St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-09-03
What Frank Did with his Money
A Story for Boys.

. ny Ncit dt suppcIs aunt CdtHeIluc,
, he began, when the dining-room doc
was half open
"Take off your cap, Frank, !" broke il
{ his sister Ada, who WAS her impetuOuE
brothers. mentor in points of etiquette
"Oh, deari'' cried Frank, jerking the
cap off. .EAunt Catherine
lyon must wash yonr hands before
You sit down to the table" said his
mother.
"Mother," said Frank pitifully, 81
never shall get chance to tell YOU"
The others laughed. "'TwOn't take
you but minute, Frank" said Ada,
cOnsOlingly.
At last his cap off and his hands
washed, aud seated at the table, he
went on with his story.
"Aunt Catherine" said he, "has
promised to give me 30 cents. Amt
Ut splendid I've been splitting up a
little kindling- wood for her, and she's
going to pay me just rs much as she
would a man"
Hasn't she paid you YETI" asked
Ada.
"NO; she didn't have the change,
but she's going to as soon as she gets it,.
] ] think | shall buy a ball with the
money, real tip-top hard one. I've
been wanting one ever since | can re-
member"
Fifty cents was big sum for the
two Willis children. Their father was
not poor; he was able to give them
the comforts of life, but there was a
very little to spare for extras. Frank
and Ada had very little spending
money of their own. The most they had
was given them by their Aunt Gather
inc, who had no children and was we'll
do.
So Franks prospective 80 cents
doomed up to his fancy like Il mountain
of silver.
His Aunt Catherine lived two miles
away, so while he went to school dur
ing the week he could not very well
go to see her. He generally paid his
visits to her on Saturday, as he did on
the occasion of the kindling- wood and
the promise of the 30 cents.
All the week following he was in a
state of excitement and Impotence.
He teased his mother to let him go up
and see his aunt after school, but she
said he must wait till Saturday.
So all he had to console himself with
WAS anticipation, and he made the
most of that. The famous dairymaid
with her basket of fresh eggs was
nothing to Frank with his 80 cents be-
fore the week was out. Monday night
he came home from school with Il
change in his plans.
Owe been thinking it over, mother"
said he, "and instead of buying ball |
with that 30 cents Aunt Catherine |
promised me, l guess | shall buy me n
knife. can get Il splendid one for 80 |
cents Eddie Perkins has just got a |
beauty"
Frank talked knife all the evening,
till the rest got rather tired of it. Next
day, however, they had a respite, if
change of subject could be considered
one. Frank rushed in ut noon, all
alive with new scheme-"Say,
mother" cried he, give changed my
mind, | amt going to buy Il knife with
that 80 cents. Pm going to bny BIZ
cycle"
"Why, Frank Lee Willis" cried
Ada. "IOu can't buy bicycle with
81 cents the idea J"
''Of course | can't; don't you sup
pose | know that. This 30 cents is
just going toward it, that's all. Pm
going to save my money for one, and
I'm going to put this into my tin bank
for beginning"
you'll never do it," cried Ada, in
credulously.
'I'm a-going to try" said Frank
with determined air.
In course of Il day, Ada came to her
mother in dismay. "MOther," said
she, "what do You think Franks going
to- buy with that 30 cents nova little
yellow puppy He is one of the boys
has one to sell, Frank says, and he'll
let him have it for 30 cents. 1t will
worry my cat, and don't like little
yelping dog, anyway. Isn't it too
bad ;"
al wouldn't fret if | were You, dear"
said Mrs. Willis. II don't think it's
very probable that Frank will buy it."
So it proved for the next day Frank
purchasing six white
mice and the next lie was undecided
between Robinson Crusoe, u top and n
drum. When he finally set out for his
Aunt GATHERINGS, on Saturday even
ing, Ada produced paper, which she
opened to her mother. "See here"
said she, her little round face twinkling
all over with fun, "Tve set down all
the things Frank was going TO buy
with that 80 cents and which do You
suppose wiz A@OOh ShO VIC I
list. This morning he said he did not
know but be might buy Il rat-trap
and last night he said, after all, he
didn't know but he might as well buy
81 cents worth of marbles, and have Il
real good stock. | set them all down
so as to remember, for don't believe
Frank viii buy one of them. He'll get
else he's never thought Of"
Frank came home rather earlier than
usual from Aunt Catherine's 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 80 cents 2" asked
Ada, curiOusly.
''Ies."
''Where is it &? Let's see it"
'I-haven't got it,"
why, you haven't spent it, so
soon 2"
eyes, have. Supper most ready,
mother ~ |
"Yes," said his mother. ''What did |
you buy with it, Frank p
Frank cOlOred mp to his closely |
cropped hair. Il wish you wouldn't
ask me. didn't spend it for any
thing bad
"Why, tell me at once what You
spent il for said his mother. "'What
are you acting so for, Frank z"
At that the little boy put his hands
up To his face and began To cry.