Litchfield enquirer., 1881-06-02

l
 'Im sick and tired of home, and every body besides"
 "Oh, Billy. don't say so"
 '1t's the truth, sis Mother is all the time finding fault. I've been trying all my life to please her, and I cannot do it, and I've about made up my mind to clear out.'
 ''Oh, don't, Billy, for my sake and for fathers don't go away" said Grace
 That's all that has kept me till now," he answered, t'and since Harry has become such a 1oafer, feel as though cannot stand it any longer. Do you know. Grace," he contin- ued, looking up for the first time since she entered, "Do you know that Harry drinks ?"
 ''Qh Billy!" said Grace, covering her face with her hapds. ''It's so,'' he continued "1e has never been real drunk that know 'of but that will soon follow, I'm afraid Il think that is one reason why mother is 80 cross" said Grace. II don't know. Icannot see much differ ence. She always would scoid."
 ''She was not going to let Harry come in the other night when he staid out so late," said Grace. II really believ if it had not been for father he would have heen obliged to sleep out of doors"
 '.iPoor father p said Billy Grace. it's a hard t!ihlg to say. but l mother is a good : # 'o blame for Harrg siscenduct l "ii0 e). Billy :?
 "Wiv, you see, she would peYer allow us any fan st home, nor any company. Boys like these things. and will go where they can find them; and Harry is very fond of froiic and company
 i Grace said nothing.
 Il don't See how you stand it, sis, he said | after pause.
 ''I do get tired of being scolded and found fault wit. " she answered. But then you know it's m0ther.''
 Grace would have sad more, but she heard her mothers voice calling to her, so tenderly kissing her brother, she left him. An how little she thought that would be the last kiss sbe would give him for many long day :!
 s'How sis ever grew up so good is mys- tery to me-" he unused when she had gone. But she is just like father. takes everything easy. 1 wish could"
 That night Harry did not go down town. A | violent cold had prevented. So he and Billy spent the evening together in their room.
 "What are you going to do?" inquired Harry. as he saw his brother proceed to pack a small valise.
 'Tve made up my mind that can do bet ter some other place, 80 I'm going to try it." | answered Billy.
 But where will you go?"
 sI hardly know yet. Out west some- where"
 Does mother know it?'
 ''No, not yet, I guess she'll not care much. 1 appear to be so much in her way"
 Well perhaps it is tue best thing for you. But where will you get the money ?" inquired | Harry.
 II have a little saved up," said Billy, enough to get away from here with" Harry said nothing, and the boys fell to musing. At length Billy said:
 ''Harry, I wish you would promise me to do better It nearly kills father and Grace the way you go on."
 II am sorry" said he penitently. But it's just this way Mother won't allow us any company here, makes everybody go to bed 1 like little children. 1 go down street to pass away time, the boys meet me; you know the rest. I've been so ashamed sometimes, that think l will go off somewhere where I will never see anybody again." And the boy for he was scarcely more-looked the pie ture of humility and despair.
 ''1 wish you were going with me" said Billy
 Il wish so too," said Harry, "but that is impossible, for have no money"
 ''If get along well," said Billy, ''and see good chance for you, I'll send for you. But l must be off, for the train passes at daylight and it is nearly four miles to the station. Goodbye, Harry. Tell father and Grace, and all the rest, that will write to them soon, and that expect some day to come back to see you all"
 ''Grace" said her mother the next morn- ing, ''Go up stairs and call the boys, the great lazy things! Tell them if they don't come right away, they won't get any breakfast "Harry is up, mother; l saw him come through the yard, answered Grace. 1 What could have started hi!n out 80 early, l l wonder P unused his mother, as Grace went to call Billy.
 She soon returned with he news "that l Billy was up, too; and, mother, the bed looks as though one person had slept in it.'
 "Where's Billy ?" inquired Ir. Dobbs, as the family were seated at the breakfast ta- ! b4.
 ''I went to call him, but he was not there" 1 said Grace, a sudden thought aarting thrC gh 1 her mind.
 Do you know where he is, Harry 2 q know pretty nearly. s gone away. | He t0|d ne to tell yOu c vas going awGr. o"t would write aa4 yon know | soJ.,
 - r. .an he'll be glad to co.ue back again." said JIa. Dobbs, nervon3ly catching up the coffee-Iit. and pouring out he coffee. | Not word was spoken, TOT m)uthful swallowed, except by the little ones. The l food seemed to choke them all, and after | few moments, MT. Dobbs rose from the table, ] followed by Grace and Harry. Mrs. Dobbs l tried to appear calm, but the pallor of her l face. and the nervOns twitching of the mouth and hands, told that she was deeply moved. ''rell me all about it, Harry, said Grace, as they met in the hall. Harry told her the conversation of the preceding night, and ad- l ded:
 He'll come home some day rich man. and alr going too. Grace, just as soon as 1 1 can get away" 1 It was not many months after this that l Harry's prophecy was fulfilled Billy wrote glowing Accounts of the great West where he 1 had located, and Harry followed him. Il hope they'll both find out their mistake" sad Mrs Dohbs, as the family sat together the evening after Harry was gone. They'll ] get enough of it. But them youngsters al ways think they know so much more than l anyone else" Et .. Five years have passed away, and we will look once more upon the Dobbs family. 1 Aunt Beckey is still at their fireside a per- mauent member of the family DOW, and all 1 though time has dealt gently with her, she is no longer able to assist about the house. work but many are the odds of things that are i transferred into handsome rugs carpets and bed quilts, by her skill and industry. | Mr. Dobbs looks prematurely old but is l still the Same cheerful, benevolent man he always was Mrs. Dobbs has changed ih ap- pearance very little. The firm set mouth is little relaxed and the hair. once so shiny and black, is little silvered, but she is the same energetic thorough going woman, and neat house keeper, though think she allows Tommy and Johnny more privileges than were granted to the older boys at their age; for she never opens her mouth while said boys are cutting up papers for kites, and tearing muslin into shreds for al tail. Perhaps through all these years she has learned wisdom Learned it as h.ost of us do-by that stern teacher-Experience. @ Y T &
 Grace is standing hear her mother reading aloud letter. When she has finished she folds it up and says:
 '.Now. mother. want to ask you for some thing never asked for before, and you must promise to let me have it. Wilyou ?''
 '.That depends upon what it is" says her