The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-05-28
Ran Away From Home.
A Short Story, Not Included in the
dragged Dick" Series.


When l was about twelve years
old 1 had the "New York" fever. /
lived in one of the small cities in
the central part of the State, and
to see and live in the great metro
polls was my sole ambition.
After school hours l was employ
ed in a book and stationery store,
and as my duties were light L had
plenty of time to devote to read
ing. Books.of all kinds were on
the shelves-Bibles, historical
works of travel, &c, down to the
yellow-covered dime novels. 1 had
very little use for the former books,
but how 1 did revel in the Ragged
Dick" series! L fairly worshipped
the author; while the hero-Rag-
ged Dick, afterwards Mr.. Richard
Hunter-well, to be like him, to
rise from q bootblack and newsboy
to one of the highest positions in
New York society and to be able
to draw my check for thousands
and have it honored-such life, l
thought, to look back upon would
make me happy man.
read every one of the dragged
Dick" series as soon as it was pub
lished, and was so positive of the
truthfulness of the author that |
asked every person L knew, who
had ever been in New York, if they
had met Mr.. Hunter--Mr. Richard
Hunter. No, they never had; and
1 thought that rather singular. l
was very young then, remember,
and / had never been in New York.
By some happy or unhappy fore
thought 1 had saved about $25, and
it was placed in saving bank in
my own name. Many times was l
tempted to draw out the amount
and run away. Often when deliver
ing my papers in the evening
would 1 go over the programme I
had formulated-a programme ar
ranged from all L had read about
Ragged Dick. First, upon my ar
rival in the great city, would go
to the Newsboys' LodgingHouse;
there I would be sure to learn all
the points necessary for my future
brilliant career. 1 was undecided
whether to become bootblack or
q newsboy, but finally concluded
that ] would leave that part of the
programme to circumstances.
Whichever "profession" 1 decided
upon my next idea was to save
some rich mans "young and beau
tiful daughter" from terrible
death, which heroic episode was to
prove the turning-point in my life.
After that life was to be all sun
shine. The rich man was to give
me position in his business house
and l was to work my way up until
my name followed his on the sign
boards. The daughter, meanwhile,
was to become more beautiful than
ever and have many admirers;
finally, she was to give her heart
to me and we were to be happy
ever after.
So much for the programme.
My mother had died when l was
four years old, and when the events
of this confession" took place
was living with my grandmother.
Poor old soul, how much she did
for me I never fully realized until
long after her death. My father
had an idea that to spare the rod
would be my utter ruin, and hav-
ing my interests at stake he spared
it not. What a difference between
fathers and mothers! L have seen
boys punished by their mothers
and heard those boys yell as if
every stroke of the slipper mant
death, and they poor women, afraid
that they might possible be hurt
ing their dear children, would stop
in their just duty. 1 tried that
scheme with my father. Did it
work? Alas! no. He had been a
boy himself and was up to snuff.
One morning, after an "interview'
with father in the woodshed, 1 left
for school with vengence in my
heart. l would show him that was
not to be treated in such manner
and when he returned home in the
evening sand my grandmother
would tell him that I had not re-
turned from ,schoolsapd that she
was afraid I might have been
drowned or run over and killed, or
left home never TO return-when
he hear all this from her anxious
lips, then how he would wish he
had never whipped me! In the
mean time would be miles and
miles away,
| stayed in school until recess