The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-12-12
YOUTHS DEPARTMENT.
WHAT FOLLOWED.

OlSODeultnCts
:" / amt goin to school t'-day," said
Jimmy McRush, with knowing wink
Ut Ted Sanders. Now, Ted wasn't
naturally bad boy, nor was he usual
" disobedient; but he WdS easily infu-
enced, especially by Jimmy McRush.
Jimmy was always a bad boy"
said Mrs. Sanders often, Eyes, she
would add, seven when he was in long
clothes" And then Ted's father would
lock over his spectacles at Ted, and
say: 81 don't want you going with
such boy, Ted; he'll do you no good"
And Ted would always secretly vow he
would never again be an associate OF
Jimmy's. But he was sure to break
even the strongest VOW when Jimmy
winked at him like that; and then
when he was with Jimmy he liked him
very much indeed, and couldn't see
that he was so very bad. Ted didn't
say bad words, and Jimmy did; but
Ted thought it was because Jimmy's
father was a swearer himself
So to-day, when Jimmy winked, and
said: Il amt goin' to school t'-day,"
and slipped a fishing-line out of his
pocket, and held it so knowingly for
Ted to see where he WdS going, Ted
couldn't resist, but said: 81 amt goin'
either; nobody II know it."
Jimmy said of course nobody would
know it, and what if they did? little
''lickin'" didn't last long, He always
spoke of the one form of punishment
used on himself as ''hckin'."
So off to the river they went. Ted
wasn't exactly happy; he felt mean.
He thought something was sure to hap
pen; at least, that was what he had al
ways been taught. Still, it was too
late to turn back, and having gone so
far, he was ashamed to-ashamed of
Jimmy's hooking laugh, and how he
would tell all the boys that Ted Sand
ers was ''rag-baby cryin' for his ma, "
lust as he had said of Joe Humming
when he wouldn't help tie old Mrs.
Barnum' S pet cat to the door knob. So
Ted went on. And something did hap
pen. Yes; several things happened.
The first was that Ted caught two fine
sinners inside of ten minutes He
had better luck fishing that afternoon
than he had ever had before in all his
life. At Ted's home something else
was happening. just after the second
school-bell rang, a telegram was
brought to Mr. Sanders, who sat read
ing in the front parlor. 1t urged Mr..
Sanders and his wife, and the three
children, to come on the afternoon s
train up to the city, and see a great
parade that was to take place that
night, amidst fireworks costly and
beautiful.
Eyes, we'll just get ready and go, !"
said Mr.. Sanders. Jane, put on your
bonnet, and run down to the school
house and fetch Ted. Tell his teacher
sent for him. l want him excused to-
day. He hasn't had a vacation for q
long time, and it'll be treat to him.
It's an hour till train time. "
So Jane, the girl, went, and soon
returned with the report that Ted had
not been to school that afternoon.
mot been in school!' cried Mr.
Sanders, echoed by Mrs. Sanders, with
a very white face. "Why, where Is
hep' demanded the excited. man, as
though Jane knew any more about
Ted's whereabouts than his father.
"Oh! where can he beP" cried pool
Mrs Sanders.
Without another word Mr.. Sander:
mt on his hat. and, taking his cane
hurried out to hunt the truant; while
Mrs. Sanders walked from room tt
room, up stairs and down in the cellar
as though she thought Ted might, by
some chance, be somewhere about thu
house. Every one forgot the expected
trip to the city in the search for thu
missing boy, No one that Mr.. Sanders
INQUIRED of on the street had seen him
Up and down, into stores and out
through long streets and over TRASHY
alley-ways travelled Mr.. Sanders, bu
with no news anywhere of boy with ;
freckled stub nose, red hair and blu'
coat and trowsers. He was about Il
return home and wait for Ted to turn
up. when he was dumbfounded. upol
turning corner, to come upon tina
very boy himself and his companion
Jimmy McRush, each led by the coat
collar, and at intervals shaken violent
ly, by big, burly man who talked al
the time in the most angry tones.
whats the matter hereP" demands
Mr.. Sanders, coming up.
Ted's face grew very red and puck
cred up all over, as the tears filed hi
eyes.
"These young scamps united m
boat, down at the river, and drove he
against rock, and now she's ruined
I'll teach 'em a lesson, see if dom
y I'll teach 'em how to NEEDLE, the run
away truants! I'll have 'em put in tn
lookup, just see if l DON'T and b
shook each vigorously.
Ted looked so pleadingly at h
father, and seemed so sorry for VIII;
he had done, that Mr.. Sanders salt
"Let me pay you for half the cost
your boat, as that's my boy there. Yc
CON do what Won coo fit with the 9TH