The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-01-04
THE RUNAWAY.

The Doane household was in a
most delightful ferment, 1t was at
last decided that Thanksgiving
should be spent at grandpa's. Rich
ard Doane, lad of fourteen, and
Patty, his sister, sweet little girl
of five, could talk of nothing else
Oh, what fun they would have ?
Sleigh rides and coasting-for Of
course they would have snow.
Thanksgiving without snow on the
ground wouldn't be half SO nice;
and as they were going to have the
very jolliest time that anybody ever
did have, it wasn't at all probable
that the snow would be mean enough
to disappoint them. Dick was
a manly fellow, ,fnel ooking, and gen.
orally kind and good-natured, but
possessed of a quick and fiery tenn
per, which occasioned his parents
great anxiety. Mrs. Doane had
just begun to congratulate herself
that the worst was over when some
thing dreadful happened. Dick
was expelled from school, and this,
though bad enough, was not all.
Dick ran away. All this happened
just two days before the intended
journey to grandpa'G. The following
is the letter received by Mr. Doane
the morning after the expulsion:
| Dear FATHER AND MOTHER: You
know by this time that | have been
driven out of school. 1t was right
should be, for | was very imperti-
nent and very wicked | tried to
come home, but shame wouldn't let
me. | feel thet | shall never be-
have so again, but | can't ask you
to trust me after all that has hap
pened. | have taken out the twen-
tv dollars | had in the bank, and
am going to try and get some work
to do. Kiss Patty for me, and try
to make her forget her bad brother.
DICK.
In vain did Mr.. Doane 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
inconsolabie but just because Mr..
Doane was firm and wise. the visit
to grandpa's was not postponed.
Grandpa tried to appear as if moth
ing had happened, and, in the effort,
rather overdid the matter Dick
was a great pet of the old gentleInans s
and it was very difficult to be CHEEKY
undersuch distressing circumstances.
Grandma said there was altogether
too much stuff in the boy to be
spoiled so easily" and went on with
her work '.just as If Dick had come,
too" Patty said. who couldn't quite
understand anybody's being happy
with Dick away. 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 silt the pump
kin, and then she helped stone the
raisins for the last loaves OF cake.
Grandma said she was perfectly as
tonished to see how smart her little
girl had grown; and then the little
darling's fingers few faster than
ever, for. like other children, Patty
liked to be praised. When grandma
at last brought out the tins in which
she always baked the plum cakes
for Patty aid Dick, Patty put her
head down on the table and began
to cry.
"What is the matter ?" inquired
grandma.
"Oh. h.grandma,n said Patty, please
don't bake n cake in Dicks tin.
Oh, my poor brother Dick | don't
want any cake neither. grandma.
/ Nonsense, child" said the old
lady. why, you and your mother
act as if Dick had gone forever
Now look here. / shall bake the
boys cake, and if he isn't here to
eat it, | shall be very much sur
prised. We will ice the cake, Patty
and then you shall put his name ON
the top in caraway seeds; Dick 3
uncommon fond of caraway seeds,
you know"
| Patty looked up and smiled
Through her tears. 1t was impossi-
BILE 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 a
thick icing over them, and before II
was quite stifiened she whitfield a
stick and with it traced in the CEN
ire of the largest cake the word
"Dick." Then Patty sprinkled the
caraway seed carefully into all the
places, and just as everything was
finished, mamma came into the
kitchen to see what had become OF
. Patty.
"Why, child what are you max
, ingm she said.
, Cant you read ," inquired grand
ma. at seems to me that's Us pialn
as pike-staff.' !,
aOh, mother do you really think
he'll be here ?" inquired Mrs. Doans
doing her best to keep from crying
;. Il shall expect him." replied th'
old lady, decidedly; 'and if he dom
, come | shall believe God knows bet
, ter what is good for all of US thar
we know ourselves; and now, my
child, if there is pleasant thing II
! the world, l advise you to thini
about it, for it's worse than useless
. to fret about Dick"
! The next day was Thanksgiving
The weather was clear, but bluster
ing and very cold. The ground wa'
well covered with snow, and ther'
seemed nothing left to wish for IL
. the way of comfort and happiness
but the presence of the truant- Th'
family drove to church in the morn
ing, and returned just in time TO
dinner. Patty burst into tears a
, grandpa passed her plate, and sh'
sobbed so that grandma told her sh
had better take some sugar and g