The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-10-19
Ghildren's Column .
How Trotty Ran Away.
TE SUMNER.

Irotty caHed mamma from her win
dow.
Trotty, who was in the back yard
playing Robinson Crusoe with Joe Pot
ter, suddenly disappeared round the cor
ner, while Joe dropped down behind the
ilac-b bush.
"Trot-tyl" called mamma again.
And Trotty, concluding from certain
decidedness about her voice that it would
be best for him to put in his appearance,
emerged from his hiding-place.
Did you call me p he very innocent
ly inquired.
81 want you to go down to the store
and get spool of silk for me-" replied
mamma.
Trotty's face fell it usually did, am
sorry to say, when he was requested to do
anything.
I've got company" he said bright
smile of relief lighting up his counte-
nance; and it wouldn't be perlite you
know, for me to go away"
AS you have been playing with Joe
all day long, think he will excuse you
for few minutes" said mamma $50
come and wash your face and hands, for
I'm in. hurry"
i think it's awful mean have to do
so many errands," grumbled Trotty, as
he reluctantly wendell his way into the
house. l don't bleeve other mothers
make their little boys do so many"
Trotty, said his mother, gravely and
tenderly mamma is working very hard
to finish your new suit for the picnic, and
she wants this spool of silk Are you not
willing to do that much for me?
Trotty surveyed his copper toes, grew
red in the face, and wished mamma
wouldn't ask such uncomfortable cues
tions.
Aren't you willing, Trotty?" she
asked again.
"It's-dreful hot-and L most know
for sure Joe's mother wouldn't send
him"
Now Trotty was just the sw etest and
most lovable little boy in the world
when everything went to please him, -
but he was getting to be selfish he was
never, almost never, willing to do any
thing for anybody. And mamma wanted
to break him of this sad habit.
49," Very, well, she said, getting up;
If you. know of any place where you
can be better treated than you are here.
l think you had better go there and live"
Trottys blue eyes opened to their
widest extent
L mean Just what I say" repeated
mamma. You are always telling about
some one who would treat you more
kindly than we do; so l think you had
better leave us, and go and live with
them. You can take any of your things
you want, and we will send the rest to
you"
Trotty went up to his room in a very
dazed frame of mind. Could it be that
mamma was sending him away?
He choked back sob, and brushed
away tear or two that would come in
spite of him. But he would not cry.
Oh, no mamma had not, neither would
he.
What should he take with him?" His
toy pistol that papa gave him on the
Fourth, his Illustrated History" and
his tip-cart; that was all, he guessed.
He was going off without even good
bye, but mamma stopped him.
Have you all you want?' she asked
Trotty nodded assent, there was such a
big lump in his throat he could not
speak. "Very well, you think of any
tnlng you want, you can send Tor 1t. We
have tried to be good, to you, Trotty I'm
sorry you have not been happy, but if
ever you need friends, you can come back
to us. Goodbye, dear" Mamma put
out her hand, Trotty grasped it with his
little brown chubby one for an instant,
and then pulling his hat down over his
eyes, he went off out of the yard, down
the street.
Where should he go? He had not
the remotest idea he went and went a
long time before he even thought of it.
Then he began to look around him, and
wonder where he was. He was out of
town, and on a road he did not remember
OF being on before. The houses were
growing less. There was one at the top
of the hill, however he would stop there.
But they had big dog that came out
and barked furiously: Trotty made
hasty retreat, aud trudged on.
1t was long time, at least it seemed
so to him, before he came to another
house. 1t was not very pleasant look
ing one, either but Trotty was getting
desperate, so he marched boldly up to the
back door
" Would they like little boy to live
with them p
4