Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-05-07
THE RUNAWAYS.
BY HELEN ANGEL GOODWIN.

1IIJllG Usual bSulSOH lives IA LYNN.
He is a bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked little
fellow-not exactly handsome, but usually
very pleasant and entertaining. Uneasi-
ness is his worst fault He can't keep
still five minutes at time. He wants to
be always going about and seeing things
Now, there is no danger that he will learn
too much that is good; but even for wis
dOm's sake he ought not to disobey his
parents. He runs away very often, and
causes great anxiety to his friends
Neither rewards nor punishments ever had
any lasting good effect The servant used
to try to scare him by telling him how
the policeman, "when he should see a
small by all alone by himself, he hits
him about the head with his sorry great
club, and thin dhrags him away to the
station, and there's no knowin' when he
liver escapes"
Oscar, instead of being frightened, set
to work to find way out of the difficulty.
He soon decided on a course of action
worthy future statesman. AS soon as
Bridget's back was turned he SHE'D out
doors, with his pockets full of candy and
an apple in each hand. Stopping before
the first bluecoat he saw, he looked inno-
Gently up into the bearded face, saying,
pleasantly:
Glow do, sir? Like apples?"
" Yes, indeed, my fine fellow"
"Dat's for you, den"
The knight of the club accepted the
gift, and they walked on together, eating
their apples and talking very socially.
Elated by success, he bribed the next 20
liceman with candy; and when that was
gone he found that he could make friends
with them with only his pleasant face
and CHEEKY voice and cOnfiding hand. In
the course of the summer he had won
over to his standard almost every police
man in the city. 1t was a common as
well as amusing sight to see him march
ing up and down the street hand in hand
with one of these guardians Of the peace,
with his head almost too erect for per
pendlcular and his whole manner say
ing:
"No fear Of disturbance while we are
on this beat"
One day in September he slipped away
from the house quite early in the morn
ing, and walked down street as briskly as
a Wall-street broker, though he had not
the slightest errand that way. Candy was
uppermOst in his thoughts. He had been
| little unwell for few days, and his US
ual liberal supply had been cut off,
wish Aunt Sophie was here" he
said. "She would give me candy, |
know" Then, suddenly quickening his
pace with sudden thought: al know
what will do. I'll go to Salem and see
Aunt Sophie.'
Just then, in front of Mr.. Blake's, he
saw little Johnny Blake swinging on the
gate, and called to him to go with him
Where's you goin'?"
"To Salem, to see Aunt Sophie and get
some candy"
"Was you ever there? Does you know
She way %
"Course I Go. All you've got to do is
just get on the cars, and you're there in
two minutes y
81 must ask mamma and change my
clothes first"
"No, don'tye. I didn't. They won't
let you go, and we's big huff to know
somefn usselves. Folks don't wear their
bestest clothes on the dirty Car, NEWER"
Johnny gave up, as he usually did, and
trotted along by Oscars side to the depot,
mile away. Just as the two small tray
elers arrived the Boston train came thun-
derIng in. The boys mounted the steps
OF the smOking-car and sat down in a
corner of that very undesirable vehicle.
Johnny had just time to say how glad he
was not to have worn his new suit of
navy blue where it was all "'bacca pits
and fmoke" when the engine, putting
and snOrting, set the long train again
in motion. The conductor, in his
hurry, did not notice the two little fellows,
suppOsing their guardians were some
where on the train. It was short ride;
for they actually had hit the right train,
and at the second halt the brakeman
opened the door and shouted "Salem."
The children got out among a crowd of
people pushing every way.
"Is we there?' asked Johnny, clinging
to his friend.
"Most there. Yves got to get out of
this depot, and then we shall see Aunt
Sophie somewhere. / don't know where
the house is, cause l never was here; but
we'll find it. Well see her outdoors, |
guess. She's so big. She weighs most
two hundred, and she's just as good as
she is big"
The little pair trudged along into and
through some of the principal streets, adj
miring things in shop windows, until they
grew tired and sat down to rest in a toy
shop.
''I's got lots o. money in my pocket"
said Oscar, suddenly. "I'll buy you a
present. Do you want woody elephant
or that painted rocking -horse?"
ooh! the rocky-horse, the rocky
horsem cried the excited Johnny. Oscar
marched up to the counter and deliber-
| ately counted out five cents.
Mr.. Clerk, please to give that red
white-an'-blue rocking-ho to Johnny
for my five cents"
Couldn't do it, my little man. That
is worth dollar. Let me give you in
stead this sugar dog with basket in
his mouth"
Il want the horsey," faltered the disap-
pointed Johnny.
Never mind" said Oscar. "I'll get
you that after we find Aunt Sophie. She's
got lots Of money. And then this is a
sugar dog, and we can eat it when we
get through playing with it."
So, according to their wishes, the dog
/ vas wrapped up in white paper, with his
| head sticking out; and they started OF
again to find Aunt Sophie. 1t was weary
work for little feet, that steady tramplng
| up and down the street, with no stopping
to play; and about the middle of the af-
ternoon Johnny began to complain of
hunger.
Lies ask somebody to give US some
bead and butter"
NO." replied Oscar, with great dig