The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-08-02
Youths Department.
rom BROWNS FOURTH or JULY

TON BROWNS FOURTH or JILI.
Tom Brown was an urchin just eight sum-
But the heart of the wee little man was as
bold
As it he were twice that age,
And his muscles were strong and his blue
eyes we're bright,
And his brave little heart was as merry and
As a bird let loose from its cage.
Now Tom had been reading, as every boy
OF the glorious deeds of the brave and the
good
OF Washington, Warren and Lee;
And the Fourth of July-it was now near at
hand
Was the day the, glad sound had rung out
through the land:
1--WE are free we are freel we are free."
Now Tom got to thinking how grand it would
Like the patriot heroes he loved to be free
-, Twas too bad to be kept so at home.
There were lots of nice boys in the streets just
And they had such good tlmes He did wish
he could go
And the wide world along with them roam.
Then all of a sudden, one morning in bed,
Driillant 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,
10 dwell independent and free.
And so Master Tommy, when no one was by,
slipped out through the gate on that Fourth
of July,
And thus was he EARNED and equipped"
Three packs of fire-crackers, a long stick of
punk,
A huge slice of gingerbread, plenty of
'Spunk,"
And dime in his hand tightly gripped.
Our hero marched on through the din and the
Till he entered at last, by mere chance side
street,
Where a crowd of rough boys were at play
Twas a tenement quarter low, dirty and
And the rabble of 0dmt,s, Manufactured and
We're Keeping "the Fourth" in their way.
All, those sharp-witted Arabs how quickly
they knew
What sort of boy Tom was! Around him they
drew,
And to char him began. "Hullo, Bub
Does yer mar know ye,rse outF" "Whered ye
"Oh, ain he daisy!"-so the hooking talk
goes
SAY give us a hunk o. yer grub"
In jifTy his packs of hre-crackers were
grabbed,
His pockets we're rihed, his gingerbread
"nabbed,"
And his clean clothes were all in muss.
Then they daubed him with mud till he looked
And shouted in gee 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 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 nave proved in the end all in vain.
Just then rose a cry: Cops a-comin'" Away
sped the fieet-footed Arabs like night before
day,
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
the town,
And here you are, right on my beat!"
Poor Tom! What pitiful sight to behold
Was he-not bit like his "herbes of old
AS homeward he limped, sad and sore
His face was all swollen, his right arm wa.
hurt,
His jacket was torn and despatched with dirt
And he'd neer felt so wretched before.
And when, warm bath and poultice ap
piled,
He lay in his bed his dear mother beside
Tom drowsily said: Now 1 see:
1t may have been good for the heroes of old
To be free, for they were men, mighty anC
bold,
But it isn't good thing for me-
True freedom is good both for boys and TO
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 gOref1led by ldU."
Thomas OdkeS Condnt, in Hdrper's YOunl
People.