The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-07-12
Dis contented Claude.

-jioyg@ct j. Pyeaton IN Vide Aarate
Dis c0ntented Claude.
what q DISCONTINUED boy you are,
Jlaudep exclaimed that little gentleman s
mamma, one day, rs they were passing
trough the High street Of the pretty
own near which they lived" what a
iscontented boy you are, 70 be sure
Why, your cricket bat was quite as good
5 your brother Willie's-indeed, [ paid
lst the same price for it. "
but the string is nearly off the han
already" put in Claude earnestly
and [ do believe it's Sprung, and
"That's all your own fault, " interrupt
Mrs. Pearson-such was the lady's
,me-sharply. "Only yesterday,
Iaude, I saw you hacking at the handle
.th your penlznife, and you know you
jU hit stones with it. !"
Claudes countenance fell, and for a
oment or two he was silent, but al
myth he continued, in a wheedling tone
ooh, but do buy me another mamma.
OOk, there are such nice OnesW pointing
ward a row exhibited at q shop door.
DO, mamma, and I'll take great, great
ne of it-you see if [ don't.
Mrs, Pearson hesitated.
" Are you sure you will?" she asked,
Oking her son in the face.
eyes, mamma-q1jto, replied Claude,
stantly.
"Then for this once TIL try you, went
a the lady; "and, mind, I shall be very
,oss indeed with you if you don't keep
our word, for you know I can't afford
) bealways buying playthings, especially
then you use them so badly"
So, few minutes afterward, the bat
fas purchased-it was really q beauty
nd Claude marched home with it under
is arm, as proud as any peacock.
Mrs, Pearson was right. Claude GER
ainly was a very disconnected boy; in
eed, nothing seemed to please him. He
Ias Jealous boy, too, and was, I'm
orry to say, especially Jealous of his
.ounger brother-there was only a year
between Willie. Claude, for in
tance, was always imagining that Will
les clothes and playthings were better
han his: and, moreover, was frequently
heard to declare that he was sure Willie
vas mammals fayorite. This might well
lave been the case, for Willie was low
lble little fellow; but if it was so Mrs.
Pearson never, by word or look, showed
it. On the contrary, she treated them
bottle exactly alike in everything.
TO return to my story. however.
When Claude reached home, the first
thing he did was to search out his broth
en- to show him the new bat.
" Isn't it a stunner?" he exclaimed,
tnumphantly, stroking down the shining
blade with his hand, quite lovingly
" isn't it, Willie ?"
" It's regular beauty, " replied VIII
lie, feryently, eying it all over. "What
did it cost, Claude-eh?"
"Seyen-and-8ixpence, returned
Claude, very slowly, to give dueforce to
the statement
Seven and six I" repeated Willie.
" Why, mamma only gave that for the
tl0O other ones ! Tt ought to be good
one, oughtn't it ?"
"Ah, it is, too"
"Td as soon have mine, though,
Claude, went on Willie, not tinge Of
jealousy in his voice. The polish soon
wears off, You know, and I'm certain
mines nearly, if not quite, as strong"
This was enough. The triumphant
look left Claude's face in an instant
Was it possible that Wilhes bat was
really as strong as his? He would soor
find that out.
"Where is it, Willie ?" asked he
" Let's have another look at it. .
"All right, Claude I'll be back in {
minute.
Saying which, Willie ran into The
house-they were standing in the garden
during the above conversation and in ;
few moments returned, bearing his much
priced bat in his hand.
Boys, I'm sure I need not point out tx
you the difference between an expensive
bat and a cheaper one AS you know
the former is. made Of finer wood, is more
carefully shaped, and has a superio.
spring in the handle, not to mention
that the blade Of the one is as bright a,
looking-glass, while the other is no
polished at all.
But Claude seemed to see none. of thes,
things now. Not he I! What bothered
him was to think that his brothers ba
was so strong.
Il don't believe it's half as strong a
zine, Willie, said he, taking it in hi
hand and examining it as infinitely
though not Of course as critically, a
could any Lillywhite.
Oh, yes, it is, Claude, returne,
Willie. " Bob Gambet told me tn
other day that it was q good deal stronge