The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-02-25

N :;; ::: $ I: 81: =: ;:;;: !;
81 b'lieve he went upstairs bi
ago." answered Mother Burleigh
counting the stitches IN her knit
ting.
4 frown gathered over the ole
farmers face as he went to tho
door at the foot of the stairs anc
called:
"You Tomr'
Eyes, sirr' answered a voice
above stairs.
'Did you fetch up them colts
from the pastur?'
''No, sir! l forgot itI'' came the
answer, followed by swift sound
of footsteps and Tom, tall and ro-
bust, came into the room.
81 low you'd furgit your head ei
'twasn't fast to your shoulders -
grumbled his father. 'Now 1 s'pose
I've got to go trackin' down thar in
the snow 'arier 'em ~
No, sir, I'll go myself. 1 didn't
mean to forget them," said Tom.
'But was thinking ol--somethiDg
elsel He put on his hat and coat
and trudged to bring up and feed
The colts, while Farmer Burleigh,
removing his boots a1d stretching
his feet out 10 the warm blaze which
roared and cracked on the hearth,
continued to grumble.
easy to know what the fool boy
was thinkin' of Hain't but one
subjec' pesterin' his mind very
much jest now. TOWN. town! He
must go to town an get on starch
collar" That's bis tune these
timesw
"Well, father, l don't see but
what you'll have to let him go for
a SPELL" said the mother.
"Tye bout come to that conclu-
sion myself" said the old farmer.
But it hain't because l want to, by
a jugful.
Neither do l want him to CO.
returned the mother with a sigh
"But 1 low it'll turn out for the
best"
''I'll have a talk with him to
night" said Farmer Burleigh. can
settle the thing one way or the
'tother. Its new years night an 8
good time to begin"
So when Tom came in from put.
ting up the colts the old farmer
said:
fLook here, bqyl Is nothing 60
in to satisfy you but gallivantin'
off to town."
81 can't be satisfied here" said
Tom. "I don't like farming"
$50 1 seep' growled the father.
81 guess there amt much use in
maxim a feller stick to work be
hates-he haln't apt to do any
good. see I'll have to gin my
consent. But, Thomas, ] don't de-
ny it's a great disappointment to
me. I'm gettin' old-an' thar's q
morgidge on this farm. 1 counted
on your help to pay it off
"Tll help you With half my sala-
ry, if 90 to town, fatherP put in
Tom, eagerly.
But the old man shook his head.
81 don't low your help'll go any
great ways thereafter" he said.
But I'll tell you how it is; III
give you a suit O. clothes an' good
outfit to go away with, an after
that you must scratch for yourself.
If you don't make your way in town
you mustn't look to me-"
"Tll make it! Never mind, ia
ther! And I'll help you, too?'
cried Tom.
"Yasi Don't count no great or
that" remarked the old man dryly.
81 tried to raise you a good farmer,
an no sooner are you big enough to
do any good than you're like al! the
rest! Think its more manly to
wear kid gloves an swing dandy
cane, an 60 in debt for board, than
to manage a big farm!
"Father, you ought to know me
better than that" cried Tom indig-
nantly.
"Yasl 1 do-knew you better'n
you do yourself" answered the old
man, as dryly as before. oval
I've said my say. If you want tC
leave the old home, an US in our old
age, strike out and go. That's all
I've got to sayI'
"I'l show you hereafter how
much 1 thank you, father" said
Tom, with deep emotion. "Wher
can / goY'
sooner the better, s'posc, bein
as your minds set that way"
! "All right! I'll help you gel
things in good fix, first, and ther
| I'Il go. And if can't succeed there
I'll come back, fatherw
"Yas; spilled for all good use!
remarked the old man ip the same
dry tone.
For a few days Tom worked
faithfully. Then he packed b
trunk, bid adieu to the home of his
childhood and Weat to join the busy
throng in the rush and hustle OF th'
selfish city, while Farmer Burleigi
plOdded over his fields alone ant
aid his best to save enough to pa.
the interest on the mortgage.
Tom wrote home often, seemed
in good spirits and said he ha'
found a place. But he didn't meal
to come home, he said, until be hs'
done something worth coming t
tell. And SO one year went by. Th
seasons were pretty fair and b
> hard work Farmer BuIleigh pai
his interests before the second yea
began.
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