Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-07-23
PETERSON'S "BOOBY."
He E Proved, However, That "He
Was Good for Something"

The people of Lowerton were NOR
or less given to talking among them
selves about the boy. And in tall5in,
about him they always evinced deol
pity for the parents, because they hac
born to them one who was or ant
foolish intellect. But notwithstandin!
the fact that this boy had been denied
for some mysterious reason, that gif
which makes every possessor of it ;
king, and his parents the proud reilec
ton that their offspring was unlik,
other children in the world, Glenn Peter
son and his wife could not help loving
and tcnderly, the one who now ant
henceforth was to claim unoonsciouslN
that greater consideration at their hand,
which was only his due. He was now
n boy of dozen summers, and fai
from attractive in outward appearance
being singularly grotesque of form, ant
in his movements awkward in the high.
est degree. His features were more oil
less distorted, his hair was of saffron
hue, and his eyes the color of grass.
His voice was thin and nasal, and in
speaking he uttered his words in q
drawing manner. Yet, notwithstand.
ing all this comeliness and grace, there
was that element in his character which
drew toward him the favorable regard
of nearly all who knew him, and this
was his truly aflectionate disposition.
Moreover, unlike most individuals born
to his lot, nothing ever appeared to
rufflc his cquanimity of temper, since,
on all occasions he was the same gentle
being. In infancy his parents gave him
the name of Tommy, and by this name
he was known in the place, though n
few disrespectful and unfeeling among
his companions had bestowed on him
the unchristian ppellative-"Boo
He went to the village school, and on
all occasions conducted himself with q
decorum which ought to have put to
shame many of his school-mates. 1t is
open TO grave doubt, however, if he
ever required knowledge of the alpha
bet, since, Notwithstanding the fact
that his teacher sought most assiduously
to instill into his mind an acquaintance
with at least the simplest rudiments o.
the mother tongue, she failed most sig.
nally in her efforts to elevate the intel
lectual condition of one who had beer
far less endowed in this respect thar
his fellows. And failing as scholar
Tommy also failed to do his part in the
games and pastimes which obtain with
most boys, and SO in time it grew tc
be common saying with the unchari
table and unsympathetic among his
comrades, that "Booby isn't good fol
anything"
The years went by, and Tommy was
now nearing his sixteenth year. He nc
longer attended school, possibly for the
reason that he had grown tired of the
never-ending monotony of study which
fell to his lot. His mother had passed
to her grave leaving her husband to
alone watch over and care for the one
whose existence, it must be confessed,
had brought to her life the pain ol
grievous disappointment. In the
foundry near his home Clem Peterson
toiled day after day for the support
necessary to himself and the one de.
pendent upon him, while Tommy-ar
idle nobody-wandered here and there
about the village as curiosity prompted
him, the sport of the small boys. and
the butt of the large ones. At heart
the father was lonely, sad man, and
the burden he was beming rested
heavily upon him. Tho lightIst of his
cares was to have food and clothing
for himself and child, and had mere
labor been the one consideration of his
mind his life in the main had been an
easy one. But that which, day after
day, and week after week, preyed upon
his soul only haunt him with a misery
that would not go away, was the re-
Election that he was not as other faith
ers in the world, and why-he would
query to himself over and over again
"Why was this curse visited upon mep"
Don't take it so hard, Clemm said
Hank Ruben, fellow-workman, one
day, as the latter observed his friend in
an unusual sober mood. at amt
nothin' you're to blame for! Bear up,
bear up, old fellow! That ar boy amt
always goin' to live"
Not bit of it!'' exclaimed Mike
ye forglt, before Tom peters he'll be
after doin' somethin' none of yen be
Shame of him for! Now mind what
III alcllln OF yc!
OF course it was wholly impossible
for the latter individual to have spoken
knowingly. / am led to think his re.
mark proceeded entirely from sincere
desire on his part to buoy up the heart
of the father TO belief that in his child
there was a spark of latent intelligence
which one day would glow with the
brightness of noble action.
But whether or not the speech had
the effect intended, am unable to say.
Certainly it did not weigh in the mind
of Ruben who. in language character
istic of him, retorted as follows:
'Be blowed on his doin' somethin'
and fool at that. To die will be the
only thing he'll be respected for!"
A sigh was heard to fall from the lips
of Peterson, and here the conversation
ended. One morning, a week later,
little Paddy Burns came running out Of
breath into the foundry with the alarm,
ing intelligence that "Booby' had faller
into the river. Instantly all the mer
dropped their work and started TO gc
TO the rescue of the unfortunate youth
"Ob!-he's got out-he's got out
Got out all himself, too reckonl' shout
ed the lad, as'he gazed toward the rive
some rods away. The men pauset
short. and bent their eyes in the direc
ton referred to. and sure enough, VIII,
should be ssen coming hurriedly up th'
path leading from the river but thu
veritable Tommy holding his arms ex
tended as he walked, the wster dripping
from his face and garments like rain
and tho poor fellow an object pi pity