Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1879-11-29
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 20. 1879.
HOW TOM BECAME MEMBER OF
CONGRES

There was a little fellow among the
New England hills, years ago, as there
are MANY now, whose parents were poor.
He could not remember the time when
he wore shoes and stockings in the sum-
mer. Sometimes in the winter, when
he was obliged to walk three miles to
school, and wade through snow drifts
that did not melt until the last of May he
did wear such as his father had rejected,
and pair of shoes that slipped up and
down every step he took Nevertheless,
they were shoes and stockings; and he
was infinitely prOuder of them than any
king living is of his crown.
One day, as Tom was plOdding along
with his slip-shOd shoes, putting from
exertion, and blowing his blue fingers
to keep them warm, there came dashing
down the hill a sleigh such as the
yOungster had never seen; no, indeed, not
even dreamed of. And the horse! Tom
stopped blowing, so intense was his adj
miratiOn of the elegant creature that
came fOaming and tossing its daintily
arched neck right and left.
Tom Sprang aside at the very last mo-
ment, and as he sank up to his chin in
the light snow, tore off his old cloth cap
from his head, and bObbed up and down
as if he were in the presence of the
President.
Jump on behind, my lad" shouted
the rider; lump on behind" And Tom
did jump on, at the peril of his life, and
away they went tearing along with
great speed until over went riders and
buffalOes, and things generally.
Tom sprang to the horses head, and
,clinging to the bit, the tips of his great
c0whide shoes touching the snow, asked
fthe gentleman was hurt -
Not bit of it, my lad, said he, shak-
ing himself free of the snow, ''Only
warmed up little. What's the dam
age?"
Nothing, sir, that can see," return
ed Tom, his handsome face glowing with
good humOr, as he yielded the horse to
its owner.
well, then, my lad, get in and We'll
try again. You are going to school,
see," added the stranger, as he gathered
up the reins.
"Yes, sir.u ~
."HOw far?" as g Eat =
S"Guess tits two miles from here"
The gentleman turned and looked in
to his face, and then glanced all over
Toms figure, even to his feet.
HE sees my Shoes" thought Tom
proudly, to himself, giving his feet a
shove forward to make certain that they
should be seen.
The gentleman did see them, and
smiled in spite of himself as he glanced
back to Toms face. 80 49,
He then kindly pulled the. warm fur
around the boy, and pulled his cap over
his eyes, shouted, $50 along, Nellp' and
the chestnut mare, now thoroughly So
bered, meekly commenced the ascent of
what was known thereabOuts as the
long hill. She was evidently accustOm-
ed to having her own way, for she avail
ed herself OF every little hollow to rest,
and did not allow herself to be pressed
forward until the whip was applied.
Tom wondered what had possessed the
creature a few minutes before. He
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 yentured to ask:
IF you please, sir, what was it that
made the mare run~
"A stump" returned the gentleman
with smile. Nell is little aristOcrat-
ic, and SHES at such plebian things.
She does not know that stump was the
making of her master"
Tom scratched his head again, AN wig
gled all over. Then came out the ques-
ton: Get
How could stump be the making Of
q man?" ~~s 50
my lad" answered the stranger,
marking the white surface of the snow
with his whiplash, Il was a poor boy,
and my father could not afford to send
me to school. We worked very hard, but
used to study evenings by the fire, and
learned the whole of the Latin gram
mar, by the light of one pitch knot"
For moment Tom sat perfectly still.
Then he asked, as if ashamed of his ig-
nOrance:
please, sir, what's a Latin. gram
marw
This last question aroused the gentle
man, and becoming sensible that the
little fellow at his side was thirsting for
knowledge, 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 a member of Con-
gress. ~
The last announcement almost took
the lads breath away. He had heard of
members of Congress, but he had an
idea they were myths, whom nobody ever
saw. Perhaps the awe with which Tom
regarded him as he glanced up sideways
into his face. fiattered the gentleman,
for. he said, smiling:
you are just as likely to be.a member
of Congress as Il You know, in Ameri-
ca, success is to be determined and
brave. If you study as Ibid, you may
possible rise as high-yes- perhaps
higher"
"But, haven't any Latin grammar,
sir" said Tom.
mo? Well, would you like onef"
'Yes, SIR" cried Tom with flashing
"Well, my lad, shall come this way
again, and will leave one at the school
house for you"
But Lhaven'tany money"
"Neyer mind, you can pay me when
you get to Congress"
THANK you" said Tom. Il won't for
get it, sir"
The gentleman looked down at him
withsa Quizzical smile, and the two rode
on in silence, until they reached the
l school house.
s-Please don't forget the grammar"
suggested Tom, as he lifted the old cap
again.
.Not l." 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 ride. Then he looked
down at his shoes, at his coat. and his
. old cap as he hung it on the peg in the
entry, and silently cOntrasted them all
with the fur-trimmed oyercOat and, out
fit of the stranger.
Never mind" said Tom to himself.
81 will have them all, too, when am a
member of Congress" M /.
At the end of two weeks a bundle Of
hooks was left at the school house. There