The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-03-06
FOUR BOYS TOO MANY.
One Runaway Come and One Run
away Gone.

A wild rush and jar of scampering feet
in the morning, hubbub of suppressed
shouts, a tumble on the stairway as OF
muttied thunder, and four rollicking
boys land in the lower hall with a sue.
cession of resonant thuds, and rush of
to the closet that receives their nightly
deposit of shoes.
In the same spacious closet is the lava
tory for their morning albutions, and.
after wordy scramble for the right
shoes-which they never can remember
to stand in pairs in a row-they wash
and brush, and are ready to tackle papa
for some favor or other as soon as he
shall have come down to breakfast.
This time it is for him to furnish what
Santa Claus has failed to do-a turning
lathe for their workshop, one with a
treadle, to be worked by foot power"
''If we are to be cooped up here in
town." they say to each other, never
allowed to play on the streets. we must
have tools and things as fast as we grow
to them" So, this morning, Arthur,
the eldest, is going to tell papa that he S
grown to a turning lathe.
81 can run turning lathe as we'll as
you can says Burt to Arthur. "You
know can whip you any time when I
try my level best, cause I've got the
mu sole, you see,' and he clenches his
fist against his shoulder and strikes out
like young gymnast
You know you can't do any such
thing when | try my Lowell best" says
Arthur, tripping up his brother while
speaking. Then Burt leaps to his feet,
and graphing Arthur, a short struggle
follows, ending in tussle on the floor,
while Carlos and Bonnie stand by,
laughing and cheering.
Their sister Julia, coming down stairs.
yawning and sleepy, hears the tumult,
and rushing in. exclaims:
II declare, if you awful boys are not
fighting, this early in the morning. I'm
going to call papa down, this minute. -
Knowing she will do it, they untangle
themselves and turn their attention to
her.
1--WE can never have any fun where
you are without your interfering" says
Arthur, with very red face. Your
always putting on fine lady airs and
getting shocked at every thing we do. -
How did you come to be awake SO
early, anyway, Miss Sleepyhead?" asks
Burt, sneeringly.
Awake, indeed" she impatiently re-
torts. II wonder who could sleep a
wink in this house after you are awake.
The noise you make in getting down
stairs is enough to make the neighbors
think there is an earthquake on hand.
I'm positively ashamed of YOU"
20, you're SO touchy," retorts Arthur.
"I'm glad I'm not girl. We do try to
keep still and smother every thing till
till we just explode; you know we
can't help that"
Besides" adds Burt, "mamma ISekes
us leave off our shoes to save the car.
pet, and how can we make much noise
in our stocking feet? %
Glow can you, indeed. You couldn't
if you weren't as rude as a pack of In.
dams. The fact is, four boys are toe
many for one house."
That's what ] think when they've
got sister like you" snaps out Arthur,
land I'm going to run away-that's
what Pm going 10 do"
Il wouldn't start till after breakfas,
if ! were you," says Julia, sneeringly.
''You shut up"
And 1 wouldn't go till the weathe,
changes; it's rather cold just now fol
sleeping in barns"
II tell you to shut up, you hateful
ing YOU"
Mr.. Medford, entering with slippered
feet just in time to hear Arthur's las
words. is shocked at their rudeness and
unkindness, and, reproving him, order.
him to his room, to remain until he il
called. At the same time Mrs. Mediocre
appears and the bell summons them t.
the breakfast room. While serving thu
buckwheat cakes the waiting maid an
nounces that the cook is trying to thav
out half-frozen boy by the range ani
feeding him hot cakes"
81 lnust see him after breakfast, say
Mrs. Medford. Its strange he was no
picked up before he reached thi
street."
Breakfast being over, Mr.. Medfort
hastily buttons himself into his over
coat and hurries to the next street T.
. catch car, telling Burt as he leaves t
call Arthur to breakfast. Burt, thinking
only of the boy in the basement runs t
the foot of the stairs and calling 70 hi
brother to come down, hastens to ioil
the others below.
There, with frosted fingers and froze,
feet, sits boy of Burt's size, thinly clad
his punched features telling of past hur
ger, present suffering and shyness.
.Hello!" says Burt, ''how did you &c
2 in this flx?" No answer.
20, say, you needn't mind me; wal
you to talk. You didn't start out
make regular tramp Of yourself, nov
cid you?" Still no answer; only q sui
pressed moan as he draws one foot up
his hands from the snow-water wit