Sharp County record., 1880-10-28
WHY PETER RAYMOND'S son DID
NOT RUN AWAY.

NO1 nun Il w A1s
Twenty years ago Peter Raymond
owned hard, stony farm, eighteen
miles from Hartford. One September
evening, about nine o'clock, as he was
returning home from neighbor's, 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
8 lots, hoping to secure it before any
4 greedy-mawed bovine should make it
Z forever useless for bride purposes. AS
he drew near the turn 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 in
!. to position to catch the words, and
young Dexter commenced to reply. He
said:
"a "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 mOren 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 blowing and planting. A little
later in the season he tells me to hoe
the potatoes, or weed the garden, till it
= is time to get up the COWS; and if he is
at home when | take up the pals to go
out and milk, he always tells me to be
sure and strip the COWS clean, just as
though he thought | 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 q
fellow feel mighty uncomfortable, you
know. In the winter | have to chop
wood most of the time that | am not in
school; and | don't think my father
feels quite satisfied if 1 don't chop as
much as full-grown man could do in
the same time. l didn't know till the
other day Just how it was with you,
Phil | don't wonder that your patience
is worn out and assure you that | am
quite as tired of living in this way as
you are.
y "I hesitated a good while, Clint" :"
Phil replied before | decided to speak
to you about it; but | made up my mind
in haying-time that it was the last sum-
mer that | should stay at home and
help hay it and fare as | did then.
Z Father is always ready to find fault-he
generally says when he gets home, II
don think that you've hurt yourself
working to-day, Phihpm 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 work as hard
as | can, from sunrise till sundOwn, |
never hear anything more encouraging
~ never get one word of praise. feel
sorry to clear out on my mothers ac-
count. | love her and | believe she
loves me; but if father loves me he new
er shows it-never speaks tender,
loving word to me. My mind is fully
made up Clint. l am going to run
away and | want to get off tonight.
Never mind about your clotheS-pve
got shirts, handkerchiefs and stockings
enough put up and I'll divide with you
guntil we can earn more. Last week l
thought it over and thought it would
grieYe mother, so [ pretty much deci-
ded to give it up; but got so provoked
.g the day father went to Hartford, l de-
.termined that [ would 60 anyway. You
see, here I've lived ever since | was
born, within eighteen miles of Hartford,
but never was there, nor in any other
city Iasked father if might go with
him last June, when he was going, and
he said l couldn't 60 very well then,
but should 90 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 crab atliy
No, sir; pretty time to think of going
when the hired man is gomez | told
him l would get you to come and do
the chores and you would be as faithful
in doing them as l would be; but he
wouldn't hear word about it. didn' t
feel very light-hearted after he was
lgone, but l tried to brave it out the
best that | could and | worked hard all
day. That afternoon was a dark, cloudy
afternoon and 1 got up the COWS and
milked them little earlier than | sup
posed | did, but don't think the sun was
five minutes high when | got the chores
done l took the newspaper and sat