Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-05-08
TOMS VICTORY OVER SELF.

Why He Preferred to Wait, and Why
Topsy Was Not Sold.
Tom stood in the middle of the room,
with his hands in his pockets, and
whistling softly, looking about him. It
was a plain little room just under the
roof, but it had been Toms room ever
since he had had one of his own, and
he was attached to it. But in a day or
two, so he was saying to himself, he
was to leave it for nearly a year. There,
ear the head of the bed, stood his
trunk, a funny old trunk that had be-
longed to his grandfather, and was Gov
cred with hairy hide fastened with brass
nails. He had just been packing it,
and a glance at its contents told where
he was going to spend the coming year.
For be sides his clothing might be seen
gre%en-covered Latin and Greek gram
mars. lea%thern-bound lexicons, an al
zebra, a geometry, q copy of Livy, and
several other books which spoke of a
college course.
:. For three days latter, at his college
in a country town more than a hundred
miles away, Tom Sargent intended
to make his appearance as a learned
Sophomore. "Just to Think" he said
to himself. cts only three days now,
and then I'll see all the fellows. Won't
we have some powwowsp And won't
we dig into the old classics and math-
ematics?" and he gave a boyish shuttle
on the floor to give vent to his delight.
just then he heard a step below his win
dow, and looking out he saw his father
entering the yard on foot.
''Why, father!! cried Tom, suddenly.
''Did you walk all the way homer"
.'Yes.'
.'Why, where's Topsy?"
Topsy was Mr.. Sargent's little black
horse that he had had for years; and
now that he was getting old, and grow
ing heavier and more bulky rs age
crept on he had done but little walking
in his business about town, but made
Topsy his invariable companion.
''Where's Topsy, father?" asked Tom
again.
well, Tom" said his father, laying
down his knife and fork, II suppose
I've sold Topsy."
sold Topsy!" cried Tom. '.Did you
know it, mother:"
But his mothers face was answer
enough.
why, what for, father?:" Tom con-
tinued. sold Topsy! And the new
buggy you bought last year. to make
your driving easy; have you sold that,
too?"
Eyes, I've practically sold them both.
The bargain isn't really closed, but Joe
| Watson has taken them to try, to-day,
and if his offers fair, I shall take it."
''Why, father" said Tom, in a re-
monstrating tone, as he brushed back
his stiff hair. .'Why, your business
keeps you travelling between your shop
and the folks that work for you, all the
| time. You can't walk that much"
II must cut down expenses" said
| Mr.. Sargent. "I've run behind, this
last year. There's no other way"
Nothing O was said.
After dinner Tom vent up to his
| of the trunk.
Topsy sold! And the buggy sold! It
did not seem possible. And to think of
his father, far from being vigorous now,
yet forced to plod about continually
over the rough roads. The backs OF
the grammars and leXicons, smiling up
at him from the trunk, made him I'M
comfortable. He rose, and shut down
the cover of the trunk, and stood for a
long time with his hands in his pockets,
looking out of the window.
There was a very pretty landscape of
! green pastures and woodland outside,
but Tom saw nothing of it. His eyes
| seemed to be fixed on some far-away
| place beyond the horizon. After a
| while he turned and began TO pace the
| room. Then he paused by his trunk,
and opened it again, and looked in.
What pleasant suggestions it offered,
what promises it held out!
The room was small and plain. and
Tom was by no means a good-looking
boy. But such boys are sometimes the
heroes, and such rooms the battle
grounds of contests which make no
noise in the world, and which yet de-
mand as much pluck and character in
the victor, as has many q Famous con-
test for a kingdom and a crown. Tom
continued his walking to and fro in the
little room, whistling now and then, and
from time to time throwing himself into
a char restlessly.
The afternoon wore away. The sun
dropped till it seemed to rest an instant
on a peak which Tom could see from
his window, and then the room suddenly
grew dark. The change seemed to
| rouse Tom to a decision. He put on
his hat, and a moment later was walk
ing toward the center of the town.
The next morning, when breakfast
was ready, Tom was not on hand. But
| just as his father and mother were be-
ginning to wonder where he could be,
what should they see but Tom, driving
Topsy up to the door, and hitching her
to the post.
Tom" said his father. as he came
In, ':what does this mean?"
ut means you're going to keep
Topsy. sir" answered lem, going up to
his father and putting q hand on earf,
shoulder. Father, I've thought it al
over, and I've decided not to 60 back to
college this year. but to stay at home
and work. That will be enough q