Connecticut western news., 1874-03-20
HOW RICH. RAN AWAY.

l HOW RICH. RAN AWAY.
 Rich was curled up on the lounge il the sitting-room, reading o new book Just such book it was as fourteen year-old boys generally take to, il which the hero invariably runs away from cruel -masters-starting il life with jump from four-story win dow-all his worldly possessions tiec up in little bundle and slung upo1 his back. Then he goes "a-sailoring, and hair-breadth escapes follow closely on the heels of exciting adventures just as I've seen the big waves tum ble and break upon the shores, rolling in one after another, during heavy gale.
 We'll, as I said before, Rich was read ing just such book-his eyes spark ling-his breath coming quicker as he scanned some unusually exciting pas, sage. He had reached the point where his hero, having fallen into the hands of pirates, was about being walked over the side of the vessel on @ narrow plank, when MT. Thorne came in.
 "Rich, I shall expect you to do the chores tonight" The lad addressed looked up with very black face.
 "Why, father, I did them yesterday. It's Wills turn"
 1 Will has something else to attend to, and even if he hadn't-you know I'm accustomed to having my children mind what say to them"
 | "But-"
 "1 want no arguments, Rich. Go and do your work, and then you will enjoy your reading all the more."
 Rich scowled and settled back to his book again.
 "Ill go," he grumbled, ''iust as
 Richard P Rich knew what that uncomfortable ahead in the form of a horsewhip or birch withe, if he did not obey. So he got up and laid his book on the mantel, scowling all the while. It certainly did seem very awkward predicament in which to leave his Incorporated on plank above the | "boiling waves "-his hands fastened behind him, and multitudinous sharks below, snapping their sharp, white | fangs in anticipation of feast, but Rich couldn't help himself very we'll, so he contented himself with setting his teeth together hard, wrinkling his fore head up into great big scowls, and glowering like Q wild animal, all the time he was putting on his cap and nit | tens-which took him an unaccountably long while.
 Rich had 0 big bunch of obstinacy under the shock of tow-colored hair which adorned his pate; even after he had got his ears muffled up to suit him. self, having taken off and put on his scarf half Q dozen times before he ar rived at that continuation, he walked to the window and stood looking out into the fading light of the cold, November sunset, until his father spoke again. Then he started.
 Will was in the kitchen whittling away at something by the fire. He was a real mechanic, his father said. When knife and work out of sight, and fell to chin on his hands.
 The sight reused Rich's ire. He got the milk-pail and marched through the der cloud-neither looking to the right shut with slam-bang" very much as if heavy gust of wind had closed it.. The laugh waS nothing-a very good
 
 ter Rich heard it.
 "S'pose he thinks he's got nothing to do but set there before the fire and giggle!" that young man muttered fercely. "Fatherll make me do his work and that'll be all hunky. Likes not he's afraid his pet'll soil his hands. Bah!' and Rich gave the barn door a kick, which, in his heart, he might have aimed at his brother. Wonder if he thinks I'm going to do his work for him all winter? Not if know my self, I ain't," he went on, taking the milking. stool from it's wooden peg, ''he'll find himself nightly mistaken if that's his game. I can run away just like Jack Mainsel did," and Rich paused for moment as if to consider the idea. "I-really-believe I-will," he said slowly, his eyes like two moons, I'll go othis very nightl" nodding sagaciously to Brindle. And Brindle didn't offer the least objection.
 When once the idea of running away had found it's way into the web of Rich s imaginings, it grew and grew until he wondered why in the world he hadn't thought of it before. He seemed to hear his father calling him in the morn- ing, and he thought how conscience stricken that gentleman would feel when he should discover that his son was gone-driven from home by his cruelty. This presented another ques- tion. Should he he, or should he not, leave a note informing his distressed family whither he had fled ? Decided in the negative. They might follow him and likely enough catch him. Not that they cared anything for him, but they would bring him back to do the chores; anything but thatl Rich struck a "death before dishonor" attitude, with the pail of milk in one hand and the stool in the other. which might have delighted Edwin Forrest.
 Then he pictured himself coming home, laden with the spells of the sea in the shape of gold eagles. Whether he intended to turn pirate or not I can- not say. At all events, he was fully re- solved on running away that night.
 The chores were done at last; the two great boxes piled high with wood, and rich was warming his numbed fingers before!s sthe blazing fire, when his father said /:
 Richard, you have done nicely Now want you to make up your mind to do as we'll all the week, without ask ing any questions"
 | Rich didn't answer. but his thouohts