The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-10-31

home, and his mother was putting tea
on the table.
y did you get the fifty cents?" asked
Ada. curiously.
Yes"
where is it2 Let's see it"
"I-haven't got it."
.sWhy, YOU haven't spent 1t, so soonp"
ayes, l have. Supper most ready
mother?"
Eyes" said his mother. what did
you buy with it, Frank?"
Frank colored up to his closely cropped
hair. Il 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.
Frank" said his father 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; ''go 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, land l was coming
home early. I'd bout made up my
mind to buy pocket-book; and l
thought, if got it to night, l. 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 tiresome 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. My, 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. j
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.
"Well," Frank went on. '1-don't
you laugh at mel walked right down
to the store, and-I bought a whole
dozen of the 6eautifitllest oranges for
him. l put 'em right in his window,
YOU know, and I 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 tc
have seer. him!"
There was a moments silence. "Why
Frank Lee Willisr' said Ada. Then:
Il think you were just splendid to do
it, and / guess we won't laughr'
Mrs. Willis said nothing, but she
stopped down and kissed the little boys
flushed face. And his father gave him
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 u.s." said he.
Ada kepton staring at Frank with
big loving eyes. Presently, she went
and whispered something in her moth
er's ear. Mother whispered she,
cant Frank have piece of the best
plum-cake for supper tonight? /
don't want any myself; just a little
piece for him, you know. l made lots
of fun of him."
Mrs. Willis laughed. II don'tcare. ="
said she.
Then Ada went down cellar. and joy.
fully cut very thick slice of the best
plum-cake for Frank. - Mary l..
Pilkins, in Congreqationalist.