River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-01-28

tO-we are not very well Oft haven't
been common enough to go TO school
with the other boys. I've had to have
lessons with Miss Madison. She is
an old maid, and she teaches few
girls. and me, because we are very tony
children"
lie snuggled up TO me a little more
confidentially. Il was the only boy in
that school Wouldn't you be lone
some? And both mother and father
have just worked their heads of to
dress me up SO / could go TO that girl
baby school You can see, sir. your
self, If I'm not a straight descendant of
the Devereaux! Just look at this.'
He pulled the front of his jacket
open, and within could see delicate
silk shirt, on which was embroidered
an elaborate monogram There" he
exclaimed, do you suppose any decent
boy would play with such fool rugged
fellow as that? If / stripped off my
jacket I'd get laughed at till I'd never
play again. This mean old shirt has
kept me out of more fun than little.
And that's the way with every single
thing. J can't battle. for fear the heir
Va 3gAAAN IAh HLAaAN duNGHNOT THAT bEth
just like John Browns body, molder-
ing in the ground for years, will get
drowned with Tommy Striker in the
same duck-hOlel And I can't row and
fish, because all the boys will go too.
And our folks amt rich enough to have
me ride in a carriage and really go with
other heirs to old grand and rich peo-
pie, so I'm just cut out of every bit of
| fun in this world, and the boys laugh
at me and the girls pity me, and am
miserable-so lonesome l don't know
what TO do"
But You had been standing this
sort of thing good while-what made
you start up and run away?"
Little Lord Fauntleroy," he en-
swered. with perfect scorn-
'What?" l calculated, in amaze
ment
Yes, little Lord Fauntleroy and my
curls Here they are" and he pulled a
roll OF paper out of his trousers pocket
from which he drew a dozen or fifteen
beautiful long brown curls- They were
evidently cut off with a pair of dull
scissors.
If cut 'em off the night ran away"
he went on. half triumphantly, half
ruefully. Thing of curls on a boy over
thirteen"
but you were small for your age, :"
said /, soothingly.
Yes. that was some comfort. But
I'll tell you Mother never would let
me cut 'cm off. 1 teased and teased as
soon as l was ten, 20 go To the barber
and be shingled like other boys, but
she lever would. / had a birthday
about two weeks ago. and mother
bought me present. She don't often
have time to read books, but this one
was about an earl's grandson, called
Little Lord FauHtleroy. and as soon as
she looked at the pictures she wanted
to read IL. Then what must she do but
get me up 4 suit just like thisi She is
a dress-maker, you know, and she
can make almost anything She likes.
She did't try il on to me, for | guess
she knew ! wouldn't like IL, but last
Sunday she made me put il on and took
me to church. / believe | never was
so mad. / cried. l hate to cry, but /
was so mad Couldn't helpit / looked
exactly like the earl's grandson, and /
suppose mother was proud; but look
here, sir! / expect to be an ancestor my
self one of these days. and don't want
to be n duke ancestor or an earl ances-
tor! / want to be an American ances-
tor and make my own money and be
like other men! I'm an American boy,
and amt going to wear velvet suits and
long curls!'
His oratOry was punctuated with
tears and hushes of anger, and his
rough cropped head bobbed with vehe-
mence. i confess l sympathize with
him with all my heart.
Go on" said /, tell the rest
"ln church it wasn't quite so bad, but
In Sunday-school all the whole school
laughed. The boys in my class were
Just tickled to death They knew they
had il on me good. and Monday they
could call me anything they pleased.
But was bound they shouldn't All
tine afternoon l sat and thought vt over.
and / determined to run away and
earn my own living. and cut off my
curls and never go back till | could
show EN- l could get rich and grand
myself, just being my own self. and no
body's great-great-grand son at all"
"Was that last Sunday?" said I.
Eyes. and I've walked and walked. I
rode in the cars great ways, until !
thought 1 had gone far enough.
wore my old clothes and / cut of my
hair before ! got on the train. l guess
nobody can find me now"
What do you mean to do to earn
your living?" said l.
''Oh, work in farmhouse, guess.
at first I've asked along, quite often.
if they wouldn't like chore 10y, but
nobody seemed to-"
And if you don't get a CHANGER" /
questioned. little anxiously.
That was what was crying about"
he said, his face looking very blue in
deed.
Don't you suppose your father
and mother are distracted by this
| time?"
''Ohl no. wrote and told 'em was
sick and tired of being girl-baby boy
and / was going to start out and be a
man"
Il am afraid that will not console
them for your loss" l remarked,
gravely. But ! added: II have some
thing TO tell you which / fear will
make you dislike me very much. am
astonished at it myself. and / don't
know as / ought to acknowledge it
without apolOgizing, but the fact is l
have been studying up the Endicott,
Howard. Devereaux and Leith fami-
lies you spoke of, and am pretty sure
your fathers name is Edmund How
ard. while your mothers name was
Henrietta DevereauX. Your name is
EndicOtt Howard. and mine is"
He looked as if thunderstruck. Then
he said, in n very soft voice: Are you
one of the family, sir?n
Il feel obliged to own that am.
much as know it will prejudice you
against me. am cousin TO your moth
er. and. just like you, i am one of
those descendants OF grand rich peo-
pie who have 10 be So. whether they
like IL or not, for / was born Deve-
reaux."
He unused over this information for
some time. then with eyes glowing with
hope, he exclaimed: But you are a
self-made man, amt you? An Ameri-
I can man?'
Whatever / am was self-made. my
boy, but there is one thing yet that l
must own mp. / hope you won't think