The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-07-23
PETERSON'S '.BOOBY."
He Proved, However, That HE
Was Good for Something"

ne frOV0Q, t1OWOVer, Iua6 ne
Was Good for Something"
The people of Lowerton were more
or less given to talking among them
selves about the boy. And in talking
about him they always evinced deep
pity for the parents. because they had
born to them one who was of weak and
foolish intellect. But notwithstanding
the fact that this boy had been denied.
for some mysterious reason. that gift
which makes every possessor of it a
king, and his parents the proud reflcc-
tion that their offspring was unlike
other children in the world. Glen Peter
son and his wife could not help loving,
and tcnderly. the one who now and
henceforth was to claim unconsciously
that greater consideration at their hands
which was only his due. He was now
a boy of dozen summers, and far
from attractive in outward appearance.
being singularly grotesque of form, and
In his movements awkward in the high
est degree. HIS features were more or
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
Hvas that element in his character which
drew toward him the favorable regard
of nearly all who knew him, and this
was his truly affectionate disposition.
Moreover, unlike most individuals born
to his lot, nothing ever appeared to
ruffle his equanimity of temper, since,
Oh 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 q
few disrespectful and unfecling among
his companions had bestowed on him
the unchristian SUPPLEMENTARY y
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 schoolmates. 1t is
open to grave doubt. however, If he
ever required a 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 oi
the mother tongue, she failed most sig
nally in her efforts to elevate the intel.
1ectual condition of one who had beer
far less endowed in this respect thar
mis- fellows. And failing as a scholar
Tommy also failed to do his part in tho
games and pastimes which obtain with
most boys. and SO in time it grew tC
be common saying with the unchari
table and ansympsthetic among hi.
comrades, that ''Booby isn't good fol
anything."
The years went by, and Tommy wa.
now nearing his sixteenth year. He NJ
longer attended school, possibly for the
reason that he had grown tired of :hs
ncver-ending monetony of study which
fell to. his lot His mother had passet
to her grave leaving her husband t.
alone watch over and care for the on,
had brought to her life the pain o
grievous disappointment. In tn
foundry near his home Glenn Peterson
toiled day after day for the supper
necessary to himself and the one de
pendent upon him, while TOmmy-al
idle nobody-wandered here and Their,
about the village as curiosity prompted
him, the sport of the small boys, ant
the butt of the large ones. At hear
the father was lonely, sad man, ant
the burden he was bearing reste.
heavily upon him. The lightest of hi
cares was to have food and clothin!
for himself and child. and had mer'
labor been the one consideration of hi
mind his life in the main had been 81
easy one. But that which, day afte
day, and week after week. preyed upol
his soul only haunt him with miser,
that would not go away, was the re
Election that he was not as other faith
ers in the world, and why-he woul,
query to himself over and over again
why was this curse visited upon me?'
Don't take it so hard, Clemr' sal,
Hank Ruben. fellowSworkman, on
day, as the latter observed his friend il
an unusual sober mood. ut ain
nothin' you're to blame for! Bear up
bear up, old fellow! That ar boy ain
ways gun W dtC.
mot bit of it!'' exclaimed Mix
Burns, another workman. ..But dom
We forgit, before Tom peers he'll b
after doin' somethin' none of yell b
shame of him for! Now mind wha
I'm ateliin of yer'
Of course it was wholly impossibl
for the latter individual to have spokel
knowingly. l am led to think his re
mark proceeded entirely from SINGER
desire on his part to buoy up the hear
of the father to belief that in his chill,
there was a spark of latent intelligence
which one day would glow with tn
brightness of noble action.
But whether or not the speech ha,
the effect intended. / am unable to say
Certainly it did not weigh in the min
of Ruben who. in language character
istic of him. retorted as follows:
'.Be blowed on his dom somethin
and fool at that. To die will be th
only thing he'll be respected for!''
A sigh was heard to fall from the Lip
of Peterson, and here the conversation
ended. One morning. q week later
little Paddy Burns came running out Q