Clinton by Walter Aimwell

Early on the Monday morning after the events related in the preceding / chapter, Mrs. Preston was seen approaching the house of Mr. Davenport. / She was evidently much excited and troubled, and as soon as she entered / the room, she proceeded to disclose her errand. It was simply this, / Jerry had run away from home!

It will be remembered that Jerry learned from Clinton on Friday / evening, that his truancies were discovered. He had already made up his / mind what to do in case of such an emergency; and the following day he / thought the matter over, and determined how to proceed. The next day / all the family went to church but himself, he having desired permission / to stay at home and take care of the house. After he was left alone, he / hastily dressed himself in his best suit, and proceeded to tie up in a / bundle a few articles of clothing, such as shirts, stockings, etc. He / then went to his mother's bureau, and, knowing where she kept the key, / unlocked a drawer, and took therefrom a purse containing all the money / she then had on hand, amounting to about thirty dollars. Seeing some / letter paper by the side of the purse, he wrote the following message / on the sheet, and left it in the drawer: -