The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-12-03
HOW TOM BECAME A "ToUeH.


The Result of Reading PernicIous Dime
Novels and Sensational Story Papers-rAn
Experience Which Ought to BE Warm
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 1 thought it
should be given to the public for warn
ing and admonition. The following
letter was in the PASTORS mail:
'MY DEAR PAsTOR-wnl you please call at
once to see my boy, who is very sick indeed,
and oblige an anxious mother"
, OF course / responded, and drove at
the earliest possible opportunity to the
house, which was on the outskirts of the
parish. The father met me at the door
with the remark:
"rm 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 a minister of God to the sick
chamber. While waiting for the sick
boy to wake, the parents in subdued
tones and with aching hearts told the
pathetic story. L
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
TO 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
ut, "a tough, and to make his mark in
the world. He did become a tough fel-
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
rnered 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
disconnected with home and personal
restraint. This was enhanced by the
baneful influences Of John, who had
taste Of the forbidden, and was de-
prayed enough TO banker for more, and
20 declare that he would out-general
the old Captain yet and be found minus
around home,n and that soon he'd abe
on the war-path Westward ho!''
One morning Tom did not come down
10 breakfast ms usual. After awhile
his mother went to his room and
knocked, with no response Anxiously
she opened the door, expecting TO find u
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
ful 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 70 recoy-
er his lost son. With a 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 i'll
ness, caused by her anxiety and mother
ly love for the absent first-born. The
fathers hairs rapidly whitened and his
shoulders painfully stopped, although he
could assign no cause for 1t, yet II the
truth were known IL was caused by the
absence Of Tom. .r.l.r
meanwhile how Jared II with Tomp
Did he revel In exultation and roll in
wealth as he expected from being a
"toughP'' Did he find the pleasure and
success he anticipated from initiating
she ropberieSof (the ,Iamesg brothersp
After be reached New York City by the
'.owl train" he took the 'precantion 10
change his name and clothes and ap-
pear in sailors costume. He met dis
appointment at every turn, was unable
10 get o job at any honest employment,
and the ''toughso he FELL in with were
10 vile'snd blasphemous that he turned
from them with loathing, and finally