Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-03-17

il Hake MIN n mead ana ewes, ana nose
And then my papa will laugh spose,
And say that it looks like me-.
your strength is small, Red Riding Hood;
Your plans immense, and ambition high
How will you reach to work above,
When the work is higher than you my love :"
She aid with a smile, III try
But many a clustering day went by
Ere the maiden's arduous task was done.
And then the tremulous south wind blew,
And before Red Riding Hood thought or knew
1t had melted in the sun.
And so with us of maturer years.
Our cherished hopes, how grand they grow
We build our castles, md lay our plans
And then the work of our feeble hands
Has vanished away like snow.
Tho Spring that Closed the Door of tn,
Don't you worry one bit, mother,
kindly declared Tom Sperry. II can
get my own supper just as we'll as not.
Now, you see, l can broil piece OF
steak, make cup of tea, toast slice
of bread, handy as an old cook in a
hunters camp"
"You are good boy. I feel pretty
well used up to-day, :" said Mrs. Sperry,
who, closely bundled up in her big red
shawl and nursing rheumatic alice
ton, occupied chair before the fire.
"Not a word, mother, not q word"
said the obliging Tom.
Soon the steak was broiled, the bread
toasted, the tea made. All the dishes
were on the table, and Tom was seated
before them, happy as any officeboy
eating his supper could be.
"Sakes!" suddenly exclaimed voice
oil po, -
lett entered. How comfortable you
do look in here!"
Come in, come in" cred Tom s
mother, glad to have q caller who
could help her while away half hour.
"And, Tommy! what good time
you are having, eating your support"
exclaimed Miss Bartlett.
Eyes, yes" replied Tom, promptly,
charg ing away with knife and FORK on
the beefsteak, like knight with sword
and lance on q trophy in the forest.
"He had to get his supper himself,
poor boy moaned his mother.
Don't call til boy poor" said Tom
cheerfully. Il think he is doing first
rate"
"Bless him. 1 say" exclaimed cd
Miss Bartlett, admiringlv. Tom was a
great favorite with the old lady.
"How does Tommy like his place at
Dodlins'?" she now inquired.
"Splendidp declared Tom. "And
Dodlins trusts me, too. He leaves a
lot of money near me; leaves the safe
door open"
"Yes," said his mother, "but he seems
to look out and see that the door can
be closed pretty quick. He has got a
spring under his desk"
"Not real bilin' spring." said old
Miss Bartlett. "That's hanly if you
are thirsty"
son." exclaimed Tom, ait is a spring
to put your foot on, you know, OF
steel; and that connects with the safe
door, and shuts it all of a sudden
that's in case anybody came in and
wanted to be up to misch eff, and run
off with what is in the safe take money.
That spring will do the business, you
know, pretty quick"
81 should think it would, main
quick" declared the old neghbor
what progressive world we do live
in! Things was different when | was a
boy-girl, l mean"
YES" said Tom, wisely and with the
air of one who has seen both Boston
and the tip of the north pole; Eyes, it
is go-ahead age"
"Dodlins is smart" affirmed Miss
Bartlett. CAS- for that matter, his faith
er before him, Simon Doliins, was
smart in his day. He is a lively old
man still. You ever see him?"
"No, ma'am."
He will give you q call one day. He
is fussy old Teller, but good man,
if do say it. He has notions, YOU
know What he wants now is somebody
he can trust. so he says; yes, somebody
he can trust"
"He might take our Tommy. "
thought Mrs. Sperry, but modestly did
not express her opinion. "If Tommy
could get more pay, it wouldn't go bad
at ALL"
The next day Tom was on duty in
the office of William Dodlins. 1t was
noon. Said Toms employer: 81
have plenty of time, and l will run
home for bite; if you need me, use the
telephone; 1 will be back in time to
close up"
Gail right. sir" replied Tom.
Leaving the safe door open, William
Doilins adjourned to his house for a
"b;te"-a good many of them.
1t was very still in the Office. The
open fire cracked in the CRATE. a fly
came oat of his hiding place and buzz
ed in the sunshine flooding the win
dow.
Just two sounds here" thought
Tom.
Hark! A third sound was audible on
the stairway leading to the office door.
and in walked man somewhere on the
farther side of sixty. Three things
were very prominent: an immense red
handkerchief swathing his neck, very
keen eyes behind his ironbowed spec
tacles. and q cane with q crooked head.
With this cane he pompously pounded
on the floor, and, looking at Tom, said ::
al h, eh. young mani
Yes, sir" said Tom, "can l do any
thing for you?"
81 dunno. Where is your master"
"At dinner, sir"
AT dinner! Well, we can do with
out him. I just want to get at his
safe"
Tom sprang up. "Who-who-are
you, sir"
mo matter, young man, no matter
who l am. | am going to that safe.