The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-07-25
The Truant.

L uOn DcllcVc papa Will let me CO."
said Cecil Harrington, soberly.
''Why not?" demanded Willie Beam.
my father never objected to my going!
And you're as old as am"
EYES," said Cecil, 'But papa don't like
me to have anything to do with fire.
arms"
'Oh, your granny" contemptuously re-
torted Harry Percy. "Just like the old
codger, that said his son must never 90
near the water until he had learned to
swim! How are you ever going to learn
to fire off pistol, if you never take one
into your hand?" e."
"Papa thinks it isn't safe" said Cecil.
S'That's all nonsense" retortcd Willie.
"Why, I've had pistol ever since was
six years old. And father often lends me
his fowling-piece. Oh, come along! It'll
be such fun Six of us boys and a big
lunch basket, with cold chicken and
boiled eggs and gingerbeer in it! And
all day in the woods, shooting squirrels,
and birds, and woodchucks, and things!
A regular hunting party, don't you see?
Just like Trapper Dave in the dime
novels"
Cecil listened longingly. Although
he felt convinced in his heart that his
father would not give consent to any such
delightful expedition, he yet imagined
how pleasant it would lie. And Willie
Beam had offered to lend him real little
six-barrelcd pistol, and it was so like be-
ing "grown-up-folks?'
ell make try for it, at all events
said Cecil.
So when his father came home he ran
out to the gate to meet him.
"Well, my son, what is it?' said Mr..
Harrington, kindly.
Papa" said Cecil, "there is six of
our fellows going out into the woods to
spend Wednesday shooting birds and
squirrels. And Willie Beam says he'll
lend me his little pistol. And it's my
birthday, so I thought, perhaps"
"But Mr.. Harrington shook his head
at once.
"No," said he, certainly not"'
"But why not, papa?"
allow old are you, Cecil?'
"Nine, sir"
"Wel," said Mr.. Harrington, "when
you are sixteen I will buy you as nice
gun as can be purchased in this city, and
teach you how to use it. Until then l
have expressly forbidden you to NEEDLE
with any sort of firearms. Nor Go I
think it advisable for you to go wander
ing through the woods with half dozen
giddy-pated boys whole day."
Cecil's brow grew gloomy, and his
lips pouted out; he turned sullenly away
But his father took no notice of his i'll
humor.
"It's too bad!" thought the lad to him.
self. Papa treats me exactly like a
child! And Pm as big as Will Beam,
anyhow And it's great pity if fellow
can't have little amusement on his cwn
birthday!"
All through tea time Cecil looked as
black as a thunder cloud, and he could
scarcely be induced to answer a civil
question when any one spoke to him.
Little boys do so like to have their own
Way
His schoolmates learned of Mr.. Har-
rington's decision with noisy displeasure
= He wants to make a regular milk
sop Of you, Cecil, my boy" said Will.
lie Beam, who fancied himself almost a
man.
EVERY boy Of any spirit has his
own gun or pistol nowadays" said Per-
cy. '
!. " Now, look here, said George Nc
Dermott, lowering his voice to y whis-
per, "don't you be treated like a baby!"
"But how can I help it?'' argued poor
Cecil.
easy enough said George. make
believe you're going to school Just as
usual, with your strap Of books over your
shoulder, and instead cut for the woods.
No one will ever know And I really
think you arc justified in asserting your
own independence a little, after the way
your father treats you.'
Cecil hesitated an instant. and then set
his lips firmly together
"I'll do it!' said he.
So upon Wednesday morning, when he
reached the little by-path that led on the
right hand to the school house, and on
the left to the woods, he took the latter
route, and leaving his books hidden away
under a stone wall, ran as fast as he could
toward q party of boys who were linger-
ing on the edge Of the woods.
Willie Beam was there with the extra
pistol and little tin box of ammunition,
and Cecil was uproariously welcomed by
the others, but somehow he didn't feel
half as happy AS lie expected to- '''''''''
!. The day cfept by Either there We're, no,
birds and squirrels in those woods, Or else
they were unusually shy. At all events,
our young sportsmen got no game. And
while they were sitting at their lunch
under the shadow of great walnut tree,
two or three rough-looking boys came up
and joined themselves, unlimited, to the
party. And while they were quarreling