Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-14
Calls and Sketehes.
OUR TOMMY.
A story for Children.
BY CONSTANCE STERLING.


back the roses to my checks, which q winters
dissipation has killed. To my surprise. and /
might as we'll confess il, my dissatisfaction found
that my friend Mrs. Alderman and her little son
Tommy were already at the farm house where l
was to spend my summer. | had seen Tommy
several times and heard of him many more and
had no very strong wish to he brought into in
innate companionship with him. He was four
years old and SO full of mischief that he was q
terror to mother, servants and friends, and al
though Mrs. Alderman was hospitable enough
few availed themselves of her hospltality-such
was The popular dread of Tommy.
consented to share Mrs. Alderman's room at
the farm house. Tommy's crib being in one cor
ner OF the spacious apartment, and Immediately
began TO unpsck my trunks, Mrs. Alderman assist
ing The tea bell rung, and We went TO the table
eager for the fresh MILK honey and strawberries
50 temptingly displayed but where was Tommy
No Tommy was to be seen, and We all volunteered
to assist IN the search for the missing boy. In
vain we called and shouted, and examined every
building on the premises-uo trace Of The truant
could we see. Poor Mrs. Alderman was nearly
frantic with anxiety and looked into the well and
the flour barrel, the hen coops and the water
troughs, IN search of her only boy. At last saw
stairway leading to a small loft in the granary,
and clinging to torlorn hope, ascended. To
my surprise | saw, hanging against the side of
the granary loft, from strings tied 10 ma lis, nine
little chickens all dead Near by sat Tommy busilv
engaged IN tying string to the leg of the tenth
| little victim. He greeted me cheeriully:
. q
jun. and desc are my taptives. We've had fight
and I've titled 'em all
Tommy, You cruel boy" cried. "where did
you get them p
80, dey was il de hay a scrstchn round. De
old hen was awful mad, but put her in the water
barrel. She bit me some fore got her in
lie nodded toward large barrel near by, and
looking saw large brown hen, which was the
pride OF the farmers wife.
Leaving the nine little chickens still dangling
against toe wall, took Tommy down the stair
way and gave him up TO his doting mother, who
hfs; kissed and then spanked the naughty boy.
The next day | was sewing in my own room,
| when Tommy entered, aud overturnipg my work
| basket in his hurry to reach me said
connie. won't you come to my title party, rse
dot IN de yard, and i've dot everything nice. Ma
ma dave ne some molasses, and / cooked my fngs
in my boiling pot"
Willing to please him, went with him to the
yard, and there under tree his toy stove with
its pots and pans. and brisk fire burning in il.
AS took seat at the table constructed of
large stone and dilapdated washboard, Tommy
, observed quietly
"You know dose title tickens | titled yesterday
Well, 'em for my party"
He Immediately placed on the table small dish
containing the ten little chickens boiled in molas-
ses, and presenting miserably mussed and ragged
appearance. 81 can't eat those, Tommy" said
as soon as | could stop laughing long enough to
speak.
"Pll show You how" and the boy actually seized
one of the choice bits on the plate and bit it into.
| seized the whole dish and threw it into pond
| near by, much to Tommy's wrath and astonish-
| ment. He howled ana ragged so that went into
| the house leaving him kicking and screaming ON
| the ground, bewailing the loss of his tea party.
| Mrs. Cary, one of the bosrders at the farm
| house had d child named Henry, quiet docile
little fellow, just the opposite of our wicked little
Tommy. On llenrys birthday he was presented
| by his father with a rabbit and five young ones
| only few days old. They IRE ali placed in a
m Pn WI hal happ aea1 fnr n.ha
we III took pleasure in watching the affectionate
mother ~Gg cared so tendery for her helpless
| little ones.
Tommy was particularly fond of visiting the
| hutch, and stuck his curly head in at the hutch
door so frequently, that the poor rabbit mother
| must have thought he was intent en- wearing out
| his welcome. But he never offered to touch them
and we all united in saying how good our Tommy
| was getting 10 be.
| One August night fearful storm frightened all
| the occupants of the farm house. The lightning
flashed and the thunder pealed all night long, and
| we heard the crash of falling trees every few
minutes, and we also heard Tommy every few
| minutes, for be kept asking all night long, if
| didat think the little rabbits must be drowned.
| He proposed putting on his little "gungn rubb,r
boots aud going out to see, but we succeeded af-
ter some difficulty IN persuading him to relinquhh
| this brilliant idea.
| At egnt o'clock when awoke, saw that Tom
| mys bed was empty, and surmised that he bad
risen early and gone to after the welfare of the
beloved rablts, and as had heard no wall of grief
| presume the little creatures bad been found safe
| But no Tommy appeared at the breakfast table,
| and we were about to look for him, when Henry
| burst into the room, his Eyes drowned in
| tears, and wild with excitement.
| MY little rabbits are gone,' he cried "Some-
body has taken them all.
| That Tommy! we all exclaimed.
| We all started on the search for the boy and the
rabbits but were unsuccessful until opened the
door of small wash-house, used 10 winter only,
| and there was Tommy pilug wood on a stove in
which hot fire was already burning.
| Tommy Alderman !" cried, dreadful FORE
bodng of evil chilling my heart. "where are
those rabbits :"
| "Connie, IN d warmin en-"
| With frantic haste threw open the oven doors,
and there in bake pan, arranged in row, were
| the five little rabbits baked to a crisp.
Tommy they're dead" | said.
| go no, they can't be, Connie. They're alive
yet, for they tcked when | put 'em in. They was
| title damp and fought Ia better warm EN-
IL is use less to 90 into the heartrending details
of Henry's anguish and Tommy's spanking. We
had large rabbit funeral, and the boarders SOL
emnly buried the five little victims under a rose
bush and Tommy was not allowed to attend the
funeral to his loud grief and despair. for be de.
clared "he d made the funeral, aud ought to go
TO it, and that they wouldn't have had it if he
hadn't baked the rabbits.
| o, the mischief that Tommy did during the
summer His mother was glad to get him back
to town in October.
| Meeting Mrs Alderman the street month
| later | asked after Tommy.
| go Constance" she walled, 81 am in deep des-
4 pair about our Tommy. for he has cut up my best
bonnet, melted four silver spoons, trying to make
bullets, drowned the kittens in the water barrel,
killed the canary with his pop gun, filed the cas-
tor bottles with sand, hoed up my geranums,
broken my watch. and used up all his clothes. II!
be heartily glad to get him into the country
again.