The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-07-26
The Truant.

Begin To lay up treasure to-day,
Treasure that nothing can take away.
Bless the Lord" says Grandmother Gray.
The Truant.
don't believe papa will let me 60"
said Cecil Harrington, soberly.
'Why not?" demanded Willie Beam.
MY father never: objected to my going!
And you're as old as ami" >.
"Yes," said Cecil, "But papa don't like
me to have anything to do with fire.
arms"
''Oh, your granny" contcmptuously re-
,torted Harry Percy. "Just like the old
codger, that said his son must never 20
near the. water until he had learned to
swim! How are you ever going to learn
to fire off a pistol, if you never take one
into your hand?"
"Papa thinks it isn't SAFE" said Cecil.
THAT'S all nonsense!" retorted Willie.
"Why, I've had a pistol ever since was
six years old. And father often lends me
his fowling-piece: Oh, come along! It'll
be,such fun i eix:offus boys and big
lunch basket, with cold chicken and
boiled eggs and ginge1beer 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 Trappcr 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 be-. And While
Beam had offered to lend him real little
six-barreled pistol, and it was 80 like be-
ing "grown-up-folks?"
I'm 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, "therc 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 l thought, perhaps"
I" But Mr.. Harrington shook his head
at once.
"No," said he, certainly not!''
But why not, papa?''
"How old are you, Cccil?"
mime, SIR"
sslEell, H. said Mr. Harrington, ':whcn
you are sixteen will .buy,you as: nice
gum al can bespdrchasedS in this city, and
teach you how to use it. Until then l
have expressly forbidden you to meddle
with any sort of firearms. Nor Go 1
think it advisable for you to go wander
ing through the woods with half dozen
giddy- pated boys whole day."
Cecils brow grew gloomy, and his
lGp0u6dout he turned sullcnly away.
But his father took no notice Of his i'll
humor.
Its too bad!" thought the lad to him.
self. Papa treats mo exactly like
child! And I'm as big as Will Beam,
anyhow! And it's great pity if fellow
can't haRc : little aamnsenlent on his cwn
birthdayr,s 4 i = =
All through tea time Cecil looked as
black as a thunder cloud, and he could
scarcely BIO induced to answer a civil
question when any one spoke to him.
Little boys do SO like to have their own
way!
His schoolmatcs learned of Mr.. Har-
ringtop's decision with noisy displcasure.
F"He wants to make 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 whis-
per, t"dont youshe tresteds like baby p
*Butshow canI help it9" argued poor
Easy enough" said George. "Makc
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 really
think you are justified in asserting your
own independence atlittle, after the way
your father treats you"
Cecil hesitated an instant, and then set
his lips firmly together.
81 Upon Wednesday i morning, whe,n, he
reached ths litnesby path that led on. the
right hand Is the 'school-house, and on
the lett to the woods, he took the latter
route, and leaving Ills books hidden away
under a:stonc wall, ran as fast as he could
toward 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
thu others, hut somehow he didn't feel
half as happy as he expected to.
The day eiept by. Either there were no
birds and squirrels in those woods, or else
they were unusually shy. At all events,
our young sportsmcn got no game. And
while they were sitting at their lunch
under the shadow, Of great walnut tree,
two or three rough Hooking boys came up
and joined themselves, uninvited, to the
party. And while they were quarreling
over wb9 shqp Is ( h q the first SHOT from
went of, lodging its contents in the tlcshy
part Of the thigh of one of them. - ::
The boy fell fainting to the ground and
Cecil, nearly terrified out Of his wits,
never stoEoed to see the end Of the, mat
a. &.v.lc;s,5t s.:j ii ..r':i, =: - :.:t1- .