St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-08-22

that fifty cents; ana Wn1cn ~ you seP
pose he will? Look at the long list.
This morning he told me he didnt
know but he might buy a rat-trap; ana
last night he said, after all, he didn't
know but he might as well buy nifty
cents, worth of marbles, and have real
good stock. set them all down, so as
to remember, for don't believe Frank
will buy one of them. He'll get some
thing else he's never thought Of "
Frank came home rather earlier than
usual from Aunt GATHERINGS. and he
walked into the house rather soberly
for him, too. His father had just come
home, and his mother was putting tea
On the table.
'.Did you get the fifty cents?" asked
Ada, curiously.
Eyes"
'.Where is it? Let's see it. "
''I-haven't got it. 7" :,
'Why, you haven't spent it, SO soon?"
Eyes, | have. Supper most ready,
mother?''
'Yes,'' said his mother. "What did
you buy with it, Frankp"
Frank colored up to his closely cropped
hair. 81 wish you wouldn't ask me.
didn't spend it for anything bad"
"Why, tell me at once what you
spent it for" said his mother. ''What
are you acting so for, Frank?"
At that the little boy put his hands
up to his red face and began to cry.
''Why, Frank Lee Willis, what is the
matter?" asked Ada.
Crank y said his father, s'tell US at
once what you have bought with the
money"
"Oh," said Frank. sobbing, you'll
laugh at me. You've been making so
much fun-about my buying SO many
things with that fifty cents. .
mo, we won't, dear, said his moth
er, pitYingly; Ego on
So Frank, catching his breath at in
tervals, told how he had finally disposed
of his wonderful fifty cents. Il got the
money! said he, ''and | was coming
home early. I'd bout made up my
mind to buy pocket-book; and /
thought, if l got it to night, I could
carry my contribution in it tomorrow.
I'd got as far as High street. and | was
going down the hill real fast, when |
heard somebody boiler: 'Halloo, Frank
''When / looked there was Benny
Wheelock in his window. He broke his
leg awhile ago, you know, and he's
just got so he can sit up. He looked
awful white and thin, though he seemed
real tickled to see me. stopped, and
talked with him minute, and [ says
to him. Amt it pretty tlresome for you
keeping in SOP Then he tries to laugh,
and it made him look thinner, No.
says he, mot so very. Folks come to see
me some. Mrs. Stowe came to see me
last Sunday says he, and she brought
me an orange. Ny, want it prime!
"Benny's mother'd been moving
round the room, and now she came up
and pats his head. Yes, that tasted
good, didn't it, Benny, said she. L
wish mother was rich enough to feed
you on 'em all the time,' You know
Mrs. Wheelock is dreadfully poor, and
does washing for folks. Z
'EWell," Frank went on, t.I-don't
you laugh at mel walked right down
to the store, and-I bought a whole
dozen of the beautifuIlest oranges for
him. / put 'em right in his window,
you know and told him he needn't
mind taking 'em, because the money
was given to me, and | didn't know
what to do with it. My, you ought to
have seen him!''
There was moments silence. s'Why
Frank Lee Willis!' said Ada, Then:
81 think you were just splendid to do
it, and l guess we won't laugh!''
Mrs. Willis said nothing, but she
stopped down and kissed the little boys
flushed face. And his father gave him
a big pat on the shoulder. For all
our making fun of you, guess you've
proved you can spend money about as
wisely as any of us, y said he.
Ada kept on staring at Frank with
big loving eyes. Presently, she went
and whispered something in her moth
er's ear. Mother" whispered she,
'.can't Frank have piece of the best
plum-cake for supper tonight? /
don't want any myself; just little
piece for him, you know. | made lots
of fun of him.
Mrs. Willis laughed. Il don care, y ]
said she.
Then Ada went down cellar, and joy
fully cut very thick slice of the best
plum-cake for Frank. Mary E.
Pilkiaas, IN Congre gationazist.
Trades for American Boys.
The trades in our country, of late