Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-11-25
THE RUNAWAY.
A THANKSGIVING STORY.

| The Doane boushold was in most de-
lIghtfui ferment. 1t was at last decided
that Thanksgiving should be. spent at
grandpa g. Richard Doane, lad Of four
| teen, and Patty, his sister, a sweet little
girl of five. could talk of nothing else. Oh,
what fun they would have! Sleigh rides
| and coasting for of course there would be
snow. Thanksgiving without snow on the
ground wouldn't be half so nice; aud as
they were going TO have the very jollieS6
time that anybody ever did have, it wasn't
at all probable that the snow would be
; was a manly fellow, fine looking, and gen.
eraliv kind and goodnatured, but possessed
of a quick fiery temper, Which OccasiOned
his parents great anxiety. Mrs. Doane
had just begun to congrat ulate herself that
! the worst was over when something dread
ful happened. Dick was expelled from
school, and this, though bad enough, was
not all. Dick ran away. All this hap
pened just two days before the intended
journey to grandpa's. The following is
|
morning after the expulsion:
| DEAR FATHER AND MoTHER:-Yo on
| know by this time that have been driven
out of school. 1t WAS right that l should
be, for w s very impertinent and very
wicked. l tried to come home but shame
wouldn't let me. feel that shall never
! behave so again, but l can't ask you to
| trust me after all that has happened. l
| have taken out the twenty dollars | had in
the bank, and am going to try and get
some work to dc. Kiss Patty for me, and
try to make her forget her bad brother.
| DICK.
| In vain did Mr.. Doane declare that he
was sure it would all come out right, and
this experience would be the best thing for
Dick that ever happened. His mother
refused to be comforted, and little Patty
was inconsolable; but just because Mr.
1D)ane was firm and wise, the visit to
grandpa's was not postponed. Grandpa
tried to appear as if nothing had happened
and in the effort. rather overdid tae mat
ter. Dick was great pet of the old gen.
tlegna1 g, and iU was very difficult to be
CHEEKY under such distressing circuza-
\ stances. Grandma said There was alto
gether too much stuff III the boy to be
spoiled so easily" and went on with her
/ work lust as if Dick had come. too"
i Patty said, who couldn't quite understand
! anybody's being happy with Dick away.
! But grandma was sure the lad was in
| Gods hands, and this thought gave her
strength and courage to bear whatever
might be sent.
Patty sat by the kitchen table, and
! " atched the old lady sift the pumpkin,
an d then she helped stone the raisins for
the, last loaves Of cake. Grandma said
she was perfectly astonshed to see how
smart her little girl had grown; and then
the little darling's iugers flew faster than
, ever. for, like other children, Patty liked
i to he praised. When grandma at last
brought out the tins in which she always
baked the plum-eakes for Patty and Dick,
Patty put her head down on the table and
| began to cry.
! "W hat is the matter?'. inquired grand
| MA.
20, grandma?'' said Patty, ''please don't
bake cake in Dicks tin. ., my poor
brother Dicki I don't want any cake
+. neither. grandma
! Nonsense, child" said the old lady
why. you and your mother act as if Dick
had gone forever! Now look here. shall
i bake the boys cake, and if he isn't here
to eat it, shall bake the boys cake, and