Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-19
THAT LITTLE TOMMY"

There was gent Of the name Of Parkinson,
q regular seaside visitor, rich man. as l
allow, for be always brought two servants
with him from London, and his wife and
darters went dressed up to the knocler, while
their lodgings was @ matter OF some ten
guineas a week-tidy bit O. money, eh, sir.
Only Think all that gold for the use Of
roof and bed, and what they calls a. view!-
though I'd be glad to look out Of my back
windows with nothing better in sight than an
old clothesline and three or four hens for a
quarter that sum, paid regularly every week.
Well, as l Vas a-saying, Mr.. Parkinson he
comes one day down to the beach, and calling
me up to him he says, after sort Of look
around:
Jimmy he says, T've got scheme In
my head which / want you to carry out for
me. You was a blue salt water sailor he
says, for years, which Is morn most Of your
mates has got to boast Of, and reckon that
you're the right man TO execute the job l
wants to see put into haction. You know my
boy Tommy he says.
al ought to- answers Hes asted me
questions enough consuming the sea life to
make me know him if he talked inside sacl:
o. taters'
lay says Mr. Parkinson, that's just it,
Jimmy he says; here's this boy Tommy
crazy to be Off to sea. OF course be don't
know why he wants to go. He amt got no
true notions of the life whatever. He's been
laying out Of his pocket money in tales
about pirates. and treasures In islands, and
the likes Of such 'longshore swash, and what
with them romantic notions and the craving
after the gilt buttons with which they
coa1es poor little chaps into persuading
their fathers to put down good money
for the privilege of their son doing
all he dirty work that is to be done at sea,
there's nothen that'll appease him but
going, and tween you and me and tho bed
post, Jimmy, l don't mean that he should go.
But how to stop himf He's not wanting in
speTTit, and's just the sort Of lad for to run
away and make his mother look twice as old
a. she is with worrit. Now he says. there's
no doubt he says, says he, that if l was to
send him for a voyage in q collier, or some
vessel making a short coasting trip, l might
manage TO sicken him out of the life. But
then he's but little chap, Jimmy, and not fit
for such sufferings as he'd have to endure if |
was to start him on an experimental cruise.
II it was the royal navy he says, says he, 4
dun that | should SO much object to his
being sailor, but this ere little Tommy he
says, won't listen TO the royal navy. He's
got it into his head that there's no seaman
ship to be larnt aboard them ironclads, and
he saws nothen II satisfy him but a sailing
ship, where there's plenty Of climbing to be
done and where the boys are allowed to steer;
vessels which so round the world and visits
all sorts Of countries, for dye see, Jimmy
90. II IL.
here little Tommy, and arter his uniform and
The chance Of coming home with a shipload
of treasure not to say Of his taking command
of a pirate when he's sarved his owners
twelve months say, arter these here things,
he says, says he, in that there little Tommy's
mind come cocoanuts with monkey behind,
and perhaps paroqueet to follow. He is
but II years old, Jimmy he says, and what
should such little chap as that know about
she ocean lifeP
"'Ay.' says I, what indeedr
"'Well,' he says, tell zee now what my
scheme is. STEAD Of sending little Tommy
to sea to find out for himself. suppose we keep
him ashore and give him all the hardships of
the calling we can manage toheap upon him
without doing him any hurtn
Il felt my eyes brighten. for l saw the
gents notion right away and reckoned it an
AL copper bottomed fancy.
you've got house of your own, Jim,'
he saws
4 have, sir says l.
Well, now says he, suppose you take
charge Of this 'ere little Tommy and put him
through his training undertaking not to hurt
him. Introduce all the ship1oard discipline
that's manageable in house
LAY, ay, sir saysI [, grlnning, i seo.'
Don't give him nothen but shipboard
whites TO eat; and perhaps you'll contrive
that they amt of the best at that. See that
the pea soup is like what sailors get in the
forecastle. Better look out for some moldy bis
cult, too, and if there amt no worms in it
make pretend that there is. Likewise purwide
that the water amt over sweet; contrive, if
you can, TO give it a sort of bunghole favey.
Ye know what mean. And now says be,
have said enoughp
LAY, SIR says I, on the broad grin, If
he amt cured it won't be because the phys
ic'll be stinted.'
Right says he; his mothers willing.
Go TO work. / know We of old, Jimmy; it's
not everybody as I'd trust my boy to- and so
saying he slips ten pounds into my hand,
whilst he gives me certain instructions when
to call for the boy and the like
"Well, twas first class job for me, more'n
my line than boating, with laugh TO be got
out OF it tew, so just tells my wife what TO
expect, her and mo living alone; and then,
after laying out pound or tew in certain
articles proper for this here doctoring bust
ness, tips one OF our chaps down on the
beach to get me certain provisions from the
vessels which are lying of. Twas to be
done by bribery and other corruptions, and
nfore noon next day I'd enough ships grub
In my house to last four such little uns as
this here Tommy fortnight, and perhaps
three weeks, which was much longer than I
reckoned the Operation 'ud take. took care
that the fodder should be got out of the /
bomeward Founders. There was 10 chance .
Of getting such provisions ashore. The bis .
cults 'ud come in new and very good eatin',
and the joke nd have been bit too expen- .
sivs had laid in the pork and beef that / .
required in the quantity it's sold at mean
in casks and tierces No, got all that I .
wanted through my mates, and at a trifiinc +
cost tew, out Of vessels brought I'D after
middling long passages; and pretty collec-
ton il was, enough to make me thank the /
Lard I'd knocked off the calling.
"Well, all being ready, including of little
hammock and suit of oilskins, the smallest
that was TO be got, and the legs cut down at
hat, along with boys sou'wester, went
ID to the gentleman's house and asted for
ittlo Master Tommy. was showed in Mr..
ND Mrs. Parkinson came to ME first, and the
Mis,is looked like crying, and was constantly
her husband to beg me TO be
xind 70 her boy, TO take care that be didn't
catch cold under my treatment, and 10 give
Tim plenty to eat, though she wasn't going 70