Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-05-03
TOMS REVOLVER.

of quiet good taste about it to make us
wonder at sight of 4 common four-ounce
glass bottle which occupied conspicuous
place on the corner what-not; further
honorcd by worsted mat under it and
small bouquet of dried grasses stuck into
its mouth.
eyes. that's mothers whim-she will
have it there" said the Oldest daughter,
who was teacher, now home for the long
summer vacation, during which time two
or three of us-city residents-were fortu-
nate enough to find accommodations as
boarders.
had taken up and was examining the
bottle, with view to finding out if 1t had
about it any unseen beauties or virtues
which might seem to entitle it to such dis
tinction. But not was surely nothing
more than just such 4 one rs might be
served to you at any drug store, filled with
anything in the drug line, from unpre-
tending camphor to the most carefully
celebrated prescription.
"She calls it Toms revolver, ," remarked
another member OF the family, whereupon
I set it down with suddenness which
made Tom laugh.
go, there isn't anything about it nOio!'
he said. Ive told mother lots of times IA
spend every cent l'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 1t,
l urged. "Thcre's story, isn't thcre!"
Tom was Il big boy-just at the "Sawky
age" his sister had confidentially irform-
ed me-but was neither uncouth or i'll
hammered, as too many farmers boys
think it the thing to be at that rather i'll
definite period of life. So, without more
than a reasonable amount OF coaXlnS ana
encouraging from the others, and the
modest disclaimers proper form boy who
figures as his own hero in his own story,
Tom began:
at was in early spring"
eyes, 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 | never
did see! SwOllen-"
"Friday, the twenty-eighth day OF last
March, four years." put in father.
"And the DOCTOR" went;on Tom, chad
been here and left prescriptions for some
thing father'd got to have just rs quick as
we could get it. And lie thought-thc doc
tor-thatTf we could get over to Pineville
it would be better, for they didn't have
very fresh drugs down here at the Corn
ers.
$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 20
round On horseback, for there'd been
thaw, and the lower roads were so slumpy
folks could hardly get through at all.
I hadn't got more than halfway over
when met Squire Plummer, hunting all
round, and says lie to me:
"'Tom, I've lost Old Blacky, sure'S you
live'
"And saysI:
"'I want to know, Squire"
"And says he:
"'Yes, indeed, Ton. She's been gone
three days. She's the best COW had
bloodcd stock-cost me sight o. money,
and Pm offering three dollars to any onc'H
find her.
81 told him couldn't go out Of my way
on account of father, but I'd keep sharp
lookout wherever l did go; and you'd
better believe / did, for I'd a been glad
enough to get that much money for 50 lit
tie work. But / got into town without
seeing anything of her. | sat down by the
drugmaH's counter to rest bit while he
was putting up the stuff, thinking how I'd
change my route going back, and p'raps
I'd strike her yet.
"The man brought two bottles and Get
one down while he was wrapping up the
OLileT. lOOh IL uP ahu toOh ONS WV W. "'
"'Take care there he says; don't you
smell that"
"'Why not' says I.
"eYou'd be sorry if you did, said he.
'Twould knock you down quicker'n if
you was shot
s'He went on to tell me it was most
awfully strong kind of ammonia that was
used for drawing bliSters. Would do it in
less time than you'd take to tell about i.
most.
seThen asked him il it was any Kin 10
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 a sniff, because 1t was tile first
chance I'd ever had at it, aud I'd thought
it something good they'd been keeping
from me. And how I'd kicked and
screeehed and hollered, and how mother'd
had to haul me out of church and use up
10 end of lemon-drops and ginger cookies
TO bring me to.
$50 the drug-mah laughed, and says the
stuff in the bottle was something of the
same sort, only they weren't TO be men
TONED in the same day for strongness-or,
if you made sny comparison at all, it
would be tG compare the smelling-salts to
the smallest mite of a baby, and that am