River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-05-21

Still he hitched up the grays and drove
over to c., the nearest city, hoping to
hear from his truant son.
The day passed, and the grays' heads
were turned homeward, and Mr.. Baily
had found no tidings of the runaway,
who happened to be ltrudging along a
short distance ahead, his heart and his
head growing heavier every minute, as he
thought Of the twenty miles that must
be gone over before he could reach home.
MIR. Baily nearly passed the little
figure, with green looking pack. but when
he recognized John Alexander, he could
hardly refrain from hugging him and for
giving all his misdeeds on the spot. But
thought struck him; maybe the boy
needed another lesson, so he stopped the
grays and said: Hello, youngster want
ride! Jump in :" John Alexander
dumped in" but didn't say word.
Travelled far to.dayl" said Mr.. Baily,
his eyes -twiHkliHg with faa." sFFem
Fairpoint to Cleveland" meekly answer
ed the boy. SWELL" said Mr.. Baily
kindly, you're welcome to lift as far
as your way and mine is the same.
Where did you say you were going o.
ITO Willow B." said John Alex.
ander, wondering if his father had gone
crazy with grief on his fight, and didn't
know-and never would know again, his
own only son The boys heart beat
like trip hammer another thought
struck him--had sea sickness, and gen.
eral disgust with sailors so changed him
in twenty-four hours, that his parent did
not recognize him! He dared not ven-
ture any remarks, but sat by his fathers
Size the remainder of the way, in very
unsettled state Of mind, as VIII as stom.
ach, making two wholesome resolutions
first, to be contented boy hereafter !;
second, to read no more novels in the hay
NOV.
On their arrival home, Mr.. Baily said,
Its late, and the moon is not up; unless
your friends live near by, you had better
stay with me tonight. I've an empty
bed about right for boy of your SIZE"
IF you please" humbly answered John
Alexander, nearly choked with lgrief and
shame; still hoping against hope that his
mother and the baby would know him
"Just hold my team. said Mr.. Baily,
"while | run in with these parcels; be
careful, old Gray is apt to bite stran-
gers"
'As if didn't know all of old Gray s
tricks" said John Alexander to himself,
as he laid his cheek against her neck-it
seemed so good to be near something
familiar. Old Gray whinnied and rubbed
him with her nose.
"Humph p said the boy, "she's got
sense; she knows me"
MIR. Baily gave his wife some private
instructions, and j. A. found himself a
stranger at his mothers table. He
couldn't eat much, and when Mr.. Baily
offered to show him the way up to bed,
adding, "You haven't told us your name
yet" the poor fellow could not bear any
more, but burst out-''My name is John
Alexander Baily. I'm your own boy,
and ran away cause / thought l want
ed to be sailor, but | don't; victuals
'grees with me better'n farming. Baby
knows me, don't you see her o. snatch
ing his little sister from the cradle. Mrs.
Baily could't keep up the pretense any
longer there was general deluge, and
the baby wasn't tho only one who cried.
John Alexander went to bed sadder
and more contented boy. Next morning
he unpacked his second best butternut
trowsers, and never made another moon
light fitting.