Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-12-09
How Tom Became a Member OF
Congress.

How Tom Became a Member Of
Congress.
There was little fellow among the
| New England hills, years ago, ~ there are
many now, whose parents were poor He
could not remember the time when he
wore shoes and stockings in the summer.
Sometimes in winter, when he was Obliged
10 walk three miles to school, and wade
through mowdrifts that did net melt IN
/ til the last Of May, be did wear such %
| his father had rejected, and pair of shoes
that slipped up and down at every step he
i took Nevertheless, they were shoes and
stockings; and ho was infinitely prouder
Of them than any king living u Of HE
| crown.
One day, as Tom was plodding along
with bis -lipsbod shoes, putting from
excrtion, and blowing his blue fingers to
keep them warm, there came dashing
down the hill a sleigh such the young
ster had never seen: no indeed. not even
| dreamed Of And the horse Tom stopped
! blowing, so intense was his admiration OF
/ the elegant creature that came foaming
and tossing his dainty-arched neck right
and left.
Tom sprang aside at the last moment,
and as he sank up 10 his chin III the light
snow, tore his old cloth cap from his head,
and popped up end down as if be was in
the presence Of the President.
Iumr m behind my lad /" shouted 80
driver, Jump on behind" And Tom did
| Jump on, at the peril Of his life, and away
they went, tearing along at great speed,
until over went the sleigh, and out went
the riders and buffaloes and thing gene
rally.
Tom sprang to the horses head, and
clinging to the bits, the tips Of his great
! cowhide shoes touching the snow, asked
if the gentleman was hurt.
:" Not bit, my lad only warmed up
little. What's the damage Z"
Nothing, sir, that | see" returned
/ Tom, his handsome face glowing with
good humor, as he yielded the horse to it
| owner.
"Well, then, my lad, get in, and wen
try again. You are going 10 school, |
See added the stranger, a. be gathered
up the reins
i Yes, sir
How far :
Guess It's about two miles from here
i The gentleman turned and looked into
/ his face, and then glanced al over Tom
/ figure, even TO his feet.
HE sees my shoes" thought Tom,
proudly to himself, giving his shoes a
shake forward to make certain that they
should be seen.
The gentleman did see .hein, aud smiled
in spite of himself az he glanced back at
4 Toms face.
He then kindly pulled the warm iurs
around the boy, and, drawing his cap over
his eyes, shouted, Go along, Nell Z" And
! the chestnut mare, now thoroughly
| sobered, meekly commenced the ascent Of
what was known thereabouts as the long
hill. She was evidently accustomed 10
having her own way, for she awaited her
self of every little hollow to rest, and did
not allow herself to be pressed forward
until the whip was applied.
Tom wondered what had possessed the
creature a few minutes before. He
scratched his head ON the right side and
then on the left, and finally his Yankee
curiosity getting the better of his diff
dence, he veniured 10 ask
"lf you please, sir, what was it that
made the mare run =
"a stump" returned the gentleman.
with smile. Nell is a little aristoc ratio
and SHES at All such plebian things. She
does not know that stump was the max
ing of her master"
| Tom scratched his head again and wig
| gled all over Then out came the ques-
| ton
"How could a stump be the making Of
a man z"
my lad, answered the stranger, mark
ing the white surface of the snow with
his whip lash, 81 was poor boy, and my
father could not afford to send me To-
school. We worked very hard, but /
used to study in the evening by the light
of the fire, and learned the whole of the
Latin grammar by the light of one pitch
| knot"
For moment Tom sat perfectly still
| Then he asked, as if ashamed of his igno-
rance:
"Please, sir, what's Latin grammar ~
This last question aroused the gentle
man, and becoming sensible that the little
| fellow at his side was thirsting for knowl-
edge. he very kindly went over such parts
of his history as he thought would be of
interest to him, and ended by saying that
he was member of Congress.
The last announcement almost took
Toms breath away. He had heard of the
members of Congress, but he had an idea
they were myths, whom nobody ever saw.
Perhaps the awe with which Tom regarded
him as he glanced up sideways into his
face, fattered the gentleman, for he said
"You are just as likely to be member
of Congress as 1. You know in America,
success is to the determined and brave.
If you study as did, you may possibly
rise as high-yes-perhaps higher"
"But haven't any Latin grammar, sir, !"
said Tom.
'tNo5 Well would you like oneS"
eyes, sir" cried Tom, with flashing
eyes.
"Well, my lad, shall come this way
again, and win leave one at the school |
houss iue you!"
s1at haven't any money!
"Neyef mind, you can PAY me whsnl
you get to Ooosrsm" i