The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-03-13
SELECTED.
TOM M Y BROWN.


err
Tommy Brown maam, j answered the
boy.
He was pathetic little figure, with a
thin face, large, hollow eyes, and pale
cheeks, that plainly told of insufficient
food. He wore suit of clothes evident
ly II ade for some one else. They were
patched in places with cloth of different
colors. His shoes were old, his hair cut
square on the neck, In the Impractical
manner that women sometimes cut boys
hair. 1t was bitter cold day, yet he
wore no overcoat and his bare hands
were red with cold
How old are you, Tommy
Mine years old come next April. Eve
learnt to read at home, and can cipher
a little
well, it's time for you to begin
school, Why have you never come be-
fore?"
The boy fumbled with a cap in his
hands, but did not reply at once. 1t was
ragged cap, with frayed edges, and the
original color of the fabric no man could
tell.
Presently he said; II never went to
school 'cause-caust well mother takes
in washn, an she couldn't spare me,
But Sissy is big enough to help her; and
she minds the baby besides"
1t was not quite time for the school In
begin. All around the teacher and the
new scholar stood the boys that belonged
in the room. While he was making his
confused explanation, some of the boys
laughed, and one of them called out
Say. Tommy. where are your cufrs. and
collars?" And another said: lyon
must sleep in the rapbap at night. by the
looks of your clothes - BEFORE tn.
teacher couid ouiet them another how vol.
unteered the Information that thu father
IF the new boy was "old 81 Brown. who
is always as drunk AS a tiddler."
| rhD- nanr ohiA tn.l - aranna o.. hit.
tormentors like A h7tf.,, thing Then
before the teacher could detain him. with
a suppressed cry of misery. he ran out of
the room, out of the building down the
street. and was seen no more
The teacher went to her duties with
heavy heart All dav jony the child,s
pitiful face haunted her. At night 1t
came to her dreams She could not rid
herself of the memory of it. After
little trouble she found the place where
he lived. and two of the w. C.. r. L.
women went to visit him.
1t was dilapidated house in a street
near the river. The family lived in the
back part of the house. in a frame ad.
dition. The ladies' climbed the outside
stairs that led M to the room occupie5
by the Brown family. When they first
entered, thew could scarcely discern OBJ
iects. the room was so filled with the
steam of the soao.suds. There were two
windows. but tall brick building ad-
jacent shut out the light. 1t was
gloomy day. too. with gray. lowering
sunshine.
A woman stood before the wasb-tub. |
When they entered She wiped her hands
ON her apron. and came forward to meet
them.
once she had been pretty. But the
color and light had all gone out of her
face. leaving only the sbarpeued outlines
and haopardpess of exnr.ssion
She asked them to Sit down in listless
manner: then taking chair herself she
said:
sissy. give me the baby"
A little girl came forward from dark
corner of the room. carving the baby.
that she laid in her Mothers Lana lean
and sickly.looking babv. with the same
hollow ewes Tommy had,
"Your baby doesn't look strong" said
one of the ladies'
No msam she isn't very strong. /
have to work hard. and expect it Affects
her :" and the woman coughed as she held
the child to her breast
This room was the nlace where this
family ate. SLEPT and lived. There was
no CARPET on the floor: an old table, three
or four chairs. a broken stove. a bed in
one corner. in an opnosite corner a trundle.
bed-tb.t was all.
"Wbere il your little bow. Tommy?s
asked one of the visitors
ale ia there In the trnndle had re-
plied the mother
as he sickP"
..Yes'm. and the doctor thinks he Isn't
going to get well.r At this. The mother
laid her he adj upon tn. bshv's face. while
the tears ran down her thin and faded
cheeks.
what ia the matter with HIM"
He never WAS strong and he's had to
work too hard carving water. and help
ing me lift the wash-tub. and things like
that"
is his father dead?r
NO. he Amt dead. He used to be a
good workman. and we had a comfort
able home. But ali he earns pow-apd
that Amt much, goes for drink. II he'd
only let me- have what little I make over
Inn, away from me, and then the child
rem go hungry"
She took the child of her shoulder. 1t
was asleep now. and she laid it across her
lap,
..Tommy has been crszy to go to
school. | never could spare him till this
winter. He thought if he could get
little education he'd be able to help take
are of Sissy and me. He knew he'd
never be able to work hard. So fixed
up his clothes as well as could, and last
week he started. was afraid the boys
would laugh at him. but he thought
he could stand IL if they did.
stood in the door and watched him going.
| can never forget how the little fellow
| looked" she continued, the tears stream
ing down her face. His patched-up
clothing, his old shoes. his ragged cap,
his poor, little anxious look. He turned
round to me as he left the yard. and said,
| Don't you worry, mother; amt going
to mind what the boys say But he did