The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-07-25
A BOOK TO BE ASHAMED OF.
Tommy fuckers Conscience and the Good
Resolution Which Ho Made.

Tommy fuckers Conscience and the Good
Resolution Which He Made.
As | went down to the meadow this
morning, whom should see but Tommy
Tucker half buried in a coy heap of
Farmer Browns new hay. He was
reading out of a book with yellow
paper covers; but when | came near he
gave a little start, closed the book, and
slipped it out of sight. Tommy and l
are quite good friends, so knew, when
he put the book away so quickly, that
it was something that he was a little
ashamed of.
"A bright day to You, Tommy
Tucker" | said. Don't let me stop
your reading. Indeed, if your book is
so interesting rs it seemed TO be Il min
ute ago, and if you don't object, l wish
you would read aloud
Tommy'S face flushed crimson.
IL don't think you would care for
the story, Mr.. EarlSton; and Td-Td
rather talk.
Now, this was so unlike the straight
forward Tommy Tucker, who tells me
all his little secrets, that | said right
out:
Surely, Tommy Tucker dosen't read
books that he is ashamed to let his
friends see.
The blush which had begun to die
out of Tommy fuckers face came back
with a deeper glow
Il don't know that it's very wrong"
he said. 'It's only book about a boy
who went off to Kill Indians, who fought
six highwaymen single-handed and beat
them all, and rescued lot of soldiers
who had been captured, and had a great
many other wonderful adventures. III
show you the book" continued
Tommy.
NO, don't" I said. Il don't want
to read any book that you think bad
enough to hide from me-
Tommy looked hurt, but did not say
anything; so | went on:
You see. Tommy, 1 am Just taking
your own Judgment on the book. 1t
ism so very wrong, you say; and vet
1t IS so wrong that you would rather
hadn't seen it, neither would you like
to 90 home and read it to your little
brothers. If it isn't wicked book, it
is foolish book. Who ever heard of
boy who did the wonderful things
that your hero does in the story every
day? 1t isn't likely that you'll ever be
called upon to fight Il baAd of high
waymen, and it ism t likely that you IL
whip them single-handed if you have to
fight them"
Tommy was still silent
MAY | ask you question, Tommv?.
Does the reading of that book make
you study your lessons better, or make
| you more content at home, or fit YOU
better for the everyday work you have
to do? Or does it take you away from
your lessons, make you Discontinued
with home, make Won want to do i'm
possible things, instead of the plain
things that God gives you to do?'
You are right, MIR. Earlston," said
Tommy, forgetting that | had only
asked some questions, and that he was
really answering the accusation of his
own conscience. "You are right. 1t
is a foolish book; and if it ism t
wicked, it was making me wicked. 1t
was making me careless in everything.
Mother doesn't know why my school
averages We're lower last week, and
why | forgot some errands had to do.
She didn't know about the book. |
didn't want her to know rnnever read
a book again that | don't want her to
know OF.
He took the yellow book from his
pocket, and tore it to pieces.
Tommy Tucker | said, ''you will
never 20 far wrong if you don't hide
anything from your mother IS. S.
Times.