Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-08-01
Borrowing a Quarter.

to dog-tght.
sob, boys, just look p cried Charlie
Thorn.
| "What? Where?" exclaimed his
companions. They were now in front
of q secondhand bookstore and, point
ing to thick green-covered volume in
the window, Charlie exclaimed:
"Why, there's the Arabian Nights
real good, not torn a bit, marked
'only Is cents 7 Full of pictures, too"
"Oh |" said, or rather sighed, Edgar
Denny and Will Farnham.
Three faces were pressed close to the
booksellers window, three pairs of eager
eyes gloated over the treasure for to
what 10 or 12-year-old boy is not the
"Arabian Nights" treasure?
Neither Edgar, Charlie nor Will had
ever read the wonderful book but one
of the latter's cousins had done so, and
had retailed one or two of the stories to
Will, and he in turn had repeated them
to his two friends. And to think that
all this-roc's eggs, one-eyed caliphs,
sparkling jewels, genii, palaces might
be obtained for % cents.
81 say" remarked Edgar, doubtfully,
"has any fellow got quarter?"
| No fellow had what was worse, the
united wealth of the three "fellows 3"
amounted to just 7 cents.
"Perhaps, if I tell papa about it, he'll
| buy it for u.s." suggested Charlie.
| "Pshaw! Somebody'll snap it up be-
fore you can get to your fathers store.
A bargain like that isn't to be had every
day."
eff Tom Baker sees it he'll buy it,
sure pop. He's always got money!"
sighed Edgar. eff he hadn't been kept
| in, like as not he'd have boughtit before
this"
Suddenly Wills face frightened. Put
ting his hand in his pocket he drew out
81 bill, and announced his intention of
buying the book.
GA dollar Where did you get it ?"
| asked Charlie, in amazement.
"Tisn't mine tits Aunt Mary's. She
gave me a dollar this noon, and asked
me to pay so cents that she owed to Mr..
Jennison, the apothecary, you know.
She will not be home until late this
| evening and in the meantime I can run
! up to grandma's and get quarter she
owes me for some eggs I sold her-my
little bantams eggs! Aunt Mary will
not mind, if I do borrow a quarter from
her for a little while.''
So the treasury of marvels passed into
Will Farnham's possession, and the
three happy boys made immediate ar
engagements for reading it aloud, turn
and turn about. At every street corner
they paused to look at "just one more
picture" and it was with violent effort
that Will tore himself away to "run up
to grandma's.
"But you boys may look at it while I
am gone, if you'll bring it to me before
supper" he remarked graciously as he
| left them.
Unfortunately he got to his grand
mothers just little while after she had
left home for a two days visit to one of
her sons so the little bantam's eggs
could not be paid for then.
ooh, well, it can't be helped now,"
Will said to himself. Grandma is
certain to give me the quarter in day
or two, and I'll tell Aunt Mary about 1t
as soon as she comes in"
When ne got home his mother told
him TO put his aunt's change on her
bureau, and then run to the grocer's and
get some sugar for tea. After supper he
betook himself to his new book, and
soon was a thousand years and thous-
and miles away. He dimly heard some
one ask him about Aunt Mary's money,
and he gave dreamy answer and his
father had to speak to him three times
b. fore he realized it was bed time.
Of course he for moment forgot all
about the borrowed quarter. Conscious
of good intentions, +" he felt no anxiety
about the matter.
"Isn't it too bad, Will, that our new
cook, who makes such nice cake and pie,
is not honest, and mamma has got to dis
charge her?" said his sister Jennie, the
next morning.
eyes, it is a pity. What has she
taken?"
"Notvery much; but, as mamma says,
It shows that her principlesare notgood.
che orsome fairy for there was nota per-
son but her In thereon from the time you
went there until mamma went in and dis
covered it) took quarter out of Aunt
Mary's room. You put the change on her
bureau?"
eyes, on q little blue mat"
ssThat was where I saw it, said Mrs.
Farnham.
"Then it was lucky for your purse,
Aunt Mary" said Will, with laugh,
that borrowed a quarter of you, or
you would be 80 cents poorer instead of
25."
"Wllat do you mean? LENT you no
,uarter was the surprised reply.
"No; but 1 borrowed il"
"Did You lay but one quarter ON the
ureau ?" asked his mother.
Eyes, ma'am. I borrowed the other. !"
"Oh r exclaimed Mrs. Farnham, with