Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-24

"EARLY everyone knew him as
Smiling Tom" He was always
~ bright and smiling. Not that he
eE5gQl had more than his share Of the
SsaA$9 good things of life. Indeed, he
had more than his share OF the hard things
of life, inasmuch as his father was dead
and his mother was in such frail health
that he was obliged to work to help keep a
shelter over their heads and food in the
cupboard. OF course his mother did all
that she could toward earning the living.
She took in plain sewing, but the prices
she got for her work were scandalously
small. Besides, there were whole weeks
when she did not earn enough to pay the
rent. and other weeks when she was too
I'll to work. SO the average Of her earn
ings was small.
Tom was only u years old and had
worked since he was TO- A part Of the
time he went to school during the winter,
but as soon as their summer and fall
hoardngs were expended he was obliged
10 step into the harness again. Then he
would study at home in the evenings, his
gentle mother assisting him all that she
could, her own education being rather mea-
ger.
In the winter Smiling Tom" lost the
position he had held as office boy to
doctor The doctor had decided to move
from the town, and Smiling Tom" found
himself without employment during zero
weather. when It took so much coal to
keep their poor, shabby house of two rooms
at all livable. In vain did he search for
another place. But never once did the
smile leave his face nor hope cease to cheer
his heart After a day of vain searching
for work he would run home dash into
the house with, Hello momsey! Here's
your Tom Like a bad penny he will turn
up" Then, smiling, he would kiss his
mothers thin cheek and say: Nothing
today, momsey. But tomorrow-then I'll
get something worth waiting for"
One evening when Tom ran into the house
smiling as always-his mother said wear
fly: Dear child, haven't a bite for sup
per. We had the last morsel Of food for
dinner 1 had hoped Mrs. Dash would
come for her wrappers that have been
ready for the last hitting these last two
days l meant TO ask her for a part Of
the money down. l suppose the bad
weather keeps her in"
Il expected things would be So" said
Tom. Then he smilingly drew from the
bosom OF his overcoat a big paper bag,
which he emptied on the table. There
was a small steak. a loaf Of bread, some
butter and a great rosy apple, which he
held up, saying: This is for you, NOM
sey. You like apples much, and when
l saw this fellow In the window / just
whipped In and got It,"
But son, where did you get the money
for all these thlngs?" asked his mother.
Have you got a position?"
well, not exactly" answered Tom
evasvely But I'll get one tomorrow OF
next day sure. must-must have one
you know" And again Tom smiled and
looked though worry was a stranger
to him. But could anyone have trampet
the streets with him day after day and
looked into his poor despairing nttl,
heart one must have seen much sadnes,
there, despite the smile on the fair younl
face.
Observation-Disclosures you get thes,
things for SUPPER asked his mother
well, momsey, as I have no secrets
from you I'll tell you how and where.
went TO Mr.. Jensons grocery store anC
asked him II he did not have some sor
OF odd Job for me so that I could ge
enough things for our supper. He a
once put me I'm the cellar to sort owe
potatoes. 1 worked all afternoon there
and when / was through the potatoes-tel
bushes-were nice and clean of withere,
and decaying ones MT Jensen went dow
and inspected the Job and was mucl
pleased. He came up and told me I Ia,
earned 90 cents. So I got these thing