Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1903-04-07

1
TX S. s. Mcclure Company
| OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ~
Despite the fact that he stood 6 feet
/ 2 inches in his stocking feet and that
| the great muscles of his arms and
chest were the envy Of every man IL
the shop, Tommy Sanders had heart
| as tender as any woman's. Even tbs
dogs knew this, and many a homeless
cur sidled, whining, up to him as he
strobe homeward at nightfall.
Tommys back yard was generally
| the temporary quarters of half dozen
or more homeless mongrels. Ii the
neighbors complained Of the unearthly
| howlings, he would smile patiently and
say: "Well, what's to be done? Would
not have me turn 'em out to starye
now, would your And something In
| the round, frank face and the deep
CHEEKY voice always made the neigh
bors say, NO; oh, nor most apologet-
ically.
Tommy was a craftsman In the big
| molding mills on the outskirts of the
town. The little home provided by his
wages was presided over by his moth
err, frail little woman, to whom Tom
my was at once an idol to be wor-
SHIPPED.
THAT soft heart Of his will be his
DEATH she often remarked why
only last month he gave his coat to a
dirty beggar and caught fearful cold
coming home without 1T"
The family physician, to whom she
confided this bit of news. smiled i'm
moderately.
''I'll tell you, Mrs. Sanders, I'd be
willing to have good many colds il
had a heart like Tommy's."
"And that last stray pup he brought
home the other night got up from the
cellar and chewed up Tommy's speech. =
she went on.
1.-THE office at the mill has a dinner
next week, you know, and Tommy is
to be one Of the speakers And it was
a real good speech he wrote too He
had all but the last of it by heart
and of course that was the very part
the pup chewed up. Land. I've beer
all day trying to copy it over
The doctor grinned. What did he dc
to the pup he asked.
"Hey' said Mrs. Sanders. ooh, just
Poor old doggie, trying to steal my
thunder. weren't you?
Tommy laughed heartily that night
at his mothers account of her attempt
to copy the damaged speech. The part
which was chewed into ELIGIBILITY he
set about to rewrite with the meddle
some pup wriggling about In his lap
and when he had finished his writing
and committed the whole to memory
he and the pup had frolie which left
the manuscript of the speech in sad
tatters.
No one but Tommy knew just how
much he counted on sitting at the long
table with the officials of the mill and
the invited guests. On his part he was
determined to do his best. To this end
he went over the lines again and again
until he felt sure he could start in the
middle and go either way. And on the
evening Of the eventful day. arrayed
in his dress clothes, he placed the PUP
on chair and, standing before him
exhibited the heavy dignity Of the ora
tion~
Tommy left the house with light
heart and his mothers injunction te
button his overeoat way up ringing
| in his ears His mind refused to stray
from his speech. AS he turned the
corner he was mumbling to himself
1T is with some hesitation | rise to re
spond," when he was suddenly aware
of a little group ON the sidewalk gazing
| upward. Something on the spire OF
the old Wesley church attracted theil
| attention.
what is it,, he inquired Of one OF
| the men.
Kitten" was the response.
| Tommy strained lis eyes. and in the
fast dying light be could make out a
tiny speck well up on the spire. In q
moment speech ard dinner were for.
gotten.
where's the sextonfe he asked, with
sudden energy.
"In the house there next the church, =
some one answered him. A moment
later Tommy was Juggling at the door
bell
You the sextong' he asked, and, as
the man nodded, Kitten On the spire
there
The sexton made some profane OBJ
servations concerning trespassing fe
i lines
"Get a lantern and come on" said
Tommy The sexton looked his dis
gust and then emphatically expressed
i it.
/ Tommy fumbled in his pocket ant
4 thrust bill into the sections hand
That changed the complexion of things
The sexton got a lantern. and together
they climbed the rickety stairs OF the
tower At last they reached the top
Above them was a small trapdoor.
Roof of the bell deck. ehY' SAID
Tommy.
yep. said the sexton, raising tbs
lantern Tommy had shed his coat and
4 evercoat and was fumbIing with ths
hasp.
"Ain't going out theref' the sextos
questioned incredulously.
"Sure.r said Tommy He flung th'
door open and crawled out. The keeI
air made him SILVER. He grasped thu
lightning rod and stood up. Below
him-far below him-were twfnklin;
street lamps. and momentarily he wal
dizzy. He looked up. The lightning
rod ran straight up the spire, and be
side it. clinging tight and mewin,
family. was the kitten. That decided
him From the group below came
faint cheer. GraspIng the lightnin.