Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-01-02

dent.
Jump on behind, my lad, Jump on be-
hindu shouted the rider. And Tom did
jump on at the peril of his life, and
away they went, tearing along with great
speed until over went the sleig and out
went the riders and buffaloes, and things
generally.
Tom sprang to the horses head, and
clinging to the bit, the tips of his great
cowhide shoes touching the snow, asked
if the gentleman was hurt.
Mot bit, my lad !" said he, shaking
himself free of the snow. "Only warmed
up little. What's the damaged"
"Nothing, sir, that see" replied Tom,
his handsome face glowing with good
humor, as he yielded the horse to his
owner.
"Well, then, my lad, get In and Well
try again. You are going to school, I
seo,' added tho stranger, as he gathered
up the relns.
eyes, sir"
"How ta1?"
"Guess it is about 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" said Tom proudly,
to himself, giving his feet shove for.
ward, to make certain that they should
be seen.
The gentleman did see them, and
smiled in spite of himself as he looked
into Toms face.
He then kindly pulled the warm furs
around the boys ears, and pulling his cap
over his eyes shouted, go along, Nell!'
And the chestnut marc, now thoroughly
sobered, meekly commenced the ascent
what is known thereabouts as the long
nil. She was evidently accustomed to
aving her own way, for she availed her
of every little chance to rest, and did
until the whip was applied.
Tom wondered what had possessed the
creature few minutes before. He scratch
ed his head on the right side and then OF
the left, and finally his Yankee nature
getting the better of his diffdence "
asked:
eff you please, sir, what was it that
made the mare run?''
"a stump" returned the gentleman,
with smile. s'Neil is little aristocratic
and SHES at plebian things. She does not
know that stump was tho making of
her master.
Tom scratched his head again and
wriggled all over. Then out came the
question: "How cu,ll stump be the
making of a man9"
"My lad" answered the stranger, mark
ing the white surface Of the snow with
his whiplash, II was poor boy, and my
father could not AFFORD to send me to
school. We worked very hard, but l
used to study evenings by the light of
the fire, and learned the whole Of the Lat
in grammar by the light OF one pitch
knot"
For moment Tom sat perfectly still.
Then he asked, as if ashamed of his igno-
rance:
'sWhat's Latin grammer, please sir2"
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 an interest to him, and ended
by saying that he was member of Con-
gross.
The last announcement almost took
the lads breath away He had heard of
members of Congress, but he had an idea
that they were myths, whom nobody ev-
er saw. Perhaps the awe with which
Tom regarded him as he glanced up side
ways into his face fattered the gentle
man, for he said, smilingly:
"You are just as likely to become a
member OF Congress as II You know in
America success is to the determined
and brave. If you study as I did, you
may possibly rise as high-yes--perhaps
higher!"
"But I haven't any Latin grammar,
SIR" said Tom.
:'No2 Well would you like one!" eyes,
Sir" cried Tom, with flashing eyes.
dwell, my lad, I shall come this way
again, and 1 will leave one at the school
house for YOU"
"But haven't any money"
"Never mind; you can pay me when
you get to Congress"
"Thank YOU" said Tom: won't for
get it, SIR"
The gentleman looked down at him
with 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 t. returned the gentleman. "a
man who cannot keep promise should
not make one-hey, my lad9'
Nell tossed her head, and the boy soon
lost sight of the driver. Then he looked
down at his shoes, at his coat, and his
old cap as he hung it on peg in the entry,
and silently contrasted them all with the
fur-trimmed over-coat and outfit of the
stranger. "Never mind" SAID Tom to
himself, II will have them too, when
am member Of Congress-"
At the end OF two weeks q bundle of
books were left at the, school house.
There was not only Latin grammar,
but a we'll worn copy Of 'Virgil;''
"Esop's Fables" and sundry other vol
umes 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 bordering ever the
mysteries of these books.
As good luck would have it, the school
master, who boarded around with his pu-
pills, 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 a smattering OF
Latin HIMSELF was qualified to aid his.
pupil. ., .zyss,;. {. ::.3..g. =. nj.
: Although the schoolmaster was allowed
the use Of a tallow candle, he vastly pre-
TERED the more brilliant light of Toms
pine knot; 90 that as often as the long
winter evenings set in, the mastcr and pm
pill might be seen land were seen) sitting
before the large fireplace with their heads
buried IN the pages Of the books, along