Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-06-26

1896. That was the year they found
gold in Alaska. Tom, that was the
boys name, was in the little town
they lived near one Saturday. He saw
gold in Alaska. He then began to
thought about it the more he wanted
to go. So one day after working very
hard he took what few clothes he had
and went to Greenville. 1t was not
long until freight train came. He hid
because he had no money to pay his
way. He had great hopes of getting
there In two or three days. He had
no idea how far 1t was or how many
difficulties he would have.
| During his trip he was often kicked
out Of the box cars by the brakemen
and had to 80 from house to house TO
get food until the next freight. Some
times the breakmen we're kinder and
he was permitted to ride to the end
of their division.
The farther west he got the harder
he found 1t to steal a ride. Finally he
had to go to work In large mining
center 80 as to earn enough to take
him the rest OF the way He had
many hardships here. and he began to
wish he was back home He knew
blowing was great deal easier than
what he was doing. But finally he had
enough money to take him to Seattle
by getting the cheapest ticket he
could buy.
He wandered here for several days
without work and hardly anything to
eat, because there were SO many just
like him that the people couldn't afford
to give so much food away. At night
how he wished he was back home in
his little trundle bed. He then slept
In stairways or any place he could
that the policemen wouldn't find him.
He finally got work around the docks.
He soon formed the acquaintance Of
another boy who was older than he,
but this boy seemed to get along with
out work
One Saturday night, after being
paid for two weeks wages, he felt
himself quite rich and was In high
spirits. That night he accepted an
invitation to his chum's house. He
went to bed that night feeling quite
proud, but next morning the first thing
he did was to feel in his pockets, but
his money was gone. He didn't like
to think his chum would steal his
money, but he asked him about It. But
Of course he denied all knowledge Of
l the money.
Tom was SO discouraged that he
wished he Was back home and he
wished he could hear from his parents,
to see II he would be welcome, for he
knew he had done wrong to leave his
parents and shirk the work he should
have done. But he was too ashamed
to write back home SO he wandered
around the city and In the parks he
saw so many people that we're SO
happy.
i Tom went down to the docks when
night came. He was SO miserable to
think he had been robbed of his hard
earnings and Alaska as far away as
ever. Tom felt pretty sure his chum
had robbed him and thought came to
his mind, why could not do the
same to some one else?" No sooner
had Tom made up LIS mind to do this
when messenger boy met Tom on
his wheel. Tom put out his foot and
tripped the wheel and the messenger
boy went sprawling. Tom quickly took
his watch and purse and fed. AS soon
as Tom had himself hid he was sorry
he did such thing The messenger
: boy was not unconscious long and soon
as he could he called an officer. Poor
Tom was soon found and put in Jail
In the mean time Toms father had
telegraphed to Seattle to police head
quarters, giving the description of his
son and from this the officers soon
knew it was the boy they had just ar
, rested. Tom broke down and cried
and confessed that he was Tom Jack
son of Greenville, Mo. He told the of
f1cers how he was robbed and his
!, greatest desire was to go to Alaska
and get rich. The purse and watch
were returned to the messenger boy
: and, knowing Of Toms repentance
, the boy would not appear against him
, The judge, moved with pity, dismissed
+ Tom with good lecture.
Tom then went down to the docks tt
,, see If they would let him work there
! again. One Of the men who composed
the Arm being called to the cour
house by the Judge soon learned Toms
story and asked him which he would
rather do, go to work for them or gt
home. Tom said he would be only tot
glad to get home if he had any way tt
e get there. His employer took hin
! down to the station and bought him /
g ticket for Greenville, and gave hin
4 enough change to buy himself food
a Tom could not thank him enough ant
e went away much nobler boy thar
b when he left home for the far-awa.
1 Alaska.
3 Your little friend,
j, Beryl Daniels.
e Eldon, la.
a HOW WILL | SPEND MY VAcA
+ TloN
y Highland.-My school was on
j. May "a, and I have spent mos
Il of my time hoeine in the garden haln