Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1913-11-28
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 Uncls
Joe said Tom Terrence was too stlngv
to get married and that he was the
closest man in trade he had known
since old Hec was pup. But | know
better.
For when I was q small, small bov
Tom Terrence bought my soul and
thereafter ! was his loyal slave unto
his dying day. When that purchase
was made Tom Terrence was Young
bachelor with laughing blue eyes and
a smile that made a small boy feel
good all over. And he bought me In
this wise:
II 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. ivy, | amt seen
you for six years! Gee whlz! What,
this y'u got, a girl or a boy?" And
they all laughed and Tom says. saws
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
don't know what to do with. less
spend II on a small boy" And said
Have you enough money to buy
Shoohy box? They got candy and
breastpins and gold dollars in EN-
But they cost ten cents" And Tom
squinted his eyes and grinned and
said, IT'S my treat" and bought the
Shoo.fE' box, and In II was candy
and brass breastpin. but no gold dol
lar.
Then Tom said, "Now 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 live alligator and
three monkeys and little couple that
were called General and Mrs Tom
Thumb.
Then he said, lies 20 see the mig
ger mlnstrels. They sing and dance
and double shuttle and pick the banjo
Ever hear banjo?" never had rs
II something like q macordeum?"
asked.
Like q 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 a cloven foot
and he sat on his long tail that had
singer on the end
Jaw, come on" said Tom. 81 wa:
Just foolin'. meant banjo music Is SC
fine It makes you want to get up and
dance"
so we went in and heard the min
strels. They cracked jokes could no,
understand. though Tom laughed al
them, But they sang strange. weird
melodies. war time and camp meeting
melodies. To me, who had never heard
chorus singing except the long meteI
tunes on Sundays when they had
preaching In the schoolhouse, It was
indescribly fascinating. And the ban
tos-the next day when nailed .
board for handle to my toy drum
and strung II 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 tent where tintypei
were made. Only they called them
gems" want your picture took"
queried Tom. YES" I said, Il newell
had one took since Is boy. | got
one when Is 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
first I ever tasted. And he asked me
what else I wanted and said y
never tasted bologna sausage. II
looks mighty good" so he bought DO
logna 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 mo; ou'
would be II had little boy Ike
you-who has o 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 NAM
amt had as much fun since Hec was
q pup"