The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1912-06-21
The
Misanthrope's
Secret

DanK STOCK ana township bonds and
was just rolling in money. And Uncle
Joe said Tom Terrence was too stingy
to get married and that he was the
closest man In a trade he had known
since old Hec was pup. But / know
better.
For when I was a small, small boy,
Tom Terrence bought my soul and
thereafter l was his loyal slave unto
his dying day. When that purchase
was made Tom Terrence was a young
bachelor with laughing blue eyes and
smile that made small boy feel
good all over. And he bought me in
this WISE
1t was the day had graduated from
pink slips" into the dear glory Of a
plaid blouse suit We were at the
county fair and Tom Terrence came
up and shook hands with father and
mother, and said. "W'y, / amt seen
you for six years! Gee whiz! What's
this y'u got, girl or boy?" And
they all laughed and Tom says, says
he, "Lemme take this youngster while
you old folks trail around and see the
display in the Agricultural Hail." And
Tom took me bodily. and in the next
hour he bought my soul.
Says he, 81 got some money that l
don't know what TO do with, less I
spend il on a small boy" And l said,
"Have you enough money to buy a
'Shoofiy' box? They got candy and
breastpins and gold dollars in EN-.
But they cost ten centsD And Tom
squinted his eyes and grinned and
said, Its my treat" and bought the
'Shoo-hy' box, and in 1t was candy
and brass breastpin, but no gold dol
lar.
Then Tom said, "Now we1l take in
the show!" And we went in and saw
the fat woman and the living skeleton
and the man with the india rubber
skin. And we saw live alligator and
three monkeys and a little couple that
were called General and Mrs. Tom
Thumb.
Then he said, Les go see the mig
ger MINISTRIES. They sing and dance
and double shuttle and pick the banjo.
Ever hear banjo2" I never had. as
it something like a macordeum?"
asked
Like a ma-cordeum?" said Tom.
Its better-a heap better. But you
watch out that it don't put the devil
In your toes!"
/ hung back. The devil was a real
parsonage to me-a parsonage with
horns and big tusks and cloven foot
and he sat on his long tail that had a
stinger on the end.
Jaw, come on" said Tom. IL was
just foolin meant banjo music is so
fine it makes you want to get up and
dance"
$50 we went in and heard the min
strels. They cracked jokes l could not
them. But they sang strange, weird
melodies, war time and camp meeting
melodies. To me, who had never heard
chorus singing except the long meter
tunes on Sundays when they had
preaching in the schoolhouse, it was
indescribly fascinating. And the ban
jos-the next day when / nailed a
and strung it with mothers best shoe
strings. mother exclaimed, For the
land sakes!" and then sat down and
laughed and said: That's what comes
of letting that boy trail around with
Tom Torrence!"
There was a tent where tintypes
were made. Only they called them
nio l.
queried Tom. yes" l said II never
had one took since rs boy. I got
one when rs little girl and wore
dresses"
Then Tom bought me grapes and
peaches - ripe. rosyrcheeked, fine
smelling peaches, full of juice and
flavor. And he bought peanuts-the
first ever tasted. And he asked me
what else / wanted and / said: II
never tasted bologna sausage. It
looks mighty good" SO he bought boz
logna and crackers and they tasted
then better than the fried chicken and
rolls mother had brought in basket
And on our way back to the family
wagon | tried to express my apprecia-
tioH anu Sdlu. lou muSL De mighty
rich, Tom" and the twinkle went out
of Toms eyes and he said: mo; but
! would be If had a little boy like
you-who has ma-like you have!"
But when he turned me over again
to my father and mother and mother
said: 81 know that boy has been
whole lot of bother to you. Tom" Tom
laughed and said: mo sire-ee man!
| amt had as much fun since Hec was
a pup"
That was years and years ago. Tom
Terrence grew old and had lands and
houses and bank stocks and bonds,
and was a bank president, and died.
Men said he was too stingy to marry
and keep a wife. But I know better.