St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-11-23
Only Looked on.

The music and tn patriotic speeches
were over with the day, but the boys
gathered in the evening around bright
bonfire in the street, laughing and
chatteriug. adding fresh fuel, and stir
ring il Ia brighter blaze. The cheer
full highland perhaps the warmth also,
for it was cool night-attracte one
unlike the others of the group. A
bare footed, ragged boy drew near and
lowered on the outer edge of the COM
pany for few minutes, but presently
made his way nearer to the fire, and
stood beside it in evident enjoyment.
Then the largest, toughest boy in the
crowd suddenly discovered him.
"Halloa. Tatters Where did you
come from ~
The boy tried to draw back, but he
was too late.
"Bare feet and such a cap as that
Well, you are too fine entirely. Don't
yOu know that kind of cap is better
roasted ?" and a quick blow sent the
faded head covering into the fire.
Its owner made vain effort to re-
cover it.
Chat was mean, jim" said one of
the boys, family. The others said
=.
The fOrlOrn stranger drew back, es-
capped from the group and sat down on
doorstep at little distance, draw
ing his ragged sleeve across his eyes
Ia wipe away the tears of anger and
grief. A plying, indignant little face
looked down upon him from an upper
window, and pair of childish eyes
that had watched the scene grew tear
ful in sympathy, and then frightened
with hope of comforting. Lily hurried
away and was back in few minutes
with an outgrown cap of her brothers,
package of sandwiches and cookies
that she had cOaXed in the kitchen,
and a bright silver dollar of her own.
She put the other articles into the cap,
and fastened string to it and lowered
it softly to the boy on the steps, drop
ping the end of the string as it reached
him.
"Why, Lily, what are you doing p
asked a voice as she drew back
Lily shook back her bright hair and
oOkcd at her brother.
"Doing what the speaker-man said
this morning. He said, Let some OF
your blessings fall into the lap of those
who haven't so much. and | did. II
fell right straight into his lap, and
guess he didn't know whether it came
from window or from heaven, for he
looked up real quick and queer, and
said, Thank you. Amen and then
ran away"
Guy laughed, but Lily's face was re-
proachful.
"lou were there by the bonfire al
the time. o Guy, don't see how you
could do it,"
"Why, didn't knock his cap of,
said Guy. at was Jim Gregg he's {
rough fellow always. | didn't do any.
thing or say anything ; and the Othel
fellows didn't either"
THAT was Just the trouble said hi.
aunt, gravely. 81, too, watched the
whole thing from the window, Guy
and if ! were going to talk to American
boys on day like this, | should car,
far less about urging them to join THU
or that political party, than abou
warning them against belonging to til,
great party in this wOrld-those VIII,
only stand and look on. believe they
are responsible for the larger share o
its evils. They do not help any gOoC
cause ; they only look on and do moth
ing. They never hinder il wrong cause
they only watch it, and say nothing
. Guy, did you ever think how on
Lords parable makes the final con
domination rest, not upon actual trans
gression, but upon omission 7 Il wa
Il stranger, sick and i'll prison, and "
did it not to me- They only locke,
ON and did nothing" y Selected.