The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-05-23
THE LAST APPLE LEFT.

1t was the first warm April day and
Ross and Nina were leaning out Of
the dining room window, pairing big,
polished Winesap apple. Ross, of
course, was doing the work-With his
Christmas pocket knife; and Nina was
holding the end Of the long ribbon of
red skin as it uncurled from under
the bright blade. Twas the very last
apple left in the bottom of the barrel
sent down full from grandfather's
mountain farm at New Years, and the
children found it there only after
much searching and feeling around in
the dark closet.
Peel thin, Rossie," warned his sis
ter.
Course I WILL" promised Ross.
"My, but she's a corker!"
And just then, somehow or other,
the apple slipped from under the
blade, and left his hand suddenly
THERE" exclaimed Ross, preparing
to scramble down, and in the next
breath, well, look at that, will your"
A boy, little dark, thin boy, whom
they had not noticed before, darted
swiftly forward from somewhere, as
though he had been waiting for the
opportunity, and caught the apple
cleverly in his cupped hands.
Ross drew back quickly, his own up
and ready to receive it again, and
Nina watched with interested eyes.
Both children were astonished when
the boy made no move to throw,
merely clutching the partly peeled
apple, and staring at them with black,
wide eyes. Before Ross could say
the sharp sentence that occurred to
him, the other boy, with little jerk,
had carried the fruit to his mouth.
But before he bit it, his expression
changed, and with another jerk he
flung back his arm and tossed it
straight up into Ross's still ready
hands.
Good throw!'' cried the boy at the
window, you better had have given
me back my apple; twas the last one
Left"
The other only scowled a little in
reply, and was about to turn away
when Nina cried, "Boy, watt" Seiz-
ing the apple almost roughly, she
picked up the pocket knife and cut
it in two. Then, leaning far out, she
pitched one-half to him, in her awk-
ward way, little girl fashion. 1t was
caught neatly.
why, Nina Allen" exclaimed Ross,
with heat, whats that for?"
Look" said Nina, softly. The
strange boy was devouring his treas
ure. He could hardly be called eating
it; the half apple really disappeared
in two gulps, seeds, stem and core
before the children's astonished gaze
He seemed only to have twisted his
face a little, and 10, the thing was
done. Putting his hands in his ragged
pockets, he stood and stared unblink
ingly at the other half to Ross clutch
''Oh, how dreadfully hungry he must
have been!" breathed Nina.
why don't you give him something
to eat, then? Some bread and meat
and not your last piece of applet"
Because" his sister replied, hel
lip quivering a little, 'the pantry key
is in mothers room, and she is lying
down with a headache"
Ross hesitated. The thing he helC
in his hand seemed to burn him. He
said to himself, over and over, cts
the last one left" Then he decided
suddenly, and his wrist twisted back
ward The boy saw the twist and
was ready. In an unbelievably short
space of time this piece, too, was
gone.
well, l never did" said Ross under
his breath. What did you have for
breakfast, boy?" There was a shake
of the head that appeared to mean q
scarceness of breakfast. Going tc
have any dinner?" Another shake
Evidently the stranger had better care
than tongue. But neither breakfast
nor dinner!
Don't you go!" Ross said. Run
ming to the mantel he grabbed little
bank and was back at the window in
a flash. The boy looked doubtfully
at the object in Ross's hands, and
very puzzled when he ran the knife
blade into the little slit on top. "Hold
up your cap" Rose told him, and
when the grimy cap was lifted, out
from the tilted bank, along the blade
slid a dime, one five-cent piece, two
three. That's ALL" Ross said
Strengthening up. go around the
corner and get yourself something
good. You are a sport, you are!o
Nina clapped her hands softly. The
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