Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-19

iaio IN u STOCK OF the thlngs ne considered
most essential to boys needs while travelling
He bought himself q small traveling-bag and
got long strap, with which he could carry the
bag over over his shoulder like a newsboys
pack. Then he packed the bag for the journey
with these things: a large ball of Irvine. a
a comb, a pencil. a big package Of molasses
taffy, q grocers blank account book and a
paper collar. unique travellers outfit GER
tainly, but for some reason or other the lady
made another provision in another bag OF
which Tom knew nothing, but shouldered his
own in proud contentment
Tom had q purpose in taking the blank
book. He printed on the cover in large
letters:
WHAT 1 SAW BETWEEN WASHINGTON
AND COLORADO.
TRUE LIST
And this is what he wrote inside, beginning
the very first hour of his journey:
depot, lots of men, women children, en-
gines, trunks, newsboys, porters, gongs sand
witches, dogs, doughnuis. 1 can't write 'em
all down today, but will tomorrow. tunnel.
dark as pltch, one more, two more, bridge,
over Gunpowder creek-damp place for gun
powder, should think; rickity old bridge
Their ii be a break down there some day Won
bet. Philadelphia, goodnessl awful big placed
dirt! Mountains, awful high.
River, Blue Juinata: where's the bluing in
"Pittsburg, smoke.
THE rest of the way, cornfelds.
Don't seem to see much of anything else."
The travellers arrived at Chicago late at
night Tom was up bright and early the next
morning, and off by himself to see the town.
In one hours time he had formed favorable
opinion OF Chicago as a commercial center
This, said he, lis the foinest place for papers
I've ever heard of they sell like hot cakes. 1
tried a hand with a few Trib,ases myself, lust
for fun, and cleared a quarter. The boys are
never stuck, they say and onct there was a
splendid hre here, when they could get dol
lar as quick as clint for the latest only there
wasn't any papers; if there had been there's a
boy l know says he'd have made a fortune,
sure pop"
The lady who had felt some natural concern
about launching youth on the sea of Western
enterprise, was treasured by this evidence OF
Toms business instincts and they were soon
started again on their way, across the praries
OF Indiana. Iowa and Missouri to the plains Of
Kansas and Colorado.
At night, in a desolate part of Missouri a
tornado struck their express train, and wash
out carried away the railway track The pas
sengers, stranded by the overflow of a river
could get nothing to eat while waiting for the
railway to be repaired, and women and little
children cried with hunger Some of the pas
sengers, kind-hearted men, left the train when
the HOOD had subsidized. and making their way
10 the few houses i'll sight, bought all the milk
and food in the vicinity, and brought It to the
train. There was not half enough to go
around, and Tom and the lady had not one
crumb OF bread nor a taste of milk. Tom, now
grown used to plenty, found hunger a hard
ship which he rad never thought Of in his
days of poor fare. He grew pale and restless
and at last ventured to say with some hesita-
ton, Il believe could find something to eat
if tried"
go and try if you like" answered the lady,
who amusing herself with an interesting book
felt sorry for her companion, grown fidgety
with nothing to do.
Tom needed no second bidding, but started
on, glad to, be free; he made quick circuit
round the train, like hound seeking scent
and then struck off in a bee line toward
slight elevation half mile distant, his head
bobbing up and down among the tall weeds
and sun flowers, until he was lost sight of in a
depression beyond the little hill. The weary
passengers, many of them rough miners, look
ing listlessly on. laid wagers as to whether the
little fellow could find his way back but no bet
was taken on the large one offered against the
chance OF his finding aught to eat in his quest
Before very long, however, Toms straw hat
was seen coming over the hill then Tom him
self with basket, and followed by a man
carrying an elght-quart milk pail full of milk
his arms loaded down with loaves of freshly
baked western 'light-bread," and cheese which
Tom The STAR Boy had found with a good
supply of other things in the already garnered
held, and the hungry boys in his car hailed
him with three rousing cheers and many a
"Good for your
But why did You go round and round the
train before you started, Tommy" asked the
lady. who was reading her book.
so, you see, ma am, this is a little by-switch
here and thought it would be natural for some
one to have foot path leading to it, so looked
till found one-a dog path, they say-but it
tuck me straight to the farm house in the
hollow, which no one had SEEM"
Later on, when the train had moved a few
miles, the tired travellers stopped to rest at a
Missouri hotel, and seeing the men go to the
office to register their names, Tom followed,
watching them narrowly; no doubt that register
today holds the record of his visit, for there he
wrote in q bold, round hand, down strokes
heavy and up strokes light
THOMAS MULDooN of Washington, and lady, {"
His breach Of etiquette was shown up to him
in so serious way that at Denver, where the
travellers next halted, the morning papers an
nounced, copying from Toms second written
| record on a hotel register, the lady's name in
full land boy" showing how literally and
humbly he had taken the lesson to heart. The
journey ended in the beautiful little city at the
foot OF the great range, and Tom was not long
beginning to learn how to be a ranchman.
The very first time he walked out to watch
the great cloud shadows chase across the frown-
ing brow of Pixies Peak, he was diverted from
his purpose by the STRINGS in his heart of q
future owner of cattle.
H
he ran home breathless with excitement, and
fired by new ambition.
30, ma am" he CRIED I've seen-rve seen
the foinest sight that ever 1 did see, and a
thing you'll buy as soon as liver you put your
two eyes on it"
Mines, land-claims and ranches passed be-
fore the lady's vision, and ''What have YOU
seen, Tom, that you're sure I'll buy?" she in
quired.
80, Fam, beautiful little black donkey,
ma'am, with pack on his back, an they cali
it a 'beauro.'"
"a whatW repeated the astonished lady.
"a burro, ma am, a dear, nate little burro,
donkey, jet-black and as tidy as a bee, and in
deed, it's for only ten dollars you can buy him'
ma'am, phase buy him;" and with the old plead
ing tone in his voice-the same only grown
stronger. in which he besought her 10 Lind
him foive cints," did Tom now implore the
lady to buy the black burro. Indeed" he
cried at last, I'm very sure that if onct you
owned him, you'd never be without him."
Every likely, Tom," said the lady, "and
whatever could do with him?'
"Oh! think, ma'am," said Irish Tom, show
splendid and convanient he'd be for me to run
me errands on, or to deliver the evening
papers on, around the town."
But the life of errand and newsboy was to
be Toms no longer, and after making "a lot of
friends" as he said, in the town, he was soon
off i'll the country at work on a ranch, where
he quickly learned a cowboys duties, and to
herd cattle with the best. He began his prac-
tice on the back of a burro which gave him
many a toss and run. but Tom Whoae leus