The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1876-12-22
mPoor little Tommy he said, and fold

gu Inc lOuciy llttIc 1eiloH W Alo DoootA"
II will never go away from you," the
boy cried, his heart full of gladness at the
caress.
"She said-be true to father, and try to-
make him better, 50 that we may be all to-
gether there
He pointed with his little finger toward
the blue sky, the man shuddered, for to
him the gulf lying between his present life
and the one which he felt assured she had
entered seemed impossible.
For time he kept sober; but there
came night when Tommy waited his
coming in. vain. The old life had not
faded from the boys mind. When he
heard his step, he cowed down in silence,
his little heart beating painfully, for we'll
he remembered the cruelty Of the heavy
hand, and she was not here to turn aside
the unmerited blow, All /! It IS an old
story no words are pathetic enough to
do it justice.
The house in which TomnY lived, and
where the father slept in drunken stupor,
was near the levee Of the great city
Among the many neglected children, house
less and uncared for, it is no wonder that
Tommy should be destitute. And yet the
small bit of humanity struggled bravely
for his livelihood. It was his own small
fingers that had so carefully repaired the
worn pants, thatnow and then washed the
tattered shirt, and tried, in memory OF his
sainted mother, to make himselfwhole and
clean, as she had loved him. And yet the
poor little effgy Of older humanity, with
his old ways, often made caricature OF
himself, ard the passer-by would turn with
smile to catch another glimpse of the
strange creature.
Briml sss hat, old shoes, immensely toe
large, clothes repaired with all the colors
of the rainbow, great hollow eyes, han
long-and if combed hanging in lank
strings-this was Tommy as the street
knew him. But, as the angel mother
smiling down in unutterable compassion
upon his baby struggle, watched him, who
shall dare say how glorious he seemed tc
her.
While the summer lasted it was not SC
great.a struggle to live, but when the win
4 ter came on with its fierce winds, which
searched through and through the misera
BE dwelling. finding all Of the creyices
and sending in with It's icy, whistling breath
the cold, then it was that little Tommy
drew lis rags closer about him, and care
fully replenisbed out Of his miserable store
of water-soaked wood his scanty fire.
Then it was, too at he would look ou2'
through the falling snow, AMI listen with
one little hand held to his ear for his drunk
en- fathers step. And, finally, if the hou'
grew late, he would hurry away toward th'
town, and watch along the road or fngel
in front Of the low groggery where he wa
sure to be, for the nights were cold ane
had not she said, tTommy, take care 9
your father ?" If he should fall down b,
the way and die by himself, what would tn
mother say to him-Tommy-who had le
him die unfit to be there?
1t was great care on the boys younl
mind, And often he was cursed, AM
beaten, and kicked, and bruised, and hl
little loving heart tortured and lacerated
until it would have been mercy had 60
taken him from the world.
Who Tommy was, seemed to have fade
from his faithless fathers mind. 1t wa
in the spring that we knew him. After
ton had been called to the sadness Vi n
case, and several ladies took it upon'fhen
selves to make him an offer ofa bette
: home.
; ; "Thank you, madam, but I have him
! care for. He isn't much to me, as you sa'
but he was great deal to her, and #
fails to meet her up there, I'm sure 81
don't care to stay. am to make HIM pc
> ter, | don't know can't see how L "a
to do it-but somehow it must be done.-
! He doesn't care for me- / know; an" Afez
be glad If / was dead; but ! cant g
;; now, though ] am awful tired Of trying
live on without her. Thank you all Il
same, but can't leave him"
! No amount Of persuasion could turn 7
? little fellow aside from his resolution. /
! adhered to it with stubbornness that v
}, ezasperating to the kind hearts that we
d longing to aid him.
Often the child wentsupperless, that t
. father might have crust Of bread az
$ the only thanks he received Ibr his sac
i fee was a curse because it was not bett
n or more.
The spring came on, with its warm raj
nj and the SHOWS had melted o8 tbs mou
. tains and the uplands, and had filled 7
$ great river to oyerRowing. The peoE
5, were talking il the streets Of the great e