Sharp County record., 1880-10-28


Well, Clinton, as true as | live and
breathe, after his promising that should
90 to Hartford with him the first time
that he went after haying and then
breaking his word and leaving me to
work hard all day, the first he said to
me when he drove up was: "What are
you sitting there a reading for? Why
aren't you doing your chOres" 1t
CALLED me, tell you, but l replied that
the chores were all done, and he said
so, ho, that is it? You do the chores
in the middle of the afternoon when |
am gone, and then sit down and read,
do you?" 1t was confounded cutting;
if he had stuck knife into me it
wouldn't have hurt me any worse. [
vowed then | would see Hartford on
my birthday, and | shall be much mis-
taken if | am not there tomorrow
morning, and if my father sees me again
for year he will see more'n think he
Nwill. | will be at the barn just at mid
night. Ny bundle of clothes is here now
in the oat-bin. Don't fail to be on time,
Clint. We must geta single glimpse of
the city before the steamboat goes out.
don't know what the fare is to New
York. | doubt if we have money enough
to take US there. If we haven't we can
! stop at some of the landing places on
the way"
What a variety of feelings Peter Ray
mond had in the fifteen minutes he
stood behind that barn door and list
ened. At first he was utterly surprised,
he could hardly believe his own ears,
but as he took it all in-as he compre-
hended what his son contemplated do
ING, he was in high dudgeon; he uncon-
sciously 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
a sound drubbing; but he decided that
it would be wise to hear the boys talk
out, and learn all their plans and then
confront them. But as Philip talked on
Raymond teeth were less firmly closed
and his fist relaxed, and when Philip
said in a half sad tone, 4" [ doubt if my
father loves me at ALL" dozen differ
ent feelings strove for the mastery.
Don't love him." 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
rive him better chance for an educa-
ton 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 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 l have loved him and
have been proud of him. l haven't
been very demonstrative about it, to be
sure. | never thought it was wise to
pet and praise children. Perhaps !
have been a little too unsoclal and bold
and straight-laced with him. Maybe
I'd better not lei him know I've heard
this talk about their running away; but
| shall of course do something to pre-.
vent their going. I'll 60 up to the house
and think over what course to take. "
And Peter Raymond crept away from
the barn as though he was sneak thici
and hurried home as fasta he could, moi
once thinking of his bride. He had
hardly got seated in the big arm chail
before Philip came in. Philip expected
| his father would say, grufliv: 1t is higf
time you were in bed" And so he was
quite taken by surprise when he sale
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.
Raymond opened the almanac at Sep
tember and after glancing down the
page he turned to his wife and asked;
I" Is to-day the third or fourth Tuesday
of the monthpH
The fourth" she replied. "To-
morrow is the last day of the month. "
care you quite sure about it?" he
queried eff you are correct, I am a
week behindhand in my reckoning.
I've had so many things crowding upon
me lately, I've hardly known which
way to turn first. Ipromised Mr. Skid
more chat [ would take the two-years-
old heifer away that | bought of him
before the first of October. She must
! be rot home Tomorrow
Philip got up to go to bed. Mr.. Ray
mond said:
Don't hurry, Philip, I'm thinking
how to get that heifer home. believe
| will take YOU down there early in the
morning and leave you to drive her up.
/ 1t is nire miles there, but you can come
/ back leisurely and let her feed along
side the road You'd like it as well as
to stay home and work, wouldn't you,
Philip?n
Eyes, sir"
Philip replied in an absent-mindea
way. He was in a quandary. Perhaps
he had better try to stay at home lit
tie longer and see if things didn'5 seem
more agreeable to him. Maybe he had
Judged his father q little too harshly.
Clinton Dexter would come to the barn
at midnight, and
Philip was arrested in his cogitations
by his fathers saying:
81 have so many cares, so many
things to think of fthat can hardly keep
track of nv children's ages. | believe,