Litchfield enquirer., 1835-09-10
LUCKY TOM.
| gEcRET WORT8 KNowrN1c,

Tom Spooner was the luckiest dog in tho world, at least SO said his old crOnies. He began like a poor good-for-nOthing mechanic they would say, without cent in the world--without a whole shirt to his back-halfa a shoe to his feet, and with noth- ing but his hands to work with.' And yet Tom Spooner is one of the most wealthy and influential men among us. What a lucky dog that Tom Spooner has been.- He went-among those who started in life with him, but who are now the frequenters of grog-shops, idle and absolutely the name of Lucky Tom. 1t puzzled his old friends how to account for his luck. He had no relations, and though not extrava- gant was liberal. He was no skin 6int.- Could he know some art in magic that would unbesom the treasures of the earth, and spread it's gold before him2 He paid no attention to the words of fortune tellers, and gold finders; he merely staid at home, and yet his course had been attended, year after year, and week after week, by a won- derful share of good fortune-geod luck.- He must be in possession of some secret
 of which others are ignorant. What can
 it be? What on earth san it be2' IfTom
 had lot of pork to dispose of, people were always willing 10 pay him couple of cents more pound than any other person and the lucky dog! he was always lucky enough to pay his debts he was never SO unlucky as to feel the gripe of sheriff or hear the ereak of the jail door. Tom married.- 'Why this poor mechanic has taken the sweetest and most beautiful girl in the place. Who would have thought it What con- founded lucky dog Tom Spconer is !! He must havc got the girl by magic-yes, noth- ing less than magie!' And then Toms garden was picture of neatness; his fen- ces were never known to blow over, as did his neighbor's. His land was rich, while that of his very next door neighbors would produce hardly any thing but weeds !- What does Tom put into his land? How he rises one step after another
 If there was an important station to be filled, why Tom Speoner was always the man. He could get note discounted at the Bank without security. If any ques- ton between neighbors was to be settled. why Tom-lucky Tomawas always sure to be called in as umpire. And now l think of it, says one, never knew Tom to sneak an i'll word against his peighbor- which shows plain enough that there are many in his apcret, and therefore, that he dares not utter word to their prejudice. He never drinks---because to be sure, if intoxicated, some one will snatch his secret from him. He has learned his wife the way too. They both have the secret.--- He says nothing hard of his acqaaintances. He goes to church regularly---but that is for mere appearance sake. He pores over books when he can find time---he must be learning something more of his art of getting rich. He is laying up treasures. And then he always has lamp in his work room late, aaA he is always the first one up in the house---which furthermore shows that Toms mind is always bent upon the secret. He can't find time even to take glass with his old cronies at the grog-shop. He must kaUe secret so0rth knosOing. It occupies his tho'ts so much that he minds nobedy's business but his own. And yet it does not weigh heavy on his mind---he is always good natured---contented aHd happy he has no quarrelling in his family. All is pleasant and agreeable. Nothing is out place. Strange strangely said these wissacres, that Tom Spooner---that poor mechanic---who began with nothing, of whom every body prophesied that he would come out of ihe little end of the horn---and who believed nothing oft, but stuck to his work, should have been so fortunate, so lucky in life! Up oarly---late to bed--- ever at work with hands or head !---he must have a secret worth knowing! An ]! lucky dog! lucky Tom! What can this secret be?' Reader what can his secret be l--- Clarsmont (N H. Eagle.