Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-12-09

One day his father brought home a
stranger, and told Tom that he was ap-
prenficed, during his minority, TO this
man. who would make him blacksmith.
but am not going to be black
smith" cried Tom, in passion; I'm
going to Congress-"
1.-The more need that you should learn
to shoe the horse that carries you there,
replied the father, with a shrug.
Tom packed up his worldly goods, not
forgetting his books, and trudged away
to a distant village, where he pared
horses hoofs by day, and studied and
read at night by stealth, for he was al
lowed neither knot nor candle.
Six months the poor fellow was faith
full to his duty; but one night, when his
master had thrown his grammar into the
fire, and lathed him for his disobedience,
Tom took leave of the workshop. He
made his way, barefooted as he was,
over bogs and briars, until he ventured
into the main road, and by dint of
begging ride now and then, reached the
city, whereas Ben Franklin had done
before him-with his roll under his arm,
he sought and obtained employment.
Perhaps the happiest day of Toms life
was when he found himself in the anti
quarian bookstore with plenty Of leis-
ure, plenty of books, and nothing to fear
from friend or foe. 1t was wonderful
how he read-and read The parched
earth does not more greedily take the
summer rain.
When his intellectual thirst was par
TALLY satisfied, he began mis- work. He
saw the ladder up which he must climb.
and seizing the lowest round, he made
his way steadily upward. We all know
by what steps an ambitious man makes
progress-by patient toil-by self-denial
by courteous deportment-by the con
staut acquisition of knowledge.
Years passed by, during all of which
Tom had looked in vain for his early
friend, the stranger. In his timid awk-
wardness, he had not thought TO ask the
name of his benefactor, and the only op
portunity to do so had been lost.
Well. years slid away, and Tom was
elected member Of Congress from the very
county where he spent his struggling boy
mood. He went 10 Washington, not in
cowhide shoes and butternut-colored
homespun, but dressed something as i'm
agination had pictured, as he looked after
his benciactor on the eventful day of the
sleigh-ride. A nobler looking man. tine
ladies in the galleries said, never had APP
pcared upon the floor than this Yankee
member, who, if he spoke through his
nose. always drove his arrows home to
the mark.
One day there appeared in the House
the venerable form of an ex-member,
whom all present delighted to honor. II
needed but one glance at that genial face
for Tom to recognize the giver Of the
Latin grammar. "He had come, he
said, ITO listen to the gentleman who had
so manfully defended the right, and to
wish him Godspced.'
III" said Tom with his old modeSty,
''if it has beenl my good fortune to do
anything for our country in the hour OF
her peril. owe my ability to do 80, IN a
great measure, 10 yourself.
ITO me-" echoed the astonished gen
tleman; Ito me. | do not recollect ever
having had the pleasure of meeting you
before in my life
"Ah, sir, have YOU forgotten, then, the
little school boy among the hills Of New
Hampshire, to whom you 50 kindly sold
a Latin grammar
The gentleman mused.
''Sold-sold Latin grammar Now
that YOU recall the incident, do recollect
a little fellow that interested me, and to
whom gave some school books"
"Well, sir, am that boy. You told
me that l might pay for them when | got
to Congress. If you will honor me by
meeting few friends at dinner | will
settle the bill. ."-Ho usehold.