The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-01-17
TOMMY.

Mr.. HrltcharQ lifted MIN out OF the
wagon and sat him down on the door,
step. What little fellow he was. and
what wondering, pleased look there
was in his eyes! He had on coarse
shoes, a blue check apron, and his
pretty brown hair was cropped close
under the shabby cap, 1t was almost
too cold a day for such little boy to
be out without coat. Mrs. Pritchard
took him by the hand to lead him in,
and the little hand chung confdingly to
hers.
whats your name, dear?" she
asked pleasantly.
Tommy Bobbitt," he answered,
readily. Gam 1 going to stay herep"
"Folks all dead" said Mr.. Pritchard.
"Mother went month or so back.
told them over to the county-house we d
take him and try him; and if he suited,
we'd keep him, and do well by him. We
don't know what kind of stock he is
yet; and if 1 find any mean, dishonest
tricks in him, back he goes. We don't
want to adopt boy, and set by him,
and have him sting us like serpent in
our old age.
go! l know Tommy will be a nice
little boy" said the wife kindly.
The Pritchards were farming people,
and well-to-do. They had never had a
child of their own, and, after much
consideration, had decided to adopt a
boy when suitable one could be found.
Word reached them that child four
years old had recently been left upon
the town; and Mr.. Pritchard, on driv-
ing over to see about it, had brought
the little fellow home on trial.
Nobody knew how dreary and for
lorn it had been in the county-house
for little four-year-old boy, suddenly
left friendless. He had wandered,
shivering, in the yard, sometimes pick
ing up red leaf here and there to play
with. He had hung around in the big,
cherries room, where a few, decrepit
old woman sat, because in the mems
room there was a loutish, half-witted
fellow who frightened him. Nights he
slept with dreadful boy, three times
as old as himself, who said things to
scare him, and who pulled all the bed
clothes away, and kicked in his sleep.
And nobody knew how his little heart
had ached for the dead mother, who
though very poor and unfortunate, had
sheltered him to the last
But now in his warm, new home, he
frightened into a rosy, pretty boy. He
had new shoes and stockings, and Mrs.
Pritchard made him a little coat, with
a motherly instinct growing in her
heart with every stitch. He learned
the different rooms, and ran about
fearlessly, he made funny little speeches,
hejumped and laughed like other happy
boys, and climbed boldly on Farmer
Pritchard's knee, when that good man
sat down to take his ease after supper.
"He's got meat in him." said the
farmer nodding approvingly; "but
don't know whether he's honest yet.
That's the thing to my mind"
Tommy had been there week-had
one week of sunshine-when this black
cloud came down upon him.
Farmer Pritchard had a cough which
was apt to trouble him at night, and on
the bureau, near the head of his bed,
he kept few gumdrops, which he
could reach out and get to soothe his
throat when the coughing came on.
One forenoon, CHANGING to 90 into the
bedroom, his eye fell on the little pa
per bag, and he saw there was not a
single gumdrop left.
"That rogue, Tommy, has been
here" he said to himself. 81 know
there were five or six when went to
bed last night; and, for a wonder, l did
not have to take single one. Tommy!
Tommy! Look here! Have you been
getting my gumdropsP''
Tommy, who was playing in the door,
looked up brightly, and said: "No; l
did not get any,"
" Did you take them, Lucyp" asked
the farmer, turning to his wife.
Mrs. Pritchard had not touched them.
and her heart sank as she said so: for
who was there left to do it but little
Tommy Her husbands face grew
grave.
Tommy" he said, "you need not
be afraid to tell the truth. Didn't Won
take the gumdropsP'
=" No, didn't" replied Tommy.
readily.
the truth" WI
"No, l didn't"
"This is bad, very bad, indeed, ~ said
Mr.. Pritchard, sternly. "Thisis what
l have been afraid Of" '
go Tommyr' pleaded Mrs. Pritcb.
ard. " If you took them, do say sou
" 1t he took themr' repeated her
husband. why, it is clear as day-