The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1909-06-03
Pa
Helps John
To Run Away

two myself when l was boy. 1t was
a favorite threat of mine. If / was
sent on an erTand 1 didn't like, I'd
mutter that l was going to run away;
If l was kept in the house for missing
my lessons at school, I'd whimper that
was going to run away; IL got my
ears boxed for mischief, I'd below
that l was going to run away. Then.
maybe, I'd make a dash for my cap
and my mother would send me up to
the garnet without my shoes till l got
cooled of, or else she'd lock me up
in the toolshed win an axe and a
small mountain of logs to split into
hndling. We lived in the country, you
see
But at last my father got tired Of
hearing the threat. l tell you he was
a smart man, my father. No licking
for him, and no counter threats. He
had game of his own. He just wait
ed until he got me committed beyond
retreat
Il forgot what mischief il grew out
of or whether 1t was just my natural
boys resistance to something 1 was
told to do, Whatever it was, know l
ended up the dispute with the fat
footed announcement, I'm goin' to
leave home an look out for mesefiuff.
I'm goin' now. SO, there!'
oh, very well, john says my
father as grave as an owl I'm sorry:
but If your minds made up, 1t can't
be helped. We may as well part
friends. Come over and see mother,
xrrffh hot hn
as kind and gentle as a patriarch in
picture in the Bible and begin walk
Ing me over toward the house. l for
got TO mention that the fuss was in
the barn.
Now you can imagine how my
heart rose up in my throat in that
short walk over to the house. / had
been more or less consciously bluffing
and here l was, 1t seemed, up against
the real thing.
About this time we reached the
kitchen door and the old man, drew
me in. can see the picture right
now before my eyes-my mother with
her big, blue bingham apron stirring
crab-apples with wooden spoon in
big copper kettle on the shining stove.
Ann Maria, the hired girl, was peeling
the potatoes for the mems dinner. MY
baby brother was sitting in his swing
, chair near the door and making grabs
at the black cats tail as the brute
7 rubbed to and fro against a chair-leg
just out of his reach. Oh, it was so
/ peaceful and homelike, and the pun
gent smell of those apples just went
to my gizzard.
Then, says pa, as grave as an old
/ Judge, but just as kind and sweet as
/ honey, Ma says he, John has con-
/ cluded it's best for him to leave home.
He's going out into the world to make
his fortune and he's come over to tell
you goodbye
" We'll, ma, says my father, 4
guess we'd best do something to give
him start in life. Just let Ann
Maria stir the apples, and you go and
make him up a little bundle. He'll
want a clean shirt and pair of socks
or TWO and couple of handkerchief
and bring him his good shoes. And
say, ma, you bring me down dollar
bill out of the bureau drawer
Ma started off as cheerful rs could
be, and my father turned to me where
! | stood, frozen with horror, and put,
ting on the fine society air that he US
ually Kept for the dominic and the
doctor, he waved me to chair, polite
~ urging me as if I was already A
stranger In the house, with Sit down
/ John. Take the rocking chair and rest
/ yourself You'll need It, Maybe you'll
have long way TO go today
He slipped cut of the room a few
minutes, and then he came back with
! loaf and the heel of Sunday Joint OF
beef and some butter, and he began
cutting the bread and spreading the
butter and slicing the beef and makina
nice juicy sandwiches with great In.
/ dustry. / looked on with a sick sort
! OF wonder, too crushed even TO cry
and when ma came busting back, a
/ choice selection from my wardrobe
| over her arm and my Testament IN
her hand. This was an awful stroke
It was so like the stories in aAe books
" I'm making a few sandwiches fol-
JOHN says my father, kind O. pathetic
like. He may need them, poor boy
and he heaved a sigh
1hls tapped Inc springs or my soul.
! gave sob that must have sounded
like a hiecough, and tears began to
stream down my face.
But my father was unrelenting. He
tied the sandwiches up In a napkin
and made a bundle of the clothes,
with the Testament In the middle, and
then he ambled up to me with the
bundle In one hand and a nice crisp
dollar bill in the other, holding them
sout with:
~ Well, here yoIn are, SON John.
Maybe thisIl give you a fair start in
life, and as You must go, why, it's time
10 be starting now. It's getting on in
Tie mamma nnd - Ao..hl .....,.-. .