Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-12-18
How Grandpa Run Away.

That's too much, /" said grandpa.
" You promised" said Madae, "yot
know you did, daupa."
But | didn't intend to cat so much
pleaded grandpa
Pity the sorrows Of a poor old man
whose trembling voice is buried in roast
turkey parodied Tom.
Lets vote on it," said Kate.
-" Girls can't vote" said Joe, with somo
thing Of the pomposity that the Thanks
giving turkey had assumed when struttina
on his native heath. 81 and Joe will
vote if you say so"
" Nonsense, said grandpa The girl.
can vote in this case"
at will make a precedent said j oe
who bad heard bis uncle Joe discussing
some question or other the day before.
Joe had ears for big words.
Then grandpa laughed so heartily that
the children began to be alarmed for fear
he'd use himself up, to the injury of their
story, and Tom rut five little slips Of white
lpaper for ballots. Then each little tease
wrote something on bis paper and they all
dropped them in grandpa's bat. Madee
couldn't write, and she whispered her vote
10 kate's ear aud Kate wrote for her.
"The verdict is against me, ," said grand.
pa, as he read the words they had written,
for though one said, you must and
another wrote poiDtedly, story and
another "you can't get out Of it," and
Madge had written, through her secretary,
please" it amounted to the same thing.
Grandpa must tell his story, and make the
best Of it, and next year not eat 50 much
dinner.
when was boy said he, 81 had
such passion for the sea that | could take
no interest in anything else. fairly hated
the dear old farm, for it kept me from the
beautiful, blue, dashing waves, and even
my mothers love was irksome, for it re-
strained me in what | most desired.
used to wish that was a little bound boy
with nobody to care about me, for then |
could run away with good conscience, but
it took me long time to make up my mind
TO leave my father and mother
"The summer that | was fourteen" he
continued there came to work for father.
a man who had been a sailor. He had been
round the world several times, and liked
nothing so well as to tell me yarns" as
he called his stories of what he had seen in
his travels. His accounts agreed too well
with my dreams, and every day | longed
more and more to seek my fortune on the
sea. Jack, the old sailor, was going to
leave ar soon as the harvesting was over,
and he proposed my going with him secretly
to Boston, where he would find good place
for me on board a merchautman, for he
knew ever and ever so many sea captains, -
he said
1t was a very wicked proposal for Jack
to make, and | had been brought up to
know that deceit aud secrecy never pros.
per. My father had said to me hundred
times my boy, what you cant't do openly
don't do at all only worms and snakes,
and hateful, nosome things, 90 wrggling
about in the dark and under ground. But
| forgot all this, all my sweet mothers love
and tenderness, aud one night toward the
last Of October | made up a little bundle
Of clothes and went away from my home
with Jack Halstead | went to bed the
same as usual that night, but Jack staid
out, and when be thought everybody was
asleep be put a ladder underneath the little
window Of my room, and climbed out"
And didn't you feel frightened and
sorry then ?" said affectionate little Funny
mo, dear, was too excited with my
adventure, and Jack began filling my head
with sea story the moment we started,
that put all thoughts of home out of my
mind We had walked about half mile
and were going by Deacon Browns house
when the DeaeoDs watch dog, hearing our
steps, came running after us, barking so
6ercely that we both took to our heels
thoroughly frightened. We were going to
take short cut across a pasture, and in
hurrying over low wall in our panic, one
Of the loose stones tumbled after me and
fell on my foot | screamed with pain as
Jack removed the stone; but | couldn't
take a step. You'll have to carry me-,
said to Jack.
Jack laughed, very ill-timed thing
for him to do, | thought | wouldn't 20
back aud face the old man for his dirty lit.
tie farm, he said
"Then ii was plain to me that he really
meant to 90 of and leave me in the night
with my foot in that terrible condition"
Oh grandps, how could he," said the
children in chorus.
"a man that will tempt boy to run
away from his home is not to be trusted
A man that isn't true in one place isn't
likely to be in another | learned that
lesson pretty thoroughly that night, lying
there alone in dreadful pain"
Who found you, grandpa"
Deacon Browns hired boy, when he
started to 60 to mill the next morning be-
fore sunrise heard me groan, and took me
in his wagon, and carried me home"
What did your father and mother say 2n
asked the eager listeners.
They didn't know that had been out
of my bed. Father was out milking, and
mother had just said to herself, The poor
boy must be tired. I'll let him sleep a
little longer and so she hadn't called me.
Frank, a great strong fellow, carried me
into mothers room and laid me on the bed
and there l lay suffering from my crushed
foot, and more still from the disgrace Of
my position.
"Father and mother didn't say much to
me, for they very wisely thought that l
was punished enough.
IL was just able to get around the house
little on Thanksgiving Day for | had
a most serious time, and very well re-
member how thankful ! felt to Deacon
Browns dog for barking at us, and to the
stone for rolling on my foot and stopping
me. My father talked to me very serious
ly after dinner, and he said our Affections
were better for US than our pleasures, and
that many times in life if God didn't stop
us we should 60 straight into terrible dan
ger. He ended by asking me what thought
the greatest mercy of the past year.
My crushed foot answered
To think that Grandpa ever tried to
run away !" said the children.