The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-03-11
Johnny's Tommy.


big beautiful orchard to themselves to
play in. In spring it looked as If it
had been covered with pink and white
snow, the blossoms were so thick on
| the trees; and in late summer and the
fall there were ripe apples lying in the
| grass under the green trees. Johnny
| liked summer best, and so did Johnny's
| Tommy.
Johnny was very small boy, and
| his Tommy was very small calf This
| little calf was as white as snow, and
had the dearest dark eyes and the
most silky ears one ever saw. Tommy
belonged wholly to Johnny, and every
day the little boy went three times to
the orchard with milk in a pail for his
pet Sometimes greedy Tommy upset
his bucket and split the milk, and then
Johnny would have to travel back for
more.
Just outside the beautiful orchard
lay the railroad track, and sometimes
the up-freight train had to wait right
in front Of the orchard until the man
in the tower by the track signalled for
it to come on. This was great fun for
Johnny; for Johnny's father had fixed
up a pulley-post by the hedge with a
wheel that Johnny could turn, and
which would wind up long rope hang
ing from the top of the post, and to
the end of the rope was fastened
small basket. Johnny would fill the
basket with big red apples, and wind
it slowly to the top of the hedge. Then,
quick as wink, the fireman's big,
black hand would seize and empty the
basket and all the trainmen would call
out, Thank you, Johnny"
Johnny dearly loved to work the lit
tie pulley, and, if the train had to wait
very long for the signal, the basket
was raised more than once, and every
man on the train was sure to have sew
eral apples in his pockets to take home
to his children.
One morning when Johnny went out
to the orchard, the little white calf
was nowhere in sight. The inquisitive
little creature had squeezed through
the hedge, and, when at last Johnny
spied him, he was standing exactly in
the middle of the track.
Come, Tommy! Come, Tommy"
called Johnny in fright, for it was
not long until train time. "Oh," said he
to himself, ''if mamma only hadn't told
me never to go on the track, | could
get out and drive him off; but | prom
Used her I'd never go outside the or
chard!"
There was no use in running to the
house for help, because his mother had
gone down to the village and there was
no one at home but grandma, and she
was lame So Johnny could only coax
and call to Tommy, and hold out
tempting apple through the hedge. But
Tommy had had all the apples he
wanted, and he paid no attention.
You'll be killed, Tommy" screamed
Johnny suddenly, for he heard the
freight train coming.
The engineer had told Tommy that
he would always whistle once If the
train must stop; but, if the track was
clear and the signal was out, he would
blow twice as he came on.
Clear and sharp came the two blasts
that said, mo STOP"
Johnny laid down in the grass and
sobbed to think of his dear white Tom
my being crushed by the big engine.
But Tommy, outside, planted his feet
firmly on tie, and, like the goose"
young calf often is, stood and faced
the monster
Suddenly the engineer saw Johnny's
Tommy, and brought the train to a
stand-still. A griHy brakeman leaped
off, seized the stubborn fellow, rushed
down the bank, and, in spite of his
hole where he had crawled out to the
track an hour before.
Don't cry, JOHNNY" he called cheer
fully. Tommy is all right. You watch
this hole till some one comes, for an
other trainll be along pretty soon!
Can't wait!"
And in minute the train was rush
ing along again.
When he had wiped away his tears,
Johnny buckled on Tommy's strap, and
led him to the house; for he didn't
dare have him in the orchard until the
hedge was mended. He led Tommy up
to his mother, and told her the story.
THAT was a very kind engineer"
said Johnny's mother after she had
heard it. Guess he remembered the
apples"
Then they both laughed at the big
finger-marks on Tommy's white coat;
but that foolish fat little animal just
kicked up his keels, broke loose, and
scampered to the pail by the gate to
see if dinner had been served.-Hilda