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

imam q lot Oh lar clearer ones. VI course,
know it isn't so well made but it's
quite good enough for me, Claude, till I
get to be better player.
Bob Gambet was the professional
bowler to q neighbor1ng cricket club,
and a great friend Of Willie's, who often
acted as g longest for him when he
was practicing in case the ball went wide
of the net or shot under it.
Claude's countenance assumed quite a
crestfallen look at the announcement.
I verify believe that he would have
broken Willie's bat into splnters then
and there if he could.
However, instead of doing this, he
placed the two side by side against the
garden-wall, and for quite a couple of
minutes kept looking from one to the
other in silence.
:" I'll tell you what I'll do" began he
at last. taking up his own bat again as
he spoke. I'll bet you fifty marbles
hundred, if you like-that my bat is
stronger than yours, Willie
But how can we prove it, Claude? y
asked Willie, taking up his bat in turn
how can we prove it? Besides, /
don't want to bet about it; indeed,
don't care which is the stronger Mines
quite strong enough for me, and that's
all I care about. =
"Oh, no, it isn't !" rejoined Claude
sneeringly.
Willie's face flushed
"There, now, Claude, you're getting
cross, you know. [ wish [ hadn't said
anything about my bat. What's the
good of quarreling over such a paltry
affair? Mamma has been very kind in
buying you that nice one, I'm sure
especially seeing you used the other 50
badly"
The speech was intended to be concili-
atory, but it had quite the contrary
effect.
Claude's eyes flashed with anger as
he retorted.
"Thats what she's been telling you,
[ suppose-eh, mammy's pet? She used
just the same words to me herself this
morning"
Tears came into Wilie's eyes.
Chow can you talk so of dear
mammal" exclaimed he, in q choking
voice. "I'm sure she does everything
for both OF us. [ won't stay here with you
any longer, Claude-that I won't Good
by, till you get better tempered.
Thus speaking, Willie walked away,
while Claude bit his lips and muttered
angrily, but unintelligibly.
Scarcely, however, had Willie entered
the house, when Claude called after him:
Here, [ say, Willie, come back, will
you? want to speak to you"
Willie retraced his steps.
What do you want, Claude ?" asked
he.
Claude's face was now perfectly red
with passion; and, without saying a
word, he snatched WiIlie's bat out of his
hand, and, before his brother could offer
any resistance, he laid it against a stone
and brought his own bat down heavily
upon it,
Dire were the consequences, you may
guess; but they were not of the kind
that Claude-the discontinued, Jealous
anticipated. No far from it !
Instead of Willie's bat being broken, it
was Claude's own
The handle snapped short off, the
blade flying over his head, and falling
with ring on the gravel walk half doz-
en- yards away.
At the same moment voice came
from the open parlor-window
There-there you naughty, discon-
tented boy That serves you right
When will you take o lesson, I won
der?"
It was Mrs Pearson. She had been
watching, and had overheard all.
Claude burst out blubbering with vex-
alton, and walked away, while Willie
picked up his bat, which, by-the-way.
had only suffered a heavy bruise, and
went out to " long-stop" for Mr.. Gam
bet.
"Oh, Tn so sorry" he muttered to
himself, I said anything about my bat;
| might have known it would make
Claude cross. But perhaps this a05U be
a lesson to him. "
1t was when, hours afterward, Claude
returned home, he expressed deep sor-
row for what he had done.
" Mamma, dear" began he, "do for
give me, and you too, Willie. I can see
what a naughty, jealous, discontented
boy I've been, But I've made up my
Mindful mend. You see!"
II do trust you will, Claude" re-
turned his mamma, kindly, for she
could not find it in her heart to be cross
with him now. eff you only knew to
what evils jealousy and discomfort lead
people! Do try to be better in future.
Claude did not reply. but kissed them
both, went to his bedroom, and had an
other good cry.
A few months afterward Mrs. Pearson
took her sons to the High street, and
bought them beautiful bat each.
Il wonder which will be the stronger
of these two, she said smilingly, as they
walked away from the shop-eh, Claude?"
The one will be as strong as the 9TH
er, I hope, mamma" rejoined Claude,
promptly.