The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-03-01

| than to tell such boy as Arthur THAI
four boys are too much for one house,"
"I know 1t, l know it," sobs Julia,
and when papa sont him to his room I
knew was the one that should be pun
ished."
"Well, I'm glad you feel e.; was
afraid you didn't. You always act as IL
you Thought us boys great nuisance,
cause we can't be as refined and spooney
as girls"
"But I don't think so," sobs Julia,
"and I'd give the whole world, If / had
it, just to see Arthur now, and tell him
1 love him"
"Good for you. Papall find him some.
how, of course, and then we'll be jolly
lot once more" Then he left her, say.
ing to himself: "What queer morning
-one runaway come and another one
gone"
In the meantime, Mr.. Medford, having
an early engagement with the railway
superintendent, arrived at the station
! just in time to see Arthur-yes, it was
| surely Arthur-enter a car on the train
| Just moving Off Quick as thought, he
springs upon the same train, and when
it is well under way leisurely saunters
back into the car where his son is seated.
"Hello, Arthur, where are you going
this morning?' says his father, seating
himself beside him.
But Arthur was too dumb-founded to
speak. His father kindly repeats the
question, and finally Arthur says; "Just
anywhere to get away from home"
Don't know where you are going to!
1t strikes me that's bad management
very unbusinesslike. Now, if l were a
boy, planning to leave my home, I'd
want to make sure of a better place to
go to before starting-a place where the
people would be sure to want mo, es-
pecially the women folks; a place where
I'd be clothed, boarded and educated
free of charge when in health, and where
I'd get loving care and attention when
sick. Yes, and I'd want to improve on
the old state of things, or else it wouldn't
pay to change, don't you see? I'd want
to find man with fewer faults than my
father had, and who would love me just
as much as he did; yes, and I'd want to
improve on the mother business, too,
and get in somewhere with a gentle, re-
fined woman, who'd have great deal of
patience with my pranks, and love me
little better than the other one had
done-yes, I'd want to find a place fill
ing all these conditions, or else, what in
the mischief would be the use of max
ing a change, at all, old fellow? Don't
you see?" and Mr.. Medford passed his
arms over the shoulders of the boy and
patted him confidingly.
Such talk and treatment as this from
his father quite broke down the dogged
resolution with which Arthur had set
out on the trip, and he blurted out:
"But it's Julia, papa; there's no living
in the same house with her. She hates
us boys"
Tut, tut, Arthur"
"She does; she told me this morning
house; and / told her L thought so, too
if they had her for sister, and that
was going to run away. Then she tan
talized me until | was provoked into
saying those ugly words that you
heard"
"Well, well; 1 ought to have known
the other side before"
"You didn't think we'd blow on girl,
did you? We boys don't blow on each
other"
so, well, these little matters can soon
bo Strengthened out. Julia has been
sick good deal, and is nervous. But
she has good heart. and i know she
loves her brothers. There's the whistle
for the next station. Suppose you and
just step off the train when it stops,
and return home together about noon.
just as though nothing had happened"
''Just as you say, papa; but don't
want Julia to think hadn't the pluck
to stay away half day"
Nonsense! Danish such thoughts.
Very likely she's crying her eyes out
about you by this time"
And to Arthurs amazement, so he
finds her. She is the first one to spring
and embrace him, assuring him at once
that less than four boys in that house
can never be enough.
Afterward his mother holds him by the
hand, stroling his hair, as she gently
says:
"You thoughtlessly managed to give
us sad morning, my son. There's
young runaway in the basement who
would be puzzled to guess why any boy
should want to run away from this
home. ! shall want you to hear his
story, by and by, and see for yourself
what he has uffered.-Maria Barrett
Butler, in Vick's Magazine.