Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-02

ing him-never plan 10 run away from his
fathers house again.
Mr.. Raymond spared no pains to have
the boys enjoy their first trip to Hartford.
He called their attention to every thing
that he thought would interest them on
their way. He told them who owned
such and such farm when he was boy
what the land was worth an acre then.
and what was its market value now
who built this house and that; and he
pointed out where General-was born,
and where Hon. lived till he went to
college He was no less painstaking
when they got to the city. He took them
past Trinity College, the State House. the
High School, he pointed out the different
churches and told who preached in them;
he went with them to the Athen@um and
spent an hour with them there.
Sometimes Phillip looked at his father in
dumb bewilderment, wondering if they
really were in Hartford or if it were all a
dream. How social aud interesting his
father was He felt as if he never was
acquainted with him before. What de-
lightful time he should have if he bad not
been planning to do so mean thing. Ii
father knew it how he would -despise him !;
he looked at him so earnestly, sometimes
he was afraid that he saw guilt in his
countenance. If he could only get up the
courage he would confess the whole TO his
father and implore his forgiveness.
Thus the day wore away, and Philp
was not sorry when it was time to start
for home. After Mr.. Raymond left the
lads to follow on with a heifer, they talked
over the events OF the past twenty-iour
hours, together, and they were both very
decidedly of the opinion that they had
very narrow and provdential escape from
committing a very disgraceful act; and
they both agreed, after little discussion
on that point that they would never divulg
to any human being that they had ever
dreamed of running away.
1t was half past nine when Philip drove
the heifer into his fathers barn-yard. At
ter he had had his supper, his father asked
him to step out to The shed and get pack
age that was under the wagon seat.
When he brought it. Mr.. Raymond opened
it and took from it "Websters Unabridged
Dictionary" and sat down to his desk and
wrote on the fly leaf:
Presented to Philip C. Raymond on
his fifteenth birthday, by his father, Peter
RAYMOND" and then without closing the
book he passed it over to Philip.
Philip could hear no more. The tears
that had come to his eyes twenty times
had been forced back. now overlooked
his eyelids and ran. down his cheeks. He
stammered:
..You are too kind to me. father; do
not deserve this"
..Do not deserve it, Philip exclaimed
Mr.. RAYMOND with much apparent sur
prise, ii think you'd better leave that to
my judgment. l should like to know
what boy does not deserve the kindness
from his father, if you don'tP If had a
dozen sons l could not ask them to be
more faithful and Industrious than you
have been. There, there ! don't shed any
tears over it--you're tired-better get to
bed as soon as you can, so as to feel fresh
in the morning. Ii it's good day to-mor-
row we must secure that rowen."
'Thank you, father" Philip said with
a quivering voice, and went Immediately
up stairs. If he had been little less
overcome himself, he would have noticed
that his fathers voice was little shaky ;
and if he had looked back as he passed
out of the door he would have seen his ia
Their hastily brush tear or two from his
own eyes.
Henceforth there was no lack OF conf
dence, sympathy and affection between
Mr.. Raymond end Philips and by reason
of q private interview that Mr.. Raymond
had with Clinton Dexter's father, Clinton's
home life was much more agreeable than
heretofore.
Philip has always looked back to his fif-
teenth birthday as remarkable epoch III
his life; and he never ceased-until his
aged father recently visited him and heard
him speak rather harshly to his own little
son--to marvel at the wonderful change
that came over his father, himself, or both
at that time. Then his father told him the
whole story, and cautioned him against
growing into the habit Of speaking in that
way to his children.
always remember, Philip he said.
THAT crustiness and unhappiness are no
more agreeable to a child's feelings than
they are to grown persons, and that they
are more likely to lead any one out OF the
right path than into it; and that they never
will forget love-"