The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1867-03-08
for the Children.
The Land of ri Don't KnO,C."

There was once upon time a little
boy
''Ah, there now," | hear you eNclaim,
"that Is the way SO many stories begin
| wish you would tell us his real name,
and where he lived p
l might if | liked; but, perhaps, when
the little boy is grown older, and quite got
over the bad habit that was the cause OF
the miSadventure am going to relate, he
would not like to have you pointing at
him and reminding him of his fault so
you must be quiet, and let me tell my story
my own way, and be careful that you do
not Get into similar trouble
Tom lived in very pretty house, in
very lovely garden. He was fond of
reading, and had a great many books,
that ought to have been kept on a shelf by
themselves, but Every night before he
went to bed he used to take his tavorite
toy and his lavorite book for the time be-
ING, and place them on a chair by his bed
side, so that he might have them close at
hand the moment he awoke. Like other
boys, he was very often restless at night,
and then he would knock them over and
break their backs, and altogether behave
very badly to them. In the morning. too,
when he ought to have washed and dress
ed as quickly as possible, he would take
one OF his books and place it on his wet
wasll-stand, and while he washed one eye
would read out Of the other, till the poor
book GOT almost as much water as his face,
and their red and blue covers were all
blistered and detaced by soapy water.
His mother and sisters called him "Un-
tidy Tom," after that sad boy in the story
of Struwelpeter; and, indeed, he was
quite us bad, if not worse.
I He had still another fault. If his moth
er asked him where any thing was, the
answer was sure to be, Il don't know"
"Whcre is your hat, Tom =
II don't know"
"Where Is your whip. Tom?'
Il don't know
''Whcre is your watering-pOt -
Pm sure | don't know"
And once when he was amusing himself
bv acting "l'ncle Toms Cabin" in the
shrubbery 10y himself, and had borrowed
his sisters black doll to personate "Top-
~" he left the poor little negreSs out in
dreadful snow-storm and when asked
where she was. of course answered. 81
don't know"
His mother was very much displeased
with him. ami said. Tom. tomorrow |
must really take some severe measures
with vou, unless this Is the last time |
hear 81 don't know from your lips
Tom was very much frightened He
dil not wish to veX his mother or be un-
kind to his sister. He did not intend to
break his books backs. or give Topsy her
death of cold but lie was 50 very very
careless and torgcttul that he was always
doing some mischief.
Others besides his mother were angry
with him, and determined to punish him.
1t i, all very we'll treating books and play
things as if they had no life in them, but
YOU NAV do ii once too often.
One night when Tom was fast asleep i'll
his bed, his room, as usual, strewn with
his clothes and play things, there was Il
great discussion going on, though he did
not hear ii.
Ill not stand this any longer" said
Masterman Ready, stepping from the
boys book shelf. I'm an old man, and
Ill not be insulted in this way. Here,
it is near fortnight ago that that young
rogue, who is sleeping so snu"ly there
under liaIt' "A dozen blankets, actually tore
of my only coat, and since then | have
been shivcring all through this bitter
weather in nothing but my shirt.
should like him to feel as cold as | do, :"
"And l." said the Lady of the Lake,
who was standing near, would gladly see
him punished He has thrown SO much
>oapy water over me, feel as if were in
Il Scotch mist. wish he was on the top
of Ben Nevis, with a good fog rolling
round him.
And L. said Robinson Crusoe, ''owe
him grudge. not SO much for the many
injuries he has inflicted on me personally,
but for his disgracetul conduct to that in
tcresting Black Lady who lies buried un-
der the SHOW yonder. | make no doubt
She was nearly related to my beloved ser
want, Friday, and any slight cast on him
r or any of his relations shall be avenged
by me-"
The accusations against the unlucky boy
now came in so thickly that it was i'm
|, possible to make them all out Whip.
; without lashes, lashes without handles
t guns without locks, ramrods without gun;
I" -the hubbub became so great, the wond
e er is the whole house was not reused by
, the voices of his accusers
But even Tom slept quietly on, littl
dreaming what was in store for him, til
he felt an icy hand laid on his arm, and
+ stern voice desired him to rise lie wa
n too much alarmed to speak, but one glanc
Il showed him that old Masterman Ready
clad in nothing but Il tattered shirt, stoc
at his bedside, with many others, who il
). the dim light he could not recognize.
No time was allowed him to look about
lie was quickly blindtolded, dragged frou