Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-07-16
NJ 7 S G Z Z. T. a ~ Y /.
LUCKY TOM.
IA secret ,rorth kno,cing l


! Tom SOONER was the luckiest dor n Tho
world, at least SO said his old cronies. He be-
| gan like poor good for nothing mechanic. .
they would say, without cent in the world
| without whole shirt to his back-half shoe to
ms ieef, and with nothing but his hands TO work
WIN. Ana yet Tom Spooacr is one of the most
| wealthy and influential men among us What
lucky dog that Tom Spooner has been'' He
went-amoDg those who started in life with him
but who are now the frequenters Of grog. shops,
IDLE and dlssolute--by the name Of Lucky Tom
IL puzzled his old friends not little 10 account
Tor has luck "lic had no rich relations and though
not exiravsgani was liberal. lie was no skin
flint Could be know some art Of magic that would
unbosom the ire Of the earth, and spread
its gold before him He paid no attention TO the
words Of fortunetellers, and the gold finder; he
merely staid at home, and yet his course had
been attended year after year, and week after
week by wonderful share of good fortune
good luck. He must be in possession Of some
secret Of which others are ignorant. What
can it be 20 What on earth can il be? If Tom
had iot OF pork 10 dispose OF, people were al
ways willing TO pay him couple Of cents more
a pound than any other person And the dog
he was always lucky enough 10 pay his debts
lie was never SO unuclSy as to feel the Crime Of
sheriff, or hear the creak 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 coniound
ed lucky dog, Tom Spooner is He must have
got the girl by magic-yes nothing less than ma
gic! And then Toms garden was picture Of
neatness the fences were never known to blow
over, as did his neighbors' His land was rich.
while that Of his next door neighbors would pro-
dnce hardly any thing but weeds What does
Tom put into his land How he rises one step
alter another! II there is important station
10 hill, why Tom Spooner was always the man.
lie could get note discounted al the bank with
out security. If any question between nejebbors
" he Tt,rlr,y
always sure to be called in as umpire 'tAnd
now think Of IL" says one, 81 never knew
Tom to speak an ill word against his neighbor-
which shows plain enough that there are many
in his secret, and therefore, that he dares not ut
ter 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 Sc
cret. He says nothing hard Of his acquaintance
He goes TO church regularly but this is for mere
appearance sake. He pores over books when he |
can find them-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 and he is always the first ND |
In the house--which shows that Tom s m ind Is |
always bent upon the secret He can't find time |
TO take glass with his old cronies at the grog-
shop. He must hcUe a secret tcor nth knoaciflg.- |
III occupies his thoughts so mu CHI that he minds |
nobody's business but his own. And vet il does |
not weigh heavy on his mind-he is always good |
natured; contented and happy; he has quarrel |
ing in his family; All is pleasant and agreeable |
Nothing is out Of lis place. Strange Strange |
said these wiseacres, that Tom Spooner-that |
poor mechanic-of whon every body prophesied I
that he would come out at the little end of the I
horn-who believed nothing Of it, but stuck TO
his work, should have been so fortunatc-so
lucky in life. Up early late TO believer at |
work with hands or head !--hc must have Sc
cret worth knowing All lucky dog Lucky /
Tom w hat can this secret be Reader, what |
can his secret be p Claremont nv. H Eagle. /