The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-08-03
9hilareu's Column. ;.
Charities Folly.

Charlie, said Mrs Bourne to her son
one day, Charlie, wish you would go
into town, and get me post-office order;
the particulars are written on this piece
of I paper, 49,. s. -, c
"theres grand cricket-match this af-
ternoon, and do so want to see it,"
Charles father, Mr. Bourne, was
farmer, living in Berkshire village.
There was a post-office there, but no
money-order office, and post office orders
had to be sent for to the nearest town.
But you must go, Charlie, said Mrs
Bourne. 1.-The men are all at work in
the ay-felds, and there is no one else to
CO."
Now, really, mother, it is too bad.
You always want me to do something
just when / don't want to do it. Here
I've been doing nothing all the morning
till now, and you couldn't ask me before.
1t does seem hard, that it does
"Never mind, Charlie. Don't be sell
fish now, but take the money and paper,
and 60 at once. You won't be much
more than an hour away and you can
see the best of the match when you re-
turn"
But they begin to play in about half
an hour, replied Charlie, land they're
going to put Stiggins in first, and he's
the best bat in the village
well, if you aOom't 60, I must call
your father and ask him what is to be
DONE.
This was by no means course that
Master Charlie approved of, for he had
sundry recollections of bit of birch,
which had been given to him at other
times when he had been disobedient. So
putting the best grace on the matter he
took the money and slip of paper from
his mothers hand, saying, "Well, 1 call
it downright shame, that l do. You
shant treat nae like that when l get old
er."
"Oh, fe, fe, Charlie" was all his mo-
Their said to this grumble.
Mrs Bourne was one of those good
natured, gentle women, who never like
to put other people to trouble, and often.
for peace and quietness, Gas she put it, J
she would bear good deal of murmur-
ing from her son rather than make any
disturbance.
At the present moment Charlie was
running fast long the high road But,
unfortunately, like many others, he failed
to continue as we'll as he started, for that
cricket-match was uppermost in this
thoughts. He had the choice of two
ways-one short cut across the fields,
the other longer way by the road, at
the side Of which was the field where the
cricket-match would be played. Charlie
considered a moment which way he
should take, and decided that it would
be some satisfaction to have a look at
the preliminaries of the game, and so he
took the highway, for, said he to him
SELF g" can easily make up the few min
utes shall lose
When he reached the cricket-ground
he was very much surprised to find that
they were Just setting out the "feld,"
and that in few minutes the game would
begin. al may as well stop and see the
first over, said Charlie. But it seemed
there was something wrong, for the
players were standing in group, hold
lnga discussion on some important point.
At last one of them turned round and
seeing Charlie standing amongst the on
lockers, said There's Charlie Bourne,
you can get him to field for you till
Williamson comes" To this the other
assented, SO they called Charlie forward
and asked him if he would take the place
of an absent "man" for short time.
The post-ofice order came into Charlie
mind, and he said he must 90 for it..
They said there would be plenty of time
afterwards, and it could not matter so
long as he got back in time for post. So
Charlie, determining to start off the
moment the player for whom he was sub
stituted should come on the field, remain
ed to play. The game progressed with
out any particular incident, except that a
catch fell to Charles share, and that he
did it so successfully that the people
shouted, Well done, young un.' At
which, of course, he was very much
elated. The Ginning" side were now all
disposed of, and Charlie was preparing
for start, when some one suggested that,
as he had done the fielding, he ought to
have an innings, and the others being
willing, it was agreed that Charlie should
play in one innings, at least, with those
for whom he had fielded. He asked some
one what time it was, and finding he
had yet plenty Of time, he consented to
remain-feeling himself very fortunate
indeed to have place in regular
match between two village teams The
innings Of the side on which he plaved