Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-06-23
MISCE A N Y.
TOna Toperly: or the EmprisOn-
ment.
BY wM. T. coGGsHALL.

Tom Toperly was the veriest sot in all
the town. He had been great many things
besides a topper, but he had always been a
toper,- that is, as long, as he had been at
ali, or at least, since he was ten years Of age,
which period, at the date of our biography
was distant about fifteen on the earth's rev.
outions around its orbit.
Tom has derived his patronymic from an
ancestry which, probably, at some ancient
era, had won the the significant appellation
for exploits in the line that had made him
famous.
Tom had been leniently 'passed through
all the Temperance Orders and Societies
that had sprung up in his neighborhood, and
he had come out as much of a sot as he
went in,-and more so, If allowance was
not made for lapse of time.
Tom had always been bachelor, perhaps
because he had never been sober long e.
nough to seek out wife, and perchance be-
cause he was so much of locomotive dem
ilhon that no woman could have been found
foolish enough to "link her fate to his"
Tom had arrived at an era on his "event-
full lifen when he was too shiftless to work
even for gin, his favorlte beverage, and
there began to be talk that the poor-house
would have to shelter him, when one night
he miraculously disappeared. He was SC
we'll known about town that every body
missed him, and there was general in
quire as to his mysterious fate, but no td-
ings came.
1t was on the fifth day after his elopement
when Tom ''turned up' on the steps of a
tavern, about ten miles removed from the
town of his nativity. He was penniless
and the landlord had turned him out fdoors
/ He was as sober as ever he had been in his
life. A man in rough farmers coat saw
him, and, tapping him on the shoulder,
said
"What are you dong here, my man?'
"Waitin' for some fellow to ask me to
drink. Maybe you'er the chap" was Toms
answer.
The rough looking man smiled, and re-
plied-''You look as if you had taken drink
enough in your life
''I'm awful dry. Haven't had drop to-
day, pom honor,n resumed Tom, with a
woful face, as he smacked his lips and drew,
his dirty coat-cuf across his mouth.
eff will find you as much as you can
drink, will you go with me - inquired the
gentleman.
eyes, and stay with you," answered Tom,
''till the stock is out, '-springing with some
show of agility to his feet.
''Get into my wagon, then, said the gen.
tleman.
"With pleasure, sir" said Tom, as he
clambered into the farmers wagon before
the tavern.
Tom was driven five miles into the coun-
try and was set down in farm,yar abound
ing with fowls and cattle.
This is our home," said his new friend.
Tom thought it queer place for him to
get ''as much as he could drink" but did
not venture remark. The gentleman led
the way to handsome stone house, gave
Tom a seat in the porch, and ordered boy
to bring pail of water 1t was cool and
limpid.
"Help YOURSELF" said the gentleman
"Itis good, and you will stay with me a
good while before you drink the spring
dry"
Tom thought his friend very facetious
He chuckled little and ventured to say
''but the lcker."
"What liquor :" returned the gentleman
as if he was astonished. "There is none
about my premises"
"But you told me if went with you
should have all could drink
$50 you shall-tbe spring never gets dry
and the dairy is large
'''I'm not used to it."
81 know that well" returned the farmer
"but | mean you shall be. Come, Wei
not dispute now supper is ready"
Tom was not unwilling to eat good sup
per, and as night was coming on, and he
wanted place to lay his head, he didn'
dare to scold about the trick that had beer
played upon ltim.
When he was ready to go to led, thu
gentleman conducted him TO neat room
and bidding him good light locked the door
In the morning Tom found himself a pris
oner.
"This is a man trap, "sure," he cried fu
riously, and kicked against the door.
"What is all this noise?" said voice Of
the outside.
81 want to come out" cried Tom.
1 GXOu arc NV r,r;vonor cot6 fha farmer