St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-04-26
TOMS REVOLVER.

TOMS REVOLVER.
The parlor of the farmhouse up
among the Maine mountains had
enough touches of quiet good taste
about it to make us wonder at sight of
acommon four-ounce glass bottle which
occupied conspicuous place on the
corner what not; further honored by a
worsted mat under it and small bou-
quet of dried grasses stuck into its
mouth.
..Yes, that's mothers whim-she will
have it there" said the oldest daugh-
ter, who was teacher, now home for
the long summer vacation, during which
time two or three Of us city residents
were fortunate enough to find ac-
commodations as boarders.
Ihad taken up and was examining
the bottle, with view to finding out
if it had about it any unseen beauties
or virtues which might seem to entitle
it to such distinction. But not was
surely nothing more than just such a
one as might be served to you Al any
drug store, filled with anything in the
drug line, from unpretending camphor
to the most carefully elaborated pre-
scription.
..She calls it Toms revolver" re-
marked another member of the family;
whereupon set it down with sudden
ness which made Tom laugh.
80, there isn't anything about it
.ao,c,'' he said. I've told mother lots
of times I'd spend every cent I've got,
and buy her the handsomest vase down
to Pineville, if she'd let me smash that
old bottle against the stone wall. but
she WON'T
Tell me what there has been about
it." urged. There's story. isn't
there?"
Tom was big boy-just at the
"gawky age" bis sister had contiden-
tally informed me-but was neither
uncouth nor ill-mannered, as too many
farmers boys think it the thing to be
at that rather indefinite period of life.
So, without more than reasonable
amount of coaxing and encouraging
from the others. and the modest dis
claimers proper from boy who figures
as his own hero in his own story, Tom
began:
.'It was in early SPRING
"Yes, indeed" broke in his mother,
with a shake of the head. .'Three days
after that dreadful fall father had from
the hay-loft. Such sight as his arm
Inever did see! Suohen"-
Friday, the twenty-eighth day of
last March, four year" put in father.
And the DOCTOR" went on Tom,
had been here and left prescriptions for
something father'd got to have just as
quick as we could get 'em. And he
thought-the doctor-that if we could
get over to Pineville it would be better,
for they didn't have very fresh drugs
down here at the Corners.
$50 made up my mind I'd go over
the hills-it saves nearly half the way,
only four miles going and four back.
I'd have to walk. but l didn't mind
that, for knew it would be about as
hard to 60 round on horseback, for
there'd been a thaw, and the lower
roads were so slumpy folks could hardly
get through at all.
81 hadn't got more than halfway
over when l met Squire Plummer,
hunting all round, and says he to me:
"'Tom, I've lost Old Blacky, sure S
you live!'
"And says I:
".I want to know, Squire"
"And says he:
".Yes, indeed, Tom. She's been
gone three days. She's the best cow
had-blooded stock-cost me sight O.
money, and I'm offering three dollars
to any one'll find her.
Il told him l couldn't 60 out of my
way on account of father, but I'd keep
sharp lookout wherever did go; and
you'd better believe l did, for I'd a
been glad enough to get that much
money for so little work. But / got
into town without seeing anything Of
her. l sat down by the drugman' S
counter to rest a bit while he was put
ting up the stuff, thinking how I'D
change my route going back, and
p'raps I'd strike her yet.
set one down while he was wrapping up
the other. took it up and took out
the cork.
".Take care there he says; don't
you smell that
"'Why not?' says l.
You'd be sorry if you did, said he.
.'Twould knock you down quicker'n il
YOU was shot
Ale went on to tell me it was a mos:
awfully strong kind of ammonia that
was used for drawing blisters. Would
do it in less time than you'd take to tell
about it most.
Then l asked him if it was any kin
to smelling salts. and told him how I'd
got hold of mothers smelling salts in
church, unbeknown to her, long ago.
when | was little shaver, and had
taken the biggest kind of sniff. because
it was the first chance I'd ever had at
it. and I'd thought it something good
they'd been keeping from me. And
how I'd kicked and screeched and hol-
Tered, and how mother'd had to haul
me out of church and use up no end of
lemon-drops and ginger cookies to bring
me to.
$50 the drug-man laughed, and
saws the stuff in the bottle was some
thing Of the same sort, only they
weren't to be mentioned in the same
day for strongness-or, if you made
any comparison at all, it would be to
compare the smelling salts to the small
est mite of baby, and that ammonia
to its big Goliath of great-great-
grandfather.
II didn't smell it, but started for
home with Old Blacky and father on