Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-06-15

Tho man looked at Tommy. He
looked at him so hard that Tommy
could only stare back at him, wonder
ing what made him so, and then the
man said slowly: "I don't know"
"Oh, yes, you'll be good. Now, sag
you'll be good, an then you'll mean to
| be good, an you can come out" said
Tommy, and he shook his head so that
the yellow curls on either side waved to
and fro. The man didn't answer, and
Tommy went on. "Now, you see,
when my mamma shut me up / was an
a,DftI bad boy, cause l bit Ellen one
| day cause she wouldn't bring up and
put on my shoes, an my mamma she
sat down by the door, an she said if I'd
say really l was going to be good /
would be good, an so / said realty l
was, an she opened the door an came
out, an I'm a real good boy now. Now,
you say you'll be good really, an then
I'll go tell my mamma, an she'll open
the door"
just then man came up, and, open
ing tiny little door in the gate, hand
ed the man a plate with something on
it.
The man took it and put il on the
floor. "Have somepn he said.
"No, thank you," said Tommy, look
ing scornfully at the plate. "That
doesn't look good like what we have.
Don't you have chickcnP We're going
to have chicken to-day. saw 'cm
when came out"
mo; they don't have chicken here"
said the man, and he pushed away the
plate with his foot, as if he didn't like
the look of it.
"Well, now, you're going to be good,
aren't youp" and Tommy put on his
most coaxing and winning air.
The man sat very still, and then he
suddenly put his hand through the bars:
"Yes," he said, 81 guess l am going to
be good. Shake hands on it."
Tommy jumped up in such n hurry
that he spilled all the dandelions, and
put his little hand in the mans big one,
and put up his lips for n kiss, and when
the man had kissed him Tommy said:
"Now I'll go and tell my mamma, an
she'll let you out" Then he picked up
his pail and shovel, and said: II guess
l don't want those flowers. There's
lots out in our yard" and then he
stood still a minute looking at the man,
who was looking straight at him. Pres
entity Tommy opened his eyes and
mouth wide: .'Why!. he said, "you
amt going to cry-you're too big.
Mamma says I'm too big to cry"
NO" said the man; I'm not going
to cry' And yet Tommy was sure
that big tears were in his eyes. The
man put out his hand: "Shake hands, :"
he said, land come again some day."
why, yesr' said Tommy; "but
they Il let you out now cause you're
goin' to be good. I'll tell 'em. Good
bye. I'll come back right off," And
so he went away to the big gate, pass
ing the room where the man had been
asleep. But he was sitting up then.
Good-morning, said Tommy, stop
ping minute. The man lifted sui
len, cross face, and said, in very cross
voice: Get out with you!' and Tom
my, fairly scared this time, ran to the
gate crying: "Oh, let me out! quick!
let me outn' And Mr.. Young let him
out, and. before he could lock the gate
again, Tommy was running home across
the garden just as fast as his legs could
carry him, and he never stopped until
he got safely inside the kitchcn-door.
And then he was busy with his din.
ner, and so busy after his dinner-for he
went to the circus-that he quite forgot
about his visit and the poor man that
was locked up, until he was going tc
bed; then he said: "Oh! Mamma, they
have such funny little beds in the Jail
and, mamma, / forgot to tell you
there's man there-an' he says he'll
be really good-an' won't you let hin
come out nowp"
Tommy's mother looked very mucl
surprised, and said: "Why, where hau,
you been, my little boyp"
So, although Tommy was very sleepy
he told about his visit to the man. Aftel
Tommy had finished his story, his moth
er held him very tight in her arms for ;
minute, and then said: "But, Tommy
you know said you mustn't go into
Carry's house"
"Well, l forgot" said TOMMY
truly did, and / won't 90 any more
only, mamma, do let him out, 'caust
he's goin' to be good" Tommy was
very, very sleepy, but he found time tc
wonder, before he fairly went off into
dreamland, why his mothers eyes ant
mouth looked so queer when she Leaned
over and kissed him good night.
ouso hno Vi yinS, ho thouSht, ant
the next minute was fast asleep. AND
at about the same time Mr.. Young stoot
talking to the man in the Jail.
$50 you had visitor this morningp'
"Yes,n said the man, "and / spen
the best half-hour with that little fel
low that I've had since L took up my
lodgings in this hole"
'Well, goodnight, said Mr.. Young
and he went on.
The man threw himself on his bed
but not to sleep; he tossed restlessly al
night long, and through the long, mar
row window opposite the door of hi
cell the very same stars looked in upoI
him that looked in on little Tommy
sound asleep in his crib. He lay Ra
on his back, with parted lips and ROSY
cheeks, one fat arm thrown over his heat
and one extended along his side, with hi
fingers thrust out of the bars of hi
crib, that he might put out his hand t.
find his mothers if he should wake
in the night.
A day or two after Tommy's visit t.
the Jail, the man, with whom he hat
talked so innocently, and who callet
himself Williams, was taken to tn,
courtroom for trial. There was little
to be said in his defense, and the evi
dence against him was strong He wa
found guilty of robbing safe, and Sc
the Judge sentenced him to five year
at hard labor in the State Prison a
Charlestown, Mass. He was taken ther,
at once and put to work.
Now, this man had never worked il
all his life. His father was a ricl
man, and had, for years, givei
him plenty of money to spend
But he got into bad company, partl.
because he always had plenty of none,
in his pocket, and when he fell into bat
company bis father refused to give hin
any money, and then turned him out o
his house. And he had learned to thinl
il easier to steal than to work. and on
night e,with several other men, robbed
a safe; and that was the way he go
| int, ,,t.icnr