The Democratic advocate., 1909-06-11
BE Helps John to Rim AVay.

il Jolly rat man, j had an experience ol
TWO myself when was a boy. 1t was
a favorite threat of mine. If | was
sent on an errand I didn't like. I'd
mutter that / was going to run away:
II was kept In the house for missing
my lessons at school, I'd whimper that
! was going to run away; II got my
ears boxed for mischief, I'd below
that | was going to run away. Then
maybe, I'D make dash for my can
and my mother would send me up to
the garret without my shoes till got
cooled OFF, or else she'd lock me up
In the toolshed with an axe and a
small mountain of logs to split into
kindling. We lived In the country,
you see.
But at last my father got tired OF
hearing the threat / tell you he was
a smart man, my father No kicking
for him, and no counter threats. He
had game of his own. He Just walt
ed until he got me committed beyond
retreat.
4 forgot what mischief Il grew ont
of or whether Il was Just my natural
boys resistance to something was
told TO do. Whatever II was. 1 know
ended up the dispute with the fat
footed announcement, I'm goin to
leave home an look out for meselluf.
I'm goln' now. So, therei"
oh, very well. John, says my
thther as grave as an owl. I'm sorry /;
but II your minds made up, It can't
be helped We may as well part
friends. Come over and see mother.
and with that he took me by the hand
as kind and gentle az a patriarch In
a picture In the Bible and began walk
ing me over toward the house. for
got to mention that the fuss was I'm
the barn.
Now you can imagine how my
heart rose up In my throat In that
short walk over to the house. I had
been more or less consciously bIuff-
ing and here | was, II seemed. up
against the real thing.
About this time we reached the
kitchen door and the old man drew
mo In. ! can see TIE picture right
now before my eyes--my mother with
her big. blue gingham apron stirring
crab-apples with wooden spoon IN
a big copper kettle on the shining
stove. Ann Maria, the hired girl, was
peeling the potatoes for the mems din
ner. My baby brother was sitting In
MS swing chair near the door and
making grabs AZ the black cats tail
as the brute rubbed to and fro against
q chair-leg just out OF his reach. oh.
u Was 20 peaceful and homelika. and
the pnDEent smell OF those applea
Just went TO my gi1sard.
Then, says pa. aa grave Ms an old
Judge. but just az kind and sweet ~
honey, Ma says be. John has con
ciuded It's best for him 10 leave home
He's going out lnio the world 60 make
his fortune and he's come over 10 tell
you goodbye
guess we'd best do something 20 give
him start In life. Just let Ann
Maria stir the apples. aud you 30 and
make him up a little bundle. IIa'li
want clean shirt and pair OF socks
or two aud n couple OF handkerchief
and bring him his good shoes. And
say. ma. you bring me down a dollar
bin out uf the bureau drawer
Ma started OF as cheerful AZ could
be. and my father turned To me where
! stood. frozen with horror, and put
ting on the iina society air that he us
ually kept for the dominic and tho
doctor. he waved me 20 chair. polite
" urging me is n ! was already n
stranger In the hours, with sit down.
John. Take ths rocking chair and rest
yourself Youll need Il. Maybe
you'll have long way to 20 today
lie al!pped out 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 maxi
ing nice juicy sandwiches with great
Industry ! looked on with a sick
sort or wonder, too crushed even TO
cry, and then ma came huatlInK hack,
a choice selection from my wardrobe
over her arm and my Testament In
her hand, Thia was an awful stroke.
II was 80 like the stories ia the books.
I'm making a few sandwiches for
John. says my father, kind o. pathetic
like, Tie may need them. poor boy.
aud he heHycd sigh
This tapped the springs OF my soul.
! gave n sob that must have sounded
like a hiecough, and tears began 20
stream down my face.
But my father was unrelentIng. He
tied the sandwiches up In a napkin
and made bundle OF the clothes,
with the TeHtament IN the middle. and
then he ambled NJ to me with the
bundle In one hand and nice crisp
dollar bill In the other. holding them
out with.
Well, here you are. son John.
Maybe thisll give you fair start IN
life, and as you must go. why. It's time
90 be starting now It's getting on In
the morning and no doubt you've a
long way TO travel before night. 10
kiss your plother and
But ! didn't wait to hear any more.
made dash for my mother and fell
on my knees before her 10 bury my
face In her apron--I was only about
eleven or twelve, you Bee-and with
sobs and walls and floods OF tears !
begged her, Don't send me away Oh,
don't let him send me away I'll be
good III chop the wood and tend
baby, and you'll never have no trouble
with me any more Only don't send
me away from you and pa.
They had some trouble quletips
me, and ] guess there were almost
as many tears on my mothers cheeks
as on my own by the time the In.
cident was ended. Ann Maria was
snivellng over the stove. but my
father held his ground. grave but kind
He inaugurated long pariey. Ia the
course OF which promised over and
! over again that never more would |
threaten to run away.
Well, neither did l. II the dang
Grous words ever came 10 the tip OF
my tongue glance at my fathers
face, or my mothers, was enough 10
make me swallow them North
American
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Doing II.
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