Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-07
The Story of Poor Tom.

IL Wab IN the lOVely spring-tmc that the
baby began to breathe The mother looked
very cbildlike and pretty as she lay, day
after day, holding the baby's tiny hand in
her gentle clasp, looking at his fair, round
face, and weaving romances in which the
baby, the baby's father, and herself, we're
the principal characters, and which always
ended very happily indeed. When she
awoke from slumber aud heard the rose
branches tap gently against her blinds, as
the CHEEKY wind moved them briskly to and
fro, and the blue birds sing in the garden,
she liked to lie for little time listening,
with her eyes shut, and wondering if it were
a dream that with these guests had come
an especial gift for her, turning at last her
head gently on her pillow, to assure herself
Of the truth Sometimes the tears came as
she thought how much the little QUO must
learn, and how little she could teach him,
for she seemed to herself but a poor, foolish
girl.
The mother became strong, and the baUy
grew so large that he had to be called
more fitting name than Baby, and became
little Tom. lie was fair to see--a sturdy
rosy child with a CLEAN of gold in his
curs.
When little Tom was FIVE years old his
father died, aud 10 there was no more
beautiful home and easy life for the young
mother, for the father had spent money
faster than he earned it, and the fine house
and furniture were sold to pay his ! d,bts.--
Such plans as little Tom and his mother
had " [ wish | knew how to do many
things, so that / could earn more money
for my little Tom" the delicate mother
said often to her small confdant, "but you
and | can be brave, and work hard, can't
we, love ?" Often the child ran in from
his play to assure himself that she was not
crying " for am your little friend, mann
ma, and am going to take care Of you
pretty soon amt ?" the child would cry,
and the mother, cheered in spite of her re-
grets and anxieties, struggled on and on.
1t was true that she could not earn much
money, for she had not been taught to
work, but she knew how to make little do
much for Toms comfort. She taught a
child's school, aud copied law papers, and
sewed far into the night, thus keeping the
wolf, Want, from the door, although he
often seemed dangerously near her.
She grew pale and thin, and felt herself
dying before her time But soon Tom
will care for me if need care, she thought,
aud toilet on.
When the boy was sixteen years old,
there had come sad change since the time
when he called himself his mothers little
friend, and was ready to brave the world
for her sake. 1t had come so gradually
that she could not tell when he ceased tc
be loving and helpful, and became unkind
wilIiul, defiant when be began to prefer tc
hers the society that he found in the streets
The mother demonstrated gently. "My
dear" she said, "it cannot be right that
young boys should be away from their home.
and those who love them best, evening after
evening; it is the first step in weary road
that ends--l do not know where"
Mother" replied the boy, "do you think
| would do a base thing2 Am | liar OF
a thief that cannot be trusted?" and he
went his wilful way, blind to his danger
He loved his mother, but he thought him
self wiser than she. What did womer
know about men? They were always s,
fussy, and thought a fellow going to ruin i
he were out of sight for an hour"
Tom was witty and agreeable, and h,
made many friends amongst the men in thu
billiard-rooms, at whose playing he looked
with interest. "But Tom,' said the anxiou,
mother, "you must not 60 to billiard.rooms
The men whom you meet there are not saf,
companions for you | see sad change il
you since you preferred them TO your moth
err aud the poor woman sobbed bitterly
Her tears melted the boys heart, aud ht
promised obedience, and for a time KEEP
away from the old attractions; but little b,
little he yielded to the tempter, and agaiI
! there we're nights when the suffering moth
er lay sleepless, hour after hour, her hear
beating unanimously with anguish as sh,
listened and prayed in vain to hear he
boys footstep on the stairs. And still
! Tom felt safe-he only wanted a good time
Would he drink ? Would he gamble II,
knew himself and his duty, be hoped.
His mothers face was haunted by paiI
, and care, although she smiled when sh,
met her child, and strove harder than eve
I to make the little home attractive. Sh,
saved for him the choicest food --she scan
ned the new books, that she might talk I,
him of the themes of the times--she coax
: ed her flowers to bloom, and eulled he
) roses to adorn the table. Tom cared bu
little now for books and flowers. He begaI
to relish the coarse talk of base men, ant
oaths were frequent on his lips. Suffering
ate deep lines in the tender beauty of hi
mothers face, and turned her dark curls Il
gray and people began to whisper tina
Tom was killing his mother, wondering a
his ingratitude. But he told her, owe
r and over, that he loved her dearly. III
thought he did, but he loved better his owl
selfish pleasure.
There came time when the boy begal
, to bet upon the games he witnessed, and Il
, win little at first only to lose more an,
6 more, as he got excited. One night, lon
after midnight, he crept quietly in to hi
i home like guilty creature. His mothe
t left her bed to meet him, and give him. a
her custom was, goodnight kiss, and sh
saw by the moonlight bis face haggard an
; wretched. She clasped him close, and cale'
him tender names, and be wept, callin
I himself wretch and told her that he hal
lost at the biliard-table fifty dollars Of hi
! employers money, and was ruined.
ave will raise the money my child,
c cried the dear mother, "and ycu will Sc
q your danger and stop here, and the old day