The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-12-13
BECOMING A "TOUGH."

me Result OF Reading PerniCiOus Dime
Novels and Sensational Story Papers-An
Experience Which Ought to BE Warn
ing to Other Youths.
An incident recently came under my
notice which so plainly illustrates the
practical effects of bad reading upon
susceptible boys, that | thought it
should be given to the public for warn
NO and admonition. The following
ettcr was in the pastors mail:
my DEAR PAsToR--Wlll you please call at
oncc to see my boy, who is very sick indeed,
and oblige an anxious mother
OF course [ responded, and drove at
;he earliest possible opportunity to the
house, which was on the outskirts of the
parish. The father met me at the door
with the remark:
I'm glad that you've come. 1t is
Tom that's sick. He's little better
now. but pretty sick boy he's been"
| was ushered into the room where he
lay on the bed in an uneasy doze. The
mother came in and welcomed me as
an anxious Christian mother will always
welcome minister of God to the sick
chamber. While waiting for the sick
oov to wake, the parents in subdued
ones and with aching hearts told the
pathetic story.
[ knew Tom had been away from
home for several months, but did not
know the circumstances of his depart
ure, nor had | learned of his return
1t seems that for some months previous
% his leaving home he clandestinely
read many of the pernicious dime nov
els and the sensational story papers.
Another boy in the neighborhood, whom
we will call John, had been reading
such trash, and he had unceremOnious-
ly left his home to become, as he called
it, ga tough, and to make his mark in
the world. He did become tough fell
low in the literal sense of the term in
the metropolis, had shifted from one
thing to another until his watchful
father found him out, adroitly cor
nered him and brought him back home.
The highly spiced stories of adven-
ture and bloodshed and hair-breadth
escapes, which Tom eagerly devoured,
began to work upon him in making him
discontinued with home and personal
restraint. This was enhanced by the
bancful influences of John, who had Il
taste of the forbidden, and was de-
PRAYED enough to banker for more, and
to declare that he would out-general
the old Captain yet and be found minus
around home" and that soon he'd "be
on the war-path Westward ho"
One morning Tom did not come down
TO breakfast as usual. After awhile
his mother Went to his room and
shocked, with no response. Anxiously
she opened the door, expecting to find
sick boy in bed, but no Tom was to be
seen. The disordered condition of the
room, the rummaged bureau-drawers,
and the absence of his best clothes and
valise revealed the fact of his flight.
How crushed was that mothers spirit
as she retreated to the dinining-room
to make known to the family the pain
full discovery that Tom, the eldest son,
the pride and hope of all, had run
| away.
The father traced him to the great
city, but there lost track of him. although
he spared no pains or expense to recOv-
er his lost son. With heavy burden
and mourning heart, the mother went
on with her domestic duties, and the
father continued in his daily occupation.
Weeks heightened out into months and
no word came from absent Tom, until
they gave up all hope of ever seeing
him again. Meanwhile another child
was added to the flock, and the poor
mother had long and dangerous ill
ness, caused by her anxiety and mother
| ~ love for the absent first-bOrn. The
fathers hairs rapidly whitened and his
shoulders painfully stopped, although he
could assign no cause for it, yet if the
truth were known it was caused by the
absence of Tom.
Meanwhile how Jared it with. Tom?
Did he revel in eXultation and roll in
wealth as he expected from being
"toughP" Did he find the pleasure and
success he anticipated from initiating
the robberies of the James brothersP
After he reached New York City by the
''owl train" he took the precaution to
change his name and clothes and APP
pear in a sailors costume. He met dis
| appointment at every turn, was unable
to get job at any honest employment,
md the coughs he fell in with were
70 vile and blaSphemous that he turned