The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-09-03
RUNNING AWAY.

1t was the third afternoon that he ha
been kept in a. ter school that week
and there was to be a match-game O
baseball between his club. the Excel
siors, and the Plumtown club. and h
did want to have his side beat. VIII,
would take his place as first base. b.
wondered; and the center-fielder ais,
would be away.
There sat the miserable center fielde
at the other end of the bench, his bool
before him, and fearful frown upoI
his brow.
Matt returned to his definitions. ant
wrote fiercely:
Baker -One who bakes.
Artist-One who arts
| Spinster-Une who spins"
Don't care" muttered Matt. al
won't look word out. Fingers Jus,
stiff, writing so long; and SIDES, it's Sd
mean to keep Teller in and make him
lose match gamer
Trump! came something upon the
book. A piece of paper wound up
| tightly, evidently thrown by the center
fielder. Matt unrolled it promptly, and
read:
DEAR MATT: think it's awful mean: and
besides, tn morning had 10 get up and XIII
potato-ougs Let's run away. BOB.
Obliviousof stiff fingers. Matt grasped
his pen, and wrote with characteristic
brevity:
-. MATT.
look at I Itch, in his COMPASSION
making the Aesinquents apresent of 1--WE
minutes.
Bob and Matt found delegation of
boys in the yard, waiting for them.
1.-The Plumtown fellers have lust pot
here" said Marcus Clark. Hurry nm.
and you'll be in time for the next inn
ing"
The FIRST base and the center-felder
look at each other.
Let's have the game first" signaled
p!ay-loving Matt; and Bob nodded
prompt assent.
Now Matt was the only son of his
mother. and she widow The neigh
bors said the good woman had but a
SINCE fault, and that was foolish in
diligence Of her son Matt; and vet thew
never suspected how far she went in
pampering that boy-how she ran up.
stairs and downstairs at his beck and
call, and brushed his clothes and
BACKED his boots; how she got ND
and gave him the most comfortable
chair when he came into the
room; how she allowed him to rule
over the man-servant and the maid
servant, and even the stranger within
her gates. 1t was wonder that Matt
was not a disagreeable despot, in
stead of a jolly, play-loving, good
tempered urchin, with but now and
then occasional moods of imperiousness
and self-will.
1t was only upon one point that Matt |
could not have his own way. That her |
boy should go regularly to school, his
mother insisted with untlinching firm
ness. Mats tears in this case had no /
effect. Even shutting himself in his
room and refusing his meals was in
vain. although it worked well in
other cases. Every morning saw
Matt, with good lessons or bad.
On his way to school. He felt himself |
abused, and fully justified in running
away from such systematic cruelty.
His forehead ached with study, and his
myers were lame with holding the pen.
As for Bob, his life was made M of
of chopping wood. of
and hoeing, and study. All
vas somber, dark monotony of duties;
md no baseball to speak of crept into
he desolation of his days. His back
Iched with work. and his legs were ready
o drop-at least, that was Bob story;
md he was determined to live no longer
m the farm. Once in the city, he could
inter some big mercantile house, like
he smart boys he was so fond of read
ne about. and soon become Junior
'artner and marry-no, he wouldn't
marry the old fellows daughterl he
ated girls, anyhow, and he would leave
hat part out.
When the boys reached the base ball
round, they found the Excelsiors in a
air way to defeat. They had had but
ne inning. and already the Plumtown ,
oys scored six to their nothing.
Mat slipped into the game with the .
termination to win the victory or
erish in the fray. Oh, how that boy
'orked! You would never have sus-
ected that his head was aching and his
myers lame. To watch his stout young
.gs scud from base to base, who would ,
ave supposed that they had been too /,
cary to bear him to farmer Browns ;
lat morning for the milk?
1t was the last inning, and the score
both clubs was the same. Matt stood,
1t in hand, watching for the ball. His !;
yes were bright with determination, !
I'D he was sure he would not miss it. /.
lready it was hurled through the air; !
I'd seeing it come towards him he I
vung his bat-and then a faintness
lme over him. and the crowd around
le fence seemed multiplied to thou a
Inds. The bali had struck him right !,
,ove the bright blue eyes. leaving {
lge white swelling in its place Poor, h
nd mother! 1t was mercy that she :
as not among the crowd that saw the .
'yish figure drop to the ground.
Both clubs few at once to his side
bob. help me raise him." said MAJ !;