St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
THE GOLDEN RULE IN A SAND
BANK.

THE GOLDEN RULE IN A SAND
BANK.
1t was Saturday morning The children
were having glorious time in the sand
bank back of Mr.. Stones house.
Lets play we are gypsies and have an
encampment, said Jack Stone, proceeding
to take off his shoes and stockings as the
first step towards enjoyment.
"l'm going to dig great big hole in the
ground, big enough to get into and play
it's my house." said Mollie Cansdell, ener-
getcally throwing the soft, white sand
out with fiat piece of wood.
$50 am l." said Lille Mason.
Soon all were working busily at their
burrows Mollie had the 'start' of the
others and easily kept it as she discarded
the stick and scooped out the loose sand
with both hands,
''Do be careful, Mollie," said Tommy
GROSSLY, "Im right back of you and it isn't
any fun to have lot of sand thrown in
your eyes"
81 didn't do !" said Mollie positively.
''I'm very careful not to throw the sand
past that stone there that just divides our
ground 1t must have been Harry. He
is using stick. You can't tell how far
dirt will fly if you use stick to throw it
with"
"Whew? Oh, my, there you 60 again
Right in my face! Can't you be careful ?"
spoke up Tommy in increasing irritation.
sit wasn't me Tommy" answered Mol
lie quickly.
Eyes it was, saw the dirt fly from your
dug out"
but know it wasn't me-" said Mollis
again, 81 hadn't been digging for minute
or two when you spoke"
81 don't suppose you did it on purpose"
continued Tommy obstinately, ''but there's
no reason why you should be so careless
and forgetful. Now I thing every tilue
when throw the sand out if didn't
"Well. if you thought that time, don't
thank you, Tommy Brick, for | guess
you've put my eyes out l'' said Lille Ma
son, holding her apron over her face.
ut wasn't me-" said Tommy, indjg-
nantly, I'm very particular how | throw
the dirt out. No one can say Pm careless"
There was few minutes silence, then
Tommy heard Lille say to Harry Snow In
an undertone.
81 think Tommy Brick grows disagree
able. If he'd had any sense he'd known
that dirt hit him from your side and not
from Mollie's. And he'd find out too that
he can make mistakes as we'll as the rest
of u.s."
"He thinks he is as infallible as the
Pope" remarked Ned White. "And l
shouldn't wonder if he was" he added
sarcastically.
Tommy flushed angrily when he heard
these unpleasant remarks; and started for
home without even goodbye.
"Oh, Tommy's pretty good boy, ," joined
in Mollie, trying to defend him. THE
only trouble with him nowadays is that he
thinks he's SO good"
"Well, did you see what he wrote in my
autograph album 2" asked Lille.
"No-o, what was it ?"
'He wrote this, BE sure your sin will
find you out, and then signed his name.
Teacher asked him if he couldn't find
more appropriate verse to write. and he
said, ooh, wrote that because it was so
appropriate. thought she'd think of it
ard quit biting her nails"
did you 2" asked the others in breath
less interest.
81 don't bite my nails very much nova
days." she answered
While they were thus talking, the OBJ
ject of their discussion was walking rap
idly toward home, full of angry thoughts
40, Tommy, I'm SO glad we met you,"
said bright, cherry voice.
AS Tommy looked quickly up his sober
face frightened in spite of itself.
II didn't know You were feeling we'll
enough to be out to-day, Naneen," he said
gently, Fastening forward to take Aunt
Nellie's place at pushing the little car
rage.
SWhat lovely time they are having at
the sandbank /" said Naneen, signing. go
Tommy, perhaps may never be like other
girls and boys again. The doctor said
this morning that must be patient for
long, long time"
you needn't wish you could play in
the sandbank as long as the boys and girls
that live around here play therel''
"Whyw asked Naneen, in deep sur
prise.
"rhey never care whether anybody but
themselves has good time answered
Tommy bitterly, "and they throw great
handfuls of sand in your eyes-and-and
call you disagreeable if you try to help
them overcome their faults"
"It's too bad |" said Naneen, with SYM
pathy. ''You are the most politest and
kindest boy about telling faults, too, and
you see them so quickly, too," she added
innocently.
"Tell me all about it. she said.
ooh, We were digging holes in the sand
for houses, and was doing my best, and
Mollie filed both my eyes and ears chock
full of sand, and then said she didn't, and
they all made cross remarks about me-,
and said was the one that throwed the
sand" said the boy excitediy.
GAS if you would throw sand at your
self p exclaimed Naneen. "Well, dare
say they were hot and tired digging in the
hot sun, and hardly knew what they did
or said. They'll remember how good you
were about it and be ashamed when they
think 1t over. I shouldn't wonder if they
sent after you to come back"
Tommy's face was pretty red by this
time.
t'They don't mean to be unkfhd, I'm
sure, and we know they don't when we
stop to think it over. Don't you remem-
Der how good Mollie and Lille and Harry
and the rest were to you last winter when
you broke your wrist. heard you say
there wasn't day but some one of them
came to see you and brought something
nice to you, or played games or read to
you"
There was few moments silence.
Tommy had been trying etto put himself
in other peoples places. as he knew little
Naneen would have done. Looking back