The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-04-12
TOM ROCKET.

III happened 70 my laLhef, Salu Lue Ldll
man in the chimney corner, and that's how
l came to know all about it.
The chimney corner is that of the Rising
Sun, a pleasant little roadside inn, about
two miles from Northampton, and the tall
man is the president of bowling club that
meets there, once fortnight, principally to
dine. The it of which the speakers rela-
tive was the hero, is the adventure which
forms the subject of this narrative.
The reason why we were listening to sto.
ries instead Of playing bowls, was simply this:
One of the heaviest thunder storms that can
remember broke over the rising Sun that af-
ternoon. All during dinner We could see
great ragged copper colored clouds banking
up against the wind, and the cloth was
hardly off the table, spit spat spat !!
against the acknowledged window panes
came few very heavy hailstones, then
came the Lightning, then came the rain, as
though it had not rained for ten years, and
was determined to make up for lost time.
So there was nothing for it but to sit still
and amuse ourselves as best we could, in
doors; and the conversation having turned
upon travelling, and the dangers of the road
before railways were invented, Mr. Josh
Sandiger, our president sitting and smoking
his pipe in the chimney corner, volunteered
to tell us tale of those times, and said
he, 1t happened to my father, and that's
how | came to know all about it.
do not think you would like me to give
you the story just as Mr. Josh gave it us ;
you might get vexed with his pipe, which
seems to require great deal Of manage
ment to get it to draw properly. He never
mora than about CT Uo.ds or u tin,a
then he has to pull at his pipe, and goes Cd
again, giving You Whit Of words, aud then
a Whit of smoke, whilst you are turning
them oyer in your mind, and wondering
what is coming next. About every tenth
Whit, he takes his pipe out of his mouth
and looks very gravely into the bowl; and
then he takes the tobacco stopper, presses
the ashes carefully, and shakes them out Oh
the bob; then he looks into it again, and if
it is all right, he dips the shank end into
the brandy and water, looks into the bowl a
third time, and gives it a rub with his cuff,
Next he opens his mouth wide, puts the
sealing wax end in, closes his lips upon it
slowly, and then goes on again with his
story, six words as before. He is reckoned
a very emphatic speaker in those parts, is
our president. And SO, of course, he if, but
l might confess opt of his hearing, that all
his fdgeting, these pauses, and puffings,
and etoppings, and rubbings and looking
at nothing at all, in the middle of story,
irritate me sometimes to that degree that
feel inclined to run at him, knock his pipe
out of his mouth, and shrek ut him to go
on faster-that do.
It would be as well, then, perhaps, if l
were to quote his own words as can recol-
lect them straight on, and put his pipe out.
My father, Continued Mr.. JOSH used of
ten to say that he would like to see the
man. who could rob him upon the highway,
and one fine November evening he did see
him.
You young fellows who are accustomed to
be whisked away hundred miles between
your breakfast and your dinner by an ex-
press train, don't know much about what
travelling was in 1795-'cross country trav-
cling specially. Folks did not leave their
homes then if they could help it. It's all
very fine to talk about the beauties of the
country, and the delights of change of
scene, but when there are more. highwaymen
than scavengers or police about, the roads
are not so charming, can tell you. Why,
it was weeks journey, from here to Lon
back with whole bones and full purse, you
were not in a hurry to tempt Providence
and Tom Rocket second time
Tom Rocket was a highwaymen. No one
ever christened him Tom, and his fathers
name was not Rocket. When he was tried
for his life at Warwick Assizes, he was ar
raigned as Charles jackson, and they were
particular about names then. If you indicted
man as Jim, and his true name was
Joe he got off; and when the law was alter
ed-so that they could set such errors right
at the trial-people, leastways lawyers, sale
that the British Constitution was being
pulled up, root and branch. But that's mel
Their here nor there.
cannot tell you how it was that he came
tobe known as Tom Rocket, and if could
it would have nothing to do with my story
For six years he was the most famous THE
in the Midland counties, and for six year
no one knew what he was like lie was
lazy fellow, was Tom, he never came on
except when there was good prize to b
picked up, and he had his scouts and hi
spies all over the place to give him informa
ton about booty, and to warn him OF dan
ger. But to Judge by what people said, h
was son the road" at half-a-dozen ditferen
places at once every day of his life
for you see when any one was robbed, 0
found it convenient to make believe SO, VIII,
he laid it upon Tom Rocket as sort of ex
cure for giving it up easily, because, yo
see no one thought of resisting Tom. S
it was that all sorts of conflicting descrip
tions of his person got abroad. One sal
that he was an awfully tall man and had