RUNAWAY RALPH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 3, 17 January 1907, Page 37

RUNAWAY RALPH

' I won't stay here "another minute, so there !' pouted little Ralph Perkins. ' There's always something horrid -to do next. In the morning' I "must^ get up if I'm ever so sleepy, comb my hair, -anjd bother with shoes tilings* and necktie that are 'most' sure to" get into knots. It's just the same all day ; if grand- . ..lather doesn't" ask me to -do -an errand- mother - is sure to want the chickens fed, ' or a*~baSket 'of "apples, _ or some wood, or -something ! -I'll* 'go where "a" boy can Tiave a little fun, and 1 . guess every one will miss me.'' ' / , , - , -^ - -•- --; So filling, his pockets with ginger cookies and some doughnuts which grandmother was frying,- he said": 1 Goad-by, grandmother; I'm -going away to find a real jolly place. I'm tired of living on a stupid old farm.' ' Good-fljy, dearie/ smiled grandmother. ' Come back to Thanksgiving dinner, and eat some' of my pumpkin- pie and turkey.' ' : 'Why-eel' thought Ralph, .' grandmother, doesn't care at all ; but I guess my mother will- be sorry that she made me work so hard.' -Mother looked surprised when the eager little boy ' told his story. A , <■ Very well, Ralph,' she said, as she kept on sewing ; 'only look out for snakes and spiders and cross dags; when it gets dark be sure you find a dry' place to sleep. Gbod-by.' " ' • ' She never even kissed -me !' thought Ralph, dolefully. - ■ _ - ' Better take along some- of these "apples, my boy,' called grandmother from the orchard. 4 You'll get hungry by and by.' . _„.",. 'Ralph's going to -run away!' cried his sister, Amy. ' Oh, goody ! Now I can have all the cup custards.' , -^ s 'Amy is really glad I'm'" going,' thought . Ralph, slamming the gate, 'and nobody, seems to care much.' Running away did not seem su"ch sl grand frolic after all. • v Just at dusk, a tired little fellow crept v softly "through the hedge of lilacs, around the grapevine to the piazza, and made a wild rush- for mother's arms. ' I couldn-'t find a pood place to, sleep, mother ' he sobbed, 'There wasn't any fun; foltts were cross

that lived where there were lawn swings ,arid croquet balls, ,and nobody wanted me at all; and there's" cross dogs and policemem and everything ! I'll bring in wood and run errands all day to-morrow, mother ! Amy can have the cup custards, if she wants 'em, but please, grandmother, I'd like another doughnut.' • •