The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-12-07
PAPA'S LITTLE RUNAWAY.
ABABY STORY FOR GROWN FOLKS.
BY FAITH ROCHESTER,.


hundred miles, to new home in the
West. They went by car and by steam
boat, and finally by stage. The last ten
miles of the journey lay almost wholly
through the woods. at last they stopped
at new house in small clearing in the
forest. This was Johnny's new home.
So Johnny used to think that every
thing left behind him when he came to
live at "papa's house" was 'away in the
trees"-all the "doggies" and "big, big
houses" and 'litty cousins"
At first, there was no fence around this
clearing. It was bounded simply by the
forest, in which were divers wild beasts
and fowls, and now and then rattle
snake. It would be an easy thing for the
little child to wander away into the
woods and get lost, if not constantly
watched. Sometimes he wore a small
tea-bell hanging from his neck, and then
his mamma felt comparatively easy about
him so long as she could hear the tink-
ling of his little bell. He liked it, and
played that he was little cow with
bell on, like many of the Western COWS.
Johnny's papa thought that his mother
did not realize what dreadful thing it
was to get lost in the woods He had
himself been astray in the forest, unable
to find his way home, whole day and
night, even since he was grown-up man.
One day johnny had chased %the kitten
down into the trees as far as the little
calf pasture, out of sight Of the house.
Papa saw him going, and followed
quietly &c thought it was perhaps best
to let the little fellow imagine himself
lost for a short time. He hoped that it
would cure him of straying beyond the
limits of the clearing in which the house
stood. The kitten frolicked away out of
sight. The baby-boy grew tired and
sat down to rest.
Mamma" he cried YEARLY, and then
began to cry.
Papa sat down behind o tree to wait.
A young girl came running down the
forest path. It was "Aunty," coming to
lead back her little pet. Papa stopped
her and told her his plan. She could see
the weary little lad sitting beside
clump of bushes, whose bright yellow
leaves attracted him; and she could hear
his sleepy cry for mamma.
The young aunty flew back to the
house in great excitement.
at is cruel! It is outrageous !" she eX-
baby Johnny is. The little fellow will
cry himself to sleep and take cold there
on the damp grass" And Gertrude
cried heartily over the sorrows of poor
little Johnny.
Then mamma went out-not to Johnny
but to her husband. She knew very
well that Johnny's papa was actuated
only by desire for the little ones good.
But he was not used to babies, and mann
ma thought he sometimes expected too
much of the two year-old man. Not be.
ing man of tyrannical nature, nor hay
ing any undue sense of his Importance as
the paternal head of the family, he was
very easily persuaded to give over the
experiment that time, and together the
two young parents went to their darling
and led him home-Or rather he rode in
his papa'sSarms, receiving a solemn little
lecture meanwhile npOn the duty of keep
ing near the house and in mammals sight.
How deeply the sleepy little Johnny
was impressed by this wise talk, you
shall presently see,
A few weeks after this, they were all
in Gertrudes room, where Gertie and
mamma were lacking down carpet.
Johnny was busy too.
Here's one, mamma !" he kept saying,
handing the tacks to his mother faster
than she could possibly use them. Papa
had just come from the postoffice, and
had brought upstairs letter for mamma.
"What is the matter with Madge?"
asked Gertrude, and then all became
aware that the Newfoundland puppy
was making great fuss at the kitchen
door. Papa went down Immediately.
Mamma remembered her bread in the
oven, and Gertrude went down to attend
to it.
I'll see to the bread, mamma I'll see
to it, mammal and johnny fastened
downstairs.
It was Mr.. Carney, who had come to
see Johnny's papa about the new road.
When he saw Johnny, he exclaimed,
"Hallo Here's my little man. Say, is
this your cart % catching up two
wheeled little concern that stood at the
door. "Where's your horses co draw the
cart F.? Don't you want some horses, only
so high, Just big enough to draw that
cart ? I've got little girl just your SIZE
You go home with me and see my little
girl, and perhaps we can find some little
horses.
Johnny answered not word, but list
ened with big-eyed wonder. The thought.
less talk had taken effect. A few min
utes afterwards, it seemed scarcely ten
minutes, and Johnny was missing. He
was beyond sight and hearing.
q Where was he /? Which way should
they go in search of him? 1t seemed
likely that he had followed Mr.. Carney
down the leafy road that led to the near
est highway, half mile from the house.
Papa ran in that direction, and mamma
1oI Of h %Lo4