1t was but the work of an instant
to hurry into the clothes room, and soon
the whole group WAS pressing around Will
Brown, rs he held the mysterious basket
in his hand. Among them, in spite of the
day before, was Ned Collins, with his face
fairly crimson with shame or something
else; we shall see
It's big enough to hold days rations
for regiment said Howard Colby. rs
VIII pulled out nice white napkin
Next came u whole newspaper. a large
, one too and then in the bottom of the
basket, was one poor little cold potato
That was ALL viii held it up with a
comical grimace. and the boys laughed
and cheered as loudly rs 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, the basket was soon
filed, the napkin placed carefully on the
top, and before the bell commenced tolling
! they We're on their way down stairs.
Ned Collins was the last one to leave
, The room, and no sooner did the last dis
/ appear than, quick as flash, he emptcd
the coal into the box again, replaced the
paper, and half filled the basket. as large
as it was, with the contents of the bright
/ tin pale that Aunt Sally delighted to store
with dainties for her darling's dinner
Ned was in his seat almost as soon as the
/ rest, and all the forenoon he looked and
| felt us guilty rs the others, as he saw the
| sly looks and winks that We're exchanged
among them. Noon came, and there was
! the usual rush to the clothes room for din
ncr baskets; but instead of going out to
! the yard, the boys fingered about the door
and hall Straight by them marched Ned
Collins, with his pail on his arm.
/ Hello, Ned said Sam Merrill. ''where
/ are you going now?"
/ Home" said Ned, laughing; Il saw
Aunt Sally making Il chicken pie this
morning, and she can't cheat me out of
my share"
:" Ask me to 90 too" shouted Howard
Colby; but Just ut that moment they es-
pied Joe Green carrying his basket into
/ the school-rOom.
j.
thing" whispered VIII Brown; " that coal
must be awful heavy
Joe disappeared in the school-room, and
the curious eyes that peeped through the
crack of the door, were soon rewarded, by
seeing him open his basket.
! Il hope his dinner won't be heavy on
his stomach" whispered Howard Colby
But apparently Joe only wished to get
! his paper to read, for he took it by the
corner and pulled, but it was fast He
| looked in with surprise, and then, in sort
of 5ewildered way, took out couple of
Aunt Sally's great, crispy doughnuts, then
one of the delicious round pies he had
often seen in Ned's hands, bread and but
ter, and such honey as nobody's bees but
hers ever made. and the plump white
breast of a chicken. 1t was a dinner tit
for king, poor Joe thought; and so did
the others. as they peeped wonderingly
from their hiding place. But Joe did not
offer to taste it; he only sat there and
looked at it with pale face, over which the
tears began presently to flow very fast.
Then he leaned his head on his desk, and
George Wilson, one Of the smallest bows,
whispered. guess he's a praying and
so they all stole away to the play ground
without speaking another word.
.That's some Of Ned Collins work.
said Will Brown, after a while Its
just like him"
sl'm glad of it. any way said Sam
Merrill. I've felt as me in all the morning
AS if had been robbing a hen-roost. The
Greens are not to blame Tor only having