Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-11-07
bobby, come home with me, and I'll

mot much, Miss Lii. I'm going away
where won't be driven from pillar to
post as am at home Ma acts as if she
thought she was boss over all tho world;
and can't stand it. Boys weren't made
to be bossed by women when they get TO
be almost men-like me especially"
Bobby, I'll wait for you if am sick
and cold, if you'll only come out of the
water and 90 home with me.n
Cant 60 home any more, Lii. Pa
makes me work, and mn won't let me
play, and | have no cigaas to smoke, nor
any money to treat the rest of the boys
with Just look ut the nice clothes Jim
Suthern W ars and he don't work for EN-,
either. If ma asks where | am, just tell
her Pm up in the woodshed loft asleep
." can't lie to mamma, Bobby. She
says it's wicked to lie; and know i6 is If
she says so, because mamma wouldn't tell
u lie for the world. She's too sweet an
angel"
"Then go and sit down on the moss I'M
der that cump of trees till getaway; for
IN bound to never 90 home again
The poor girl crept away to the clump
of trees he pointed out to her, and sat shv
ering beneath the foliage, watching him
with streaming eyes, as he waded across
he creek and crawlecl up the opposite
bank Great drops of rain came splash.
ing down on the leaves that covered the
ground, keeping up Il continual roar; but
through j. all she caught the sound of his
"goodbyn Us he turned and waved his
hand to her. Then she crrpL away to her
home, ccld sick, and disconsoale
On and on Bobby went, intent only on
one objert-that of getting away from
home. He had not stopped to think
where he would 90 or what he would do;
but any place seemed better to him than
The home h. bad left. Thousands of boys
have felt the same; but there is sure to
come IL time when they will cry out in
heir anguish, There is no place like
nome" Let every little boy that reads
his thank God that he has never left tn,
I'D sheltering home-roof
Night came on and Bobby began to
feel homesick dread come over him.
lie thought of his snug little nest brneatI
the caves of the old m-honsr, and al
most found himself wishing he was back
again, to sleep within it and take II fresh
start in the morning The country be-
yond the creek WAS new to him; and he
plodded on until it was quite dark, dread
ng 60 ask nights logging of strangers.
AT last he mustered courage to stop at
the door of IL house, in W iCh hi saw Il
cheerful light burning. Bul the man whc
answered his limid knock banged the dool
IN his face, and told him to begonc, or ht
would set the dog upon him.
Bobby ran through the gate in tremol
If terror; for he hal heard the snarl of ;
great watchdog that lay housed in he
kennel, ready, ut Il word. to ponce upol
the intruder and tear him in sLr1ds
1t was long way 10 the next house
md he had ample time to review his pas
life ut the old homestead, where always
rood meal and tidy bed awaited him
The house was reached; but the girl VIII
met him ut the door answered his appea
,or food and lodging by saying: Prett.
, young for II sneak thief! But no boy q
your age would be begging from door t
, door if he was honest. So 90 along. View
, no silver or clothing you can steal.'
The door wa, slammed in his face, an
The poor boy gained the road in stat
bordering on despair
"Oh, if | was only back at home," h
: sobbed.
= AL the way to TIE next house imagina
+ ton was at work, ringing before h
vision the interior of his own home, wit
its cheerful eight in the window" an
. his brothers and sisters engaged in readin
1 or games, their appetites satisfied from
: bountful table. all care and anXiet
4 thrown to the wind. The pale ftce of b
mother came up before him, with her pr
= tient look of resignation; and by her sid
= the genial face of his father, giving he
4 encouragement by his tenderness. BIT
!. Bobby had no part in this beautiful hon
scene. He was wanderer, with II
% place to lay his head, solitary and alone.
His next plea for food and lodging W;
:, met by II cold Nothing for trLmps liE
you"
y BY this time Bobby was wild with d,
II SPAR, and fearful of Just such II grretln
4 wherever he should apply. set himself
- hunting out some place where he cou't
", ut least, be sheltered from the brecl
- which struck cold and cutting through h
|. wet clothing. A straw pile doomed up b
:. side the road, He could just discern i
n huge proportions against the sky. and
resolved to seek the rest denied him il
! doors beneath the damp and rocking pill
~ A hole was soon made ut its base, and |
, crawed into his gloomy retreat, with
y heart heavy with Inconsistencies and d
= 'spair.
" The rats had possession Of the pile, al
in made he night hideous with their scral
a bles through its depths, driving all sen
bancr of sleep from his heavy ey"liris ~
N making the gnawlngs of hunger seem Il
r most unbearahe.
70 If live till morning, | will return
N, my fuher's house." he cried. But VIII,
morning came, fear kept him from sre
~ ing the liresde thai now seemed so dc
=, 10 him.
y As the morning advanced, he succeelt
NJ in getting kind hearted servant girl i
w terrsted in his story, who furnished hi
- with hot meal and referred HIM to h,
m master for work.
" Yes, wan just such lal as 70
IN VIII set YOU right at work"
Il, That night Bobby slept in his ne
ct masters house. But his poor bones ach
and his joints seemed tearing asundt
er from the fearful strain that had been p
e. upon them, do ng II mans WORK throus
in the long, almost endless day.
ne That first night and day cured Bobby
ut and great shout Of joy went up from ;
m glad heart as the quaint, unprelcndil
IT chimney of his own home came in sigl
y on his return, for the prodgal son W
20 coming mpekly back TO his fathers hou-
There before him WAS The creek he h
h. forded on the day of lis flight; and
o, looked across at the slump of trees on tt
I'd opposite bank, ere he plunged in to wa
it, half expecting to see Lille soothing ~
lie shivering beneath their branches. us
of saw her on the day that he waved h
re "Good-bye " from that same spot. b
re no Lille was there; and he climbed I
II, the banks and cage ly pressed his WI
tie through the plum lhickpt, expecting Ii Ii
he if no one else, to run out and WELDON
p him.
he All! A hearse stood ut the door. VIII
could it mean? Only two days and nigl
er had be been gone. Who c uld have di
as in that short space of time? None b
us strangers were visible outside the hout
&c and Bobby with awe and alarm, crept
I.l 4 Nnf, al