Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-11-29


mar?' .'---
This last question aroused the gentle-
man. and becoming sensible that the lit
tie fellow by his side was thrsting for
knowledge, he very kindly went over
such parts of his history as he thought
would be of interest to him. and saying
he was member of Congress.
The last announcement almost took
Toms breath away. lie had heard of
the members of Congress, but he had an
idea that they were myths, whom no.
body ever saw. Perhaps the awe with
which Tom regarded him as he glanced
up rideways into his face, fiattered the
gentleman, for he said, smiling:
You are just as likely to be a member :
of Congress as |. You know in Amer
iea, success is to the determined and
brave. If you study as did. you may
possibly rise as high-yes, perhaps high
err g
But L haven't any Latin grammar,
sir said Tom.
No, Well, would you like one?'
yes, sir cried Tom, with flashing
eyes.
well, my lad, | shall come this way
| again, and l will leave one at the school
house for you.'
But haven't any money
Never mind, yon can pay me when
you get to Congress
Thank you,' said Tom, Il won't for,
get it, SIR
The gentleman looked down at him
with quisical smile, and the two rode
on in silence until they reached the
school-house.
'Please don't forget the grammar
suggested Tom, as he lifted the old hat
| again.
Not L. returned the gentleman; "a
man who cannot keep a promise should
never make one-hey, my lad?'
Nell tossed her head. and the boy soon
lost sight of the rider. Then he looked
down at his shoes, at his coat, and his
old cap, as he hung it on the peg ia the
entry, and silently contrasted them all
with the fur-trimmed overcoat and out
| fit of the stranger. Never mind said
Tom to himself, Il will have them all,
too. when / am a member of Congress-
AT the end of two weeks, a bundle of
books was left at the schoOl-hOuse.-
There was not only Latin grammar.
but well-worn copy of Virgil, 1Esop's
Fables, and suLdry other volumes such
| rs Tom never saw before.
Pine knots were plentiful where Tom
lived, and she sat up until midnight all
the rest of the winter, pondering over
the mysteries of these books.
AS luck would have it, the schoolmas-
| ter, who boarded around with his pu-
pills, had not eaten the ratiOns due him
at Toms fathers. When he arrived lie
entered warmly into the boys ambitions
projects, and as he had a smattering of
Latin himself, was qualified to aid his
pupil.
Although the schoolmaster was al
lowed the use of a tallow candle, he vast
ly preferred the more brilliant light of
Toms pitch-knot; so that, as often as
the long winter evening set in, the mas
ter and pupil might be seen (and were
SEEM sitting before the large fireplace,
with their heads buried in the pages OF
books, along which they Dlodded slow
ly, but to such purpose that at the end of
the winter Tom could read his fable and
solve his problem in manner very
creditable TO himself and master.
1t was uphill work with poor Tom,
but he never lost what he gained, and
managed to make what little he accom-
plished, tell on the future.
One day his father brought home
stranger, and told Tom that he was ap-
prenticed during his minority to this
man. who would make him black
smith.
But | am not going to be black
smith, cried Tom i'll a passion; Pm GO
ing to Congress-
Il he more need you should learn to
shoe the horse that carries you there,
replied the father, with a shrug.
Tom packed up his worldly goods, not
forgetting his books, and trudgcd away
to distant village, where he pared
horses hoofs by day, and studied at
night by stealth, for he was allowed
neither knot nor candle.
Six months the poor fellow tried to be
faithful to his duty; but, one night.
| when his master had thrown his gram
mar into the fire, and lathered him for
disobedience, Tom took leave of the
workshop. He made his way, barefoot
ed us he was, over bogs and briars, uh-
til he ventured into the main road. and
by begging a ride now and then, reached
the city. As Ben Franklin had done
before him, with his roll under his arm,
he sought and obtained employment.
Perhaps the happiest time of Toms
life was when he found himself in the
antiquarian bookstore, with plenty of
leisure. plenty of books, and nothing to
fear from friend or foe. 1t was wonder
full how he read aud read. The parchei
earth does not more greedily take in the
summer rain.
When his intellectual thirst was par
TALLY satisfied, lie began to work. He
saw the ladder up which he must climb,
his way steadily upward. We all know
by what steps an ambitious man makes
progress, by patient toll by selt-tlenial.
by courteous department, by the COLI
slant acquisition of knowledge.
Years passed by, during all of which
Tom had looked in vain for his early
friend, the stranger. In his timid awk-
wardness he had not thought to ask the
name of his benefaetor, and the only OPP
portuEity TO do so had been lost
Well, years still slid away, and Tom
was elected member of Congress from
lhe very county where he spent his
struggling poyhoud. He went to WASH
sngton. not in cow-hide shoes and but
ternut homespun, hut dressed something
as imagination had pictured, as he
looked after his bcnefactor on the event
full day OF the sleigh-rile.
A nobler looking man, the ladies i'm the
galleries said, never had appeared upon
the floor. than this Yankee member.
who, if he spoke through his nose, al
ways drove his arrows home to the
mark. 81,
One day there appeared in the House
the venerable form of an eN-mcmber,
whom all present delighted TO honor
1t needed but one glance ut the genial
face for Tom to recognize in him the
giver of the Latin grammar, He had
come, lie Salu, 10 listen TO the SentIeinan
who had so maniuliy defended the right
and to wish him God-speed.
ST said Tom, with his old modesty,
1T has been my good fortune to do any
thing for our country in the honr of her
peril, | owe my ability to ITO SO in u
great measure to YOURSELF
80 me-! echoed the astonished gen
tloman; 'to me, 10 not recollect ever
having had the pleasure OF meeting you
before in my life.'
'Ah, sir; have you forgotten, then,
the little hoy among the hills ot New
Hampshire, tu whom YOU 50 kindly soll
Il Latin grammars'
The gentleman unused.
SOLD Latin grammar, Now that
you recall the incident, do recullect u
little fellow who Interested me. and Ia
whom gave some school books
well. sir, | am that boy. You toll
me that might pay for them when
got 10 Congress. Ii yon will honor me
by meeting few friends at dinner, /
will settle the bin ~