The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-12-01
RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME.
The Experience OF n hoy Who Grew DIS.
satisfied VIII, His Parents.

satisfied With His Parents.
Indianapolis Eess, tr
An appreciative audience assembled at
Plymouth Church last night to hear tho
famous writer on Southern life, Richard
Malcolm Johnston, read selections from
his own works. A double pleasure
awaited II, for James Whitcomb Riley
introduced Mr.. Johnston with a story
told in bis inimitable manner.
There was once boy" Mr.. Riley
said, I'm aggrieyed, unappreciated boy,
who grew to dislike his own home very
much, and found his parents not at ali
up 10 the standard Of his requirements
rs son and disciplinarian. lie brooded
over the matter, and one morning before
breakfast climbed over the back fence
aud ran away. Lie thought OF the sur.
prise and remorse Of his parents when
they discovered that he had indeed gone,
and he pictured with rainbow colors the
place he would make for himself In the
world. He would show his parents TINT
he would not brook over their III treat.
ment, and that lie could get along better
without them than they could without
hin. Some way this feeling OF extiiar-
alton died out Us the long, hot day wore
on. There came tima when other boys
went home to dinner. He raided a
neighboring orchard. The afternoon
seemed endless. A knotteu, rigid sort
Of an aching spot came into his throat
that seemed to hurt worse when he
didn't notice 1t than when he did. 1t
was a very curious, Beli.assertive, opin-
donated sort OF pain. ~
ut was nearly dark when the struggle
was given up, and the boy slowly walk
cd along the dusty road towards home.
When he reached the wood.pile he
gathered up load Of wood and carried
1t in with him. The hired girl was
washing the supper dishes, but she did
not seem glad to see him, in fact, did not
seem to have noticed that he had been
away. He sauntered carelessly into the
pantry, but the cupboard was locked. |
He went out in the back yard and wash !
ed his feet at the rain.barrel. Every
thing seemed pleasanter than it ever
had before. The irellies fitting among
tho grapevines, the reflection OF the
stars in the rain.barrel, were soothing |
to tho tired boy. Then he walked
straight into the old sitting.room. His
father didn't look up from his paper
his mother was go busy sewing she
didn't notice his entrance.
"He Sat meekly down on the edge Of q !
chair. Why didn't somebody say some.
thing? He was ready to be scolded or |
punished, anything rather than this ter.
rible silence. If the clock would only
strike it would be relief. He heard |
the boys shouting far down the street,
but had no desire to join them-no,
never again in tho world. He Just
wanted to stay in Of nights, right there
at home, always. He coughed and
moved to attract attention, but no one
heard him or looked up. He couldn't
remember any prior silence that at all |
it in point OF profundity OF |
depth ind density Of hush. He felt that
he himself must break it. Assuming an |
air Of careless naturalness and old.time
ease, he airilv remarked:
! see you've got the same old cat |
That boy" Mr.. Riley said, "yss
Richard Malcolm Johnston, in whose
heart still abides a love Tor the simple
homes and hresides OF the humblest OF |
his fellows.