The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1873-05-22
IDAHO WORLD.
LITTLE TOMMY.
HOW ms FATHER PERSUADED HIM IT WAS SAoAh !
nr POLITICIAN THAN PIRATE.

Penny who read the New York Ledger
TN his mind became filled with all kinds
If fine stories about the sea. So he
told his father he wanted to be pirate.
But his father told him it was just as
good to be politician. Then Tommy
cried and said, "No, he would be pi-
rate or nothing"
His kind father took him on his knee
and said: "My dear boy, you have a
character, but why do you want to be
a pirate? Is It not to sail in ship on
the sea, with big cutlass in your belt,
and to kill other people and get lots
of money and live in cave on some
lovely island? That is the way that
Captain Kidd did, and many other bold
sailors in the good old times now gone.
But, Tommy, it is not the fashion to do
these things now, and if you tried it
YOU would soon be caught and hanged,
Tommy, and how would you like that ?
Papa don't want his little son to be
hung. So let US hear no more of piracy;
YOUR education shall hereafter be con-
Quoted with view to politics. So run
away, papa's busy now"
."No, father, said Tommy, IL want
to know what is politician !"
"a politician" said his father, "is a
kind Of pirate-a land pirate-who
does in genteel and easy way what
Captain Kidd and the Black Buccaneer
of the bluff did so clumsily, and at such
great risk. Those pirates plumber indi-
viduals; the politicians plumber the
whole community, city, State and
sometimes nation. He makes much
money and becomes great man. Faith
er is trying to be politician himself"
Little Tommy's eyes sparkled with
delight; he clapped his hands and cried,
"Oh, daddy, l want to be politician!
Tell me about some of them. Did you
ever see one?" f~.t III.
~ ayes; you can read Of them in the
papers, in which the criminal stories
are much more wonderful than the New
York Ledger tales. You should read
the debates in Congress, in the Legisla-
ture and in the Councils, Tommy. They
will fire your youthful ambition"
"Tell me some of these stories,
please" said Tommy.
Well, once upon time" said his
father, "there was an old pirate named
Ames, who had band of other pirates
who called themselves the Credit Mo-
biliers. There was a great railroad,
worth lots of money, and in the treas.
ury of the people there was lots more.
So Ames and his band made a raid
upon the road and the treasury, and
stole millions Of dollars. After a while
they were caught, and the Congress of
the United States pretended to try them.
But see, Tommy, how nice it is to be a
politician. Had they been pirates they
would have been put in prison; but as
they were only politicians, Congress
let them off and said they did nothing
wrong" q ~ --9
"Tell me another story, father" said
Tommy.
"Well, another time there was pi
rate-I mean a politician, who went
around at election time cheating, and
he cheated, and he cheated, just as Cap.
tain Kidd sailed, and sailed, and sailed.
Well, he was caught and put in prison.
Yes, Tommy, the naughty judges sent
him to the prison for three years. But,
because he was politician, the Presi-
dent pardoned him in three weeks.
Now, if he had been pirate they would
have kept him in JAIL"
just one more story, please papa"
said Tommy, II like these stories much
better than the others, for they are true y
"The Evans case" said his father to
himself, in musing way, the pardon
of Yerkes, water department, convicted
felons in Office, Caldwell, Pomeroy, Pat
terson, Cofax-hum! hum!-highway
committee, Siner, Philadelphia BOOSTERS
there are such a lot of good stories
Tommy, that l don't know which to
tell you. Well think it over some 9th
er time. But, if you really intend to
be politician, there is a great deal to
be learned, and you must study now
when you are young"
"Yes, father, l WILL" said Tommy.
"When was a boy" continued his
father, II did not have your advant
ages. Ny parents sent me to Sunday
school, and whipped me when / stole
apples Or told fibs. was afraid to de.
velop my natural talents. They taught