The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-12-14


his word and leaving me to work hard
all day, the first thing he said to me
was What are you sitting there read
ing forY Why aren't you doing your
chores p 1t CALLED me, tell you, but l
replied that the chores were all done,
and he said: 20, ho, that is It. You do
the chores in the middle of the after
noon when l am gone, and then sit
down and read, do you ?" 1t was con-
founded cutting If he had stuck knife
into me 1t wouldn't have hurt any
worse. l vowed then l would see Hart
ford on my birthday, and 1 shall be
much mistaken If / am not there to-
morrow morning, and If my father sees
me again for year he will see more'n
think he will. l will be at the barn
just at midnight. My bundle of clothes
Is here now in the oat-bin. Don't fail
to be on time, Clint. We must pet
single plimpse of the city befor the
steamboat goes out. | don't know what
the fare is to New York. l doubt If we
have money enough to take us there.
the landing places on the way"
What variety of feelings Peter Ray
mond had in the fifteen minutes he
stood behind that barn door and listen
ed. AT first he was utterly surprised,
he could hardly believe his own ears,
but as he took il all in-as he compre-
hended what his son contemplated
doing, he was in high dudgeon; he un-
consciously clenched his teeth very
firmly and clenched his right fist
tightly. He could hardly refrain from
pouncing upon his son then and there
and giving him sound drubbing but
be decided that 1t would be wise to hear
the boys talk out, and learn all their
plans and then confront them. But as
Philip talked on Raymond's teeth were
less firmly closed and his fist relaxed,
and when Philip said in half sad tone,
doubt if my father loves me at ALL"
a dozen different feelings strove for the
mastery.
"Don't love him 2' he repeated to
himself, "the ungrateful rascal Haven't
been scrubbing along as savingly as
possible and privately putting little
sums in the savings bank so that /
could send him away in year or two,
and give him a better chance for an
education than / ever had ? Haven't /
often said to my friends that he was one
of the most faithful, trusty boys in the
world and that l could leave home
any time, day or night, and never worry
about things as long as he was there to
take care? If he does doubt my love,
up to this time have loved him and
have been proud of him. 1 haven't
been very demonstrative about it, to be
sure. never thought it was wise to
pet and praise children. Perhaps 1 have
been little too unsocial and cold and
straight-laced with him. Maybe I'd
better not let him know I've heard this
talk about their running away; but L
shall of course do something to prevent
their going. I'll go up to the house and
think over what course to take"
And Peter Raymond crept away from
the barn as though he was a sneak
thief and hurried home as fast as he
could, not once thinking of his bride.
He had hardly got seated in his big arm
chair before Philip came in. Philip ex-
expected his father would say, gruffiy:
" 1t is high time you were in bed." And
so he was quite taken by surprise when
he said gently:
Won't you hand me the almanac
before you sit down, Philip"
Philips mother raised her eyes from
her sewing and glanced at her husband
as though she wondered what had called
forth such unusual gentleness. Ray
mond opened the almanac at September
and after glancing down the page he
turned to his wife and asked:
"Is to-day the third or fourth Tuesday
of the month ?''
The fourth" she replied. "To.mor-
row is the last day of the month";"
"Are you quite sure about ii 2" he
queried. "Ify you are correct, am
week behindhand in my reckoning.
I've had SO many things crowding upon
me lately, I've hardly known which
way to turn first. 1 promised Mr.. Skid.
more that 1 would take the two-year-old
heifer away that bought of him before
the first of October. She must be got
home tomorrow.
Philip got up to go to bed. Mr.. Ray
mond said:
Don't hurry, Philip, Pm thinking