The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-02-01

he SAID mOurn1uIIy, 10 himself.
What fool I was!"
He saw Julia Reed in the distance.
and hurried home. He could not
speak to her that day.
But he must speak to his mother.
and he waited for the evening with
unspeakable dread.
"If I could only run away until
she has forgotten it," he thought:
but there was no chance OF that.
John was beginning to find out
what we all learn sooner OF later
that no one but ourselves can face
the consequences of our own folly.
That evening he sat at the library
table, history in hand, apparently
deeply interested in its pages. His
mother sat lear. with her work.
There was a long pause. then she
spoke.
John. I was very much disap-
pointed in your composition to-day"
$50 was L." thought John, but he
said not word.
"A good part of it was nonsense.
she went on. why should the poor
Russians be anxious to die for their
country"
"I-don't-know," faltered John.
but I thought you did know a
little about them. and as for the mis-
cradle Patagonians-"
Il said l drew the line at the Pa
4o~ou;op' ancworod Thin ruick1y
You said so! To whom"
John colored. He remembered
Julia's words, mo one must know"
but it was too late.
Il said so to myself"
''Then why didn't you draw the
line at them and through them, and
scratch them OUT"
John was silent His mother eyed
him keenly, between her stitches.
John Colby" she said at length.
II don't believe you wrote a word OF
that paper"
John bent over his book with ting
ling cheeks.
II never thought that a boy Of
mine would be cheat" said she. and
John could feel the righteous indig-
nation of her face, though he didn't
look at it,
20 Mariner" he cried, II never
thought about the cheating. can
not write a composition.
so you asked some one to do it
for you
"No. l never asked her. She came
Who came in. john"
Mother" said John, much dis
tressed, you must never. never tell"
who came in, my SOM"
Julia Reed. She saw what mess
! was making. and she offered to
write it for me. You won't tell.
mother"
did you promise to keep it Sc
cret?"
Yes. unless it took the prize"
''Took the prize" His mother bit
her lip. But what would you have
done then. john"
1T would all have had to come
out then" said John simply.
Mrs. Colby held out her hand, and
it met Johns stubby fingers across
the table. He dared to look into her
face. 1t was radiant.
you are my own boy" said she;
but what are We going to do about
this? l can't have them all thinking
that my son wrote this"
20. mother!" interrupted John.
please don't do anything. Don't
say anything. can't go back on
Julia, now. 'Twould be mean, with
all the fellows chaffing me about the
Patagonian. Let EN- think ! wrote
it. l don't care"
but care, John"
Mother. please"
She could not resist his pleading
face
well, John" she said at length.
II must say that your punishment
came with your offence this time"
''And you won't tell?"
mot one Of the girls or boys shall
ever know it from me-" And John
was content.
But l want you to write some
thing for me-something about Pat
riotism''
20, Mariner" cried John, II can't
do it. l cannot write composition"
Il don't want a composition. +
simply want your own ideas in your
own words. But keep to facts and
common sense. Think of all the men
and women, too. who have died for
their country. Don't shake you head,
John. You can do it. l know you
can"
It was trial. but John did it, and
succeeded SO well that his mother
was satisfied