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

'"AASA lucy plOOuc0 6lOW1y1 Out W SUCH
purpose that at the end Of the winter
Tom could read his fable and solve his
problem in q manner crdeitable to him.
self and master. III q:
It was uphill work with poor Tom,
but he never lost what little he gained,
and managed to make what little he, &C
complished tell in the future.
One day his father brought home a
stranger, and told Tom that he was APP
prenticed, during his minority, to this
man, who would make him blacksmith.
"But am not going to be a black
smith, cried Tom in PASSION; "1'm
going to Congress''
''The more need that you should learn
to shoe the horse that carries you there"
replied the father with shrug.
Tom packed up his worldly goods, not
forgetting his books, and trudged away
to distant village, where he pared horses
hoofs by day, and studied and read at
night by stealth, for he was not allowed
neither knot nor candle.
Six months the poor fellow was faith
full to his duty; but one night when his
master had thrown his grammar into the
fire, and upbralded him for his disobe-
dience, Tom took leave Of the workshop.
He made his way, barefoot as he was,
over boys and b,iers until he ventured
into the main road, and by dint of beg
ging a ride now and then, reached the
city, where as Ben Franklin had done
before him-witn his roll under his arm.
he sought and obtained employment.
Perhaps the happiest day OF Toms
life was when he found himself in the
antiquarian bookstore with plenty Of
leasure, plenty of books: and nothing to
fear from friend or foe. It was wonder
full how he read-and read The parchcd
earth does not more greedily dcvour the
Summer rain.
When his intellectual thirst was par
italy satisfied he began to work. He
saw the laddeHhe had to climb, and, seiz-
ing the lowest round, he made his way
steadily upward. We all know by what
steps an ambitious man makes progress
by patient toil--by selt-denial-by
courteous deportment-by the acquisi-
ton of knowled &c.
Years passed by, during all of which
Tom had looked in vain for his early
friend, the stranger. In his t1mid awk.
wardness, he had not thought to ask the
name of his bcnefactor, and the only op-
portunity to do 50 had been lost.
Well, years slid away, and Tom was
elected member of Congress from the very
county where he spent his struggling
boyhood. He went to Washington, not
in cowhide shoes and butternut coIored
homespun, but dressed something as i'm
aginatlon had pictured, as he looked af-
ter his benefactor on the eventtul day of
the sleigh-ride. A nobler looking man,
the ladies in the galleries said, never had
appeared upon the floor than this Yam
kee member, who, if be spoke through
his nose, always drives his arrows home
10 the mark.
One day there appeared in the House
the venerable form Of an ex-member,
whom all present delighted to honor. 1t
needed but one glance at that genial face
for Tom to recognize in him the giver Of
the Latin grammar. HE had come" he
said, 'to listen to the gentleman who had
so manfully defended the right, and to
wish him Godspeed!"
"If," said Tom, with his old modesty,
Ill it had been my good fortune to do
anything for our country in the hour Of
her peril, I owe my ability to do so, in a
great measure to yourself.
''To mel" echoed the astonished gen.
tleman: to me; I do not recollcct ever
having had the pleasure of meeting you
before in my life.''
''Ah, sir, have you forgotten, then, the
little school boy among the hills of New
Hampshire, to whom you SO kindly sold
Latin GRAMMAR
The gentleman unused.
''Sold-sold Latin grammar. Now
that you recall the incident, I do recol-
lect little fellow that interested me, and
to whom gave some school boooks.''
"Well, sir, I am that boy. You told me
that I might pay for them when got to
Congress. If you will honor me by meet
ing few friends at dinner will settle
the bill.''