Part 5 (2/2)
FRANKIE MINDS MAMMA.
UNCLE SOL was going to take a party of boys out in his boat. All had scrambled in but one little fellow, the smallest of the party.
”Tumble in, Frankie,” said Uncle Sol. But still Frankie hesitated.
”Don't you want to go?” asked the old sailor.
”Yes, sir,” answered Frankie, slowly, ”but mamma doesn't like to have me go on the water.”
”Why?”
”She's afraid since papa was drowned.”
”Don't go, then, my boy. Don't worry your mother. She's had trouble enough already;” and Uncle Sol began to push the boat out into the water.
”Pooh! Come on!” shouted Horace, the tallest boy in the boat. ”Your mother'll never know. We'll keep dark.”
”Don't you go to learnin' Frankie any bad ways,” said Uncle Sol, sternly. ”Boys never come to much in the world unless they mind their mother. I've always noticed that.”
Horace sat down rather ashamed of his bold words. And little Frankie looked at Uncle Sol gratefully, saying, ”I know mama'll be glad to have me come home:” and with a happy laugh he ran away from the boat.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FRANKIE MINDS MAMMA.]
POOR JOE.
”YOU may put on your coat now, Hugh, and take these things to Mrs.
Larry. You have barely time before school, you must hurry.”
”Must I go this morning, mother, why can't I go to-night, or this noon?”
”There'll not be time at noon. And before night Joe may want some of these things. You may do, however, just as you think you would like to have Joe do, if he was in your place and you in his. Poor Joe needs better food than his mother is able to buy. You wouldn't have him suffer for the sake of skating, would you?”
Hugh thought a minute. At last he said, ”I know if I was in Joe's place, I should want somebody to bring me a heap of things. Guess I'll go, mother.”
His mother smiled to hear him whistle as he ran from the yard. Just before school he rushed in.
”Say, mother, can I buy Joe some oranges? He's white--he's white as your ruffled ap.r.o.n. I've fifty cents. I'll spend half for Joe.”
Hugh's mother kissed him before she said yes. And her eyes filled with glad tears as he ran out whistling more merrily than before.
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