Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-12-14
Tom Fosters wife.

| had Just returned from ten
years stay in Europe, and was saun-
tering down Fremont street, in the
golden September morning, when l
saw my friend, Tom Foster, get out
of 8 horse car q few steps in adj
vance of me. knew him in a mo-
ment, though we had hardly met
since we were at Exeter Academy
together, ten years before-room
mates and blithe companions until
we parted-I to go to Harvard, and
he to enter his fathers store, the
well known house of Foster & Co.,
Pearl street. He was merry, hear
", practical fellow, c'ear-skinned
and robust as an Engl shman, self
reliant and eRterprisl as New
Hampshire birth and Boston train
ing could make him. Ialways liked
him, but he plunged into business
and | into study, aud so, without
meaning il, we had almost lost light
of each other. lie was an only
child, and his parents spent their
summers at their homestead IN
Greenland, near Portsmouth. and
their winters in Boston.
As | said, knew him in q mo-
msnt. He had grown tall and stout,
but the boy was still in his face, and
with q flush of early feeling, sprang
forward and caught him by the
arm: .
"Pom How are your"
He looked puzzled for q moment,
and then bursting into . laugh, he
seized my hand in his strong grasp
and exclaimed;
"Why, John Ralston is this you?
Where did you come frOm2 I'm
glad TO see YOU, my boy. Why
! haven't set eyes on YOU since we
made that trip TO Nshant, in your
freshman year. The truth is, faith
er was so poorly for along time
then, that l had everything to at
tend to, and felt as if the world was
on INV shoulders. did hear
! though, about yourfcollege honors
and Your going to Germany; and
often thought of you here lately
and wished to see you Why, Jack
in spite OF your weight, and your
| beard and broad shoulders, / cam
realize that ten years have passed
since we were in Exeter together
We must talk over old times anC
new. When did you get back, anC
what are your plans ?"
81 came yesterday, and stay in tht
city on account of business matters
until next Tuesday, then l am going
home"
''Wen, now, this is Saturday, anC
YOU can do nothing after fOu
O'Clock; come and spend Sunda!
with me in the country. 1 want t
show you my wife"
"Your wife! are you married
Tom?"
Married nearly year." said 1t
with a smile.
"You don't look very solemn owe
it."
"Solemn?" It's the jolliest thinj
l ever did in my life. Meet me a
the Eastern Depot at O'Clock and
will tell you all about it on tn
way" ---
We parted at the Winter stree
corner, he to 20 to his store, and
to the Parker House.
GLOW handsome Boston ha
grown" said 1, glancing at the fin
buildings, and the common beaut
eve think it a very nice town,
he replied, speaking with the mod
crate words and perfect assuranc
OF BostOnian to whom his city
the sum of excellence and deligh
Remember, four o'clock" And b
disappeared in the crowd.
Tom married !" l said to my
self as l walked along. Il dare SO
: it is to his fathers pretty ware
Clara MARYLAND, whom saw whe
. l spent the day there, eleven year
ago. 1 remember what long cur
she had, and how fond she was {
him. Yes, dare say it's TO Clar;
l hope, though she hasn't grown u
into one of those delicate young Ii
dies, good for nothing but to dii
play the latest fashions, and waltz
little, and torture the piano. Bette
some rosy, sturdy German Gretcl
en- than poor doll like them.
, would be s shame for Tom. with b
? splendid physique and his vigoroJ
brain, TO be tied for life to such
woman " And then turning dow
School street, my thoughts wal
: dered OH 10 the blue eyed girl ha
: loved for many years "A girl WI
> was not satisfied with the small tr
umphs of the crOquet ground, bI
who could s. nd an arrow home |
the marE; and climb the hills wit
I me, her step light and tree as Il
> deer's in the glade below, and hol
a steady oar in our boat, and swi
ashore if need should be; and the
+, when our walk or row was owe
could sit down TO lunch of co
meat and bread ana butter with 4
appetite as keen as ySung Indian
alter . days hunt; and who cou