The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-02-25
How a Detroit Boy Turned Pirate.
CHAPTER 1.-THE BOY.

He was one of that kind of boys who
need good whipping about twice per
week, but who think they ought not to be
whipped more than once in two years.
His amusement was sliding down hill on
nothing, bluffing some boys, and prepar-
ing Cayenne pepper loZenges for unsus-
pecting cats. He was often heard to re-
mark:
Things has got to git up N howl when
Leonidas is around ~
CHAPTER H.-AT TWILIGHT.
Time, sundown-scene, the interior Of a
well-preserved woodshed. The sound of
blows and cries rent the solemn stiffness
of twilight's mystic hour, and the old man
was heard saying:
There, guess that'n last you for a
day or two! I've put up with your sass
as long as | CAMP
No reply-nothing but deep-drawn sobs
and quavering signs.
The old man threw away the strap and
walked into the house, and LeOnidas sat on
the corner of an old table to mediate.
CHAPTER HI.--A BLOODY RESOLVE.
THAT'S the last licking I'll ever take
from any mortal man :" whispered the lad,
shaking his fist at the kitchen door. "And
I'll make the old man sorry that he ever
laid strap over his only son !"
He resolved to run away and become a
pirate! He would sail the raging main,
revel in murder, acquire ducats, and then
come home and take revenge on his father.
With Ieonidas to resolve was to execute.
He entered the house, passed upstairs, and
was soon engaged in making up bundle,
consisting OF one pair of patched pants,
one photograph of his girl, one jack
knife, one cotton sock, and a few walnut;.
The bundle was thrown out Of the win
dow, and then
CHAPTER IV.-LEONIDAS LOOKS AROUND
the room for the last time. The bedstead
looked familiar, the old blue chest in the
corner had a thousand tender memories
connected with it, and the broken-down
chair seemed to hold out its arms and plead
for him to stay.
81 would if the old man hadn't licked
me-" answered Leonidas, but I'll show
him what kind of coffee-mill | am"
lie passed downstairs and halted to en-
brace the baby. He wasn't down on his
mother, and he gave her sweet smile.
He crawled in behind the stove and whis-
pered 10 the dog:
Goodbye, old Sampson; I'dlike to stay
here, but I'm too old to be licked"
And he passed out of doors, and the
great wide world was before him.
CHAPTER v.-SoLEMN THOUGHTS.
Securing his bundle, Leonidas crept into
| the back yard to see if it was really best
| for him to become pirate. The polar
wave chewed at his ears and REDEEMED his
nose, and he wondered if the pirate bust
ness wasn't pretty cold business. He didn't
| know whether it was best to make for To-
ledo or Chicago in order to become a buc-
cancer, but he finally passed through the
gate. He walked around the house sew
eral times to catch glimpse of his mother.
1t was hard to tear himself away. He
knew how she would take on next day,
and the papers would call it another Char
lie Ross case, and he decided to go into the
yard and think it over again.
CHAPTER VIA RAY OF LIGHT.
After little time spent in thought, lie
onidas decided that if his father would
agree never to lick him again, and would
give him 81 per week to buy candy, he
would not run away and become pirate.
He would go inand make the proposition
to the old man, and if it should be rejected
farewell to home-welcome a career OF
blood.
He went in. No one had noticed his alb
sence, and each face looked as natural as il
he hadn't been gone twenty-eight min.
utes. He felt some little delicacy about
broaching the proposition, and, as a
''feelerr he asked the old man to lend
him his knife. 1t was handed to him and
returned after awhile, and LeOnidas de-
cided TO put off making the proposition
until morning. He got into his little bed
feeling that it was positively his last night,
but the next forenoon he was heard split
ting wood in the backyard and saying to
Jack Sparkling:
"I've concluded to wait until he ticks
me Just once more, and then nothing can
stop me-nething on earth. Press.