The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-12-08
HYMNS AUTO RIDE.

When Lynn's mother saw him come
racing down the street and fling him.
self through the gate and up the front
steps, she knew that something had
happened.
Mother, mother" he shouted, II
am going to have ride in it this
afternoon"
She did not need to be told what
''it" was. There was only one auto
mobile in the whole town, and Lynn's
dearest wish for two months had been
to try how it felt to be in it,
NOW 1 am going to know. Mr..
Duncan has invited me-"
why did he invite you?" asked his
mother.
Maybe he knew how much I'd like
to go, and he remembered when he
was a boy and wished something very
hard"
Does he know where you 1ive?"
Eyes; he asked me. He is coming
for me at three o'clock. Won't it be
fine for the automobile to be stand
luS TlSuI OuLSlu6 OlI gaze
Soon after dinner Lynn was inn
patient to get dressed and be ready.
By two o'clock he had his best clothes
on; and then, you see, he had to be
very careful not to get mussed and
be unready' by three. So he sat
down on his handkerchief on the curb
stone to wait. By and by Harry
Deems came along and talked to him.
Where are you going?" asked
Harry.
Il am going with Mr.. Duncan in his
automobile" said Lynn, trying to
speak as if he did it often.
Him." cried Harry. Aren't you
glad?"
Lynn nodded.
Il wonder" Harry went on, 'if
Mr.. Duncan's dog is all right. found
him off by the pond the other night
all wet and cold, and his foot was
hurt. put him under my coat to try
to keep him warm, but he shiyered
the whole way home''
Harry still talked, but Lynn did not
hear word that he said. He under
stood now why Mr.. Duncan had in
,vited him.
But he did invite me. / didn't try
to get him; he just did. 1t wasn't my
fault l couldn't help it. He said
something about his dog, but l didn't
understand it,"
He wished that Harry would go on
away. He mustn't be sitting there
when Mr.. Duncan came.
Suddenly voice spoke out plainly
from somewhere deep down under
Lynn's Sunday jacket. 1t was very
scornful voice:
'Of course you couldn't help it
when you didn't understand; but now
you do, and you can just as well as
not. If you pretend to be another
boy from yourself, that is cheating.
If you take Harry's ride, that is steal
ing"
Lynn jumped up from the curb
stone and took Harry by the arm.
Go right home, he shouted to
him, "and get. dressed. Hurry.
There'll be plenty of time if you
hurry. 1t was you that Mr.. Duncan
wanted to take in his automobile. He
made a mistake between us. That's
all. When / grow up, am going to
have sense enough to tell boys apart.
When Harry got the idea he held
back little.
But Lynn was determined
Its yours 1t was meant for you.
am not going to take it from you.
You wouldn't. You know you
wouldn't. Would your
This was why, when the big cream
colored automobile stopped at Lynn's
gate, Mr.. Duncan found two boys
standing on the curb. Lynn explained.
81 mixed you up, did 70 said Mr..
Duncan, screwing his eyes into
twinkling Sits as he looked from one
boy to the other. ''You are not just
alike, after ALL Well, get in The
machine is big enough for you both.
so I didn't lose thing by it."
Lynn told his mother afterwards.
'.But you gained something" she
said.
Yes agreed Lynn.