Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-05-30

J ChN iiSk SOhtioi5 oAh llIIS I'LL tdS vi
running away had been oft repeated.
That night she went to sleep, and a
sudden idea came into her mind. 1t
was very curious plan by which she
hoped to cure Charlie of his wilful
ways.
The next afternoon her boy came
rushing in after school, dashed books
down. and was rushi ng off again
when his mother call edhim back.
"Where are you going, Charlie -
"Only out for row on the pond,
with Jack mother III be back bv tea
time"
"But it's beginning to rain, and
your throat is still sore, my son, Sup
pose you ask Jack to come in and
take tea with you instead. I'm afraid
to have you 60 while it is so
damp
Charles face flushed angrily. He
threw his cap down and muttered
"No, l won't have him come at all
It's shame Tn tied down, I've a
mind to run away, l have SO.
His mother did not speak for a MN
ute, then she said quietly, but very
firmly You cannot go out again to-
night, my son.
Charlie went to his play-room very
sulkily. At tea he did not say word
and after tea he studied his lessons
gloomily, without the usual bright
question and talks with bis mother.
He rose to go to BED, but his mother,
called him back.
"Charlie, she said gravely, taking
his hand IL hers, ''you have talked a
great deal about running away, and
now I think, that as you don't seem
very happy at home, perhaps you had
better go. So I've told Charlotte to
have an early breakfast so that you can
start at seven, and III tie up some
clothes in bundle for you. You can
take your fathers knotted cane, and
Charlotte will give you some cold bis
cults TO put in your pocket, III call
you at half-past six
Charlie could hardly believe his ears.
Was his mother ir earnest That wasn't
the way boys ran away, He felt very
tight aud queer in the throat but he
was too proud to cry, so be muttered in
shaky voice Very we'll, IN be up iu
time, and went to bed. She called him
back to put his schooll-books in the
closet, he wouldn't need them any
more. This was almost too much, but
the child obeyed without word and
be went slowly upstairs.
That night his mother lay awake
many hours, full of anxious fear as to
the result of her experiment, Charlie
felt very sober about his prospect for
the next day, but it was too late to re-
treat, and he was determined not to
give in. Nevertheless he was sound
asleep when his mother came to give
him a forgotten good night kiss. She
saw the mark Of tears on his face, and
her heart grew little lighter.
Charlie was up early in the morning
long before his mother called him. 1t
was a cloudy, chilly day, and the
warm breakfast would have tasted very
good, if he had thought about it, bat
be never could tell what be ate that
day. When it was over, his mother
said in very commonplace way.
"Now, ny son, you had better be
starting. Yout best clothes are tied
up in this bundle, and have put some
of Charlotte S sodaebiscuits in with
them Good bye, and be a good boy,
wherever you co.
They were on the front steps. His
mother kissed him very affectionately.
just as if he was going on long jour
ney, watching him 60 down the steps,
and then went in and closed the door,
and Charlie was left to go his way
alone
He walked very slowly down the
street to the corner, stopped there, and
looked up and down. 1t was early, and
nobody seemed in sight. A great feel
ing of loneliness and longing for his
dear lost home came over Charlie and
he would have given worlds to be back
in the warm, cosy sitting room, looking
over bis lessons before school. He turn
ed the corner, and walked block, then
turned once more aud went slowly
along, his head down, and feeling of
entire forlornuess getting worse and
worse all the time. What was bis
mother doing row? Washing up the
glass, 40 doubt; he hoped they would
not forget to feed Billy, the little
Scotch terrier All he would proba-
bly, never see Billy again
just then, Charlie came plump
against fat black woman carrying a
pitcher. lie looked up and ex-
claimed
"Why, Charlotte
''Why, Master Charles said Char
lotte, who had slipped out Of the back
door just when our boy left the front
steps, and had never lost sight of him
1 for a sinple moment