The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-07-13
Tommy BObbitt.

step. What little fellow he was, and
what wondering, pleased look there
was in his eyes. He had on coarse
shoes, a blue check apron, and his pref
.ty brown bair was cropped close under
the shabby cap. It was almost too cold
day for such little boy to be out
without coat. Mrs. Pritchard took
him by the hand TO lead him In, and the
little hand chung confdingly to hers.
"What's your name, dear?" she asked
pleasantly.
'sTommy Bobbitt," he answered read
lily. Gam going to stay here9"
"Folks all dead, said Mr.. Pritchard.
Z" Mother went a. month or SO back.
told them over to the county-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 I find any mean, dishonest tricks
in him, back he goes. We don't want
to adopt boy, and set by him, and have
him sting US like a serpent In our old
age"
ooh! [ know Tommy will be nice
little boy" said the wife, kindly.
He certainly did not look ike bad
boy, as he stood there, thinking how
good and warm the fire was, and admir-
ing the bright tins, the shining oi-cloth,
the cat on the rug, and. most of all, the
cheery-faced woman, who now seated
him in a low chair by the stove and gave
him q bowl of warm bread and milk.
The Pritchards were farming people
and well-to-do. They had never had a
child Of their own, and, after much con-
tsideration, had decided to adopt boy
when suitable one could be found.
Word reached them that a child 4
years old had recently been left upon
the town, and Mr.. Pritchard, on driving
over to see about it, had brought the
little fellow over on trial.
An hour after the farmer was out, fac
ing the north wind and harvesting his
pumpkins while Tommy Bobbitt, in
the warm kitchen, lay on the rug, with
his arm 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 warm, comfortable coat for Tommy
to wear when he went riding and
sundays. She meant to knit him some
thick stockings at once and get him a
good cap.
Nobody knew how dreary and forlorn
a life it had been in the county house
for a little 4 year-old boy, suddenly
left friendless. He had wandered, shiv-
~ering, in the yard, sometimes picking
up here and there a red leaf to play with.
He had hung around Ill the big, cheer
less room, where few decrepit old wo-
~en sat, because in the men 8 room there
was q loutish, half-witted fellow, who
frightened him. Nights he slept with
dreadful boy, three times as old as him.
self, who said things to scare him, who
pulled all the bed-cfothes away, and
kicked in his sleep. And nobody knew
how his little heart had ached for the
dead mother who, though poor and
unfortunate, had sheltered him to the
last.
But now, in his warm new home, he
frightened into rosy, pretty boy. He
had new shoes and stockings, and
Mrs. Pritchard made him the little
coat, with 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 Pritchard's knee, when
that good man sat down to take his ease
after supper.
Giles got meat in him" said the far
mer, nodding approvingly; "but [ don't
hoe hot PC
the thing, to my mind"
Tommy had been there week, had
sone week of sunshine, when the black
cloud came down upon him.
Farmer Pritchard had cough, which
was apt to trouble him at night, and on
the bureau, near the head of his bed, he
kept few gum-drops, which he could
reach out and get to soothe his throat
when the coughing came on. One fore
noon, CHANGING to go into his bedroom,
mis- eye fell upon the little paper bag, and
he saw there was not single gum drop
there.
That rogue Tommy has been here, y
he said to himself. 81 know there were
five or six when I went to bed last night;
and, for wonder, did not take single
one. Tommy! Tommy! Look here |!
Have you been getting my gum-drops?"
Tommy, who was playing in the door,
looked up brightly, and said mo. 1
didn't get any.
"Dia you take them, Lucy ?" asked
the farmer, turning to his wife,"
Mrs. Pritchard had not touched them,
and her heart sank as she said so for
who was there left to do it 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 gum-drops ?"
seNo, I didn't" replied Tommy,
readily.
"Ohl yes you did, Tommy. Now,
tell the truth.
"No, I didn't"