Then his father left Savannah and came to Florida to live.

He never drank any more, but was very cross, and hardly ever spoke to his son.

He made a living by doing jobs of carpentering; and, ever since he had been old enough, Frank had worked on their little farm, about twenty miles from Wakulla.

At last he became so tired of this sort of life, and his father's harshness, that he determined to run away and try to find a happier one.
Mark and Ruth listened in silence to this story of an unhappy childhood, and when it was ended, Ruth went over to the sofa where her mother still sat, and taking Frank's other hand in hers, said, "I guess I would have run away too, if I'd had such an unpleasant home; but you'll stay with us now, and let mother teach you to be good, won't you ?" For answer the boy looked up shyly into Mrs.Elmer's face, and she said, "We'll see when father comes home." At this moment Bruce began to bark loudly, and directly a sound of wheels was heard.

Then a voice called out, "Halloo! Go Bang, ahoy! Bring out a lantern, somebody." "It's father! it's father!" exclaimed Mark and Ruth, rushing to the door with shouts of welcome.