Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-10-19
miscellaneous.
From the New -Englandcr.
Tom TOpCrly.
NJ WILLIAM T. coeosHALr..

or. nj least, since he was ten years OF age, |
which period, Mt the date of our biography, ,
was distant about fifteen ofcarths revolutions
around its orbit.
Tom had derived his patronymic from m |
ancestry which, probably, nj some ancient /
era, had won the significant nppellaton for
exa,loits in the line that had made him famous. !
Tom had been leniently "pusscd through"
all the Temperance Orders and Societies
that had sprung up in his neighborhood, and
he had come out as much OF u sot as lac went
in.-and more so, IL allowance was not uade
for lapse of time.
Tom had always been a bachelor, perhaps
because he had never been sober long enough
TO seek out a wife, and perchance, because
he was so much of n locomotive dcmUohn
that no woman could have been found fool
ish enough to " link her fate with his.'
Tom had arrived at an err in his "evcnt-
ful life when he was too sliiltless TO work
even for gin, his .fdroriie beverage, and there
beRnn TO be talk about that the poor-house
would have to shelter him, when, one night,
be miraculously disappeared He was SO
well known about town, that everybody
missed him, and there was general inquiry
as to his mysterious fate, but no tidings came.
II was on the fifth day after his elopement
when Tom "turned up" on the steps Of
tavern, about ten miles removed from the
town of his nativity. He was penniless and
the landlord hud turned him out doors. lie
wns as sober as ever hc had been in his life.
A man In rough farmers coat saw him, and
tapping him OH the shoulder, said
"What are you doing here, my man +"
"Watin' for some fellow to ask me to
drink. Maybe you're the chap" was Toms
answer.
The rougb-looking man smiled, and repli-
"You look os if you had taken drink en-
ough in your life"
SPn orfil dry. Iluvn't had drop to-day,
,pon honor" resumed Tom, with n woiu
face, as he smacked his lips and drew his
dirty coat-cufr across his mouth.
"lf will find you as much as you can
drink, will you go with me :" inquired the
gentleman.
ayes, and stay with you," answered Tom,
"till the stock is out,"-springlng with some
show of agility to his feet.
"Get into my wagon, them" said the gen
tleman.
"With pleasure, sir" said Tom, as he
clambercd into a farmers wagon before the
tnvern.
Tom was driven five miles into the coun-
try, and was set down in farm-yard nboun-
ing with fowls and cattle.
"This is our home," said his new friend.
Tom thought it queer plnce for him TO
get "as much as he could drink" but did not
--,sshtyre- a femark. The gentleman led the
way to handsome stone house, gave Tom
seat In the porch, and ordered a boy to
bring a pail of water 1t was cool and
limpid.
aHelp yourself" said the gentleman. at
is good, aud you will stay with me good
while before you drink the spring dry"
Tom thought his friend very iacctious.-
He chuckled little, and ventured TO say,
But the licker."
"What liquor?" returned the gentleman,
ns if he was astonished. "Thero is none
about my premises"
"But you told me if went with you,
should have all ! could drink"
So You shall--the spring never gets dry,
and the dairy is large"
Pm not used TO it,"
al know that ,oeii," returned the farmer,
"but mean you shall be. Come, we'll moi
dispute now supper is ready"
Tom was not unwilling TO eat good sup
per, and, as the night was coming on, and
he wanted place to lay his head, he didn't
dare 10 scold about the trick that had been
played upon him.
When he was resdy to 60 TO bed, the gen.
tleman conducted him TO neat room, and
bidding him good night, locked the door,
In the morning, Tom found himself pri-
boher.
"1'his Is a man-trap, sure" he cried furi
ously, and kicked against the door.
"Whnt is all this noise 2" said voice on
the outside.
81 want to come out" said Tom.
You arc my prisoner" said the farmer
for Il was he who had answered Toms sum
mons. 81 can keep you here as long as
please, but, ifyou will promise not TO go of
of the farm for three months, you shall be
well fed and cared for. l only want your
word for security"
"Pll do IT," cried Tom, eagerly, arguing
TO himself that If only his word was taken
the bonds that held him would not be very
powerful, although, at the same time, - felt
degree Of pride TO think the Turner mani
tested 80 much confidence in his integrity
He naturally thought the whole affair queer
one.
To day or two, Tom saw that the farmers
only object was to do him good service, by
taking from him his love of gin. The good
nature to which appeals bad been made sy
tho farmer would not allow him 10 be un-
grateful, aud, for six months, Tom worked
on the farm q sober man. Then the iarmel
trusted him to go 10 the nearest town. III,
caine back at the appointed time, sober. Ill
had learned to work, and was useful.
At the end of twelve months from tn
night of his Imprisonment, the farmer sal
10 bim---"I ain going to take ride to-day
Thomas. You will go with me-"
AT the town where the farmer met Ton
he conducted him TO shop, and had hir
"hgged out " in handsome suit of clothes
aud then paid him, In addition, fair wage
for all the work he had performed. Tom
ainazement at this proceeding we would nc
fsa..fe IN sl...A A..e Il II.