The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-04-09

name. Or chewing the rag--it's all
the same thing
Gabriel became nettled. Eyes, 1'dI
like to know who chews it worse than
you do he retorted. You even
chew the rag in your sleep, SO have
to stay awake lots of times listening
to your crazy talk
Joseph laughed at this illusion to
his propensity to talking in his sleep
and then his mother endeavored to
calm the troubled waters by inter-
vention
Now, boys, don't quarrel over
nothing" she advised. Laugh in
stead, and look at the funny side
There's no funny side to look at,
as far as l can see,' grumbled Ga
briel, land il those fellows don't cut
out that Cab business I'll call them
names they won't like
Mrs. Miller smiled, for she knew
that Gabriel's bad names" would not
be anything Objectionable
"You do that, Gabriel" urged Jo-
sephine, who was always ready to
stand back of her brother in all cir
| cumstances. What will you call
| them?" ~.
''Ill give you list of good ones"
suggested Joseph. Then he mention
ed number of formidable iepithets
for Gabriel's use:
"Bonehead, Daffy, Simp," were a
| few of the choicest names proposed,
4 A 1nd off t1a
last one suggested being Nobody
Home"
"Of course you must give the right
name to the right fellow Joseph
added, very seriously, 'or you may
| get into trouble with the bunch =
1 But when Gabriel had the oppor-
tunity of applying these strong and
suggestive titles his courage failed
/ him. After all, he didn't want to
show any ll-feeling. The boys didn't
mean any harm. He'd just insist
upon their calling him by his full
name and no abbreviation about it.
But to this the others objected, say
ing it was altogether too much of a
mouthfuT'-took too long to say. So
i Cab short and to the point, they
4 continued to call him until in time
4 Gabriel became quite accustomed to
this vestige of his full name, and
thought no more about it..
4 The twins were greatly devoted to
i each other, and if Josephine was ever
ready to champion her brothers.
cause, Gabriel was just as generous
to always take. sides with his little
] sister. -
Il Josephine had very bright red hair
that always attracted attention wller
! ever she went. One day she and her
brother were playing out on the lawn
A strange boy whom they did not
know came along up the sidewalk.
! Gee! look alb the red head!" he in
q solently exclaimed. Hello, Reddy!
You'll set the house on fire if you
! amt careful. i Better call the fire de-
partment before the flames spread"
At once Gabriel was ready to de-
fend Josephine against this onslaught
: He was only a very little fellow al
the time,, but he, was courage per
| sonified.
~, Don't you talk that way to my
sister," he commanded. drawing him
self UP to his, full height and pass
ing an arm about the little maid al
i his side a.,
4 The other boy laughed derisively
"If l had a sister with hair like that
I'd give her away. Let me warm my
hands," and he advanced nearer.
i At this Gabriel stopped and picked
Iup a stout stick that lay on the
ground, and made pass at their
tormentor, but the latter lodged the
blow
!. ."Going to show fight, are your" he
4 questioned Say, you're a danger
GUS guy to leave running loose!'
Il He darted off with Gabriel follow
ing in his wake, the big stick bran
dishing furiously, while Josephine
looked on with mingled fear and adj
miration. TEL
i The aggressor would permit his
pursuer to approach almost close
enough to administer whack, but
would then jump out of harms way
each. time and leave Gabriel beating
the air. j
4 This. afforded the older boy plenty
i of amusement, and he laughed in
great glee at the small lads attempt
to deal vigorous blow.
Thus for several blocks the two
continued on their way until the
stranger reached his domicile. Then
with a parting derisive retort to his
4 adversary he disappeared inside the
door. l
Gabriel stood at the steps a long
time in hopes. that the boy would
i reappear, until tired out and disap-
pointed. he retraced his steps back
to Josephine.
/ She was relieved to see him again
for she had feared that that mean
boy" might have done something ter
libfe to her brother maybe grabbed
the stick from him and hit him SO
hard he wasn't able to come back.
81 waited for him to come out
j again, and I was going to give him
| an awful swat" Gabriel explained.
But he didn't come out guess he
| was afraid
! And Josephine declared that her
brother was ''just awful brave and
that she, thought he'd make a fine
] soldier when he "growed up All Of