Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-12-09

:. .T !. yoo.' said Tom Il won't for
The gentleman looked down at him
with quizzical smile, and the two rode
on in silence until they reached the school
house.
"Please don't forget the grammar, sir"
suggested Tom, as he lifted the old cap
again.
"Not l." returned the gentleman. "a
man who cannot keep q promise should
not make one-bey, my lad Z"
Nell tossed her head, and the boy soon
lost sight Of the rider. Then he looked
down at biz shoes, at his coat, and at his
old cap, az he hung it on a peg In the
entry, and silently contrasted them all
with the fur trimmed over-coat and outfit
Of the stranger. Never mind" said Tom
to himself. IL will have them all, too. when
am member of Congress"
At the end of.two weeks a bnndle Of
books were left al the school house.
There was not only a Latin grammar, but
well worn copy Of Virgil, Loops Fables
and sundry other volumes such as Tom
had never seen.
Pine knots were plentiful where Tom
lived, and he sat up till midniDgt all the
rest of the winter, bordering over the
mysteries Of those books.
As luck would have it, the schoolmaster,
who boarded around with his pupils, had
not eaten the rations due him at Toms
fathers. When he arrived he entered
warmly into the boys ambitious projects,
and 10 he had a smattering Of Latin him.
81 60 aunh Lfa v,s.r.sf
Although the schoolmaster was allowed
the use of a tallow candle, he vastly pre-
ferred the more brilliant light of Toms
pitch knot; 30 as often as the long winter
night set in, the master and pupil might
be seen and were seem sitting before the
fire place with their heads buried in the
pages of the books along which they plod-
ded, but to such purpose that, at the end
of the winter, Tom could read his fable
and solve the problem in a manner very
creditable 10 himself and master.
/ 1t wa- up hill work with poor Tom, but
he never lost what he gained, managed 70
mako what little be accomplished tell on
4 the future.
One day his father brought home a
stranger aud told Tom that he was ap-
prenticed, during his minority, 10 thi-
man, who would make him a fine black
| smith.
But am not going 10 lie black
smith, cried Tom. in passion " I'm
going TO Congress"
The more need you should learn 10
shoe the horse that carries you there re.
piled the father with shrug.
Tom packed up his worldly goods, not
forgetting his books, and trudged away
10 distant village, where be pared
horses' hoofs by day, and studied and
read at night by stealth, for be was al
/ lowed neither knot or candle.
Six month the poor fellow tried 10 be
faithful - bis study; but one night,
when Vi matter lad thrown his gram.
mar int3 tic fro, and lathcred him for
disobod.onec, Tom took leave Of the work
! -hop. lie made his way, bArefooted a.
/ he was, over boys and brierz, until hc
yentured into the main road, and by dIni
q begging ride now and then, reached
the city. A. Ben franklin had done be-
fore him, with bis roll under biz arm, he
.ought and obtained employment.
Perhaps tho happicst day % Tom life
was when he found himself in the anti
quarian bookstore, with plenty Of leisure.
plenty Of books, and nothing 10 fear from
friend or foe. II was wonderful how be
read--and read. The parched earth does
not more greedily take in the summer
rain.
when this intellectual thirst was par
TALLY satisfied he began TO work lie
saw the ladder, up which he must climb,
and selling the lowest round be made his
way steadily upward We all know by
what steps all ambitious men make pro-
l,ress-by patient tOil-by self denial
! by courteous department by constant
/ acquisition Of knowledge.
Years passed by, during all Of which
Tom had looked in vain for his early
rIIuald, tue Stranger. In MS Iimid awk-
/ wardness he had not thought 20 ask the
name of his benefactor, and the only OPP
poftunity TO do 80 had been lost.
| Well year passed, and Tom was elected
member Of Congress from the very county
where be passed his struggling boyhood
He went II Washington, not In cowhide
shoes and buternut-colored homespun, but
dressed something as imagination had
pictured, as be looked after his benefactor
on the day of the sleigh ride.
a uobler looking man the ladies in the
galleries said never had appeared upon
the floor than this Yankee member, who,
II lac spoke through bis nose, ways drove
his arrows home 10 the mark.
One day there appeared in the House
the yerAbie form OF an ex-member, whom
all present delighted 20 honor. 1t needed
but one glance at that genial face for
Z Tom u recognize IL him the giyer Of the
Latin grammar. lie had come, he said,
to iistcn 70 the gentleman who bad 50
manfully defended the right. aud 70 wish
hlm Goi-speed.
IL, said Tom, with his old Inoderty, ..if
it has 5eeu my good fortune TO 10 any
thing fDg or country III the hour Of her
peril, Owe my ability 10 DO 80, IN a great
measure, to your,clf."
TO me - exclaimed the astonished
gentleman: II do not recollect ever hav-
ing lad the pleasure Of meeting you before
in my life
"Ah, sir, you have forgotten, then, the
little school boy among the hills of New
Hampshire, TO whom you kindly sold a
Latin grammarr
The gentleman unused
''SOld-so!d a Latin grammar Now
that you recall the incident, | do recol-
lect little fellow who interested me and
10 whom ] gave some school books"
well, sir, | am that boy You told me
| might pay for them when | got TO Con-
gress. Ii you viii honor me by meeting
few friends AZ dinner. will settle the
bill"
THE DEATH Red uARRIAGE.
Marriage OF Albert ID. Richardson
and the late 'Fr-. Mcfarland The
PRAYER The (ssTsnlDnt
Mcfarland Said.