The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-08-16
SELECTED SKETCH.
JACK AND TOM.

When Mrs. Hudson's little baby was born
all the neighbors were very sorry for her
left in that cold and cruel way, with child
10 bring upl
But Mrs. Hudson, a fne-looking Young
woman of six-and-twenty years, was, like the
rest of them, able to tako care of herself.
She had a relative or two in distant State,
and she was known as reliable and honest.
The letters she wrote brought her certain
loans, with which she started a small shop
for millinery and trimmings
She had good taste in the opinion of the
neighborhood, and when she sold the ribbon
and flowers for bonnet she trimmed it for
nothing. When she sold dress she gave
in pattern to make it by These things
cost her nothing but time, and she was in
dustrious. They drew custom.
In time the store was enlarged, all the
loans were paid, little Tom was kept at
school as well dressed as any child there.
and Mrs. Hudson went to church of Sun
day in black silk dress that ,lstled with
richness No one. envied her her good for
tune, especially as it did not make her
proud
She had temper but she had too much
policy to offend her customers.
Yes, she had temper That was what
sent Jack away; she had boxed his ears.
He had habit of chewing tobacco, and had
spit upon her clean secured hearth, and
there had been a quarrel, and the blow fell
cd Hn, Il
ly," said Jack. " But this I'll say, I'll bear
no more. You'll never see me again"
He had walked out of the house and had
shipped on vessel bound for China.
Sally had believed he only meant to fright
en- her and would come back Six months
afterward their baby came into the world,
but Jack had never been heard of since.
She cried over it still in secret, for she had
been very much in love with Jack and had
thought him very fond of her. Aud she was
proud of Tom, and fonder of him for look
ing like his father. She scoided him when
he needed scolding, but his home was hap
by for all that. Only when he grew old
enough to leave school did any serious con-
fict of opinion take place between the boy
and his mother II was ON Saturday
night, after the shutters were put up that it
began.
"The business is SO big now, Tom,n said
Mrs. Hudson, that it will take us both
I'll teach you all about it at once, and when
you are twenty-one I'll take you regularly
into partnership. 1t will be yours after me
and I've no doubt" said the mother, with
forecast of maternal jealousy in her eye,
that some day your wife will be behind the
cash desk there.n
Tom, who was dutifully casting up his
mothers weekly accounts for her, laid down
his pen and looked at her.
" It's no use talking that way, mother"
he said. "The shop will be yours, and not
mine, to the end. won't keep it. don't
mean to stand behind n counter. don't
call that mans work"
My goodness, Tom, what notions have
you got into your head p cried Mrs, Hud-
son. MANS work, indeed Why there's
more men than women in stores and you
can be cashier and buyer, and take stock,
and all that. Lizzie the girl helps me now
and could get regular salesman OF sales
woman"
Mother" said Tom, Il won't go into
business of this sort nj ALL shall go to sea
and get to be captain in time, I hope.
What I'd like is the navy If had n chance;
but anyhow the sea"
''You couldn't be anything but common
sailor, Tom, said the poor woman. "Think
OF your education"
@Such as it is, / do" said Tom; "and
very thankful EN- for it, but a sailors life
is the life for me. No shop is; know it. !"
SITS store; it's good business I've
made it what il is" cried Mrs. Hudson,
"and you despiseit."
II don't. You're the smartest woman
know, mother" said Tom; shut | won't
keep shop-or store. won't sell bonnets.
It's absurd to think of it,"
Half of it is dry goods, sobbed Mrs
Hudson.
But the trouble had begun. 1t went with
her to church on Sunday, after keeping her
wide awake all night. Arguments began.
The mother at last no longer implored; she
asserted her authority. Tom was not of age
and at last Tom was not SO respectful as he
should have been, and there was regular
quarrel, and Mrs. Hudson boxed her sons
ears.
The next morning she went down to her
little dining-room very early. The gray
dawn was In the sky, but shutter had been
left open; livery carelessly," as she said to
herself, and by the light that fell through IL
she saw letter lying on the table.
She took it up 1t had no postmark, but
It was formally addressed to her--to Mrs.
Sarah Hudson.
g If it should be Jack come back after
all" she thought and tore it open. Within,
on a sheet of paper were these words:
/" Mother, Pm off, won't have my ears
boxed I won't be treated like child.
shall ship at once. Home has grown too
hot to hold me. TON"
The boy had his fathers temperas well as
his fathers face
The poor woman turned giddy and stag
gered to seat, and hid her face for while
She had lived for Tom. He was her idol
Her fixed idea of having him in the business
came only of her longing that they should
not be parted, and now he was gone; he
had left her like this left her as his father
had before him, and for the same cause.
A little while after this, the servant girl,
Susan, coming slowly down the stairs, tying
her apron as she came, saw TO her horror
the neat figure of her mistress, in its trim
black cashmere, lying prone upon the floor.
She held letter crushed in her hand and
was quite insensible.
Tom was q sailor, at least on the way to
be one. He had shipped as one of the crew
of an ocean steamer, and for the time he
slept in the crowded room of sailors board
ing house.
1t was well filed with little cots, and ii
was close, and not too clean. Some of the