The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-10-14
TOM.
How lie R6cAme q Member OF
Congress.

TOM.
How lie Became a Member OF
Congress.
There was a little fellow among Thu
New England hills, years ago, as therC
are many now, whose parents wer(
poor. He could not remember the tint
when be wore shoes and stockings In
the summer. Sometimes In the Win
ter, when he was obliged to walk three
miles 10 school and wade through
snow drifts that did not melt until the
last Of May, he did wear such as bis
father had rejected, and a pair OF shoes
that slipped up and down every step
he took. Nevertheless, they were
shoes and stockings; and he was Inf.
nitely prouder Of them than any king
living Is OF his crown. E['H -
One day, as Tom was ploddlng along
with his sllpshod shoes, putting from
exertIon and blowing his blue fingers
10 keep them warm, there came dash.
Ing down the hill a sleigh such as The
youngster had never seen, no, indeed,
nor even dreamed OF. And the horse
Tom stopped blowing, SO intense was
his admiration Of the elegant creature
that came foaming and tossing his
daintlly arched neck right and left.
Tom sprang aside at the very last
moment, and as he sank up 10 his chin
In the light snow, tore of his old cloth
cap from his head, and bobbed up and
down as II he was In the presence Of
the President.
Jump on behind my lad shouted
the driver; Jump on behind And
Tom did jump on at the peril OF his
life. and away they went, tearing along
with great speed until over went the
sleigh, and out went the riders and
buffAloes, and things generally.
Tom. spranG 10 the horses head, and
cllnging to tho bits, the tips ofhls great
cowhide shoes touched the snow, asked
II the gentleman was hurt.
Not q bit OF It, my lad, said he, shak.
ing hlmsalf free Of the snow, only
warmed up little. What's the dam
ageT
Nothing, sir, that / Hee,' returned
Tom, his handsome face glowing with
good humor as he yielded tho horse &c
It's ownOr.
We'll, then. my lad got In and well
try again. You are going TO school,
see. added the stranger, as he gathered
up the Teins.. -.
Yes, slr.' ~
How far?'
Guess Ills about two miles from here.
The gentleman turned and looked In
to his face, and then glanced all oveI
Toms figure, even TO his feet.
He sees my Shoes thought Tom,
proudly, to himself, giving his shoes a
shove forward to make certain thai
they should be seen.
The gentleman did see them, and
smiled In spite Of himself as he glanced
back to Toms face.
He then kindly pulled the warm fur
around the boy, and pulling bis car
over his eyes, shouted go along, Nell.
And the chestnut mare, now thoroughly
sobered, meekly commenced the ascent
OF what was known thereRbouts as the
long hill. She was evidently accus-
toned 10 having her own way, for she
awaited herself of every little hollow tc
rest, and did not allow herself to be
pressed forward until the whip was ap'
piled.
: Tom wondered what had possessed
the creatures few minutes before. HE
scratched his head on the right side
and then on the lett, and finally, his
Yankee curiosity getting the better Of
his diflidence, he venture to ask
b III you please, sir, what was II thai
made the mare run2'
"A stump returned the gentleman
with q smile, Nell is little aristo
cratic, and SHES at all such plebelau
things. She does not know that q
stump was the making OF her master.
Tom scratched his mead again, and
wiggled all over. Then out came the
question: r -- 49,
How could q stump be The making
ola man?'
My lad answered tho stranger
marking the white surface OF the SNOW
gently with his whlp-lash, Il was 6
poor boy, and my father could mol
afford to send me to school. We work
ed very hard, but l used to study
evenings by the light Of the IRE, ant
learned the whole OF the Latin gram
mar by the light OF one pitch knot
For moment Tom sat perfectly still
Then he asked, Us II ashamed OF hill
Ignorance. 700 -
Please, sir, what's Latin gram
MARI .a5r,. ~. Or. al.
This last question aroused the gen
tleman, and becoming sensible that thu
little fellow at his side was thirsting To-
knowledge, he very kindly went owe
such parts OF his history, as he though
would be OF Interest to him, and ended
by saying that he was member o
Congress. ..IlH h.. g8Is,s b
The last announcement almost tool
Toms breath away. He had heard o
the members OF Congress-, but he hat
an Idea they were myths, whom no
body ever saw. Perhaps the awe will
which Tom regarded him as be glancel
up sideways into his face, dattered TIL
gentlemen, for he said, smiling, o..
You are just as likely 10 be q mem
Der Of Congress as II You know, II
America, success L. to the determined
and brave. II you study as I did, 20,
may possibly rise as high-yes-per
but l haven't any Latin grammar
SIR said Tom.
moi Well, would you like one?'
Yes, SIR cried Tom with hashin
eyes. r. .... ,' 80
'iWell, my lad, I shall come this wa,
again, and I will leave one atthe schoo
house for you.' Ns"LI
'But I haven't any money
Never mind, you can pay me whel
you get TO Congress- 5Uls 80
Thank you,' said Tom, 4 won't for
get 1t, SIR rl 2. .,.r-r.sr.
The gentleman looked down at hin
with a quizzIcal smiled and the twr
rode onln silence until they reache,
the school house. sl s' I'D.
please don't forget the grammar
suggested Tom as he lifted the.old cal
again. I-D
mot T. returned the gentlemen. q
man who cannot keep promise shout
never make one-hey, my ladH
Nell tossed her head, and the bo
soon lost sight Of the rider, Then b
looked down at his shoe, ut his coal
and his old cap as he hung It on th
peg in the entry, and silently contrast
ed Them all with the fur.trlmmed over
coat and outfit OF the stranger. 'Neve
mind said Tom to himself, Il Twill hav
them all, too, when / am member {
Congress-
AT the end Of two weeks O bundle {
books was left ut the school house
/ There was not onlV q Latin grammar