Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-11-21


the marking pot. Then he made a
few letters on the smooth board plac-
ed before him. The brush was big and
mushy, and different from any he had
used. He was too anxious to sue
ceed. His letters were ragged and
stiff. The man beside him took the
brush.
This is the way to mark, he said.
AS Tom saw the ease and rap idity
with which the graceful letters seem
ed to fairly flow from the soft brush,
he turned sick.
You will mark some time, but you
need practice. His artistic dreams
had vanished. He simply W anted
work-any kind that would bring
money.
The next morning he got his break
fast at cheap little place on Fulton
street, where there were always Elot
of big yellow pumpkins out in fro Mt
to serve as a sign. He came here as
often as he could, because the pump
kins reminded him of home.
1t was on the following Saturday
that he earned his first money. A
snow had fallen during the night, and
a saloon keeper gave-him twenty five
cents to shovel away the slush from
the pavement in front of his door.
The next week he earned fifty cents
in a similar manner. His capital was
reduced to two dollars now, and he
was eating barely enough to keep
him alive. He continued to go to the
sign of the big pumpkins for his me a
gre luncheon, as being the one place
in all the vast city that had for him
flavor of his home.
Finally, when he had but dollar
left he spent more than half of it for
shoe backing outfit, and mingled
with the throng of street boys around
Printing House Square.
This was an end to his dreams. In
stead Of paintingspictures or beauti-
full signs, Or even marking boxes, he
was painting boots. He was able,
however, to earn enough to pay for
cheap lodging, and be able to eat as
high as three ten cent meals a day at
the sign Of the big pumpkins.
Thanksgiving came late that year.
The day before was cold and sloppy
and no one wanted a shine. Tom
crept disconsolately down Fulton
street to his supper. He had little
money. By dint of economy he had
accumulated nearly two dollars as a
sinking fund. Perhaps unconsciously
he had saved it for a purpose which
he did not confess even to himself.
AS he drew near the cheap little eat
ing house with the big golden pump
kins in front, his eyes suddenly grew
dim and he trembled all over. The
light streamed out on 1.-THE pavement,
and in it's radiance he read on one Of
the great yellow rinds the fatal words
he had himself wrought three months
before on that beautiful October at
ternoon, with sweet sister Josie look
ing on.
will be extinguished.
He had learned long since the
wrong use of the word. In fact he
had misgivings and looked it up be-
fore he LETT home. But it did not
seem to him now to be SO wrong
either. The tears streamed out of his
eyes so he could not see. 1t was a
true prophecy after all, he thought
I am extinguished sure
enough. He wiped the tears away
and looked among the pumpkins for
others with his work on them. He
found two more. He would like to
have fallen down and kissed them as
Columbus did the ground at San Sal
vador. But he was too hungry for
sentiment.
While the waited for his supper
within, boy that he did not know
sat snear him laboriously reading a
letter. Tom ordered pork and beans,
because they were cheap and filling, |
then suddenly remembering and |
gro wing reckless, he added piece Of
pie.
While he waited he glanced side
wise at his neighbor and unconscious
ly read the soiled letter.
Dear Son-I hope you are we'll
Again the tears filed Toms eyes
until he could not see. Just then the
waiter brought their supper. Expe-
rience on the street had long since
made Tom friendly with other boys
of his class. sWhen he had eaten a
little he said to the boy beside him.
Is your home outside the city?
Yes-ten miles-out beyond Ho-
boken.