The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1851-11-19
"I'm not used to it,"

HSA5 anu eo M NGo NOilillI2 Ouy anu iiC
wanted place to lay his head, be did not
dare to scold about the trick that had been
played upon him.
When he was ready to go to bed, his new
friend conducted him to neat room, and
bidding him good night, locked the door.
In the morning Tom found himself pris-
toner.
"This is a man trap, sure" he cried, and
kicked furiously against the door,
"What is all this noise about?" said a
voice on the outside.
"I want to come Quit" exclaimed Tom
"You are my prisoner" said the farmer,
for it was he who answered Toms summons.
81 can keep you here as long as please,
but if you will promise not to go off the farm
for three months, you shall be well fed and
cared for. l only want your word for secu-
rity."
"Pll do itP' exclaimed Tom, eagerly ar
guing to himself that if only his word was ta-
ken, the bonds that held him would not be
very powerful, although at the same time he
felt degree of pride, to think that the far
mer manifested SO much confidence in his
integrity. He naturally thought the whole
affair queer one.
LII a day or two Tom saw that the farmers
only object was to do him good service, by
taking from him his love for gin. The good
nature, to which appeals had been made by
the farmer, would not allow him to be un-
grateful, and for six months Tom worked on
the farm sober man. Then the farmer
trusted him to 60 to the nearest town. He
came back at the appointed time, sober.
lie had learned to work, and was useful.
At the end of twelve months, from the
night of his Imprisonment, the farmer said
to him:
II am going to take a ride to-day, Thomas.
/ wish you to accompany me-"
AT the town where the farmer met Tom,
he conducted him to shop, and had him
"rigged out" in handsome suit of clothes,
and then paid him in addition, fair wages for
all the work he had performeu. Toms
amazement at this proceeding we would not
attempt to describe, but it did not abate in
the least when the farmer said
"Now, Thomas, you will 60 with me to
the town where you were known as sot.
shall then address you as Mr.. Brown"
"Why, sir?" ventured Tom, with tears
starting to his eyes, ..
''You will see when we get there" re-
turned the farmer, "but you must remain a
stranger to everybody else'
Anything you say, sir" replied Tom,
more deeply amazed than he had yet been.
Arrived at the village, Mr.. Brown was in
troduced to the principle citizens. The far
mer was generally known and much respect
ed. Mr., Brown was we'll dressed, and made
fine appearance. He and the farmer were
invited to dine with the magistrate, man
before whom Tona had often been arraigned
as drunken yagrant. Had he been suddenly
transported to the Moon, Venus, or to Mars,
he had not been more decidedly astonished.
He knew nearly everybody-why did no.
body know him? Because Mr.. Brown was
no more like Tom Toperly, than we'll
dressed temperate man is anything like
ragged, bloated street drunkard. .m.
At dinner, looking at the magistrate, the
farm said:
81 believe it is about a year since that a
poor wretch, well named Tom Topery, dis
appeared from the village. Has there ever,
been any tidings of him % ....
"Nota a word" said the magistrate. "It
is strange; Tom was good fellow, but he
would do nothing but drink gin; when he
could obtain it no other way he begged it,
and would never work but to get money tot
buy it." t.... ....>. ...'
During this speech Mr.. Browns face pass
ed through multitude of singular express
sions. The farmer, watching him, replied to
the magistrate
"He was at my house after he left here, !
as fond of drink as ever" s -
"Ill warrant it," returned the magistrate
"I have no doubt he died like beast ip
some ditch"
Mr.. Brown could endure it no longer.
Jumping up, and to the CONSERVATION of the
chief magistrate, nearly throwing the table
over, he exclaimed:
"No he didn't! Here he isl I'm Tom
Toperly You kicked and cufed me about
this town, and was going to send me to the
work house, and never called me anything
but drunken Tom but this farmer was my
friend; he made me think myself man ;.and
now / am not ragged and dirty, and bloated,
as | have been, but | have good clothes to
wear, money in my pocket, and know how
to earn more and you have taken me for
gentleman, which | feel proud 70 acknowl-
edge, with gratitude to my dear friend, the
farmer"
"Glad of it, Tom-glad Of it! We have
temperance meetings here frequently, and
you shall give us spsech--tell 'em your
story, Tom. You are gentlemen, and you
shall stay in my house as long as you are in
town., exclaimed the magistrate, shaking
him by the hand till his shoulder aehed.
"Make man think he is somebody, il you
have to lock him up to do it; that's the way
to reform him." cried Tom. "The farmers
confidence in my simple word, that nobody
would trust, has made a man of me-" al
Tom told his story to all his "old ehums,"
got q Aumber of them to follow his example,
went back home with the farmer, in due
course Of time became his son-in-l law, and
died, leaving number Of children; who,
though they inherited the unpromising name
of Toperly. have ever been soberly. u, .
Or DR., Letson ascribes health and II
strength to water, happiness to beer, and
disease and crime to ardent spirits. sfa