The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-03-06
which the cook has been trying to draw


Let him alone, dear" says his moth.
tell me all about himself, Pm sure. Dry
his feet with this towel, and then help
me wrap them up with cotton and tur-
pentine to relieve the soreness and
swelling. I really fear he's going to
lose them both; see how fast they are
turning dark"
With this the boys tears began to flow,
and as he wipes them on his sleeves he
says: 'I'm no trarop; I'm only . runa.
way"
"A runaway is Dad enough" replies
Mrs. Medford. "From whom or what did
you run away?' Again no answer.
sis your mother living?"
mo, ma'am" Then, after a pause,
cts because wouldn't break my prom.
Use to her, when she died, that had to
run away"
Instantly Mrs. Medford was interested.
A boys promise to dying mother drives
him from home. She must know more
about it. Drawing a chair near to him,
she says:
Snow tell me all about it. I am a
mother; see, have boys, too. want to
know your troubles. What was your
promise?"
81 promised her for certain, sure, that
I'd never drink beer nor liquor of any
kind, nor sell it, nor help anybody to
sell it, and l had to run away or break
my promise"
"How was it? tell me-"
I'D rather not, madam" and his eyes
glanced toward his young listeners, in
Guiding Julia, who stood, silent, near
her mother.
"You needn't mind telling all of us
about it, continued Mrs. Medford. "My
children are sorry for boy who got
into trouble because of so excellent a
promise as that to dying mother. Now,
let's hear just how it was"
well, then, it was this way. MY pap,
he keeps saloon, and here lately he
got little lame with the rheumatism,
and told me to stay out of school and
wait on his customers, SOS he needn't
be on his feet 50 much. Then had to
tell him about my promise. He said that
was all foolishness, and that was to do
his bidding. I told him would in every
thing but that. Then he got very angry
and said: DO you mean you are not go.
ing to wait on my customers, to help me
while I'm lame?' and l answered, Il can
not break my PROMISE"
Then he came at me with cane he
was using for his lameness, and said
'Fll thrash that nonsense out of you,
mighty quick, sir, and he beat me until
/ turned so sick with pain that fell to
the floor. Then he dragged me into a
room by myself and left me. The next
morning, before daylight, came away.
l think pap had taken more than usual
on account of his rheumatism, or he
never could have been so rough with
me. But it makes me hate the stuff
more than ever, if it can make a man SC
hard on his own child
That's just what it can do, you poor
boy" said Mrs. Medford. 'See, every
one here is in tears; they are so sorry
for you" Then she added:
Now. you know there are very bad,
designing boys, sharp and scheming,
who could manufacture such story as
yours for the sake of getting shelter
and care; but I'm inclined to believe
what you've just told me-"
30, ma'am!' cried the boy, with wide
eyes and excited voice, ''every word I've
told you is true. l can give you the
names of people who knew my mother.
Besides, Ill show you my back-its sore
and lame yet" and off came coat and
vest in twinkle, leaving the poor back
almost bare, so imperfectly did his torn
shirt cover it.
And what sight met their gaze
Julia had turned away, on seeing the
rapid movements of the boy, but the
united EXPLANATIONS of the others turned
her quickly about. The back and Shout
ders were completely covered with green
ish purple and red blotched welts and
ridges where the blood had settled along
the line of the blows, and where the
broken skin had let the blood ooze
through it.
''Iou see," the boy exclaimed in
tremulOus tones, "I'd be afraid of him
after that, and so had to run away. l
amt used to begging, and didn't know
how to get along without money,
and when l reached the city last
night l didn't know the ways that city
gamins have to keep from freezing; and
the weather turned colder after l went
to sleep in my hiding place, and that's
how froze my feet
'The keeping of that promise has,
indeed, caused you cruel suffering
says Mrs. Mcdford with trimming eyes,
"but I'm sure you'll be rewarded in the
end. You shall be nicely taken care OF
right here until you are we'll, and
know of many noble women who will be
glad to help you in the future. For the
present the cook, here, who has been sc
kind to you, will bring cot from the
bedroom and make you comforta BILE
even to change of clean underwear
from Burts wardrobe, and doctor will
soon be here to see what else you need
Now, children, come, we'll 60 up and
see Arthur, who feels his penalty SC
keenly he keeps to himself"
But no Arthur is there. He has not
been to breakfast. The serving maid
called him before clearing the table
but he had not answered.
"He's pouting," says Burt, and the
grieved mother goes up to talk with
him. But she is startled to find the
room empty-more so when she discov'
ers that his overcoat, polar cap, fur col.
lar and mittens are gone. Burt su d.
denly gets very sober, and whispers
"He said he was going to run away
She is now thoroughly alarmed, fearing
the boy has had time to get far cat Of
the city.
So Burt is hastily dispatched to his
fathers Office with the sorry tidings
and there learns that his father had
only looked in that morning for some
papers, saying that he should return
| about noon. This news at home is too
much and the tension of anxiety gives
way to bitter tears. Mother and boys
with arms about each other, weep to.
gether. Suddenly Burt darts off t.
find his sister. She had fed to her room
as soon as she felt sure that Arthur had
left the house. Burt found her crying
and wringing her hands, i = )
Julia" he says, you are to blame