The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-08-11
The Runaways.

"Please, mother, do let us CO."
Willie and Harry Bird stood on the
threshold with their fishing.rods in
hand.
"Not to-day, boys. I can't let you
goa lone."
"Oh. mother, just this once, please,
please!'
1t was hard to refuse them with these
pleading eyes looking in her face, but
still she said, "Not to-day"
No use to tease any longer they knew;
so they went out under the naples, as
disappointed brace of boys as was ever
seen.
ooh, dear" sighed Harry, throwing
himself under the first tree, isn't she
meant" .r
lawfully mean !" and Willie's black
eyes flashed. "And it's always so we
are just tied to mothers apron strings,
and l am not going to stand it much
longer so, there now.
"How shall we help 1T That is what
/ want to know" for Willie was the
older, and Harry followed wherever he
ed.
"IIet's run away" The words were
hardly uttered before Harry was on his
feet.
"Crackey will you9 Won't that be
fun7'
eyes, will; and We'll stay, too, till
we are grown up, and then / guess
they'll wish they had let us do some
things we wanted TO. We will 60 as
soon as it is dark. -
"Why not go this afternoon; we can
slip out and no one will see u.s." for to
tell the truth this hero was afraid of the
dark, even with Willie. "We will take
our clothes and things in bundle;
come, Will, do let's go9"
So they scampered into the house and
up to their own room, for they had for
gotten their disappointment in the ex-
element of running away. They locked
their door and theu began their consul
tation about equipage.
"Let's do all our things in two bun
dies" Harry said. "That's the way they
do in books, you know.
CT hate bundles. Let's put our clothes
all on; that will fix it; then we will have
six rocket, and can carry all the little
things"
The work of dressing in three suits of
clothes all the same size on hot day III
summer is more easily imagined than
described.
"Kird of warm" Harry remarked,
buttoning his third jacket, which hap
pened to be linen one. 81 hope the
buttons won't all come off. "
"Oh, Harry! you do look just like a
stuffed turkey" Will said. "It's too
funny" and he lay down OH the bed to
have little laugh, forgetting that be
was also stuffed, till warning rip in his
outer garments admonished him to be
less demonstrative.
"Guess the buttons re all right, bat
/ hope the sewing won't all come out.
Now we must write note inst to let
them know we have gone. I'll write il
while you put up the marbles and things
in yonr pockets; l forgot to fill mine"
Each fell to work The note was writ
ten, the pockets filed, and the two boys
stole down stairs, out the front door,
and took straight line for the woods,
without being seen by any one. II was
lovely day the woods were full of
birds and bees and flowers, and the boys
wandered on, thinking how delightful it
was to do just as they had mind. Over
fallen trees and under brush they went
as fast as three suits of clothes apiece
would allow but as the bright ssunlight
began to fade IN the openings, and twi-
light darkened the woods, their courage
began to waver, and they were only too
glad to find the road.
Once they heard an old lady remark as
they passed along, "What chunks of
boys ! they look as if they would burst
their Jackets" But no one else seemed
to notice them.
"What shall we do for supper won
derl" Harry said, as the sun began to
sink in the west and they saw the farm.
ers driving their cows home.
"Buy it, of course" said Will, put
ting his hand in his pocket, for he knew
that in his portmonnaie lay q new five
dollar BILL
"My pocketbook is gone !" he ex
claimed in dismay.
81 don't believe it is, Harry said
"look in the next pair" So he looked
in all his linen, his best, and his every
day pockets-but no pocketbook was K
be found.
"Well, we will have TO work for oul
supper, that is all 2" and he rnarcleG II,
to man who was working in field.
Do you want to hire some boys" h,
asked.
Nary boy ;" and the farmer went OF
with his work.
"Awful cross, isn't he9" said Horny
just ready to cry. "Our father woult
not do so, would he2 Oh, Will, don
you wish we had some of mothers dough
nuts 2"
"Shut up and don't be a baby" wa
all the answer he got. Just then the,
came upon little house hidden by trees
at the side Of which woman stood try
ing to prepare some kindling for tn
morning. Willie went up to her, an,
with his best bow asked if she would no
let him split them. Well, don't know,
was the answer +; boys always want pa
for their work how much will you ask I
"Do you think supper for two woul
be too muchl"
"I guess not split good armfu
and / will get you some." They went {
work with a will, and in few minute
had enough to last aweek; then they WEI
into neat little kitchen where Miss Trac
was getting their supper. They 50
her skim q pan of milk and cut a 20