The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-05-25
How Much II Cost.

One, two, threel Kenneth nestled
uneasily. Four, five, ski He bored
his tousled brown head deep into the
pillows, and tried not t6hear the
seven.
Lazy little Kenneth! The next
time the clock spoke it said "eight,"
imperatively, and sent him into his
shoes and stockings in panic.
Eight o'clock Not tardy mark
yet this term, but here was danger
ahead. oh dearl if 'twasn't so far to
school, and breakfast to eat, too.
Kenneth hurried bravely, but but
tons didn't behave, and where could
the other shoe be? Where was the
hair brush? If he'd only got up at
sevenl
After all, he didn't dare to stop to
eat but three mufiin-bites anda cooky.
Then he snatched his lunch pail from
the pantry shelf and was off, Mamma
was mp in the berry garden picking
currants. 1t wouldn't do to run up
latter his goodby kiss; there wasn't n
minute to spare. Kenneth was nine
years old, but how he did miss that
kissl
He was late to school, anyway, just
by an unlucky minute or two, and ON
his way to his seat he could hear Miss
Periwinkle's pencil point, hard and
rasping, tracing his poor little black
mark. Kenneth's heart sank. No
prize for punctuality now.
Well, it was sorry morning, and
sorry boy in it. Kenneth was too
hungry and too crestfallen to study, so
his spelling came to grief. He had to
stay in at recess to study it, and lost
the chance to borrow part of his dinner
to comfort his hungry little stomach.
When noon did come how he ran
for his dinner pail! 1t looked so shiny
and comforting; and he shifted little,
spicy, consoling smells round the
edges of the cover. Didn't he know
just what was in there?
The other boys were getting their
pals, too. Kenneth waved his aloft.
'My mother puts up the splendid
est dinners in this town." he cried.
"The splendidest in-this-townr
Some of the boys objected; but
Kenneth, tugging at the pail cover,
was insistent.
''You wait an see! Any O. you fell
lows got spice cakes in your dinners,
an tongue sandwitches-an'-an'-
sage cheese? / guess sol"
The cover snapped off. The boys
peered into-an empty pail! Empty
as poor Kenneth's little hungry
stomach! 1t wasn't his lunch pail at
all. Why hadn't he noticed there
wasn't any small red worsted bow on
the handle? This was mammals milk
pail, and he got it in his hurry. Oh,
dear
OF course, the boys-being boys
laughed at him loudly; and, of course,
Kenneth's face Redeemed angrily. But
he made big, brave effort and joined
in the laugh. There was great
lump in his throat and it was hard
work squeezing the laugh through; it
got caught, and broke into two pieces.
Still, it was a laugh. He put his
hands in his pockets and walked off,
trying to whistle.
Wy hoehoi puto UP tho Spieu
called one of the boys after him, but
he didn't get any farther.
Benny Browns grimy little hand
was clapped over his mouth.
"No, you don'tp' Benny said
stoutly. "Ken's brick / guess
you wouldn't a laughed at yourself.
You'd "a been hoppin'."
"That's so. So would l." agreed
Emil Smith. "Good for Ken!"
Lets make it up to him. Come
on!" cried Benny, excitedly.
And, when Kenneth went back to
his desk there was generous dinner
spread out on it, waiting for him.
Every boy had shared his choicest
bits.
So, You see, Kenneth wasn't hungry
when he got home to mamma at night,
except for his missing kiss. But he
was ever so much wiser.
"You see, mamma" he confided to
her aside, sit don't do to be lazy
bones. It's dreadful Expensive. -
Youths Companion.