Sharp County record., 1885-04-30
TOMS SOPHOMORE YEAR.
Why He Preferred to Wait, and why
Topsy Was Not sold.

! W III u4c ANlL4Nio ~ 44A' lN~'NNN~'
whistling softly, looking about him. 1t
was 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, ne
was to leave it for nearly year. There,
near the head of the bed, stood his
trunk, funny old trunk that had be-
longed to his grandfather, and was coy-
cred with hairy hide fastened with brass
nails. He had just been packing ity
and a glance at its contents told wbere
he was going to spend the coming year.
For besides his clothing might Ke seen
| green-covered Latin and Creek gram
mars, leathern-boundI Iex:cons, an al
zebra, geometry, "a copy OF Liyy, and
several other books which spoke of a
college course
For three days latter, at his college
in a country town more than hundred
miles away, Tom Sargent intended
to make his appearance as learned
Sophomore. just to Think he said
to himself. Its only three days now,
and then I'll see all the fellows. Won't
we have some powwows? And won't
we dig into the old classics and math-
ematics?' and he gave boyish shuttle
on the floor to give vent to his delight.
Just then he heard 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 home"
yes.
WHY, where Topsy?'
Topsy was Mr.. Sargent's little black
horse that he had had for years; and
now that he was getting old. and grow
inc heavier and more bulky as age
crept on. he had done but little walkir z
! in his business about town, but made
Topsy his invariable companion.
"Where' Topsy, father:?" asked Tom
again.
well, Tom" said his father, laying
down his knife and fork, 81 suppose
I've sold TopSy.'
"Sold Topsy" cried Tom. did you
know it, mother"
But his mothers face was answer
enough.
"Whv. what for, father?" Tomeon-
tinued. Sold Topsv And the new
buggy you bought last year, to make
| your driving easy; have you sold that,
too?"
Yes, 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, | 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 cant walk that much.
81 must cut dowu expenses, said
! Mr.. Sargent. 1--WE run behind, this
last year There's no other way"
Nothing more was said.
After dinner Tom went up to his
room again, and sat down on a corner
Of the trunk.
Topsv sold! And the buggy sold! 1t
did not seem possible. And to think of
his father, far from being vigorous now,
vet 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 un-
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 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 10 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 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 famous con-
test for a Kingdom and a crown. Tom
continued his walking to and fro IN ;he
little room, whistling now and then, ana n66r
from time to time throwing himSelfi1ld
j char restlessly. =,
The afternoon wore away. The and
dropped till it seemed to rest an irI moth
on peak which Tom could So Oncs
his window, and then the room s.
grew dark. The change se'