The Marshall republican., 1912-06-21
The
Misanthrope's
Secret

Marley. was not In the running with
Tom Terrence. Tom had farms and
bank stock and 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
tince old Hec was a pup. But I know
better.
For when I was a small. small boy,
Tom Terrence bought my soul and
thereafter I was his loyal slave unto
his dying day. When that purchase
was made Tom Terrence was a young
bachelor with laughing blue eyes and
q smile that made a small boy feel
good all over. And he bought me in
this wise:
II was the day I had graduated from
pink slips" into the dear glory OF a
plaid blouse suit. We were at the
county fair and Tom Terrence came
mp and shook hands with father and
mother. and said. IVY. I amt seen
you for six years! Gee whiz! What's
this y'u got, a girl or a boy7" 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 Hall" And
Tom took me bodily. and in the next
hour he bought my soul.
Says he. 81 got some money that I
dont know what to do with. less
spend II on n small boy" And I said.
Have you enough money to buy n
'Shoofy' box? They got candy and
breastpins and gold dollars in 'em.
But they cost ten centf!" And Tom
sduinted his eyes and grinned and
said. IT'S my treat" and bought the
'shoo-fy' box. and in II was candy
and a brass breastpin, but 20 gold dol.
lar.
Then Tom said. Nov we'll 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 n live alligator and
three monkeys and a little couple that
we're called General and Mrs. Tom
Thumb.
Then he said. les 20 see the mig
ger minstrels. They sing and dance
and double shuttle and pick the banjo.
Ever hear a b%anjo?" never had. rs
II something like n macordeum?"
asked.
Like a ma-cordeum?" said Tom.
"1ts 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 n cloven foot
and no sat OF his long tail that had n
stinger on the end.
Jaw. come on" said Tom. IL was
Just foolin'. meant banjo music Is SO
fne II makes you want TO get up and
dance"
80 we went In and heard the min
strcls. They cracked Jokes | could not
understand. though Tom laughed at
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 sc~hoolhouse, Il was
indescribly fascinating. And the ban.
3os-the next day when I nailed a
board for n handle to my toy drum
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 Torrenoe!"
There was a tent where t~intypes
were made. Only they called them
~gems." want your picture tookf"
queried Tom. "Yes." I said. IL never
had n took since rs q boy. I got
one when rs a little girl and wore
dresses"
Then Tom bought me grapes and
peaches = ripe. rosy-cheeked. fine
smelling peaches. full OF Juice and
flavor. And he bought peanuts-the
nrst I ever tasted. And he asked me
what else ! wanted and I said: 81
never tasted bologna sausage. II
looks mighty good" So he bought DO.
iogna and crackers and they tasted
then better than the fried chicken and
rolls mother had Brought in a basket.
And on our way back to the family
wagon ! tried to express my apprecia-
ton and said: "You must be mighty
rich. Tom," and the twinkle went out
OF Toms eyes and he said: "No; but
] would be II ! had q little boy like
you--whc has a ma--like you have!"
But when he turned me over again
70 my father and mother and mother
said: II know that boy has been a
whole lot Of bother to you. Tom" Tom
laughed and said: mo sire-ee mani
! Amt had a. much fun since Hec was
. pup" i
That was years and years ago. Tom
Terrence grew old and had lands and
houses and bank stocks and bonds,
and was Q bank president, and died.
Men said he wal too Nstingy to marry
md keep = wife. But I know better.
On Deswsius LNs Of johnson.