River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-03-15
How Charlie Ran Away.

sent sharp pain through
her heart. He was only nine years
old, but of late had become so head
strong and willful that he was almost
beyond her control, and that threat of
running away had been oft repeated.
That night she went to sleep, and a
sudden idea came into her mind. 1t
was a very curious plan by which she
hoped to cure Charlie of his willful
ways.
The next afternoon her boy came
rushing in after school, dashed his
books down, and was rushing off again,
when his mother called him back.
"Where are you going, Charlie 70
''0nly out for row on the pond,
with Jack, mother; I'll be back by
tea time"
''But it's beginning to rain, ahd your
throat is still sore, my son. Suppose
you ask Jack to come in and take tea
with you instead. I'm afraid to have
you go while it is so damp"
Charley's face flushed angrily. He
threw his cap down and muttered
"No, won't have him come at all
It's a shame I'm SO tied down. I've
a mind to run away, have So"
His mother did not sneak for min.
ute, then she said quietly, but very
firmly: ''You cannot go out again to.
night, my son."
Charley 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
questions and talks with his mother
lie rose to go bed, but his mother call
ed him back.
''Charley, she said gravely, taking his
hand in hers, ''you have talked good
deal lately about running away, and
now / think that, as you don't seem
very happy at home, perhaps you had
better 60. So I've told Charlotte to
have an early breakfast SO that you
can start at seven, and Ill tie up some
clothes in a bundle for you. You car
take your fathers knotted cane, and
Charlotte will give you some cold bis
cults to put in your pocket. I'll cal
you at half-past six
Charlie could hardly believe his
ears. Was his mother in earnest
That wasn't the way boys ran away
lie felt very tight and queer in The
throat, but he was too proud to cry, sc
he only muttered in shaky voice
Every well, I'll be up in time" ant
went to bed. She called him back tC
put his school books in the closet, as
he wouldn't need them any more
This was almost too much, but the
child obeyed without a word, and theI
went slowly upstairs.
That night lis mother lay awake
many hours, full of anxious fears as
to the result of her experiment
Charlie felt very sober about the pros
pect for the next day, but it was toe
late now to retreat, and he determined
not to give in. Nevertheless, he wa:
sound asleep when his mother
came to give the forgotten
goodnight kiss. She saw the mark OF
tears on his face, and her heart grew
a little lighter.
Charlie was up early in the morning
long before his mother called him. II
was a cloudy, chilly day, and the
warm breakfast would have tasted
very good, if he had thought about it
but he never could tell what he ate
that day. When it was over his moth
er said in a very commonplace way
"Now, my son, you had better be
starting. Your best clothes are tied
up in this bundle and have put some
of Charlotte's soda-biscuits in with
them. Goodbye, and be a good boy,
wherever you CO.
They were on the front steps. His
,.ooAl,o,. l.; Il ~, xra,xr affaotiAnafo1v
exactly us III he was going on a long
journey, watching him go down the
steps, and then went in and closed the
door, and Charlie was left to go his
way alone.
lie 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
feeling of loneliness and longing fol
dear loved home came over Char.
lie, and he would have given worlds
to be back again in the warm sitting
room, looking over his lessons before
school. lie turned the corner and
walked a block, then turned once
more and went slowly along, his head
down, and feeling of entire forlorn
ness, getting worse and worse all the
time. What was his mother doing
now! Washing up the glass, no doubt
he hoped they would not forget to feed
Billy. the little Scotch terrier. All
he would probably never see Billy
again!
just then Charles came plump
against fat black woman carrying 8
pitcher of milk. lie looked up ant
exclaimed:
.sWhy Master Charlesr' said Char
lotte, who had slipped out of the bach
door just when our boy left the front
steps. and had never lost sight of hin
for single moment.
80, Charlotte" repeated Charlie
bursting into tears and seizing hel
hands, regardless of the milk pitcher
which, fortunately, was empty, "dC
you think mamma will ever take me
back againF'
"Just try, honey; I'd go and ash
her right away" said good Charlotte
her own eyes rather misty.
Charles mother was sitting by hel
work table, when she felt two arms
around her neck,a face wet with tears
against her own, and voice, choked
with sobs, said:
80 mother, if you'll only forgive
me, and take me back, I'll never want
to run away again-never!
She held her boy close to her happy
thankful heart, and kissed him many
times. Her experiment had succeeded
and that was the last that was ever
heard of Charlie running away.
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