The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-06-10
The Runaway's Return.
A TRUE SKETCH.


shisinp brightly. Things appear the
same. and vet different. How is it :?
There was a big tree used to stand at
the corner and where is the cottage 1?
Three DAYS ago landed. 1t was my
birthday. For ten long years had
been sailing about on the sea, and wan
drring about on land. How things cone
over me am man now but for
that. / could sit down and cry like
child.
1t seems but Yesterday since | ran
away from home. 1t was the worst
DAYS work that ever did | got up
i'm the morning at sunrise, while my
father AID mother were asleep Many
and many time had | been unknd to
my dear mother, and undutiful to my
father, and the day before he told me
how wrong it was. He spoke kindly
and in sorrow, but my pride would not
hear it. | thought | would leave home.
What is it that makes me tiemble 50
now d?
Ny father coughed as / crept along
by his door, and thought that heard
my mother speak to him, so | stood a
moment, with my little bundle in my
hand, holding my breath. He cOughed
again. have seemed to hear that
cough in every part of the world.
When | bad unlocked the door my
heart failed me for my sister had kiss.
ed me over night, and told me she had
something to tell me in the morning.
knew what it was she had Been
knitting a pair of garters to give me
on my birthday. l TUNED back, open
ed the door of her little room, and
looked at her but my tears fell on the
bed clothes, and / was afraid it would
wake her. Half blinded, | grOped
down stairs.
Just as | had gently closed the door,
the easement ratified above my head l
looked, and there was my mother. She
spoke to me and when did not answer
she cried out loud to me. That cry has
rung in my ears ever since aye in my
very dreams.
As | hurried away, ] felt / suppose
as Cain felt when he murdered his
brother. My father, my mother, and
my sister, had DGen kind to me. | had
been uukind to them; and in leaving
thus, felt as if | was numbering them
all.
Had been robber, could not have
felt more guilty. But what do say
that for ? | was robbing them of their
peace. was stealing that from them
that the whole world could not make up
to them yet on | went. On, that l
could bring back that hour.
The hills looked as purple as they
did when used to Climb up them. The
rocks were cawIng am ng the elmS by
the church. J wonder II they are the
same rocks? There's a shiyerlng comes
over me as get nearer home. Home !
l feel that there's no home for me.
Here is the corner OF the hedge, and
the old seat {; but my father Is not in it.
There is the patch of ground that my
sister called her garden, but she is not
walking in it. Yonder is the bedroom
window my mother is not looking out
of it now. That cry ! that cry
see how it Is. There are none Of
them here, or things would not lonR as
they do. Father would not let the
weeds grow in this fashion, nor tpe
thatch fall; and my mother and my SIS
/ ter never stuffed that straw through the
/ broken panes.
I'll rap at the door anyhow. How
hollow it sounds. Nobody stlrs' All
/ is as silent as the grave. I'll peep in
at the window. It's an empty house
that's clear. Ten long years How
could expect it to be otherwise ? I can
bear hunger and thirst, but | can't bear
this
The elderberry is in blossom as it was
when 1 ran away and the woOdbine
is as fresh as ever, running up to the
window that my mother opened to call
after ne. | could call atter her now, II
| thought she could hear me.
It's no use stopping here. I'll cross
the church yard, and see if the clerk
lives where he did but he wouldn't
/ -, .,,,, Nv cbaaly was like the rosr