The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-06-15
THE CATHOLIC BULLETIN, JUNE IS, 1917.

DIE SOOu little SlTlSs ne STuWly Sdlu.
The child laughed merrily.
"You's splendid ogre" she cried,
and clapped her hands. much bet
tern papa. What's you eatin'?"
He hastily pushed the biscuits and
the remains of the apple aside.
My luncheon" he answered. But
you haven't told me where you came
from"
He was surprised at himself for
showing this interest in the child. II
coined down to see papa" she an
swered. Mamma brought me an left
me here cause she's goin' a shoppin'
an there's big crowds an little girls
might get hurt. An brought papa 8
lunch and mamma will call for me.
An I'm to keep awful still, cause the
man papa works for is very cross, an
he can't bear to have children round.
Please can't l come in wee bit
further?'
Come in if you want to-" said the
old man little ungraciously.
She smiled as she slowly advanced.
1T always pays to be polite" she said.
That's what mamma tells me. If I
had said, can l come in, without any
please, you might have said we don't
want no little girls round here today
they're such nuisance. AN be-
sides, was little tired of stayin' out
there all alone. Cause, you see, papa
had to go to the Custom House bout
somethin' pertickler, an I'm most sure
heard big rat under the desk brush
in his whiskers.'
She came quite close to him and
leaned against the ancient haircloth
chair that stood by his desk.
who is your father?' the old man
asked.
MY papa? He's Mister Fenton, Mr.
Russell Fenton. Do you know him?
He's very nice man.
Eyes, I know him. And did he tell
you to come in here and see me?'
Mercy, no." cried the child. He
didn't say nothin' about you. He just
said l was to keep very quiet an he
would be back as soon as he could. An
said, "Aint you goin' to eat your
lunch, papa? An he said no, he didn't
have time; an l said it was a shame to
waste such nice lunch, an he
laughed an said, You eat it, but after
I heard that rat | didn't seem to feel
hungry" She looked at him and her
dark eyes sparkled. please will you
watch through the door very close for
just a minute? If the rat sees you
lookin' he won't come out. Just a
minute" and she turned and trotted
into the counting-room. In a moment
she was back again with long card
board box Here's the lunch" She
looked at him and half closed her eyes.
Let you and me eat it," she said.
He shook his head
Eat it yourself" he muttered.
Il can't eat it ALL she cried. I'm
not greedy. It's very nice. Mamma
took such pains with it. Let's divide,
What's yours?" He hesitated. Then
he pushed his apple and biscuit into
view. She looked at the display
gravely.
Had what?"
"Dyspepsy. He couldn't eat hardly
anythin' neither"
It eat quite enough" the old man
dryly remarked.
The child looked at him curiously.
You're pretty thin," she said. May
be I'd be pretty thin, too, if lived on
apple an biscuits An now it's my
turn. See this And she whisked
the cover off the box, and showed the
neatly-packed contents. "Now,'' she
said, as she drew out sandwich, 'Tll
give you this for two biscuits. l don't
much care for biscuits, but it will seem
more fair"
She held the sandwich towards him.
He hesitated again. A frosty smile
stole across his .wrinkled face. He
gravely extended the two biscuits and
took the proffered sandwich. Then he
bit a goodly piece from it.
Very good" he said.
Mamma made 'em herself. Papa
says she's a dabster at maxim sand
wiches. But then I think mammas
always makes things better than any
body else can. Don't you find it SOP
He paused with the remains of the
sandwich uplifted. His face grew more
gentle.
II believe it's fact that's generally
admitted" he said.
The child looked at him with a quick
laugh.
That's just the way papa talks
sometimes" she said, AN l don't un
derstand word he says. But amt we
havin' a good time, JUS you an me?'
why, yes" said the old man. g
think it must be good time, although
I'm afraid I'm pretty poor Judge
The child regarded him critically.
"You do look pretty poor" she said
Have another sandwich. Oh, do! An
here's some cheese an a nice pickle
| Yes Won must pana saws il iSn't