Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-01-08
RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME.
The Experience of Boy Who Grew Dis.
satisfied with His Parents.

An appreciative audience assembled
at Plymouth Church to hear the famous
writer on Southern life, Richard NAL
colin Johnston. read selections from
his own works. A double pleasure
awaited it, for james Whitcomb Riley
introduced Mr.. Johnston with story
told in his inimitable manner.
There was once boy" Mr.. Riley
said. ian aggrieved. unappreciated
boy. who grew to dislike his own home
very much, and found his parents not
at all up to the standard of his require
ments as son and dsciplinarian. He
brooded over the matter. and one
morning before breakfast climbed over
the back fence and ran away. He
thought of the surprise 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 that he would
not brook their ill-treatment. and that
he could get along better without them
| than they could without him. Some
way this feeling of exhilaration died
ont as the long, hot day wore on.
There came time when other boys
went home to dinner. He raided q
. neighboring orchard. The afternoon
seemed endless. A knotted, rigid sort
| OF an aching spot came into his throat
that seemed to hurt worse when he
didn't notice it than when he did. 1t
was very curious. self-assertive
opinionated sort of pain.
ut was nearly dark when the strug-
gle was given up, and the boy slowly
walked along the dusty road towards
home. When he reached the wood
pile he gathered up load of wood and
carried it 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 care
lcssly into the pantry, but the cup
board was locked. He went out in the
back yard and washed his feet at the
rain barrel. Everything seemed
pleasanter than IL ever had before The
tirefies lifting among the grapeyines.
the reflection of the stars in the rain
barrel. were soothing to the tired boy.
Then he walked straight into the old
sitting-room. His father didn't look
up from his paper; his mother was so
busy sewing she didn't notice his en-
trance.
He sat meekly down on the edge of
chair. Why didn't somebody say
something? He was ready to be
scolded or punished. anything rather
than this terrible 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 the world
He just wanted to stay in of nights,
right there at home. always. He
coughed and moved to attract atten-
ton, but no one heard him nor looked.
! up. He couldn't remember any prior
silence that at all approached it in
point of such profundity of depth and
density of hush. He felt that he HIM
self must break it. Assuming an air
of careless naturalness and old-time
ease, he airily remarked:
~ see you've got the same old cat
THAT boy" Mr.. Riley said. was
Richard Malcolm Johnston, in whose
heart still abideS love for the simple
homes and tiresides of the humblest of
his fellows - I7lLi01znrOIis Mans