Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-09-29

on are Just a. likely TO be m=Doer
Of Congress as II You know, in America,
success IS to be determined and brave. Ii
you study as | iid. you may possibly rise as
high-yes, perhaps higher.
But l hayn't any Latin Grammar"
said Tom
mo? Would you Ike one?''
Yes sir, cried Tom. with flushing
eyes
well, my lad, I shall come this way
again, and l viii leave one at the school
house for you.
But | havn't any money"
'NeEer mind, you can pay me when you
get to Congress
Thank you. said Tom, L won forget
it sir
The gentleman looked down at him with a
quizzical smile, and the two rode on In 81
lence until they reached the school houes.
PLEASE don't forget the grammar" sug-
gested Tom, as he lifted the old cap again.
Not l, returned the gentleman, "A
man who cannot keep promise should
not make one-hey, my lad p
Nell tossed her head, and the boy lost
( sight Of the rider. Then he looked down at
bis shoes. at his coat, and his old cap as he
/ hung II on the peg in the entry, and silent
ly contrasted them with the fur r-trimmed
overcost and outfit of the stranger.
Never mind, said Tom to himself, Il
viii haze them al TO, when IN . member
Of Congress
At the end Of two weeks bundle Of
books were left at the school house. There
vas not only a Latin Grammar, but wei
worn copy Of Virgil, -E=op's Fables, and
sundry ether volumes such As Tom had new
er seen.
Pine knots were plentiful where Tom
lived, and be SIT up until midnight all the
rest Of the winter, pondering over the mys-
teries of those books.
As lack would have it, the school master,
who boarded around with his pupils, had
not eaten the rations due him al Toms 5
fathers When he arrived he entered
warmly into the boys ambitious projects, and
as he had smattering of Latin himself, was
qualif ed to aid his pupil
Although the school master was allowed
the use of tallow candle, he vastly prefer
red The light Of Toms pitch knot; so that
as often a. the long winter evening set In,
the master and pupil might be seen land
were seem sitting before the large fireplace
with their heads barried In the pages of the
books. along which the, plodded slowly, but
TO such purpose that, at the end of the
winter Tom could read his fable and solve
his problem In = manner very creditable to
himself and master 1t W.. uphill work
with poor Tom, bat he never lost what lit
tie be gained, ard managed 10 make what
little he accomplished tell on the future
One day his father brought hoIne stran-
ger. and told Tom be was apprenticed du-
ring his minority to this man, who would
make him blacksmith.
But am not going to be blacksmith,
cried Tom, IN passion; Il ID going TO
Congress.
The more ueed you should learn to shoe
the horse that carries you there. replied
his father with shrng
Tou, packed up his worldly goods, not
forgetting his books, and tugged away to
distant village, where he pared horses hoofs
by 3aY, and studied and read by night by
stealth, for be was allowed neither knot nor
candle.
Six months the poor fellow tried TO be
faithful TO his duty; but one night when
his master had thresn his grammar in the
FIRE, and lathed him for his disobedience,
Tom took leave Of the workshop. He
made his way, barefoot as he was over bogs
and briars. until he veutured into the main
road, and By dint Of begging ride now and
then, reached the city-as Ben Franklin
had done before him, with his r,l under
his arm-he sought and obtained employ
u.ent Perhaps the happiest day Of Tom 5
life was when be found himself in the anti
quarian bookstore with plenty Of leasure,
plenty of books. and nothing to fear from
friend or foe II was wonderful how he
rezd-and read-and read. The parehed
earth does not more greedily take IN the
summer rain.
When bis intellectual thirst was partially
satisfied, he began 10 work. He saw the
+ ladder up which be must climb, ana seiziug
the lowest round, he made his way steadily
upward. We all Know by what steps an
ambitious man makes progress-by patient
foil-by sell denial-by courteous deport-
aaeut-by constant acquisition OF knowledge.
+ Years passed by, during all ofwhich Tom
+ had looked in vain for his early friend, The
stranger. IL his timid awkwardness he had
not thought 10 ask the name of the beneiac-
tor, aud the only opportunity to do so had
4 been lost
Well, years sid away and Tom was elect
i ed member of Congress from the very coun-
+ ty where he spent his struggling boyhood-
/ He went to Washington, not in cowhide
shoes aud butternut colored homaspun. but
! dressed something a. imagination had pic
tured, as he looked after his benefactor on
the eventful day Of the sleighride.
4 nobler locking man, the ladies in the
/ galleries said, never had appeared on the
floor than this Yankee member, who, if be