Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1902-04-11
ToMmY,s FRIEND.
Pathetic Story OF Ltsus. Roper and the
New YORK B1o.b.ack.

save member Of his crew from suf-
f6catiou in . burning compartmentin
the hold Of the gunboat letreI N the
Philippine waters, 10 one felt more
his loss than did a humble truck
driver in New York,
In the days gone by this man had
been known simply as Tommy lie
had been typical New York waif,
knowing neither home nor parents.
lie could neither read nor write, but
these we're the ledstof his troubles
Possibly%hen he was hungry he Stole
trifes of food occasionally; but never
was guilty Of vicious theftLone
committed forthe thert's sake This
! was Tommy when atthe age Of 18ihe
enlisted in thenaty under the misap-
prehension thai all sailorshaveanop OPP
portunity to see every bit Of the wide
world 4a -ah44
But he was soon disappointed. After
a few weeks on the trainihg-ship, the
monotony Of the daily drill became
irksome. If everhe lad amy ambition
it had all deserted him. No oneun-
derstood him and no one cared for
him. t3t'
Then one day the captain took him
to Lieut.. Roper. and said. heuten-
ant. [ wish YOU would take this boy
and see ifyou can make anything out
Of him. Every officer on the ship has
had him and no one can do anything
with him. The lieutenant evidently
knew boys, for The first thing he did
was to take Tommy tothe "master-at-
arms aud order brand-new outfit of
clothing. That the clothing must fit
was imperative. No makeshifts would
do. When Tommy was newly arrayer
he began to feel like a prince. He
forgot to long for the East side, and
Lieut.. Roper became father, mother
and family TO him.
Then came naval parade at New
| port. Tommy at his best walked
/ proudly along behind his friend. But
when the officer returned to the ship
Tommy unaccounted for. Later in
the evening Tommy appeared in the
doorway of the lieutenaut's room, anc
in response to the lieutenant's inquir
les, said: Excuse me, sir, fur bein
left. but some O dem shore guy
fought de edo me playin' mibs, an
sec here" and Tommy showed bi;
bagful of marbles in Mr.. Roper's face
conclusive evidence that "dem shor
guys" had been "done."
And then Tommy had been trans
ferred to anothership. This was a sac
parting for Tommy, and many were
the secret tears he she'd His new Of
fcers were kind enough, but still he
felt the loss Of personal interest
Again his thoughts reverted to- the
East side and one day Tommy was
missing.
Some years later Lieut.. Roper
while walking up Murray street, wa;
stopped by a familiar voice crying
"Shine, sir?' That "sir" sounded
wonderfully like Tommy. So il
proved, and the tears were in his eyes
and voice as he said: "You see, Mr.
Roper, / couldn't stand it. Dem Of.
fcers was all right, but dey wasn't
You, an when l see de Battery-well
l loved you best, an New York next
an'-well, jumped overheard, an
here lam"
The lieutenant turned his head
away, and after a short pause, said,
with an affected sharpness: "EIad
your breakfast, Tommy"
"Yes, SIR"
Tommy lied. But he gloried in the
lie after 1t had been told Howcould
he accept more kindness from the
only true friend he ever had? The
lieutenant ignored the falsehood.
"Take this and buy your breakfast, :"
were his last words, and he went his
way with sad heart, leaving a sadder
one behind.
In a little niche cut in the wall Of a
squalid tenement-house thereis is gold
eagle. The occupant of the room, like
thief in the night, goes stealthily to
the corner, takes it out, fondles it like
a miser does his gold. Itisamonu-
ment Of the most sacred tie he ever
knew.-Harper's Weekly.
n