The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1876-07-19
TOMMY BOBBITT.

N. Y. Independent.
Nj. Pritchard lifted him out of the
wagon and set him down on the door
step. What a little fellow he was,
and what a wondering, pleased look
there was in his eyes. He had on
coarse shoes, a blue check apron, and
his pretty brown hair was cropped close
under the shabby cap. 1t was almost
too cold a day for such a little boy to
be out without a coat. Mrs. PrItchard
took him by the hand TO lead him in,
and the little hand chung confdingly
to hers.
Whats your name dear" she
asked pleasantly.
Tommy Bobbitt," he answered,
readily. "Am I going to stay here ?"
Folks ali Dead" said Mr.. Pritch-
ard. mother went a month or so
back. l told them over to the coun-
ty-house we'd take him and try him,
and if he suited we'd keep him and do
well by him. We don't know what
kind of stock he is yet; and if ! find
any mean, dishonest tricks in him
back he goes. We don't want to adopt
a boy, and set by him, and him sting
us like a serpent in our old age"
"Ohl | know Tommy will be a
nice little boy" said the wife, kindly.
He certainly did not look like Il bad
boy, as he stood there, thinking how
good and warm the fire was and ad-
miring the bright tins, the shining oil
cloth, the cat on the rug, and, most of
all, the cheery-faced woman, who now
seated him in q low chair by the stove
and gave him q bowl Of warm bread
and milk.
The Pritchards were farming people
and weIL-to-do. They had never had
a child of their own, and, after much
consideration, had decided to adopt
q boy when q suitable ii could be
found. Word reached them that q
child four years old had recently been
left upon the town, and Mr.. Pritch-
ard, on driving over to see about it,
had brought the little fellow over ON
trial.
An hour after the farmer was out
facing the rorth wind and harvesting
his pumpkins; while Tommy Bobbitt,
in the warm kitchen, lay on the rug,
with his arms over the old cats neck,
thinking happily of a gingerbread man
which he knew to be at that moment
baking in the oven for him. Mrs.
Pritchard, as she cleared away her
morning work, was planning how to
cut over a dark brown mantle, that
hung unused in the garnet, into a
warm, comfortable coat for Tommy to
wear when he went riding and Sun
days. She meant to knit him some
thick stockings at once and get him q
good cap.
Nobody knew how dreary and for
lorn a life it had been in the county
house for a little four-year-old boy,
suddenly left friendless. He had
wandered shivering, in the yard, some
times picking up here and there a red
leaf to play with. He had hung
around the big, cherries room, where
a few decrepit old women sat, because
in the mems room there was a loutish,
half-witted fellow, who frightened
him. Nights he slept with a dreadful
boy, three times as old as himself, who
said things to scare him, who pulled
all the bed-clothes away, and kicked
in his sleep. And nobody knew how
his little heart had ached for the dead
mother who, though poor and unfor-
t%unate, had sheltered him to the
last.
But now in his warm, new home, he
frightened into a rosy, pretty boy.
He had new shoes and stockings, and
Mrs. Pritchard made him the little
coat, with q motherly instinct growing
in her heart with every stitch. He
learned the different rooms, and ran
about them fearlessly; he made funny
little speeches; he jumped and
laughed like other happy boys, and
climbed boldly on farmer Pritehard's
knee, when that good man sat down
to take his ease after supper.
Hes got meat in him." said the
farmer, nodding approvingly "but
I don't know whether he's honest yet.
That's the thing, to my mind"
Tommy had been there q week, had
one week of sunshine, when the black
cloud came down upon him.
Farmer Pritchard had a cough,
which was aptto trouble him at night,
and on the bureau, near the head of
his bed, he kept a few~gumdrops, which
he could reach out and get to soothe
his threat when the coughing came on.
One forenoon, CHANGING to go into his
bedroom, his eye fell upon the little
paper bag, and he saw there was not a
single gumdrop there.
"Thatrogue Tommy has been here.
he said to himself. az know there
we're five or six when / went TO bed
last night; and, for a wonder Ibid not
lake a single one. Tommy! TOMMY
Have you been getting my gum
droBf
Tommy, who was playing in the
door, looked up brightly, and said
mo, | didn't get any"
Did you take them, Lucy asked
the farmer, turning to his vile.
Mrs. Pritchard had not touched
them, and her heart sank as she said
so; for who was there left to do II but
little Tommy? Her husbands face
grew grave.
Tommy he said, you need not be
afraid to tell the truth. Didn't YOU
take the gumdrops r