The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-04-29
POOR LITTLE TONEY.

ed to small boy with large pack
over his bent shoulders. This is
Vanni Maestro's place."
Please, sir, Pm Vannis brother
He's one of Father Martinelli's Boy
Scouts, and this afternoon he is sell
ing Thrift Stamps, and I'm just taking
his place.
A sudden and severe spell of cough
ing interrupted the explanation.
"Ah, | know. You're little Tony"
He looked with pity upon the white
pinched features, with the deep spots
of red on either cheek. 'Will Vanni
be here soon?''
Yes, sir
well, I'll try to keep an eye over
you until he comes
AS the officer turned away, a car
containing two ladies stopped at the
curb
Give me Post, boy" one called
to Tony. How much? Three cents?
Here, Mildred, hold Fido for minute.
Oh, here's a Nickel" she exclaimed,
after considerable fumbling in a bag.
Now give me my dear little doggie,
Mildred. Poor little darling, fear he
has taken cold l must wrap his
blanket about him. Now, we are ready
to go. Oh, the .change-my change,
boy!"
With eyes that fairly bulged in sur
prise and Indignation, Tony watched
the women cuddle the poodle with the
same loving attention that mothers in
the neighborhood gave to their babies.
And he knew of so many poor. chilled,
little bodies without a blanket to
warm them.
"The change, boy!" the woman de-
manded, angrily. Don't you hear?
Give me my change"
Lady, l gave you the change
two cents. You had the pennies in
your hand when you put the cover
over the dog"
"Oh, the little prevaricator! Did
you hear what he said, Mildred
Give me my change at once, my boy,
or l will have you arrested"
Tony shook his head. He knew he
had given her the change, but he
was so interested in the attention
lavished upon the dog that he did
| not notice what she did with it. If
it were his own money he would be
glad to give her another two cents
| and avoid trouble, but it was Vanni's
money, and he must make no mistake
Thief the woman shouted, an.
grily. Another spell of coughing kept
the boy from answering. do you see
his trick, Mildred? He is pretending
| to cough? Here, officer"
What is the trouble?" Officer Car
ney demanded, as he ran toward them
HE is a thief" she pointed to the
boy. He refuses to give me my
change"
We'll, Tony?' the officer demanded
I Il gave her the change-two cents,
he insisted, gasping from weakness
Two cents!" the man shouted. 81
thought perhaps twas ten dollar
bill you were making so much fuss
about" Indignantly.
Il gave him a nickel. It isn't the
| money-the two cents It's the prin
| clple Of it. He must give me my
| changed"
The officers eyes were steely. He
thrust his hand into pocket and
drew out a dime. Here's your two
cents, madam, with interest. The
| boys all right, and sick, too. l know
his family. He's honest through and
through"
The woman's face famed in wrath
How dare you insult me SO? Take
| that boy to the Police Chief at once
shall report you, sir, for your inso
| lence!"
Come, Toney, we'll go up to the
station and explain it to the chief
and, taking the boys hand, he turned
his back upon the occupants of the
| car.
| CHANGING again at the child's face
ne saw faint little smile curve the
boys thin lips, wrinkling the chin
mounting up past the vivid, red spots
on the cheeks, till the black ewes
caught and held the glow, so much
like the faint ray of sunshine after q
storm, as it chases cloud after cloud
from its path.
That's right, boy. 1 like to see
| that smile"
On, Ia almost forgotten we were
going to the chief l got to thinking
or what Father Martinelli told me
last week. I'm thinking of it most all
the time, now"
| What did he tell your"
I was so discouraged. heard the
doctor tell Vanni it wouldn't do any
good to send me to farm now. 'cause
I'm too far gone. The pains all here >
ne pointed to his chest. "They dom
Know, at home, that l heard Vannf
talking to the doctor, SO I didn't dare
cry or say nothing cause they would
feel so bad, and they're all good anf
kind to me. But l was scared anf
disappointed. I always thought pf
get well and be priest, like Fatbe,
Martlnelli, and try to help all tbe
poor people just like he does. Anf
then to hear that / could only live 8
IL L . l.