Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-03-19
HOW UNCLE TOM RAN AWAY.


A TRUE STORY.
1t was a rainy afternoon, and nv six
year-Old nephew and were setting on
the rug in front Of the fire. Frank was
stretched out full length on the soft,
white fur. /, in my own particular
chair, sat patiently awaiting the re-
quest for "a story which l knew
would be very sure to come sooner or
later.
Make it a real true one, auntie,n - he
said, at last, planting his chin on his
brown hands, and gazing straight into
the burning Goals.
When your Uncle Tom and 1 we're
children" began l, slowly, "we were
ever such good friends; and although |
am eight years older than he, we were
always together. My pleasure was new
er real unless Tom shared it, too. Taf-
fly was not sweet, nor even my peanuts
good unless Tom had some; half my
goodies were always saved for him.
I" But Toms temper sometimes got
the better of him, and when provoked
but wait a little and you shall see
what happened to your big Uncle Tom
for letting his temper run away with
him.
One afternoon-a cold, cherries,
rainy one like this, dear-I sat looking
out the window at a poor little meadow
lark that stood shivering and wet on
the edge of the porch. soon called
Tom to look too, but when l turned to
see if he was coming, and not knowing
he was so near me, accidentally struck
him in the face with my elbow.
"'HOIrid, awkward thing grOwled
Tom; and | received a blow from his
strong little fist which 1 am sorry TO say
was not accidental. Mother had Just
come in, and she saw the whole scene.
She made Tom sit alone on a sofa, away
from the window and the bird, till he
should grow gOod-natured again. But
Tom was not to be soothed in any such
way, for he was really angry.
90 'Horrid, awkward, old thingr he
muttered again between his teeth. L
just won't stay in the house with such Il
girl! I'll run away, so l will. III run
away Tonight he added in a louder
voice, intending to attract my attention
and thinking to frighten me.
What's that?' said mother. Run
away from home, and tonight?
'' Yes, and 1 am going right off now,
if Jen don't say she's sorry"
Very well,' said mother, looking
at me, and seeing no signs of repent
ance in my face. You know l allow
no one in my house to tell a lie, so 1
suppose l must say 'gOod-by' to you,
Tom
"Up stairs to his room directly over
head went the angry boy. We heard
him shake his long-saved pennies out
of his tin bank, heard him pull out bu-
reau drawers, and then all was still,
till master Tom, flushed, angry, yet
calm, tramped down the stairs. He
said 'good-by' to all the family except
me, and started out in the rain and
wind.
81 shall never forget how forlorn
| the little fellow looked as he walked down
the path from the house to the barn. An
immense umbrella, old and torn, he tried
to hold over him with one hand, while
in the other he held a bundle, contain
ing his best suit of clothes, clean shirt
and his pennies. No OvercOat had he,
no rubbers, and only an old straw hat
which he had pulled down over his
eyes.
Bang! went the front door after
him. OO-oo rOared the wind as it fol-
lowed him! Splash! came down the
rain through his torn, worn umbrella;
and even the grim, tall cypress trees
swayed their dripping tops over the
path as he passed, as though theywould
send down an extra shower on poor
Toms head.
4. Coo, ;t o,,.a,,r day.l- p,,+ ~, Ton, ,.,
| turned. OF course none of us thought
he would really go away, We supposed
the hottest of tempers would soon have
cooled in that nights storm.
IAN hour passed. the darkness grew
blacker.
"'Poor Tomr 1 thought. ITS all
my fault, every bit of it, and although
was fourteen years old and considered
myself quite woman, began to cry.
=" But suddenly, much to my Joy l
heard TOMS step on the porch. / was
about to rush out to meet him when my
mother stopped me.
"'NO, child said she, firmly.
"That minute the front door bell
rang-then it was not Tom at all, l
thought.
Mother went to the door, and there
indeed was Tom. Lifting his hat to her
in the most distantly polite manner, he
said:
''' Good evening, madame. Win
you have the goodness to tell me the
shortest way to b -p
1--WE were then living at Alderwood,
in the country, and b was the
nearest railroad station.
'''Oh, certainly mother said; take
the first road to the right b - is
three miles from the turning
"'Thank you, madame came the
answer from Tom proud lips; but his
moist eyes said plainly, " I'm so sorry,
mamma
He lifted his hat once more and