Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-03-17
Slonth' s. Column.
HOW HARRY RAN AWAY.

He was just beginning to attend
school, and though the smallest of the
pupils, none felt more important than
he, when, taking his primer and slate
in strap, he walked grandly down the
long street to the school-house.
There were five other little fellows
who lived near by and went to the same
school, and when they stepped briskly |
along two by two, or stopped to have
bit of play, it did one good to see their
bright eyes, rosy cheeks, and happy,
laughing faces. Harry was, however,
the best-natured one of all, and always
met one with such sweet smile that it
was a pleasure to speak to him.
On this particular time of which l am
telling you, the rain had been falling
all day in large, splashy drops. just as
fast as one could follow another. Harry's
mamma thought in the morning that
perhaps he had not better 60 to school
that forenoon, but he begged so hard
that she relented, and brought out his
ulster, new rubber boots, and her large
parasol for an umbrella, and thus equip
ped, he went merrily on his way.
Harry was such little bit of man
that the teacher thought it too hard for
him to stay in during the whole session;
so. after he had read and spelled, and
told what State he lived in, and who
was governor, who discovered America,
and many other wonderful things which
he was learning. she used to dismiss
him.
He usually went straight home, but
on this day there were so many beauti-
full mud puddles in which to try his new
rubber boots, and it was such fun to run
around in the rain with his umbrella,
that he was long time getting there,
and his father, mother and sister Clara
were nearly through dinner when he ar
rived.
He rushed into the house, slammed
the door, and took his seat at the table
without removing his coat and hat.
Mamma told him to 60 to the kitchen
and take them off, and also to wash his
face and hands and brush his hair be-
fore he could have his dinner. He did
not start, and when she carried him out
he screamed and kicked and behaved
very badly.
When mamma took him up she dis
covered that his stockings and pants
were completely wet through, for he had
gone where the water was above the tops
Of his boots.
When he had had his clothing chang
ed and eaten dinner, he was told that
he could not attend school again that
day, because he had fingered on the way
home and played so much in the water.
He was so tired that he was totally
unlike his sweet self, and when he heard
this he sulked and then screamed, and
told his kind, gentle mamma that she
was bad ugly woman, and he did not
love her one morsel, and further that he
had decided to run away. He said he
was going to take his big ball. his rub
Der ball, Rover. the cat, and the big ap-
ple-tree on the hill.
His mamma, thinking it might be a
lesson to him, said very we'll, he could
60 if he thought he could find place
where he would be any happier.
He was very much surprised that his
mother should receive his terrible an
nouncement SO coolly, and felt that the
exploit was already robbed of half it
charm.
He went up on the hill and took ;
long look at his favorite apple-tree, tug
ged, pulled and exerted himself to tn,
utmost to pull it from the ground, bu
to no purpose, and he finally decided
that he should be obliged to leave it
but consoled himself somewhat by eat
ing couple of nice, juicy apples tina
had been picked from it few days be
fore.
Then he rolled up a little bundle o
his clothes, stuffed ball in each peck
ct, tied the cat to his arm with a stou
string. called Rover, hoisted his umbrella
bid his mother good-by. and started.
She told him she hoped he woul'
come back if be was homesick, but b
said there was no danger of that, as b
was going where he could splash all tn
water he wished, and also do just as h
pleased.
q The wind blew and the parasol turn
/ ed and twisted in his hands. giving hir
much trouble. Rover wanted to run O
and frolic with every dog he saw. an
p the cat was terribly scared, and spit an
scratched till he did not know what t
q do with her. While trying to coax RI
$ yer back to his side he dropped his bur
. die of clothes, the balls rolled out {
q his pockets, the wind blew the paras'
q down on his head so he could not Sc,
a and he caught his foot in the string b
/ which the cat was tied, and fell at fu
n length in large pool of water.
q Rover splashed up and down in tt