The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-05-05

wish it had been old Grumblepeg's head in
stead of Francisco's violin, that was split
but it isn't We all know little Francisco.
He's trump. He played all his tunes in
front of Widow Riley's door, because poor
sick Katie liked to hear the music, though
they hadn't penny to give him--and he
saved my dog Bruno when Halloran's boys
we going to tie a tin kettle to his tail. Let's
club together and make up little purse OF
money for Francisco to carry back to old
Antonio. don't know just exactly how
much a violin costs, but we'll raise all we can.
1 am not rich like old Grumblepeg, but I'll
give ten-cent piece toward it,
Willie Vane produced another ten-cent
piece. Patty Price ran for his savings bank.
The bakers little boy brought quarter-and
Jerome Chase put his hand into his pocket
and contributed the beloved quarter of a
dollar which he had intended for a lottery
ticket. Little Francisco's brown face bright
ened up.
"You are so good" said he. "Oh, you are
so good.
And before the street subscription was
complete, Francisco had a little pile of silver
and pennies which amounted to nearly five
dollars.
"And when my big sisters and brothers
come home from school," said Patty Price,
"I'm almost sure they'll give you some
more"
"Where are you going to sleep. to-night?"
asked Willie Vane.
GARNER Griscom said might sleep in
his barn if l would promise not to light
match on the premises" humbly answered
Francisco. "And the stars shine quite bright
into the barn window, so L don't mind-and
Mrs. .Griscom always gives me as much
milk as / want to drink, and a good big slice
of bread
"Well, I'll tell you what" said Willie,
"I'll bring whatever money can raise there
tonight. There's a moon-and 1 guess Jerry
Chase will go with me"
"Of course L WILL said Jerome, BEAM
ingly.
1t was nearly o'clock that night when
Willie and Jerome proceeded along the
lonely path across the apple-orchard. which
led to Farmer Griscom's barn, with IS more
which amounted, in all, to $50.
"Only to think of old Grumblepeg himself
giving us dollarl" said Jerome. Il never
should have thought of asking him, Will, if
it hadn't been for you"
"Hes the very person to give us the mo-
ney," said Willie, simply. He broke the
poor little chaps violin, didn't he? Here
we are"
Little Francisco was munching his bread
and drinking his milk in the upper story of
the barn sitting on the piles of sweet-smelling
hay, as the two boys entered. He was very
grateful for the money; he was quite sure, he
said, that seven dollars and half wo1ld be
sufficient compensation to old Ant Jnio for
the violin, and he thanked them very much
for all their kindness.
Returning by the moonlight, they met
Johnny Linkton, one OF their schoolmates.
"Well, boys" said he, with grin, 'the
lottery's over"
"Who got the the ten-dollar gold-piece?"
eagerly questioned Jerome.
Nobody" said Johnny. "The big boys
made believe it wasn't drawn at all-and
Aleck Hyde got the desk, and Paul Porter
the shipl'
"Hof' said Jerome, shat wasn't fair
Aleck and Paul got up the lottery themselves
and now they've drawn all the prizes and
kept the gold piece!"
''That's the way lotteries generally go,
guess" said Linkton. Il only wish / had
my quarter of dollar back againl It's a
regular swindle, think"
Jerome Chase said nothing, but he secretly
thought he had invested his quarter great
deal more sensibly than if he had bought a
ticket in the school-boys' lottery.
because" said he to himself, "the money
has really done poor little Francisco some
good"