The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-10-30

He went to bed early. But when his
mother kissed him gentle goodnight,
a lump came in his throat How
could he give her so much painP Never
mind, he thought he would write to
her; and then she would be so glad
when he should come back, in three
years, and tell her all his adventures.
Women never could understand boys,
anyhow. They were such towards! Ii
a boy were to stay by his mother al.
ways, he might as well be a fool al
opce-or a glrl. ,.- 80,
But it was an unlucky nightfor Billy.
The more he thought of it, the worse
he felt about leaving his mother, and
the more he thought of how she would
feel when he was gone. He turned
over restlessly oil his bed so often thai
his mother grew uneasy, and came int
the room.
"Why, Billy, what's the matterP'
she asked.
81 don't feel very we'll, mother
said Billy. ..
Unlucky word! His mother felt his
pulse, which, indeed, was beating at a
furious rate from excitement, She was
sure that he had a fever, and she
thought of calling doctor, but Billy
would not consent to it. AT least his
mother could give him little sweet
spirit of inter, which she said was very
cooling in fever Then she fixed Billy's
pillow for him, so that he could sleep,
"Why, goodness me! What's this?
and with that she drew out the re-
volver, but she had no sooner drawn il
out than she let it drop to the floor, az
though it were a snake.
With that, Billy's father. hearing the
cutlery and the noise, came running
into the room.
"How on earth did that get under
your pillow" he said.
"I-I-I was afraid'--
"You were afraid! And you thought
you could shoot him! Why. you wout
kill Yourself sooner than the thief i
YOU should shoot. Besides. this rusty
old thing hasn't been Loaded for five
wears, and you couldn't make it 60 of
if it was loaded. Maria, that boys on
of his head. ! am sure it is case o
scarlet fever Rise up here; let me SEE
your throat
The throat looked well enough; bu
something was the matter At last i
was concluded that he was bilious
Whenever you can not tell what is thu
matter with a person, you may safely
conclude that he is bilious. So Billy
had to take one Of McHum' 5 World
Renowned, Anti-Bilious, Blood-Purify
ing and General-Regulator Pills. Ht
had taken them before. and he knew
that if he were not sick before taking
one, he would be sick enough after
wards. His father locked up the five
shooter in a drawer where no THE
would be likely to kill himself with it
and his mother left lamp burning il
Billy's room and the door open int
her own. The Gcneral-Regulator mad
him so deathly sick that Billy had t.
give up the buffaloos for that night
What was his disgust when his moth
er came into his room in the mornin!
with cup of tea and told him tha
Ben Clark had run off in the night
And his mother added that it was al
because Ben's mother hadn't man
aged him right. Mrs. Clark never dit
know how to manage her son. AM
then Billy's mother said it would Jus
kill her if her boy should run off. Blu
Mr.. Clark said Ben could stay till h,
got sick of it, and then he'd surel
come back.
Poor Billy! he was so overcome b.
his mothers kindness that he made III
his mind not to 90 away for the pres
ont But his heart was full of envy 70
the good luck of Ben Clark. He ha,
one little note from Ben announcing
his arrival at Denver; and from no
getting any more letters, he suppose
, that Ben had gone directly out on tn
plains to hunt bufalocs. Clearly b
, was where there were no post-otlice'
! The other supposition that he NIGH
not have money enough to buy a two
cent stamp did not occur to Billy. l
the stories he read, boys always foun
money somehow when they needed
badly.
But Billy had lost all interest in hi
lessons. The teacher had written t
, his mother, but nothing could max
, Billy study. He pasted the walls of hi
room over with pictures of bloody en-
= counters between white men and re
, men and between all sorts of men an,
, wild beasts At last, after half veal
/ he determined to 90 to Colorado, hav
, inc had a second letter from Ber
> Then came another letter This las
letter from Ben Clark had been yer
r short and very indefinite. 1t said:
, have had many adventures, some {
$ them awful rough ones, but have NJ
$ killed buffalo yet They are not S
thick as | thought. Better stay whel
e you are if you don't want to see roug
=. | tinns Now NV door frnnl | w !