American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-07-10
Toms Delnge.

ONCE there was a troublesome boy,
named Tom, who was always in mischief
Not only that, but you never knew where
to have him, for he was an original youth
and broke out constantly in unexpected
places. He put the cat in walnut shell
boots and painted, her pink and green in
stripes. He took the wheels out of the
parlor clock to make "penny-spinners, !"
and even that was not the worst thing he
did.
One day his mamma and grown up sis
tiers went out and Master Tom was left all
alone in his glory. They didn't often
commit such an oversight, since there was
no telling what might happen before they
came back; however, at first he happened
to do nothing more than to sit on the cover
of the sewing machine, drawing horses all
over the fly leaves of his sisters fayorite
copy of Tennyson.s All at once a bright
book and jumped off the sewing machine,
enchanting: Good! L know what I'll
dot mean to set the water running in
the bath-tub and play with nay Noah's
arkir, s r,
Thereupon Master Tom jerked open the
drawer where his toys were kept, ierked
out the ark, examining in several stray an
imals that were kicking up their heels in
various corners and scampered down to
while.
Now, then, must turn on both faucets
so as to hurry up the water as fast as pos
sible. Goody! How deep it is gettingi
Make haste, Noah don't stop TO count
the grasshoppers, but pie. into your old
ark and shut the door quick! There-now
you're off-but it ought to be raining-if
you're Noah in the ark Ohio! I'll start
the shower bath going!'' and presently a
h
and rafting down, while Tom jumped up
and down in a perfect ecstacy of delight.
All at once the front deOr-bell rang.
"I wonder who that is?" thought Tom.
He listened.
=. Oh, there's Uncle Georgerp lie cried;
&c I'm going down to see-hiln this minute"
and, forgetting all about poor Noah, away
he scampered, slamming the bathroom
door behind him, and leaving the water
still running. I
His uncle, with whom he was great
favorite, was waiting in the hall
Well, young monkey he said, as
Toms curly head appeared at the top OF
the stairs, " do you want to take drive
to the park with me =" 49,
"Oh, don't 1, thought' cried Tom.
:" Please may / drive the buckle ?" by
which he meant being allowed to hold
the reins where they were buckled to-
gether.
Yes; just as you like--only hurry-I
don't want to keep the horse standing -l
Away flew Tom, but only to appear
again in two minutes, and to scramble
into the buggy like a lamp-lighter, when
off they went. Meantime the water was
rising higher and higher in the bath-tub,
and presently brimmed over andbcgan to
trickle slowly upon the floor. 1t ought to
have passed off through the op-drain, but
unluckily the day before Master Tom had
amused himself by plugging up the little
holes. Soon a slow but steady stream was
under the door, and making lit
tie alternate puddles and waterfalls down
the front stairs. And still nobody came
home.
After about an hour of this, John, the
black waiter, came into the dining room to
lay the table for dinner. He was just
by the side board arranging an
elegant pyi amid of fruit in glass dish,
when crash, bang! down fell big, square
yards of plaster on top of his poor pate,
and knocked him fiat upon the floor. The
water had gradually soaked through the
boards, and plaster ceilings will melt, you
know, if not quite us easily as sugar, yet
just as surely if you keep at them long
Up rushed the cook, leaving the roast
ing turkey TO take care of itself; and
when she saw the condition OF the dining
room, and poor John lying senscless on
the floor, She began to scream murder,
fire and thieves at the top of her voice,
which SO alarmed the housemaid that she
dropped her best buster into the parlor
fire, and rushed all the way down the
street calling for the police before it oe-
Cured to her to find out what was the
matter.
At This moment Toms mother and Sis
tiers returned, and when they found the
front door wide open and stream Of
water running along the entry and down
the front steps they were very nearly pet
rified with astonishment. just then up
came Tom and his uncle, who were walk
ing home from the stables, where they had
left the horse and buggy.
''Why, what is the matter here" ex
claimed his uncle; T" have your pipes
burst, that you are all overlooked like
this?"
Poor Tom! lie turned as red as beet
and then as white as this paper, but he
was truthful little chap with all his
faults, and in minute lie burst out with:
"Oh, mamma! oh, uncle, l dld tits
ma deluge! oh, ohP'
=" YOUR DELUGE:''