The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-04-07
A Day at Grandma's.

George anu Jessie promised tney
would, their mother kissed them good
bye, and they ran and skipped down
the street to the corner to wait for an
electric Car.
They were going to spend the day
at grapdma's where they always had
perfectly splendid time.
Pretty soon the car came, and q
plpasant-faced man, who had been
waiting also, helped Jessie'up the steps
and found her a seat. although he and
George had to stand because there
were so many people on the car.
George was close beside Jessie, and
they looked at each other and smiled,
they were so happy.
After awhile the conductor came
along to take up the fares. The pleas
ant.faced man looked in all his pockets
for five-cent piece, but he could not
find one, and so he gave the conductor
a quarter. Just then some one spoke
to the pleasant-faced man, and he put
the change the conductor handed him
into his pocket without looking at it.
Then the conductor passed on.
II wonder why be didn't take our
fare ?" whispered Jessie to George.
perhaps he will take it next time,"
whispered George.
"Perhaps he won't take it all, and
then we can spend it for candy" said
Jessie.
"That's so," said George. "Let's
look out of the window and pretend
we've paid it,"
When the conductor came around
again there were not SO many people
in the car. George and Jessie looked
out of the window and he passed along
without looking at them.
They looked at each other guiltily,
for they knew it was dishonest not to
pay their fare. They knew they ought
to hold out the five-cent pieces to the
conductor, but they thought of the
candy and kept them in their pockets,
with their hands closed tightly around
them.
The conductor passed them once
more on his way to the rear of the car,
but they did not offer him the money.
After awhile the car stopped at the
place where George and Jessie were to
get out, and they started to walk the
half mile to grandma's.
knew they had done wrong. They
walked slowly, and did not look in
each Others faces. The sun was shin
ing brightly, but somehow the day did
not seem pleasant.
Grandma was very glad to see them,
and said they might 60 to the next
house and ask the boy and girl who
ived there to come and play with them
and stay to dinner.
The little girl and boy whose names
were Carl and Alice, came, and they
all went to see the chickens, and
played with the new bosy in the barn
and sailed chips on the brook, and
picked violets in the field. But they
didn't seem to have very good time
aud before noon they quarreled, and
Alice and Carl said they wouldn't
play" and went home.
Even grandma's nice dinner did not
taste good to George and Jessie, and
they did not eat very much.
After dinner they went and sat on
the doorstep and thought.
II want to 60 home," said Jessie at
last.
$50 do J." said George; and they
went into the house and toldgrandma.
She was very much surprised. but
she was AFRAID they were not feeling
well, so she let them 60, and walked
part of the way with them
When George and Jessie reached the
car track they sat down on stone to
wait.
II hope the same conductor will be
l. >;c ftar
soberly.
$50 do l." said Jessie. II can't
stand it to be thief any longer; can
you?"
"No," said George. "It &eems as
though 1 never shall be happy again
till I've paid that money"
In little while the car came along
and they were glad when they saw that
the same conductor was on it.
When be came to take up the fares
George gave him four five-cent pieces.
"They are for me and my sister" "
be explained.
The conductor handed back ten
cents.
"You have paid me too much," he
said.
ave did not pay you this morning."
said George and Jessie together.
The conductor looked puzzled.
81 don't remember anything about
it," he said. II guess you'd better
keep the ten cent"
mo, mop they answered eagerly
"We don't want it,"
So the conductor kept it and George
and Jeesie each took a long breath.
The day seemed pleasant again, and
they looked out of the car windows
and talked about the things they saw.
When they stopped the car at their
corner the conductor smiled.
II remember all about it now" he
said. II thought that the man who
got on when you did meant to pay for
you. When I see him again I'll pay
him that ten cents"
| { don't think we shall feel perfectly
happy till we've told mamma all about
it," said Jessie, and they turned into
their yard.
mo" said George. "Let's tell her
right off"
So they did, and their mother said
she was very glad they had repented
of their dishonesty and paid the
money.
After that George and Jessie felt
happy once more.