Year: 1875

noticed that mother was surprised to see him so much more social and gentle than common"

 On his way over to MT. Dexter's, Philip had as great variety of feelings and as great conflict with them as his father had while standing behind the barn door; but before he got there the summing up was that he was an ungrate- full scamp, and that his father was all right; only he had so many cares and anxieties that it sometimes made him 8 little stern and grabbed.

 MT. Dexter was always ready to oblige his neighbor Raymond, and he cheerfully gave his consent to Clinton's going. Clinton didn't know what to make of this sudden turn of affairs. As he went with Philip to the door, he whispered:

 "What sup, Phil? what has happened? Has your father found out anything?" -s < Not 8 thing-not thing" Philip hurriedly whispered back. |" You don't suppose, Clint, he'd be taking us to right, but it's the strangest thing that ever happened-I'll tell you all about it to-morrow-can t stay long enough now"

 MT. Raymond took up a newspaper and bowed his head oyer it as soon as his son started for MT. Dexter's; but if his 1 wife had observed him closely she would have seen that he did very little reading, and that there was troubled expression on his couu tenance. He did not raise his eyes from the paper when he heard returning footsteps, but he listened very intently, and he knew that Philip stole softly and hllrriedly to the back end of the hall and opened the chamber door before he came into the sitting room. A look of relief came into his face, and he strengthened up as if great burden had l been lifted from him. He had no doubt but that bundle of clothing had been brought up from the oat bin and left on the chamber stairs till Philip should go to bed. That is what he hoped his boy would do when he asked him to come around by the barn and get the halter He had no further fear that he would at- tempt to give him the slip that night. MT. Raymond and Philip rode Up to MT. Dexter's door for Clinton, the next morning, just as the sun was peeping over the hills. It was as delightful a September morning as they could desire. As soon as they, were on the road MT. Raymond said:

 "Now, boys, you must keep your eyes open-see all there is to be seen, and get all the enjoyment out of going that you can. We don't have holidays very often, and we must make the most of them when we do have them. Philip and I have worked pretty hard lately, and I guess, Clinton, that you have. I believe g play day will do us all good. made up my mind this morning to try and leave all my cares and business behind me for once; so you need have no fears, if you talk to each other all you please, and ask me as many questions as you wish, that it will disturb me at all '7

 It did not escape MT. Raymond's ob- servation that his remarks caused the lads to glance at each other in blank as- tonishment, and it cut him to the quick. " What kind of father have I been, /" he asked himself, "not to be able to speak few civil and kind words to my son without having it received with such surprise. Poor boy! Wonder, pleasure, guilt and grief are all depicted in his countenance, to-day. After this, with Gods help, I'll SO manage that he'll never doubt my loving him-never plan to run away from his fathers house again" | MT. Raymond spared no pains to have the boys enjoy their first trip to Hart ford. He called their attention to every thing that he thought would interest them on the way. He told them who owned such and such 8 farm when he was boy; what the land was worth an acre then, and what was it's market value now; who built this house and that; and he pointed out where General - was born, and where Hon. - lived till he went to college He was no less painstaking when they got to the city. He took them past Trinity Col lege, the State House, the high school he pointed out the different churches and told them who preached in them he went with them to the Atheneum and spent an hour with them there.

 Sometimes Philip looked at his father in dumb bewilderment and wondered if they were leally in Hartford or if 1t were ala dream. How social and interest ing his father was He felt as if he never was acquainted with him before What a delightful time he should have had if he had not been planning to do so mean thing. If his father kEew it, how he would despise him; he looked at him so earnestly, sometimes he was afraid If he could only get up the courage he

 

 and implore his forgiveness.

 Thus the day wore away, and Philip was not sorry when it was time to start for home. After Mr. Raymond left the lads to follow on with the heifer, they talked over the events O. the past twenty four hours together, and they were both very decidedly of the opinion that they had had Q narrow and provi- dential escape from committing very disgraceful act; and they both agreed, after little discussion on that point, that they would never divulge to 8 hu- man being that they ever dreamed of running away. ., ..~. r...

 It was half pastnine when Philip drove the heifer into his fathers barnyard. After he had his supper his father asked him to step out to the shed and get a package that was under the wagon seat. When he brought it MT. Raymond opened it and took from it handsome and valuable book, and sat down to his desk and wrote on fly leaf Presented to Philip c. Raym nd by his fifteenth birthday, by his affection ate father, Peter Raymond And then without closing the book he passed it to Philip.

 Philip could bear no moro. The tears that had come to his eyes twenty times during the day and as many times had been forced back, now overfowed his eyelids and ran down his cheeks. He stammered :

 "You are too kind to me, father. I do not deserve this' D

 '" Don't deserve it, Philip p exclaim- ed MT. Raymond, with much apparent surprise. ''l think you'd better leave that to my judgment. I should like to know what boy does deserve kindness from his father, if you don't? If Ihad @ dozen sons I could not ask them to be