The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-10-13

"ROBIN.RUNAWAY."


would wonder how his short legs coulC
run away 60 easily with such little roly
poly body. Before he was fairly dressed
he'd give youthe slip; for II your back
was turneda minute, the next question
was, where's Robbief" And. &c you
caught him around the premises, all right;
II moi. a neighborhood search must fol-
low, With his nncombcd curls pinned up
in q little knot until mamma had time to
make ringlets Of them, hatless, and In gen.
eral morning undress, he would 60 clat-
,eriug down the street, with many back.
ward glance to see II any one was inlpur-
suit, aud II not ignominiously captured,
he would bring up" at the steps OF the
nearest grocery, and their serenely fix
his seat and gaze with delight upon the
passing horse.cars and "dumpy.carts."
The stOrekecper, knowing his "tricks and
his manners" often tried all his persuasive
arts 10 the attempt 10 get him 10 run
home; no, no was deaf 10 all entreaties,
until rOuslng summons would take him
by storm and a pair Of stout Irish arms
transport him, despite his manful resist
uncc, safe within the doors Of home again
All in vain were the front gates tied in
every intricacy of knot that human inge-
nuitY could invent; no fingers were ever
more patient In picking out these particu.
lar knots than Robbies. = =
In vain did a board barricade attempt
to cut off all connection with the alley
gate; like little earth.worm, or one OF
his avOrite paitar-killers," he groyelcd
IN the ground and crawled under, and
then was off upon his winding way"
Well, one day no came to grlef, as you
might know no would, and this is how it
was. p
lie had been securely fastened in the
backyard, as usual. and had dug beau
tilul well, full six inches deep, and filled
II with water from the pump; then he
threw little stones In, and they filled It up,
and likewise sprinkled his clean little
blouse and round rosy face.
1t was very warm day, and the little
muddy hands often pushed back the
troublesome curls, or rubbed away the
perspiration from his face. lie was tired,
aud thought how much he d like walk;
but the gates were fast-oh, so tight But
there was back gate, seldom open ex-
cept 10 throw In wood and coal, and coal
had been brought that morning There
ii lay In u great black shining heap, aud
beyond II was the gate, open just little
mite Of way. ida.
Upthe coal.hesp, with many slip, per.
severing little Robbie toiled; and though
the coal tumbled and ratified noisily, no
one seemed 10 be within hearing. So he
reached the top, slid easily down the other
side, squeezed himself through the mar
row opening Of the gate, and then he
stood in The broad back alley, little
bruised and shaken, but otherwise all
right as far as his feelings were concerned;
but such sorry sight. -.----
lie rubbed his leg a little where the
coal had scratched 1t rather roughly above
the pretty striped sock, then he wiped bis
sleeve across his face, and started.
The alley.way was seldom used, and
was quite rough and stony; 80. before
long, down he went and scraped his 9th
er leg, which brought him 10 quite ser
lOus halt, and sitting down TO rub his
bruises, some sober thoughts stole through
his little brain. "AIamma tay, Robbie,
tay in ard mamma tay, Robbie, be nam.
mas dood boy 10 day." he kept saying to
himself; but then thought naughty"Ro6in.
Runaway" mamma dot tore finer
mamma, tant vip velly bad" and consol,
Ing himself with his mothers misfortune,
he limped on as brlskly as possible, and
tried 10 "make.believe" he was enjoying
himself frstratc.
PausiDg a moment at the well known
slOrestoop, run home, Robbed run
home right away Chimney. sweep will
get you, run! run !" cried his friend, the
grOcery.man, and clapped his hands and
"shooed" until Robbie actually scsmpered
oil, but not home; no, indeed, he wasn't
ready Tor that yet
Some men were working on the horse.
car track, and he walked up and sat down
on the curb stone, TO oversee. Presently
man let stone fall on his loot, aud
sworc dreadful oath. "Oh, bad man
nd man u said Robbie, shaking his head
aud, getting up, he walked slowly oil,
backward, for he was very anxious Ia
w.'ch the men, but very sure 10 his little
heart that mamma would be much griey
I'll u have him hear such "talk."
All atonce he heard great noise be
hlRl him, and turning quickly, behold, Il
great drove OF cattle were CAreerng down
lite street, making great din and CHATTER
anil snoring and believing.
Now II there was anything Robbie
dreaded, and Of which he stood In morta
terror, it was a COW. or horse 10 had
no iear-would play with its very feet Il
allowed; but coo, with its great heavy
body, and above all, Its fearful horns, wa
IN object that would always make bin
scamper through the gate II he but saw
the tips Of Its horns coming up the street
80 now he stood transfxed with terror
while those horrid monsters came on, =
Tramp, tramp, tramp; hundreds OF sharp
herce'looklng horns bristlipg In the air
and dust rising all about them like thick
smoke. % II Ff
Poor child no could no more NOV,
llan II he had been turned 10 stonel Hi
sturdy little legs were spread wide apart
and the tumbled curls all blown back iron
his white, scared face. All at once-or 4
yell II as Jamie, his "bigger" brother toll
afterwards, "When he did SEQ all then
catlIes a'comin' right 6etOIcaris him"-h
Just threw up his arms and fell back from
saeet fright and terror, and he knew
nothing more, till, hours aiterward, h
opened his eyes 10 find himself In man
mas arms, cool linen cloth on his heaG
Sna namma's tears dropping on his face
AiterwGrd no was made 10 understand
mat ono Of the boys who were driving Ii
cattle saw him fall, and spraug and caugh
alm up Just as one Of the foremost oxen q
Tue drove had lifted his feet 10 trampl
him In the dust; and the boy had carrie,
him down 10 the store, where. Of cours1
NC was known, and speedily brouph
home, all grimy and dusty, and pale an
senseless, just as mamma was saving