Richland beacon., 1880-03-20
A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
BY MRS. c. ". FLANDERS.

There was little fellow among the
New England hill, 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. Sumetimes in the winter, " hen 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 a. his father had re-
jected, and pair of shoes that slipped
up aud down every step he took. Never
theless, 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
exerti0n and blowing his blue finger, to
keep them warm, there came dashing
down the hill sleigh such as the
yoangster had never seen; no, indeed.
nor ever dreamed Of. And horse!
Tom shipped blowing, so intense was
his admiration Of the elegant creature
that came foaming aud tossing its
daintily arched neck right and left.
Tom sprapg aside al the very last mo-
ment; and n he sank up to his chin in
the light SNOW. tore off his cloth cap
from his head, and bObSed up and
down as if he were in the presence Of the
President.
% Jump on behind. my lad" shouted
the rider; Jump 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 bufaloes and things generally.
Tom sprang to the horses head, and
clinging TO the bit, the tips of hi. great
cowhide shoes touching the snow, asked
if the gentlemen was hurt.
."NOt a bit ef it my lad" said he,
shaking himself free OF the snow,
"only warmed upa little. What's the
damager .a
80 "Nothing, sir, that 1 see," returned
Tom, his handsome face glowing with
good humor, as he yielded the horse
d to its owner.
70 "Well, then, my lad, get in and we'll
try again. You are going to school,
,ee," added the stranger, as he gathered
up the reins.
:" Yes, sir"
"Howfar9'
"tiuess it's about two miles from
here"
The gentleman turned and looked
INTO his face, and then glanced all ovel
Toms figure, even to his feet.
"He sees my shoee," thought Tom
proudly, to himself, giving his feet 8
shove forward to make certain that they
should be seen.
pol The gentleman did see them, and
smiled in spite of himself as he glancet
back to Toms face.
He then kindly pulled the warm fu
. around the boy, and pulling his cal
"a over his eyes, shouted, "Go alcng
,n Nell!' and the chestnut mare, nov
thoroughly sobered, meekly commenced
the ascent of what was known ~ tn,
long hill. She was evidently accus
toned to having her own way, for sh
.sya;led herself Of every hollow to rest
snd did not allow herself to be presses
forward until the whip was applied,
Tom wondered what had possessed tn
creature a few minutes before. ID
scratched his head on the right side an
then on the left, and, finally, his Yanke
curiosity getting the better OF his din
.dence. he Yentured to ak:
"If you Ilease, cir. what was it ths
., uaadepthe marc rum r
"a stump" returned the gentlema
,,-,,,h ! sMilk. Nell is q little aristt
cratic. Ard shies at such plebian thing
She does not know that stump was th
= making of her master"
eSkkAea his head ssain, an
al over. Then out came th
!" " How could stump be the maxim
s.a of . auanr ~ a'Ss'0f,
> : any lad,s answered the strange
;, ~.arhine the white surface OF the sno
q SSntlv 1ish his whiplash, was 20
So ~. ana my father could not afford
scna ne to school. We worked We!
hard, but used 70 study evenings