The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-23
THE STOLEN SPOONS,

Mrs. Hartman was in the dining
room arranging a basket Of beautiful
flowers in q bed OF soft green moss.
Roses, h~eliotropes, great flaming scarlet
geraniums, and plenty of srnilax in long
graceful wreaths how dainty and deli.
cate it looked, and 1t was to 60 to the
Whitsun festival.
Nan and Harry were on the piazza
steps, eating the first strawberries of the
s~easen-ten apiece-mamma had counted
them out in q saucer and given them a
little sugar and cream to eat upon them,
to keep them q1iet until she could &c
her basket filed, for she had many in
terruptions in her work, and it was
nearly time the children wire dressed.
Grandpapa had brought two little
baskets of berries up from the city for 3
treat-'southern berries Of course he
said, 'but better than nothing" anda
Nan and Harry were going off into little
ordinations of delight making many
sRd deliberate pauses owe each mouth
ful, and comparing sensations, when
they looked across the lawn and saw
their dearest friend, Flossie Sheppard.
coming uRSshe road bearing a big basket
--.Flossle was to go to the festival too;
probably she was bringing her flowers
for Mrs. Hartman to arrange and
down went both spoons and ont rushed
the children, leaving the berries and
dashing down the path like little luna
tics. There was SO Imuch to tell FlossieI
They had not seen her in two whole
days, and, Q dear the things that were
happening all the timel
Very soon they came back, chatting
and laughing, ali three of them. Flossie
had the loveliest flowers, and woaM Mrs.
Hartman arrange them ?-Ohow funny
here was a boy, a barelooted boy, and
pray what did llG~Fat3 The children
stopped, after the fashion of ehiidre1assssIrTg
find out. A little brown-faced urchin,
bareiooted and very ragged. was standing
irresoluteiy by the piazza steps. He
didn't care for the flowers or the festival,
all he wanted was something to eat.
Go around t., the kitchen door and
ask The cook said Nan ; and then the
children ran in to display the floral treasll
ures to Mrs. Hartman, and ask her If
she would be SO good, and, if she wasn't
so very tired, would she please lust make
up n more basket and two bouquets.
Finally they subsidized into quiet, drop.
ping into chairs and watching Mrs. Har.
riman complete her pretty work, until
Nan suddenly remembered her straw
berries. How stupid of her to forget!
'Flossie, ] don't believe you have had
a single strawberry yet, have your she
inquired.
No, DEAR answered Flossie, with
her chin on her hands, and her eyes fas-
tened 1pon her exquisite basket.
7 left two or three in my saucer and
if yen won't mind eating what I've LETT.
I'd like to give them to you. Yes, /
want you to haze them it's only a taste.
but they're soodP
She flashed out on the piazSa. and
picked up t~Rssaucer; but where we're
the spoonsl She thought she mipht
have thrown them on the lower
step, but no-they were not there. She
called Harry, and then mamma. too.
came out to look but though they hunt.
cd everywhere, the spoons were Rot IL
be found. Both were gone, together
with the three or four strawberries.
nothing but the remnants of cream, ana
sugar were left IN the two saucers. II
was the most surprising thing And
then Nan began TO cry. Her spoon Yves
80 bright and pretty, and it was her own.
papa had given it TO her for d birthdav
present only about six months before.
What should she do?
Suddenly the ragged boy made his ap-
pearance, coming around the travelled
path from the kitchen, with 4 good.sized
piece q bread and butter Ii his hands.
De was evidently very hungry; for he
vas swallowing the TODD u ii he eould
not eat it fast enough. Nan felt sure her
spoon was safe IN his pocket. It wasn't
g much matter about Harry's-hi i vas
Old; but her new spoon And she Few
down the STEPS after The boy.
What made you steal my spoon !? she
oegan without ) moments hesitation.
Eaying Z OBTAINING hand upon bis ragged
kleeve. .You are ! very wicked bow.
live y back to me- this minute
Haint got no spoon said the beggar,
boxing at her with ~ronnd.eyed wonder.
The woman, she give n nice brt ad.
oue ! haint seen no spoon,
% nanina, 40 come here c,ied
Nan. Don't let him go; he's got nv
prstty spoon thar papa gave me-,he
ad, wick 4 boy | Make him give ii mp
/, come and makeh him give it npi Why.
2 you know looking al him With sud