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


try again. You are going to school,
see, added the stranger, as he gathered
up the reins.
"Yes, sir"
"How far"
s'Guess it is about two miles from
here"
The gentleman turned and looked into
his face, and then glanced all over Tom
figure, even to his feet.
ale sees my shoes" thought Tom
proudly, to himself, giving his feet q
shove forward to make certain that they
should be seen.
The gentleman did see them, and smil-
ed in spite of himself as he glanced tc
Toms face.
He then kindly pulled the warm fun
around the boy, and pulling his cap over
his eyes, shouted, "Go along, Nell! And
the chestnut mare, now thoroughly so
bered, meekly commenced the ascent Of
what was known thereabouts as the long
hill She was evidently accustomed to
having her own way, for she availed her
self of every little chance to rest, and
did not allow herself to be pressed for
ward until the whip was applied.
Tom wondered what had possessed the
creature a few minutes before. lie
scratched his head on the right side and
then on the left, and finally, his Yankee
curiosity getting the better Of his diff
dence, he asked
IF you please, sir, what was it that
made the mare rum
A stump returned the gentleman,
with smile. Nell is little aristo-
cratic, and SHES at all such plebian things.
She does not know that a stump was the
making of her master.
Tom scratched his head again, and
wriggled all over. Then out came the
question:
How could a stump be the making
of a man
MY lad answered the stranger.
marking the white surface of the snow
gently with his whiplash, 81 was poor
boy, and my father could not afford to
send me TO school. We worked very
hard, but | used to study evenings by the
light Of the FIRE, and learned the whole
of the Latin grammar by the light OF
one pitch knot.
For moment Tom sat perfectly still.
Then he asked, as if ashamed of his
ignorance:
Please, sir, what Latin grammar:
This last question aroused the gentle
man, and becoming sensible that the little
fellow at his side was thirSting for knowl-
edge. he very kindly went over such parts
Of his history as he thought would be of
interest to him, and ended by saying that
he was 4 member of Congress.
The last announcement almost took
the lads breath away. lie had heard OF
members of Congress, but ne had an idea
that they were myths, whom nobody ever
saw. Perhaps the awe with which Tom
regarded him as he glanced up sideways
into his face hattered the gentleman, for
he said, smiling:
You are just as likely to be i mem
Der OF Congress as | You know, IN
America, success is to the determined and
brave. If you study as | did, YOU may
possibly rise as high-yes-peFhaps high
eri"
But | haven't any Latin grammar,
sir, said Tom.
No, Well, would YOU like one
"Yes, sir" cried Tom, with flashing
eyes.
"Well, my lad, l shall come this way
again, and will leave one at tn school
house for you
But | haven't any money.
Never mind, you can pay me when
you get to Congress.
Thank you, said Tom, IL won't
forget it, sir.
The gentleman looked down at him
with a quizzical smile, and the two rode
on in silence until they reached the school
house.
please don't forget the grammar"
suggested Tom, as he lifted the old cap
again.
Not ]" returned the gentleman,-"a
man who cannot keep promise should
not make one-hey, my lad :"
Nell tossed her head, and the boy soon
lost sight of the driver. Then he looked
down at his shoes, at his coat. and at his
old cap as he hung it on the peg in the
entry, aud silently contrasted them with
the fur-trimmed overcoat and outfit OF
the stranger. "Never mind" said Tom
to himself, Il will have them too, when
| am a member of Congress. -
At the end of two weeks, bundle Of
books was left at the school There
was not only Latin grammar, but a
well-worn copy of Virgil, Esop'S Fables,
and sundry other volumes such as Tom
had never seen.
Pine knots were plentiful where Tom
lived, and he sat up until midnight all
the rest of the winter, pondering over the
mysteries of those books.
AS good luck would have it, the school
master, who boarded around with his
pupils, had not eaten the rations due him
at Toms fathers. When he arrived, he
entered warmly into the lads ambitious
projects, and as he had smattering OF
Latin himself, was qualified to aid his
pupil.
Although the schoolmaster was allowed
the use of tallow candle, he vastly pre-