Daily Republican., 1881-12-02
THE RUNAWAY.
A TIL ANKSGIVING STORY.

iuo lI'dHc uouScHJlu was Ill u HOS
delightful ferment. 1t was at last de
cided that Thanksgiving should b.
spent at grandpa's. Richard Doane, ;
lad of fourteen, and Patty, his sister
a sweet little girl OF five, could talk O
nothing else Oh, what fun they woult
have =. Sleigh rides and coasling-fo
of course there would BE- snow. Thanks
giving without snow on the groun(
wouldn't be half SO nice and as they
were going to have the very jollies
time that anybody ever did have, il
wasn't at all probable that the snow
would be mean enough to dissappoin
them. Dick was IA manly fellow, fine
looking, aud generally kind and good
natured, but possessed of quick ane
frey temper, which occasioned his par
ents great anxiety. Mrs. Doane haC
lust begun to congratulate herself thai
the worst WAS over when something
dreadful hapreaed, Dick was expe,l
ed from school, aud this though bad
enough, was not all. Dick ran away
All this happened Just two days before
the intended journey to Grandpa's. The
following is the letter received by Mr.
Doane the morning. after the expul,
sion:
| DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER: You
know by this time that have been
driven out of schoot 1t was right that
it should be, for | was very impsrtinent
and very wicked. tried 70 come home,
but shame wouldn't let me. feel {. at
shall never b-have so again, but |
can't ask you to trust me after all hat
has happened. | have taken out the
twenty dollars had in the bank, and
am going TO try aud get some work to
do. Kiss Patty for me, and try to
make hei forget her Had brother. DICK.
In vain did Mr.. Dean 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. Doane was firm and wise,
the visit t. Grandpa's was not post.
poned. Grandpa triel to appear as if
nothing had happened, and in the effort
rather overdid the matter Dick was a
great pet Of the old gentleman's, and it
was very difficult to be CHEEKY under
such distressing circumstances. Grand
ma sail there WAS altog ther too
much stuff in the boy to be spoiled SO
easily" and went on with her work
Gust as if Dick had come, too" Patty
said, who couldn't qni,e uuderstHnd
anyboiy's being happy with Dick IA.
way. 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
watched the old lady sitt the pumpkin,
and then she helped stone the raisins
for the last loaves Of cake. Grandma
said she was perfectly astoni,hrd to
see how smart her little girl had grown;
and then The little darling's fingers
flow faster than ever, for, like other
children, Patty liked to be praised
When grandma Mt last brough' ont the
tins in which she always baked the
plum-cakes for Patty and Dick, Patty
rut her head down OF the table and
began to cry.
"What is the matter" inquired
grandma.
"Oh, grandma" said Patty. "please
don't bake cake in Dick ) tin. Oh,
my poor brother Dick ! don't want
my cake neither, grandma.
Nonsense, child" said the old lady,
"Why, you and your mother act as it
Dick had gone forever ! Now look
here. shall bake the boys cake, and
if he isn't here to eat it, shall De very
much surprised. We viii ice the
cake Patty, and then You shall put his
name on the top in Caraway seeds;
Dicks uncommon fond OF carawsy
seeds, you know"
Patty looked up and smiled through
her tears. 1t was impossible to be sad
very long with such "a grandmother as
that. By and by the cakes were done
and cooled, and then the dear old lady
spread thick icing over them, and be-
lore it was quite stiiieuei She whitfield |
! stick and with it traced in the center |
If the largest cake the word Dick"
Then Patty sprinkled the caraway seed
into all the places, AMI just
Is everything was finished, mamma
,ame into the kitchen TO See what had
become of Patty.
y
he said.
"Can't you read?" inquired grand
na. "It seems to me that's as plain as
pikestatf. t."
"Oh, mother! do you really think
Ie'll BE- here" inquired Mrs. Doane,
oins her best to keep from crying.
'I shall expect him." replied the old
ady, decidedly; "and if he don't come
shall believe God knows better what
) good for al Of us than We know our
elves; and now, my child, if there is a
easant thing in tie world, advise
on to think about it, tor it's worse
han useless TO fret about Dick"
Toe next day was Thanksgiving. The :
leather was clear, but clustering aud
cry cold The ground was well covered
nth snow, and there seemed nothing
1T to wish for in the way of comfort !
nd happiness but the presence of the :
-uant. The family drove to church in =
le morning, and returned just in time
n dinner. Patty burst into tears as
randpa passed her plate and she sob.
ed so that grandma told her she had
etter take some sugar and go out and I
jtit lu5 polly' ohSD oiU VI Soi VI |
10 house, Patty gave full vent to her T.
rief, and cried as if her heart would 81
reak. There she sat on the barn floor p
poor, little, wilted bundle of merino n
nd misery, the sauce plate of sugar by II
er side, with no. thought in her curly a
cad for anything in the world but her a
rother Dick. IL
"Oh, Dick how could you be such p
vi boy!" she cried. "Grandma said o
,u would come, and you haven't, and n
w you can't have your cake nor tur- o
~ nor not1in." AL! of sudden Patty st
,ard a queer noise. She stopped cry y,
e and held her breath. 1t was like
b from the corn-crib.
Horses don't cry, nor cows, nor pigs v
ever heard Of" said Patty to her lie
If, as the strange noise was repeated. "
ladder stood against the corn.crib, d.
ID in twinkling Patty had climbed OF
the top and looked in. There stood la
ick up to his waist in yellow corn, ct
tn hands to his face, crying as he had 81