River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-01-28
NOT FOR HIM.
Didn't Want to Be Another Little
Lord Fauntleroy.

Lord Fauntleroy.
Two or three years ago l was making
pedestrian tour through the White
mountains ! had ''fiocked all alone by
myself glad Of solitary jaunt which
should take me away from the intense
strain OF business affairs which after a
long legal struggle had resulted in
making me a millionaire. / had chosen
the solitary Chamber vi the great hills
on my own legs By advice of prOmi-
nent physician, who declared / needed
physical exercise and mental rest.
enjoyed every moment The weather
had been cool and fine. Advanc-
ing from Concord. which / made my
point OF departure. | had gradually
followed the railroad course from town
20 town, stopping at night wherever
happened to find shelter which seemed
promising. and | have always looked
back to the hospitality extended TO me
in two or three Of the farmhouses with
a pleasant wonder, for within them
dwelt such peace, purity, kindness and
consideration As one may often seek
for in vain among the mansions Of the
cities.
The railway which now cuts the road
into unpleasant sandbanks was in those
old days q hoped-for improvement, but
had not become materialized in even 50
much as the first rail; and that de-
liciOus valley. in which ali the sylphs.
imps and fairies must have dispOrted
themselves in the moonlight every mid
summer festival. lay SO quiet, so peace
full. so exquisit " eontrasted with the
superb heights which rose towering
above, had often 50 charmed me that
my soul was lifted in thanksgiving TO
God for such a manifestation of His
eternal freshness and beauty.
had Just finished the last line Ot a
song when l saw boy, about thirteen
or fourteen years old. sitting upon a
stone, crying as If his heart would
break. He was small for his age, /
could see at once. lie was singularly
handsome His curly brown head was
noble in form, he was fair in complex
ion, his features were almost classic.
His feet were bare, red. swollen and
scratched. but the insteps were slen-
der. the nails delicate and the ankles
not those Of a country-bred lad. In y
moment noticed that his clothing was
fine, and although simple. elegant in
cut and make. while his stockings and
shoes were equally good lie was
dusty and badly burned. his hands red
and sore with constant exposure to the
sun His appearance astOnished me,
and / said to him:
a rather Jolly morn ng to be weep
ing like that, seems to mei'
He started and looked up through a
pair of deep brown eyes so strangely
melancholy that fer a moment he
seemed like an old man. lie ceased
crying, but sat still, not answering a
word Something within him. some
thing within me. was at that moment
touched to instantaneous life. felt
hat loved tic lad have often won
dered what IL was that made me sud
denly sit down beside him. put my arm
around him and pat his head. / was
long past forty, | was a bachelor.
hadn'. very many friends. for ! had not
been rich until a week before. My life
had been long, hard struggle. a
serious. earnest work toward a grave
end. and into r.y existence had crept
but few flowers OF affection and but
one root of love
Il guess" SAID /, Yankee fashion,
shat you and are pretty lonesome
pair OF fellows, somehow"
He looked me in the eyes moment
and then impulsively hid his face in my
breast. while one arm stole around my
neck.
lam, said he; I've been lonesome
ever since was born.
Well. so had l. Maybe that was the
link that Joined us hal had no home;
no father, no mother. | was a self
made man. what there was of me, I'M
iii that fortune had come So / said
the truth simply: so have J."
Have you?' he cried, eagerly
Then you will understand! You will
know all about it! You will not blame
me. You will tell me what TO do"
why should blame you, my boy?
What have you dOue2"
4 have run away-more than n hun
dred miles"
He looked at me doubtfuIly. wistful-
", 10 see how would take il l took
It coolly. Boys often do that" 1 all
swered
lie looked a little crestfallen-not so
much Of hero. But in moment, try
ing TO justify himself, he asked:
What makes enc
Usually a harsh, unkind father; too
much whipping; too much work, too
little play; or else, cheap story papers ="
Are they never lonesome enough TO
die? Don't that make EN-. ever?'
Il never heard so. Did il you? Come.
YOU had better tell me all atout IL
You see I've been about 50 myself"
lie wiped his bonny face. sat down
on an old log and said: My trouble is
our family. You see we are real folks.
My at-great-grandfather was some
body awful grand and rich He was
fathers side, YOU know Then his
mother was an Endicott. I've heard
about her and her father and his moth
er being awful rich and grand ever
since I was in my crib. Then mother
She is n straight descendant of the
Devercaux OF HammerStead. They had
earls aud barons and dukes and things
all back 70 William They cGll him
William the COnqueror, but call him
old Bill. I hate him! And mothers
folks were linked in. somehow. with
the old Squire Leith' family. Oh.
guess I shan't forget the names. I've
heard EN- niue thousand seven hundred
aud forty times. So II you can make
out who / am, ] can't. for | sm so
many boys in one that I feel just like
a plum-pudding. The raisins are the
EndicOtts and the currants are the
Ievercaux, aud the citron the Leiths,
and the spice the dukes and things,
aud the flOhr the rest Of EN-, and they
are a.. rolled into me. And I'm the
last II the whole lot, and I'm lone
some"
l think ! should have laughed till !
burst ny buttons IL / had not perceived
tbs; hs was very much in earnest. /
ias' ssid simply. in 4 sympathetic tone,
r'sSGaiGg the vocabulary of my boy
hood: That Is tough"
Isn't it?" said he Now III tell