New-York tribune., 1898-10-23
THE CLEARING OF TOM.
BY Charles Kennett Burrow.

was urea or waiting, very urea, Dut MS Grdiu-
fathers orders had been explicit. "Shtay here,
Natty, till ye me ag'in; there's bread in the
cupboard an maybe taste O buttheI, and III
bring some,hn' swate for ye from Carmore"
do not say that Natty had not thought Of dis
obeying; as a matter OF fact the temptation had
REQUIRED at short intervals during the whole
Afternoon once in the almost irrestible form.
that he ought TO go and look at the pig but he
had got no further than the door. He had
great feeling ~ importance too; ho had never
beer left alone for so long before, and the bur
den Of responsibility pleased him. He had also
a vague idea that something was going to hap
pen. because, two days before, his grandfather
had written d letter. The letter had cost ola
Nat half a days work, and he had used whole
penny packet OF stationery over il.
As it grew darker Natty began to feel little
afraid He would have left the high stool II the
dignity derived from his exalted position had
not balanced the fact that his bare feet did not
touch the ground. He was very proud OF the
stool; no other boy ne knew had one like IT, and
although it was extremely inconvenient he OFTEN
insisted upon eating his meals at that dstn-
suished altitude.
From time to time he glanced furtivcy around
the cabin. Old Mats bed. nlrrow and dark, set
against the wall like ships berth, had sinis
tvs own little crib, which consisted of a deal
platform raised a foot from the hoor with a
mattress on the top of it, looked unfamiliar The
peats on the open hearth burned dimly the
chairs seemed to have doubled in bulk since the
sunshine faded the rough wood table loomed
large and grim. After every furtive survey the
boy brought his eyes back to the gray square
Of the window with little shivering gasp. 1t
occurred to him to light the lamp, but as that
office he had never performed, 1t being
beyond his years he felt himself unequal to the
task. Besides. that would mean trotting over
the floor and in the darkness his bare feet might
touch something horrible.
But all at once he grew quite brave again. for
ne heard the sound OF footsteps coming slowly
up the mountain pathway. 1t was too dark to
who II was, but, OF course ii must be old
Nat; and Natty promptly began TO wonder what
the 'somethin' swate" might be that was al that
moment doubtless getting warm and sticky in
his grandfathers pocket. He climbed oCwn from
his stool and pattered softly over the hard earth
floor the door The footsteps paused and
there was a knock. Natty's heart went down
into his plump toes. He terrified that he
could not move to raise the latch. The knock
was not repeated but the door softly
opened and Natty dim head thrust III.
'Is Nat Byrne at home?" asked voice.
PHASE SORT no. gasped Natty.
'Whin'll he be back an who are you at allY
Hell be back. sOrr, this rlinUtc an plase,
Pm Natty." The stranger came in and closed
the door. He pcered curiously around the room
An who is Natty? Where We at all?
Here" said Natty.
"Is il down there yc are? Well. well. Have
ye light? Sure cat couldn't sec in the like
av this"
Natty. somewhat treasured. set a snail lamp
Oh the table and carried a box Of matches e. his
visitor.
"Win yc light 1t. sorI? ! don't know the way
av it,
The matches were taken from his hand. and
presently to the boys relieved eyes. th' familiar
no longer Tho idea of IA thief never occurred
to him and If it had 50 fai as Natty knew th're
was nothing 10 seal
"Sit down. sorr' he said in the little chair.
~ addcd. the big wan. rrandads. The stran-
Coi obcytd Inn in silence. and Natty climbed ~
to hi stool again. t. bring himscl! t. proper
conversational level
80 ye'rc Toms and Biddl : boy"
81 am that" said Natty.
an "A pretty pair they was" mU1muIeG the
utIangci He was a little, narroW-chestod man.
dressed IL what seemed q Sunday suit "f rusty
black His Jaw was square. ihe lips were thin
and puIecd: a pair o: small black eyes glinicd
above wrinklod checks; the hail was close
cropped around his bullet head The boy de
cidcd that hc didn't like him much.
"JIo,, ould are yc>" tn, man asked.
"Siven." said Natty.
"Is it SO long" said The other After long