The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-03-15
From Demorest's Young America.
TomTny's Pony.
BY ELLEN NJ. MITCHELL.

came home from over the seas, and
gave him new, crisp, two dollar
greenback. His cheeks grew redder
and redder, and his eyes shone
like stars. and his feet-why, they
wouldn't stand still, but kept jumping
up and down with all their might
Tommy was only seven years old, and
he'd never in his life had so much
money before. And OH what heaps
and heaps Of things 1t would buy-mar.
bles, and candy, and picture books,
and a great big wax doll for his baby
sister Dot, and he wasn't quite sure
but he thought 1T was enough to get
him a little pony, just like Jimmy
Lanes, That he could ride to water
Tommy had never studied arithme-
tie. and two dollars was an independ-
ent fortune III his eyes, and enough to
keep him in pocket money the rest of
his life His uncle had told him to
spend it for just what he liked, and
had given him piles and piles of the
most wonderful toys besides, real little
soldiers that could march and shout
der arms, and dogs that looked ex-
actly as if they were alive, and parked
and wagged their tails if you touched
a spring, and / can't begin to describe
the other presents, there were so
many, and they came from all sorts of
countries, China, and Hindostan, and
France, and Italy
And so Tommy, when he thought of
it, found he didn't need any marbles or
picture books nor was baby Dot in
the want ola doll, hadn't she got three {
and playhouse furnished complete
~, 10 l.++ 1,
going to spend his two dollars for any
such trash, and wouldn't they all be
surprised when he came home riding a
real live pony that he'd bought with his
own money? He knew of a man who
had one to sell; he had heard his father
talking about 1t that morning it was
Mr.. Pierson, and he lived just out of
the village. Tommy resolved that he'd
go and see this pony, and if he
liked it, just offer the owner the two
dollar greenback, and as to the result
why, he hadn't any doubt Of that For
if the man wanted to sell, he wouldn t
be likely to refuse money that was SO
clean, and new, and fresh, and that
rustled SO unsteady if you just crum-
pied it up in your hand.
So, having made up his mind, Tom
my went and asked his mother if he
could go out and take a walk. He was
a little solemn and mysterious about it,
and [ shouldn't wonder If she mis-
trusted something; but she didn't say
SO, she merely told him not to be gone
long; and that they were going to have
strawberry short cake for supper.
ooh, goody, goody! !" cried Tommy,
land please tell Polly to make a big
one, won't you, mammal"
His mother smiled, and told him he'd
better hurry back, or his father and
baby Dot would eat 1t all up, if it was
ever SO big.
''But | shall have two pieces certain,
shan't |, mamma, if I'm a good boy and
mind what you tell me 2"
Yes, and perhaps three" replied
she. Only don't want my little boy
to make a gluttOn of himself"
ssOf course not, and Tommy put on
an injured look. He knew the mean
ing Of the word; his mother had ex-
planned 1t to him some time before, and
full of the subject that was uppermost
in his mind, he told her confidentially
that Jimmy Lanes pony was glut-
ton"
~ = How DO you know, my son ~ in
quired she, very much amused
Why, he is all the time examining
himself with hay and oats, and doesn't
stop eating minute, except when
Jimmy drives him to water [ wouldn' t
have such pony as that, would you,
mamma? Ponies hadn't ought to be
gluttons any more than little boys"
But ponies haven't souls, returned
his mother, land little boys have
And don't you remember what | SAID
the other day about hadn't ought ~
''Oh, YES, that it wasn't proper /
forgot. But it is time | started, isn't
1T, mamma And [ want you
and papa AMI little Dot all to
be out on the front steps when
| come back. You'll be stonished to
see me, and think perhaps I'm Jimmy
Lane or some other little boy. And
Dot will clap her hands when she sees
the pony Tommy stopped all of a
sudden, and shut up his mouth tight,
and without another word ran down
the steps as fast as he could, for he
didn't want his mother to guess his
secret, and hadn't he come very near
telling here
just outside of the gate he overlook
little boy not much better than him.
self, with basket on his arm, full OF
China toys and vases.
''Oh, how pretty 2" said Tommy.
Where did you get 'em?"
cover at the store. Want to buy
any2" and the boy began to display
his wares
"What you selling EN- for p said
Tommy, amazed. Don't you like
EN-" Then, new light breaking in
upon him, he added. "Ob, | know,
you want to buy pony with the money,
don't you2'
"A pony" echoed the boy. q
don't know what you mean. Mother is
sick. and I've three little sisters, and
there's bread to buy, and the rent and
the doctors bill to pay, and oh dear
me- haven't sold thing yet"
Tommy looked thoughtful. IS I'm
sorry, !" said he, land II it wasn't for
the pony, Id"-he hesltated, and the
boy, seeing sympathy in his looks and
manner, nudged a little closer, and
grew more confidential.
Father is dead, and mother and
support the family, and now that she is
sick, 1t comes pretty hard on me. SO
mother sold her wedding-ring for two
dollars, and started me in business, for
Mrs. Murphy said | could make ever
so much money out of a little China"
Tommy didn't more than half under
stand Connnal ljl :, bo.,. l;.+1o