The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-12-14
What a Listener Heard.
A story For Parents.

evening, about nine o'clock, as he was
returning home from neighbours, he
suddenly recolected that he had left his
bride hanging on bar-post, by his
sheep.barn, when he turned his old
white mare into pasture that afternoon.
He sprang over the wall and across the
lots, hoping to secure IL before any
greedy -mawed bovine should make 1t
forever useless for bride purposes. AS
he drew near the barn he thought he
heard voices inside. What any one
should be there for, he could not con-
lecture. He stepped lightly as he could
on the unmowed rowen and slipped in
behind the door which was standing
ajar, and listened
Philip, his eldest son, was there, and
Clinton Dexter, son of the man at
whose house he had been to call. The
lads were about of an age-both fifteen.
Philip was talking when his father went
up to the barn, but he finished what he
was saying just as Mr.. Raymond got
into position to catch the words, and
young Dexter commenced to reply. He
said:
4" Well, Phil, my father is just as in
considerate as your father is. l don't
think he remembers he was ever boy.
There is scarcely day in the year he
does not ride out--he rides more'n he
used to before he was selectman, and
you may be sure that he always has
something on hand to be done, Just as
your father does. Soon as the frost is
out of the ground, in the spring, he tells
me before he rides off that may pick
up stones or spread manure till it is time
to milk and fodder. After that time
plowing and planting. A little later in
the season he tells me to hoe the pota-
toes, or weed the garden, till it is time
to get up the cows; and if he is at home
when.l take up the pals to go out and
milk, he always tells me TO be sure and
strip the cows clean, just as though L
should be lazy and dishonest enough to
leave half the milk in their bags if he
did not tell me so; and he would be just
as likely to tell me before visitors as
any way-makes fellow feel mighty
uncomfortable, you know. In the win
ter have to chop wood most of the
time that 1 am not in school; and 1
don't think my father feels quite satis-
fled if l don't chop as much as a full
grown man could do in the same time.
[ didn't know till the other day Just
how it was with you, Phil 1 don't
wonder that your patience is worn out,
and assure you that am quite as tired
ofliving in this way as you are."
II hesitated a good while, Clint"
Phil replied, 'before decided to speak
to you about it; but L made up my
mind in haying time that it was the
last summer that ] should stay at home
and help hay it and fare as did then.
Father is always ready to find fault-he
generally says when he gets home, Il
don't think that you've hurt yourself
working today, Philip And some
times he asks me if my back doesn't
ache, I've chopped so much or hoed so
much, and, no matter if 1 work as hard
as / can, from sunrise till sundown, I
never hear anything more encouraging
never get one word of praise. 1 feel
sorry to clear out on mothers account.
L love her and believe she loves me:
but if father loves me he never shows it
never speaks tender, loving word to
me. My mind is fully made up Clint.
am going to run away and 1 want to
get off tonight Never mind about
your clothes-l've got shirts, handker-
chiefs and stockings enough put up and
III divide with you until we can earn
more. Last week thought it over and
thought it would grieve mother, SO 1
pretty much decided to give it up; but 1
got so provoked the day father went to
Hartford, 1 determined that would 20
anyway. You see, here I've lived ever
since l was born, within eighteen miles
OF Hartford, but never was there, nor
in any other city. 1 asked father if
might go with him last June, when he
was going, and he said / couldn't 90
very well then, but should go with
him the very first time he went after
haying. Well, when he spoke of going
last week asked him If he was going
to take me along and he answered pretty
crabbedly: No, sir; pretty time to
think of going when the hired man is
gonel' i told him would get you to
come and do the chores and you would
be as faithful in doing them as 1 would
be; but he wouldn't hear word about
it. didn't feel very light-hearted after
he was gone, but 1 tried to brave it out
tho hast fhot L oot.ld aud L x.vo.l..I