The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-01-03
PIE AND THE GOOD LITTLE BOY

sooo ooy OF whom l have told you
was on his way to school, he passe,
by large Orchard, in which Their
were great many kinds Of Fruit
and as the sunshine came streamin,
through the branches Of tie Tree
and fell upon the rosy checked Al
Piles, the s,seet mellow Peaches, an,
the red Cherries, Charles though
they looked very beautiful indeed
and would Go Down Nicely with tn
Lunch which his kind Mother ha,
wrapped up in a white napkin 70
him, and placed in the little baske
lie carried in his hand. ~.
Some of'the Fruit hung very nea,
the Fence, and as Charles looked al
it Wistfuliy he said to himself
"How easily l could climb owe,
there and pluck several Of the Ap.
Piles and Pears without being Dis.
covered, for there is no one in The
Orchard now. But that would be
wrong, and if I did l should always
be Sorry, and suffer dreadfally from
the Pangs Of Conscience"
So he stood there a little longer,
The little Birds in the trees were
singing their Merriest Lays, the soft
and balmy Zephyrs of early summer
were kissing the flowers as they nod
ded their pretty heads in the grass
by the roadside, and all nature
seemed rejoicing in its strength.
Many times Charles looked up at
the Fruit, and thought how easy it
would be to take it, but every time
he did this the small voice would
say: "That would be wrong, Chas,"
and he would resolve not to make
any such break.
But pretty soon a bright thought
struck him. and his pure young face
lighted up with a Sunny Smile. Il
will 60 to the owner Of the Orchard"
be said, "who lives in yonder house,
and tell him how have conquered
Temptation. Then he will give me
all the Fruit / want, because that is
The way Sturdy Farmers always do
10 the little books l get at Sunday
School,"
So he went boldly up to the farm
house, but just as he entered the
gate fierce dog grabbed him by the
seat of his pauties, and wiped the
ground with him for a few moments.
The nice lunch that his mother lad
put up for him was distributed all
over the yard, and his new jacket
ooked as If it had been cut with the
boys. When the farmer heard the
noise he came running out Of the
house and called of the dog.
"What do you want my Little
Man, he said to Charles.
So Charles told him be had been
to take the Fruit, but would
1ot do so because it was wrong.
And then be asked the man for some
'ruit.
The Farmer looked at him q Mo.
nent, and then said: II have two
more dogs, both larger than the one
you tackled, and unless you are out
If here in Three Jerks Of a Lambs
Tail they will be launching, and you
will be quite Conspicuous in the bill
II fare"
So Charles ran quickly away, not
wen stopping to get his basket. A
title way down the road he overlook
Thomas Tough, who was eating a
Delicious Peach. rs s3
"Where did you get that Peach,
rhomas2" asked Charles.
"Over in that Orchard" replied
Thomas. II waited until the Ola
Crank who owns the place had gone
% Breakfast, and then appointed
myself Receiver Of The Orchard"
"You are very wicked boy,'' said
Charles.
"Yes," replied Thomas, II am a
rife wicked, but I keep getting to
The Front all the time, and my
clothes don't seem quite so much
lisarranged as yours. You will also
notice that my Lunch basket is with
ne, and that my piece of pie for the
MONDAY Meal is not lying in Far
ner Brownie Garden"
When Charles went home that
evening be told bis Papa what he
had done. "You know, Papa" he
said, "that I would sooner be right
than President"
Eyes," replied his papa, ssbut
am not seriously alarmed abou,