Morris tribune., 1889-12-25

= <A was JuSC. SlhCSIe duu
severe He began mature life as fatboat
captain, and finished his training as sheriff OF
an Indiana county. A born ruler, at so years
of age he knew absolutely nothing OF any
methods save stern command and force ready
for instant application. To this he added
habit of perpetual fault finding.
Hehad been going over the hoary harangue,
with which some old people have insulted
Young ones since the days of Homer, about
the good BOYS and the industrious young men
of his early life and the degenerate sons of
these days, when Alberts satirical hunor
rose.
"You're mighty little account now," said
the father. ''Whatn you be at my ageT'
81 suppose" said Albert, unconsciously
initiating his fathers sneer, ''IHl do like other
old men-sit and tell lies about the big things
did when I was boy"
It was one of those insults which some men
consider ''the first blow" and the second fell
promptly. Raising his broad, right hand,
and foaming with rage, the father brought it
down fat across the sons mouth. The blood
few from Albert's nose as he staggered back.
He rallied gazed an instant Oh the father,
then turned away with clinched teeth and
set purpose.
He sought his confdant, Sam McCorkle,
the drunken shoemakers boy near by, who
was of the same age as Albert, but knew
fifty times as much of the tricks and devices
Of the oppressed. At 10 years Sam was an
expert in evasive tricks; at IL he was simply
a prodigy.
These two had met and conferred often
the sad, cynical skeptic, whose father was
among the well-to-do farmers of the commu-
nifty, and the finished trickster, whose father
was the outcast: they often laid out wonder
full plans of life in distant regions; but soon
a fair Young face rose bstore Albert Merritt's
ewes, and he could not make up his mind to
20. It was the face of Helen Blake, only a
few years before his schoolmate. But now
Albert was resolved. If Helen thought Of
him as often as he did of her, she would wait
for him to return, and if she were worth the
winning she would respect him more for
leaving the discomforts Of his present life.
Thus he reasoned.
Late that night two lads with small bun
dies might have been seen, but took care not
to be, on the river road, and it was soon
known to all the community that they had
left the place.
OF farewells the boys had said none.
Albert had indeed written brief note to
his mother, in which he had hidden her
ROOQ-Dy Iuu OF ClufIlSlly WOrueu UeuOcEucScs
and another to Helen, which he had formally
begun s1Miss Helen Blake" and in which he
had as formally expressed the hope that,
though absent perhaps for years, he would
not be forgotten. These epistles he took with
him in his flight, and day or two later en-
trusted them to Sam McCorkle to post, but
that individual, fearful that the route of de-
parture would be guessed by the postmark,
calmly destroyed them, although he solemn
ly declared to Albert that he had deposited
them in the postoffice of considerable town
through which they journeyed. And SO the
two boys were quite cut off from the old
world Of semi-servitude.
That father should be sorry for the fight
of son is but natural; that he should, while
spark of pride or anger remains, tell any
one Of his sorrow would be contrary to all
recorded precedents in such cases. William
Merritt was not the man to violate prece-
dents Of discipline. He held himself stif1y,
waved away the subject complacently, and
said when he spoke at all; ssOh, he'll soon get
sick of his firt-he'l be- glad enough to come
back" But late summer yielded to autumn,
and autumn gave place to winter, and sad
Christmas day had come, for Albert Merritt
had made no sign. 1