The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1867-03-08
naughty voice, "Nhy did you break in my

head -
And then the watering-pot came and
demanded, :Why did you leave me in the
mud at the bottom of the pond?' And a
double barreled gun, with a lady-like-look-
ing pistol hanging on his arm, upbraide'l
him tor his cruel usage, and whips, and
spades, and trumpets, and hoops, all came
and reviled him, and, lastly, his late vic
tim, the poor black doll, in winding
sheet of snow, said, in melancholy voice,
You are worse tha' slave dealer: had
you no compassion on my warm African
blood, that you left me to perish beneath
the snow p
Poor Tom seated himself on the hard
ground and burst into tears, but the more
he wept the more his tormentors jeered
him and really Masterman Ready and
Robinson Crusoe seemed to incite the
others to insult him, and the poor little
boy was very miserable.
At last his strange companions, tired OF
playing with him, or afraid of the bitter,
cold wind, took their departure, and Tom
was left alone.
Such companionship had been bad
enough, but solitude was worse. ''Oh.
must find somebody" cried the poor boy,
starting up, and trying to make his night
gown cover his poor little ankles. Il don't
know" sighed the wind. (which is the
way home ;" shouted Tom. Il don't
know" shrieked curlew. ''Where's my
mother p screamed the boy. Il don't
know" croaked frog in a neighborine
morass. Too frightened to speak any
more, Tom groped his way along i'll the
darkness. As day dawned he came to a
directing post Saved" thought Tom,
is he cIimed up it like sailor boy up a
mast. Imagine his horror 1t directed
him to the LAND of don't know :" Tom
slipped down quicker than he went up,
and pursued his way Presently he came
to another tinger-po>t. 1t WAS lighter now
and he could read it without the trouble
of climbing; and what think you he read
This is the Land OF don't know
The day passed and night came on,
and still he wandered up and down, while
strange voices mocked him with the oft
repeated phrase, Il don't know, don't
know" varied sometimes with This l.
the Land of don't Know ~
Poor Tom, half-mad with terror, hun
ger ami cold, rushed hcadlomg OH till 4
sudden light. sudden breaking OF the
mist. showed him that he stood at the
edge of prccipice, deep blue lake iaI
below. Then he knew where he WAS
on the very tormost ,ilge Of Plinlimmcn
and the blue lake shining below lie knew
to I've the source ol the Severn, that hi,
father had shown him, Il year before, when
travelling in Wales.
Fearful of falling he uttered Il piercing
shrek. and called aloud on hi, mother tc
help him. Conceive hi> joy when h,
found himself in her arms. and heard hel
well known voice rcaS>uring him. '.lor
are safe, my boy, quite safe: what In:
frightened YOU"
"Oh, mother. | have been TO the Lant
of don't know : and. only think, it i:
Oh the top of Plinlimmon.
You NAV he sure Tom did not soon for
gct lis adventure. He got Mastermal
Ready new coat. He du" up TOPS,
from under the SHOW. and tiShed III,
watering-pot from the depths Of the pond
and if he ever mi>laid any thing he trie'
to find it again, for he sIil. Il have III
wish TO 90 again TO the Land of don
know" And you, my young reader, th'
next time Won are asked where the Severn
rises. say, ''In the blue lake near tin
summit of Pllnlimmon. III the county o
Montgomery, Wales" and you will be y
in your class for week