The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-31


born Mitchell. and had dash of Irish
blood in her veins. and "A very sharp
tongue in her head pursued the domestic
arral gements. No enc Who ever knew
Mrs. Reed ever f9fgetg her. It Is from her
that Thomas Reed inherited his biting turn
at satire, his ready wit, and, too, his
Kindness OF heart. From her, likewise,
came his large figure and his facial char
acteristics-that big. round, n3ssive head,
with the slow-moving brown eyes.
But the Reed family did not live long
In the old ramshaCkle house on that
windy street where we have Just walked.
over In the western end Of the town is a
aeat little two-story cottage, painted a
deep shade OF green. with two dormer
windows upstairs and the n,ein entrance
In the side yard. IL was here that Tom.
as everyone called him, engaged in his
JIVcile sports with all the Joys and sor-
rows OF the boyish world. There was an
old rcd barn on hill near by, and il was
behind this That Tom, che smry afternoon.
learned the significance OF these touching
ana homoly lines, found In every school
reader forty years ogo;-
IN never smoke tobacco
said little Robert Reed;
II never put IL in my mouth
II is filthy weeIl
IL robs your pockets. soil your clothes
And makes a chimney of your nos. .
Yes" said a worthy gentleman Of the
town, Mr. Charles Fobes who Is guo
cesstul In the paint business. Il win
10 anything i can TO help MIR. Reed
know him well. Yes, indeedw And the
busy merchant smiled Significantly. ana
Tor the nonce, forgot all about black
leau ana putty. Il remember the place
where Reed and used 10 20 swimming
Al the boys, for that matter, went there
~ Was down in the old canal: we went
there because n was fresh water: know
why we preferred fresh 20 salt water9
MOI wei, because fresh water is warmer
ana we could stay in longer. there is a
sood deal In that, especially to boysl"
You went Ia salt water, too?"
Why assuredly; all salt around here;
down IN the bay you know. Find the
old spot? Never never more! IT'S
gone!" said the gentleman redectively
and with just a tinge OF sadness, gone
completely. And. by the way one OF
Toms most famous early eases involved
the tile TO that very Cumberland canal
who're once we used TO 20 in swimming
Won IL? Yes. and local fame too
That was his start IN l'fe And say
row. that you speak OF Il. we used 30 20
fishing down that way, tool / wish
could show you the old "swimmin' hole"
but the canal company forfeited its title,
81 that lawsuit 80 Tom himself, is res
possible for the last OF the spot, where
We all spent such happy days IN youth"
Toms boyhood Was not preliminary
evenifui. He was a very poor boy, al
though that was not noticeable by his
clothes. lie was tall and slender ana had
mol the chubby face Of his late years 81
prosperity and power. lie was indcpend-
tnt IA his ways and decidedly outs pOken,
trait he inherited from his mother /
heard curious story atCut juvenile
bifchirg that fen 20 Toms share. long
fgo; ana II the child be father 10 the
Dan. surely there Is clear insight into
The future characteristics OF Mr. Reed
a. the speech ne made 10 the master ca
TINS unauapicious occasion.
III any ono knows OF any reason why
these apples should not touch the lips OF
Tom Reed Les him rpeak now, or forever
atter hoid his peace" said the young
rascal che day, right under the masters
lose Ana he gave great bite al the
hfbf fed-eneeked apple IN his kand! Quick
es Hash, out e'-tne the birch. ana. with
e1aai skill Al repartee the pedegcsne sail:
Az anyone knows any reason why this