The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-12-27
Tom Rogers Lot, cry Ticket

DOOR Tom! no wonder his after diu-
L. ner nap was one Of restless turnings
and tossings; no wonder the old damask
sofa creaked and trembled beneath him,
for heavier load of troubles than his,
very few shoulders had to bear, at least
so thought Tom Rogers in his waking
moments. The room in which our fitlul
dreamer recliued showed traces Of much
better days. Though the carpets were
worn, the furniture battered, the curtains
torn, and discolorcd, yet their former ele-
gance peeped out through all. The smok-
ing jacket much the worse for wear, and
the half-smoked cigar clutched between
his nervous fingers, indicated the appre-
citation in which the comforts and good
things of life were held by poor Tom
Rogers. The irescocd walls were dincy
now, but even yet were indicative Of the
refined taste OF the occupant of these
apartments. Beautiful engravings, paint
ings, and statues were on the walls and
placed about on brackets, and Tom de-
clured that however i'll his fortune, these,
his idols, should stay by him last of all !;
and though his jules Jurgengen was
ticking in the uusympathetic ears of his
uncle Marks, yet he would sit and gaze
with almost parental feelings on his cher
ished paintings.
He had been wild, very wild; from the
time of his leaving college until his for
tune had nearly all been squandcred
there had been nothing too expensive or
luxurious for him. His grand tour had
been one mad scene of wine, woman,
and reckless gaming. When he had re-
turned was it wonderful that he found so
many things that once had pleased and
occupied his attention fiat and unplofta-
BILE He had seen SO much of life, so
varied, 50 fill Of excitement, that the
routine he met on all sides Of him, now
that he had returned to his old home,
pallcd upon his senses. The drunkard
never craved the DRAM as Tom did the
unnatural excitement in which he and
his madcap companions had lived during
his European tour He had done New
York and the principal Atlantic cities
and was ponderiug on some plan to salts
ly his Snawiug appetite for change, when
it was suggested that he visit the famous
city Of the Golden Gate. Almost as soon
as proposed Tom was ready for the start.
Nuggets, diamonds, gamblers, six
shooters, and all the necessary adiuncts
Of dream of California fitted before
his imagination, SO he packed and came,
bringing letter Of introduction to the
ellie of the city beside a still plethoric
purse. That he discovered what he came
to seek, we can hardly doubt. Excite
ment he must surely have found, for at
the end of twelve mouths after his arri-
val, we find him in his apartments
asleep, looking somewhat Che worse for
wear, in fact just a little bit seedy.-
While his money lasted he spent it like a
lord. Friends he had in abundance, fol
was he not the prince Of Jolly good lel.
lows After while ii began to be whis
pered about that Tom Rogers couIdn't
keep up his lick as formerly, and when il
became known through the lady of ricI
r., the banker, that Tom had ask.
ed the loan of Il hundred of her husband
it was surely no longer TO be borne. How
shamelully he had abused their con-
dence They had really been most wo