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

pieces a. brozEll breads ~O0lne bDgs,
she said. elf you are hungry here is d
good enough supper, aud if you are not
hungry syou don't need anything" 1,
was fortunate that the long walk had
given them an appetite, or else the old
ladySsd per would have gone begging
as IN they ate pretty good meal,
and ans WIRING her questions in the short
est possible manner babe her goodnight
and started again. "Don I mother make
splendid BREAD" said Willie, as he came
down the steps. -Nk W.
CT guess she does,' Harry answered
"and cake and everything else. Oh,
dear, / wonder what they are doing at
home anyway; arn't you dreadfully
tired, Wiu2"FF mafFF fTfEt
"Some, but I hate to ask any one to
keep us all night. tell you what, we
will creep into some barn as soon as it's
dark, and sleep frst-rate there"
On they went, so tired they could
hardly drag one foot before the other,
and at last crept into barn which stood
in a bayfield, from all other buildings,
and, curling down in the hay, were soon
sound asleep. How long they slept they
never knew, but when they woke little
stream of water was running down their
necks. The barn was dark as could be,
excepting when for an instant flash OF
lightning revealed their frightened faces
to each other. They chung to each other
in terror; for, though no more cowardly
than other boys, they felt how far they
were from all human help and sympathy.
"Do you suppose it will srike uss"
Harry whispered, as lurid flash was
followed quickly by o clap OF thunder
that shook them to the heart.
"Serve us right if it should" was the
answer. st tell you, Harry, when boys
run away from such good home as ours
they deserve to be hung, that's all"
dWhat shall we do about it?" and a
big sob almost choked the question.
"Well, If we live till morning think
we would better march for home and
oh, Harry, we've forgotten to say our
prayers.
Not long after the boys left home Mrs.
Bird wanted some kindlings, and never
dreaming that her boys were working for
a supper of skim milk and brown bread,
she went to the door rand called willie,
Harry"-of course receiving!no answer !;
then she looked up stairs and down, and
finally looked in their rooms there the
disturbed condition of things suggested
the truth even before she saw this note ::
"Dear mother, we are gone; will come
back when we are old enough
to take care of ourselves. Your
dutiful sons, VIM. and Harry" She
laughed in spite of herself. every du-
tiful, should think. What will be-
come Of them2 Oh DEAR" Then she
almost cried. When she took the note
to Mr.. Bird he laughed long and loud.
"Just like them, the scamps," he said.
"What shall we do - the mother
asked.
"Do; why let them alone, they will
be home soon enough"
"How do You know"
swell, l was boy once myself, and
run away dozen times but l always
run back, l can tell you" They did not
sleep very sound, however, either the
father or mother, and the morning hours
dragged on slowly until, about 10 o'clock,
couple of woe-begone figures were seen
coming slowly across lots, each bringing
a bundle containing two suits of clothes.
That was too much for the mother, and
down she went on the door stone forget
ting her dignity and the doughnuts she
was frying, and with her head on her
hands sobbed out her joy at seeing those
naughty boys not long alone, however,
for the sight of home quickened their
footsteps, and in a minute two pair OF
arms were around her neck, and two hot
cheeks pressed against hers. " Will you
forgive us, dear, dear mother 2" and
then" oh, how good those doughnuts
smell l"-NelU York Tribune.