Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-06-15
The First Kind Word.

lie went by the name Of Tom, and could
not remember that he had ever had any other
name. He lived In the County poor-housc.
and had no other home since they took him
away from his dead mother, and laid her in %
bed that seemed to him too narrow and dark
Since he came to the poor-housc, many child
rem had been brought there, aud visitors had
spoken to them and taken them away Some
went into rich families to I'LL the places Of
children who had been called for by the Saw
Jour. Some went with mechanics TO learn
trades, and others found home with good
farmers. In fact, every other child had been
the recipient Of kind words and other atten-
tions, from the richly dressed ladies and gem
tlemen, who were wont to pass through the
wards. And all these years Tom had receiy-
ed nothing but sharp invitations to get out Of
the way of people, for he had a wonderful
faculty Of getting where somebody else chose
to be, and paupor child has no rights that
human beings are bound to respect.
On Sunday the minister was to exchange
pulpits with the pastor Of church in an adj
joining town. Tom hitchcd the horse to the
sulky, and the minister rode away charging
him to be on the watch for the other preacher.
1t was not long before the watching was re-
warded, and the strange minister drove up,
Tom seizng the bride-rein as he stopped
The hostess came out with warm words Of
welcome for the new conner, who when he had
replied, followed the horse to the barn. But
the animal was already safely in the stable,
and Tom was sitting on a box near the man
ger, staring vacantly at the floor.
The minister loved souls, and believed that
every living human body contained q soul
He felt it to be his duty to say something to
the soul before him.
What is your name, my boy2'
+" Tom, sir"
Well Thomas, have always noticed that
boys with a deal Of red hair, great nose
and a large number Of freckles, always get
along well in the world, if they try to be
good"
No answer from Tom, and the minister
went to the meeting house.
Tom was homely boy. His nose wa,
very large and his face was covered with
frcckles So were his hands His hair was
thick and long, aud was as red as it was thick
and long. He had grown to be slow, awk.
ward and lazy. He had a vacant look like 0
fool. Nobody had ever felt drawn toward
him, because there did not seem to be any
thing in him that would draw. He was about
fifteen years old. Not very tall and not very
round. The diet Of the poor house was moi
calculated to increase the length and circum
ference Of boys That was a matter thai
troubled the minds of the Board Of Manager
not at all. The great question was, how
should they ever get rid Of Tom
The long-looked for opportunity came at
last. A well dressed and fat man called fol
a boy to help in his family. He was min
lister, and his wife wanted q choro and kitchen
boy right away. There were no boys in the
institution except Tom. The minister looked
at him, spoke to him, and finally ordered hin
into his wagon. There was no baggage to at
tend to. On the way home there were nc
kind words and no smiles It was chorC
and kitchen boy from the poorhouse, and O
mere matter Of business They soon reach.
ed the house, and Tom commenced work al
once. IIewas awkward at everything he un
dertook. lie spilled, spoiled, and broke. II,
slept in the stable near the horse, and at,
what the other servants left. The only thing
that troubled him was, he was always il
oyerybodys way.
That night the good mans horse got an ex
ira peck Of oats. The next morning tn,
minister went home, and n change was notice.
in Tom. He did not spill anything that day
neither did he break anything. lie kept GU
Of everybody's way, and a strange fire burneC
in the eyes that had been dull so long llC
was faithful at his work for a few weeks, ant
then he felt that the minister's kitchen anl
stable were too small to hold him
That minister said " that boys with a dea
Of red hair, a great nose, and a large numbe
of freckles, always get on well in the world
if they try to be good" was the plank Il
which Tom dashed himself, just before h
plunged into what appeared a great Sea t,
him--the city. lie had many desires, bu
the most ardent of them all was that h,
might be good. God loved and led him to
place where the gospel was preached in it
simplicity, and ere long Tom laid hold, b,
faith of the goodness Of Jesus. Years hav
gone since all this occurred, and Tom still
lives and tells his own story. He is one 0
the most loved and most honored citizens o
Springfield Massachusetts,. He is the irn
friend of the poor, and believes in being lib
eral with kind works as well as with money
Christian Radical