The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-09-04
For Young Readers.
TOM BROWN, s FREEDOM.

Tom Brown was an urchin just eight sum
But the heart of the wee little man was as
bold
AS if he were twice that age,
And his muscles were strong and his blue
eyes were bright
And his brave little heart was as merry and
light
As a bird let loose from its cage.
Now Tom had been reading, as every boy
should,
Of the glorious deeds of the brave and the
OF Washington, Warren and Lee;
And the Fourth of Juiy-it was now near at
Was the day the, glad sound had rung out
Through the land:
1--WE are free! we are freel we are freeP
Now Tom got to thinking how grand it would
be @
Like the patriot heroes he loved to be free
Twas too bad to be kept so at home. j
There were los of nice boys in the streets just
below,
And they had such good timesl He did wish
And the wide world along with them roam.
Then all of a sudden, one morning in bed,
A brilliant idea popped right into his head,
And he laughed out aloud in his glee;
On the Fourth of July, at the breaking of day.
When Liberty triumphed, he'd up and away.
To dwell independent and free.
And SC Master Tommy, when no one was by.
Slipped out through the gate on that Fourth
And thus was he EARNED and equipped:
Three packs of tire-craekers, long stick of
punk,
A huge slice of gingerbread, plenty of
And a dime in his hand tightly grlpped.
Our hero marched on through the din and the
Till he entered at last, by mere chance, side
street.
Were crowd of rough boys were at play.
Twas tenement quarter. low dirty and
mean,
And the rabble of gamtns, hard-featured and
Keen,
Were keeping 1.-THE Fourth" in their way.
Ah those sharp-witted Arabs! how quickly
What sort of boy Tom was! Around him they
drew, 5fs
And to chaff him began. "Hullo, Bub!
Does yer mar know yere outy' ."Where'd We
git yer nice clio es?
''Oh, amt he a daisyr'-so the mocking talk
goes
SAY give us hunk O. yer grub"
In 1iTy his packs of flre-crackers were
grabbed,
His pockets P.2sSss, were rified, his gingerbread
And hisc can clothes were all in muss.
| Then they daubed him with mud till he looked
And shouted in giee at his pitiful plight:
Now, sonny. yere like one of US
| But Tom had the spirit of seventy six"
| And finding himself in SO sorry a fix,
Struck out like a man, might and main.
| But the battle was sorely unequal: in spite
| OF his stout little fists and high courage, the
fight
Must have proved in the end all in vain.
Just then rose a cry: Cops a-comin y Away
| Sped the feet-iooted Arabs ike night before
daY, 32
| And Tom stood alone in the street
| Look a-here, you young seamp-Oh! are you
| Tommy Brown?
I'm in luck. Why. the whole force is scourin'
And here you are, right on my beat!'
Poor Toni What pitiful SIGHT to behold
Was he-not a bit like his heroes of old
AS homeward he limped, sad and sorel
| His face was all swollen, his right arm was
hurt,
His jacket was torn and bespattered with dirt,
| And he'd ne'er felt so wretched before.
And WREN, warm bath and poultiee ap,
/ pl;e1.
He lay in his bed his dear mother beside,
| Tom dIoSsily said: 'Now see:
/ 1t may have been good for the heroes of old
| To be free, for they were men, mighty and
But it ISN'T good thing for me-
NO, Tom said his mother, mistaken again.
| True freedom is good both for boys and for
| men,
AS your heroes-and mine-clearly saw;
But they knew-and the truth is worth learn
| ing, my boy
The freedom that's good for us all to enjoy
Is Liberty gocei ned By lGw."
Thames 0akcs CoRant In HdrpeY's Young
| People.