The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-10-08
IROTTY GOES AWAY FROM HOME.

playing Robinson Crusoe with Joe Pot
ter, suddenly disappeared round the
corner, while Joe dropped down behind
the lilac.bush.
"Trot-ty'' called mamma again.
And Trotty, concluding from GER
tain dpcidedneSs about hervoice that it
would be best for him to put in his ap-
pearance, emerged from his hiding
place.
"Did you call mc:?" he very inno-
Gently inquired.
~ want you to 60 down to the store
and get spool OF silk for me-" replied
mamma.
Trotty's face fell; it usually did, 4 am
sorry to say, when he was requested to
do anything.
1--we got company" he said, bright
smile of relief lighting up his couute-
nance; land it woudn be perlite, you
know, for me to 60 away"
LAS you have been playing with Joe
all day long, think he will excuse you
for a few minutes" said mamma; $50
come and wash your face and hands, for
I'm in a hurry"
Il think it's awful mean have to do
so many errands," grumbled Trotty, as
he reluctantly wended his way into the
house. II don't b'leeve 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 pic
mic, and she wants this spool of silk.
Are you not willing to do as much as
that for me?'
Trotty surveyed his copper toes,
grew red in the face, and wished mann.
ma wouldn't ask such uncomfortable
questions.
Aren't you willing, Trotty?' she
asked again.
Its-drefful hot and l most
know for sure Joe's mother wouldn't
send him.
Now Trotty was just the sweetest
and most lovable little boy in all the
world-when everything went to please
him-but he was getting to be very
selfish; he was never willing to do
anything for any body. And mamma
wanted to break him OF this sad habit.
Every WE'LL" she said, getting up; "if
you know of any place where you can
be better treated than you are here,
think you had better 60 there AID
live.
Trotty's blue eyes opened to their
widest extent.
II 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 60 and live with
them. You can take any of your things
You want, and we will send the rest to
YOU"
Trotty went up. stairs to his room in
. very dazed frame of mind. Could it
be that mamma was sending him
away?
He choked back a 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 the
Fourth, his illustrated History and
bis tip-cart; that was all, he guessed.
He was going OF without even good
BY, but mamma stopped him.
"Have YOU all you wantr" she asked.
Trotty nodded assent; there was such
q big lump in his throat he could not
speak. Every well, if you think OF
anything you want you can send for it.
We have tried to be good to you, Trot.
ty, I'm sorry you have not been hap
py, but if ever you need friends you
can come back to us. Good-by, 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 of out
Of the yard, down the street.
Where should he go? He had not
the remotest idea; he went and went q
long time before he even thought of it.
Then he began to look around him, and
wonder where he was. He was out
of the town, and on road he did not
remember of being on before. The
houses were growing less. There was
one al the top of the hill, however, he
would stop there. But they had big
dog that came out and barked furious.
ly; Trotty beat hasty retreat, and
trudged on.
1t was a long time. at least it seemed
80 to him, before he came to another
house. It was not q 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 theml"
It was = lady. not near 20 pretty as
his mamma, that came to the door; in
deed. she was very cross.looking.
mo, we don't want to be bothered
with any little boys. Why don't you
live at homer
'Cause-they--make me 20 er-
rands, he replied. Somehow it seemed
very, very poor reason as he said it.
"Well," said the lady, with sharp,
disagreesble laugh, "you had better 60
right home just as fast as your two legs
can carry you, for you won't find any
body to treat you better than your
MOTHER
Then she went in and shut the door,
and Trotty, picking up the handle of
his tip-cart, went on. But he went very
slowly now; he began to be very sure
be should not find anybody like mamma
and papa He felt something drop on
his cheek. and. looking up, he saw there
were great black clouds in the sky. 1t
was going to shower. He was afraid,
very much afraid in q thunder. storm.
Mamma always held HIM in her Jap.
Oh, how he wished he was at home!
There was not house to be seen, cx.
cepting the one he had just left. Trotty
sat down to rest for q little.