The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-08-05
:. THE =.
CHILDREN'S. HOUR
THE MISSING MAY BASKET.

/
| Late in the evening of the day be-
fore May Day Richard Barton hung
| May basket for Susie Mefriweather.
It was brimful of peanuts and maple
sugar; he had bought the peanuts
with his own money and made the
maple sugar from the sap of his own
maple trees. 500
At the sound of Richards thump on
the door Susie and her brother Frank
and Scamper, the dog, came hurrying
out. But Richard was too quick for
/ them. He had kept the May-day rule
and given signal as he hung the bas-
| ket, but he had managed to get out of
the way before Susie could see who he
| was.
tons were having supper there was a
whack at the side door, Richard and
his brothers and sister rushed to the
door. AS they flung it open they saw
two figures scurrying up the road.
Caught you!" Richard called loud
| ly. Come back, Frank and Susie
Merriweather"
|
SO fast that they did not hear; there
was nothing to do but chase them.
So Richard, Kent, jamie and Marjorie
ran down the steps and up the road.
Finally they overlook the fleeing pair.
| Then, of course, in obedience to an
other May-day rule, the brother and
sister had to go back to their friends
l mr. hnu ChTon ,fo mil \,
them.
When Richard reached home he ex-
pected, of course, to find a May basket
from Susie hanging on the door, but
no May basket was in sight By that
time Frank and Susie had come. Susie
glanced at the door and then at Rich
ard. Presently she said something in
a low tone to her brother.
Frank began to frown. "Some one
grabbed it while we were all running
down the road" he said angrily.
"Grabbed what?" asked Richard,
though he thought he knew
Frank looked at Susie, who hesitat-
ed. "The-the May basket that hung
for you," she said.
They talked the matter over. '"Who
could have done such thing?" ask
ed Richard doubtfully.
II don't know" Frank replied, "but
somebody did, that's certain"
eve surely did hang the basket"
Susie added "And now it's gone"
Maybe father or mother played a
trick on us and took it into the house."
Kent suggested.
Cor maybe it blew down into the
yard" Marjorie said. 49,
| But neither Of those things had hap
pened, and the children looked at one
another in beWilderment.
"Of course somebody must have
stolen it," Frank said. "Never mind.
Susie, maybe you can make another
one
Mo- Susie answered sadly. mot
with candy in it,
ooh, did it have candy in it,"
Richard interrupted "My!" He
knew how good Susie's fudge always
was.
Cake and lemonade helped the chill
dren to feel little. better, but they
could not help talking about the mys-
terry of the lost basket.
In the midst Of the feast Richard
| exclaimed, why, where's Scamper?
| Of course he must have a piece of
| May-day cake!"
Scamper came in when they called
him, but to the establishment of every
| one he would not touch "a crumb of
the cake.
Frank and Susie looked puzzled. ''1
never saw him refuse anything sweet
| before" Frank said.
They all looked at Scamper, whose
tail was lowered and whose ears
dropped YEARLY.
Tired, guess" Kent said. Likely
| as not he's worn himself out digging
| for moles'
Poor Scamper!" Marjorie chimed
| in with sympathy. "See his face is all
covered with brown earth"
Frank went closer and gazed at the
dog.
1T isn't brown earth on his face at
ALL" he cried suddenly. Its brown
fudge!"
| ana mere are some pieces of red
crepe paper in his hair added Kent.
| "My May basket" Susie exclaimed
in sorrowful voice. 20 Scamper!"
HE must have jumped up and pull
ed it off the doorbell the minute your
backs were turned" Frank said.
Little Jamie, who had disappeared
fer a moment came running in with
the remains Of the May basket. There
was nothing left except the frame
work and some torn red paper.
20 Scanper, Scamper!" Susie cried
again. Richard, I'll make you an
| other basket"
Poor Scamper! He got down on
the floor on his stomach and buried
his head between his paws
So funny he looked, with his sad
eyes rolling in his dirty face, that the
children forgot their disappointment
and shouted with laughter, but the
sound only made Scamper look sadder
than ever.
+ Then Richard stopped down and
stroked the slammed head Never
mind, old chap" he said you're
apologizing as well as you know how.
I'm glad twas you instead of d per
SON.
Frank turned red. II suppose 1 was
a little too hasty," he admitted, when