The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-04-17
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 a conspicuous place on the
corner what-not further honored by a
worsted mat under it and q 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 a teacher, now home for
lifelong summer vacation, during which
time two or three of us-city residents
were fortunate enough to find ac-
comrnodations as boarders.
Ihad taken up and was examining
she bottle, with view to finding out
if 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 az any
drug store, filed with anything in the
drug line, from unpretending camphor
to the most carefully elaborated pre-
seription.
"She calls it Toms revolver re-
marked another member of the family;
whereupon / set it down with sudden
ness which made Tom laugh.
20, there isn't anything about it
nosor' 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 Pineyille, 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 a story, ism t
there?n
Tom was a big boy-just at the
''gawky age" his sister had confiden-
italy informed me-but was neither
Nneouth 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 a 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 shake of the head. "Three days
after that dreadful fall father had from
the hay-loft. Such sight as his arm
lnever did see! SwoAen''-
''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,
aor 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.
"a have to walk, but / didn't mind
that, for | knew it would be about as
hard to go round ON horseback, for
there'd been a thaw. and the lower
roads were so slumpy folks could hardly
get through at ALL
Il hadn't got more than halfway
over when / met Squire Plummer,
hunting all round, and says he to ME:
Tom. I've lost Old Blacky, sure's
yoa liver
''And says L:
1 want to know, squirrel
And says he: k
".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
70 any one'll find her.
I told him couldn't 90 out of my
way on account of father, but I'd keen
sharp lookout wherever did 90; and
you'd better believe did, for I'd a.
peen glad enough to get that much
money for so little work. But got
mo town without seeing ANYTHING OF
aer. | sat down by the drugman's i
vounter to rest bit while he was put
ung up the stuff, thinking how I'd
c.ahge my route going back, and
P praps I'd strike her yet.
lhe man brought two bottles and
SET one down while he was wrapping up
the cork. -
Take care there he says; 'don'i
leu smell thatr
Why not?' says L
i. loud be sorry if you did, said he.
.Iwould knock you down quicker'n n i
You was shot
ne Went on to tell me it was a most
sauliy strong kind of Ammonia that
sis used for drawing blisters. Would
aS as I N less timethan you d take to tell
about it most.
Ihen asked him if it was any; kin
y smelling salts, and told him how I'D
sue hold OF mothers smelling salts in
vgulch, unbeknown to her, long ago,
,sl sIen | was little shaver, and had
+ ;sent me biggest kind of sniff. because
i vas the first chance I'd ever had al
tos saa | d thought it something good
So,s !, y neen keeping from me. And
lssal ! . Kicked and screeched and hol.
"'sus ana how mother'd had to haul