The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-01
TOM, The BRAT.

who seem predestined by an unreason-
able and uncharitable fate to endure all
the kicks, cuffs and contumely allotted
70 human affairs. That such luck is
utterly undeserved the victims them
serves are ever ready to admit, no mat
Ter how strenuously interested friends
try to argue with them against such
confession.
Sucn buffet of fate was Tom VIII
son. whose childhood was passed In
me village of Charville, o. 1t was pop
u1ariy supposed that Tom was born at
Snarville, and that Peg Wilson was his
Aiotner. At least, Peg was chief cas-
usator and tongue lasher extraordinary
70 MS redheaded highness.
but Peg would scarcely admit that
Tom had been born at all, so contempt
uous seemed her regard for him, and
II there was such an impulse as moth
erly affection in Pegs rough nature it
must have been regarded by her as the
molly of holes, as it was nurtured SO
tenderly that it never found expression
through her lips.
1t must have been that Tom tried her
sorely, for he was an American boy,
with all that such designation implies.
~ 1co WOu dS lilduy 1lldI OltS dt
keeps as any boy in the village, and
had blacked the eyes of every boy be-
tween the depot at one end of the VIII
lage to the brickyard at the other.
So, drifting along, sustaining many
beatings fighting his way, Tom reached
the age of II, just as the country was
electrified with the news of impending
war. Tom was like other boys, in that
he loved to follow the meanderings of
the awkward squad, as it drilled upon
the village common. In fact, with an
old flour barrel and a pair of chair
rungs, he had become so thoroughly
familiar with the BEATS rolls, drags and
innings of the cross-eyed drummer,
who. on each succeeding Fourth of
July, had delighted to show how he did
1t in the Mexican war, and who now
drummed for the new company of home
guards, that he (Tom) could march al
most as we'll as any of them
one day in the summer of '61 Tom
was vigorously beating the long roll
upon his faithful -four barrel, when
reg alighted upon him like a spirit Of
evil
yer var again, y red headed
prat, thumpin' that ole bar'li I've a
notion t cram y into ct an head y
up. H'yer! Gimme them
''Oh, man.
But the chair rungs had passed under
an old meat ak and We're destined to
beat taps" no more forever
Now git'long QUITO this. Eff I ketch
you-oh, I wish " could go t. war. n
never come back"
Tom heard it, and said nothing. Peg
went her way. but somehow the clothes
pins Were harder to hold. the line mora
kinky and the soot-fakes flying more
thickly that day than ever before Not
that there was any reason for it-no
indeed. What had she said that should
make a strong woman nervous? Sure
ly it was no harm to wish that freckled
imp in Jericho Besides, he couldn't
go TO war-but what's the use of talk
ing?
Still, Peg felt "narvous like for some
days. while Tom said very little.
The shrill Shrek of a fife broke upon
the midnight stiffness. There was a
measured rolling and perfect timing to
the snare drum accompaniment. which
astonished the natives with the fact
tnat Major Smith, the cross-eyed Next
can veteran, was not handling the
ebony sticks. Never did THE Girl 7
Left Behind me- sound with a. weirder
meaning; never was there a cheerier
drumming. The home guards had of
Tered their services, had received a call
and were marching to the front.
What's the row." asked Peg. as she
thrust her night capped head from a
window and hailed a drowsy neighbor.
Comp'ny goin' to the 'front.'"
Is that ole fool Major Smith goin'
with emp
No. Jake tells me it's the new drum
mer playin'-"
g Well I'm glad my brat Tom, hain't
awake. or he'd be crazy A drum sets
him wild. You just ought to
But the neighbor knew Pegs garru-
lous tendency and the window closed.
softly, but with some evidence of de-
termination
Charvilie slept. awolxe and ate it's
breakfast; SO did Peg Wilson. But the
bacon and potatoes cooled on the stove
hearth and the brat did not appear
with his healthy appetite
Peg became nervous at last and went
to his room. Tom was not in sight, but
in the center of the floor was the old
-four barrel. and traced across the head
even the limited education of Peg en-
abled her to decipher the letters in
chalk: