The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-18
LIVED THREE DAYS ON CANDY.
CHILDREN RAN AWAY no BE LIKE
PAUL AND VIRGINIA.
But They Had No Leafy he'd and Only
Pear, Some GumdrOps and ChocO-
lates to Eat, So They Bravcd Q Spank
Ing and Went Home to Good Food.


Ing and Went Home to Good Food.
Mary O'Rourke and her brother James
were so pleased with the comforts OF home
life Yesterday that both declared they
would ever never again run away to seek
adventures In the world. They ran away
from their home at $40 Fifth avenue, Brook
lyn, on Tuesday and for three days lived
out in the world on one pear and 10 cents
worth Of candy, while their parents were
grieving over their unaccountable dis
appearance.
Mary is IL years old She attends Public
school 40, and 10 bright girl and strong
and full OF spirit. Her brother is two
years younger and attends st. Johns
parochial school. They have three younger
sisters Their father is employed by the
Metropolitan Gas Company. The younger
children were gathered about Mary. who
sat in a small rocking chair and was re-
counting her adventures when a reporter
visited the house last night
lis that your father" Mrs. O'Rourke
called from an adjoining bedroom to the
children.
"No. ma am; it's man, answered Mary,
as she went to the stove on which her
fathers supper was cooking, and busted
herself there for time. She then talked
about her experience while away from
home. She had taken Paul and Vir-
ginia" from the school library and had read
a part Of il without comprehending much
more than that boy and girl wandered
through country places listening to the birds
sing and sleeping on bed of leaves. She
thought such an experience would be de-
liphtful and determined to try it, 80 she
told her brother on Tuesday afternoon that
she would take him to the beautiful places
he had seen in picture books. After some
Lsrsuasion Jimmy consented to accom-
pany her and they started for Prospect
Park.
at wasn't bit like the fine time Paul
and Virginia had in that book read" the
pirl said when night came Paul covered
Virginia with leaves so that she WASH
cold and could sleep comfortable. But
my, We didn't have leaves or anything
slept in an empty building on Ninth ave-
nue.. Jimmie had the shivers and cried.
and wanted me to take him home. put
my waist over him to keep him warm, and
said wouldn't give in and run home with
out seeing some Of the fine things IN the
world"
The first day they walked about Prospect
Park, and when darkness approached they
left the park and walked the streets for
some time. The girl saw some buildings
in course of construction and led her brother
into one of them. They slept there that
night. and the next day they walked along
Fulton street, looking into the store WIN
dows. They were hungry and had no
money, but would not ask any one for food
They visited an uncle, but did not tell him
that they had run away from home. he
gave them 20 cents. They bought q pear
at a fruitstand for a cent, lost another cent
and invested the IS cents remaining in
CUR drops and chocolates,
That was all they had to eat for three
! DAYS. They passed most Of the time in the
park, watching the gray squirrels, the water
| fowl on the lake and few birds that had
not migrated southwark. They tried 70
enter Greenwood Cemetery, but the gate
keeper said that no children were permitted
10 20 In unacoompanied by grown-ups. Tho
| boy wanted 10 60 home several times, but
| his Sister braced up his waning courage,
and he stuck II out until Friday night Then
| his hunger conquered, and he declared
! that ha would 70 home, where he could
get plenty TO eat even II spanhing went
| with II
Hunger had also conquered Mary's desire
| for more adventures and they were on their
way home when they met Their father on Sey.
| enth avenue, 9 few blocks away. They did
not get spanking They got good supper
and were put into warm bed.