The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-07-14
Tommy Bobbitt.

Tommy Bobbitt.
Mr.. Pritchard lifted him out of the
wagon and set him down on the door
step. What little fellow he was, and
what a wondering, pleased look there
was in his ewes. He had on coarse
shoes, blue check apron, and his pref
ty brown bair was cropped close under
the shabby cap. 1t was almost too cold
a day for such little boy to be out
without a coat. Mrs. Pritchard took
him by the hand to lead him in, and the
little hand chung conidingly to hers.
whats your name, dear 2" she asked
pleasantly.
"Tommy Bobbitt, (" he answered read
lily. sam going to stay here9'
"Folks all dead, said Mr.. Pritchard.
"Mother went month or so back. 1
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 / 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 serpent in our old
age"
"Oh know Tommy will be nice
little boy" said the wife, kindly.
He certainly did not look like bad
boy, as he stood there, thinking how
good and warm the fire was, and admir-
ing 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 low chair by the stove and gave
him bowl of warm bread and milk.
The Pritchards we're farming people
and well.to-do. They had never had a
child of their own, and, after much con-
sideration, had decided to adopt boy
when suitable one could be found.
Word reached them that child
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 gingerbread man which he
knew to be at that moment baking III
the oven for him. Mrs. Pritchard, as
she cleared away her morning work, was
planning how to cut over dark brown
mantle, that hung unused i'll 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 q
good cap.
Nobody knew how dIeary and forlorn
a life it had been in the county house
f or q little year-old boy, suddenly
left friendless. He had wandered, shiv-
ering, in the yard, sometimes picking
up here and there red leaf to play with.
He had hung around i'll the big, cheer
less room, where q few decrepit old wo-
en- sat, because in the men 8 room there
was a loutish, half-witted fellow, who
frightened him. Nights he slept with a
dreadful boy, three times as old as HIM
self, 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
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.
"He's got meat in him, said the far
mer, nodding approvingly "but DOM
know whether he's honest yet. That's
the thing, to my mind"
Tommy had been there q week, haG
one week of sunshine, when the blacl
cloud came down upon him.
Farmer Pritchard had cough, which
was apt to trouble him Mt night, and OF
the bureau, near the head of his bed, h,
kept few gum-drops, which he coul(
reach out and get to soothe his throa
when the coughing came ON. One fore
noon, CHANGING to go into his bedroom
his eye fell upon the little paper bag, ant
he saw there was not q single gun-drol
there. SOD
"That rogue Tommy has been mere,
he said to himself. "I know there wer
five or six when / went to bed last night
and, for wonder, did not take singh
one Tommy Tommy! Look here
Have you been getting my gum-dropsI
" Tommy, who was playing in the door
looked up brightly, and said /: "No.
didn't get any.
"Di1 you take them, Lucy 2" aske
the farmer, turning to his wife"
Mrs. Pritchard had not touched them
and her heart sank as she said so ; TO
who was there left to do it but httl
Tommy Her husbands face gre
- |" Tommy" he said, "you need not b
afraid to tell the truth. Didn't yo
take the gum-dropsl 2"
"No, Il didn't" replied Tommy
readily. 4 flf t.til
"Oh yes you did, Tommy. Nov
tell the truth.
"No, / didn't"
"This is bad. very bad, indeed sal
Mr. Pritchard, sternly. "This is VIII:
4 have been afraid of.
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