Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-02-23
Tom TOperly,
REDEEMED.

Tom IODerly was the VerieSt sort in
all the world He had been a great
many things besides a topper, but had
always been a topper since he was twelve
Years old, and he was now twenty-five.
He was bachelor, perhaps because he
had not been sober long enough to seek
out a wife; perhaps he was 50 much of
a locomotive demiiOhn that no sane wO-
man could have been found foolish
enough to 'liul her fate with his.N
Tom had arrived at an era in his
eventful life when he was too shiftless to
work even for gin, his favOrite bever-
age, and he had begun to think that the
pOor-hOusc would have to shelter him,
when one night he miraculOusly disap-
peared. He was so well known around
the town that everybody missed him,
and there was a general inquiry as to
his mysterious fate, but no tidings came.
It was the fifth day of his disapper-
ance that Tom "turned up on the steps
of tavern about ten miles distant from
the town of his nativity. He was pen
niless, and the landlord had just turned
him out of doors. He was as sober as
he had ever heen in his life. A man in
a rough farmers coat saw him and tap
ping him on the shoulder said:
"What are you doing here, say, man?'
waiting for some one to ask me to
drink; maybe your the chap" was
Toms answer.
The rough looking man smiled and re-
plied
''YOu look as if you had taken drink
enough in your life -
"Pm awful dry-havn't had drop
tO=day," said Tom, with a wOeful face.
of will find you something to drink,
Will you go with me?' inquired the gem
tleman.
'Yes, and stay with you" answered
Tom, till the stock is out" springing
up with some show of agility to his feet.
"Get into my wagon then," said the
gentleman.
'rWith pleasure, sir, y said Tom, as he
climbed into the farmers wagon before
the tavern.
Tom was driven five miles into the
country, and was set down in a barn
yard abOunding with fowl and cattle.
''This is our home, sir, said the new
found friend.
Tom thought it a queer place to get as
much as he could drink, but didn't ven
ture theTemark. The gentleman led the
way to q handsome stone house, gave
Tom a seat in the porch, and ordered a
boy to bring a pail Of water.
"Help yourself" said the gentleman. /
"It is good, and you will stay with me
long time before you will drink the
spring dry"
Tom thought that his friend was face /
tiOus. He chuckled a little and ven
tured to say "bUt where is the liquOr'U |
"What liquor ," returned the gentle /
man, as if he was astOnished. "There |
is none about my premises
'But you told me if | went with you
I should have all could drink.N
80 you shall-the spring never goes ,
dry, and the dairy is large"
tI'm not used to it.n
II know that well, - returned the far /
mer hbut4 mean you shall be. Come, /
we'tI not dispute now; supper is ready" /
Tom was not unwilling to try a good .
supper, and as night was coming on and |
he wanted place to lay his head, he
did not care to scOld about the trick'that .
had been played upon him.
When he was ready to go to bed, the |
gentleman conducted him to a neat /
room, and bidding him "GOod night" .
locked the door.
"What's all that uOise?" said a voice
OH the outside.
II want to come out, ~ said Tom.
i'YOu are MY prisoner said the farm
er for it was he who answered Toms .
summons.
81 can keep you here as long as I /.
please; but if you promise not to 20 Off
the farm for three months you will be
fed and cared for. | only want your
word for security. i'What say you.n
''I'll do it, cried Tom, eagerly, argu-
ing TO himself that If only his word was
taken, the bonds that held him would
not be powerful, although he felt a de
gree of pride to think the farmer mani
tested 50 much confidence in his integri-
ty. He naturally thought the whole
matter queer one.
In a day or two Tom saw that the |,
farmers only object was To- d0 him a (
good service by taking him from his
love of gin. The good nature to which
appeals had been made by the farmer
would not allow him to he ungratefUl,
and for six months he worked ON the
farm asObermau. Then the farmer trust
ed hsm to go to the nearest town. He j
had learned to work and bc useful.
At the end Of twalya months nom the
night of his Imprisonment the farmer
said to him: d
al am going to take ride to-day, !
Thomas. You win sc with me-" ,
At the toNm where the farmer had {
first met Tom he conducted him 10 a
shop and had him "rigged out' in ,