Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-11-02
T0MMIE TOMKINS
Tommy Tomkins Found Guilty as
Charged, But Jury. Recommends
He Be Relcased-His "Mother's
Bible" and "Good" Witnesses Save
Him.
(By l.. ROY FERRIS.)

III Is Dt-
gan Tommie, ''and T'-but DR..
Owl stopped him with frown, and
the two little punches of feathers
which most people think are horns,
and from which he gets the name of
horned owl, stood up straight and
caused him to look so fierce. 81
wish to tell you, Thomas, that when
you speak to me you must say,
please, Your Honor" for that is the
way they do at the Court House in
your town, for Bunnie' Screech Owl,
who often visits the town at night,
told me.
" Thomas Tompkins," began Judge
Owl, but just then Brownie Screech
Owl slipped up to Judge Owl and
whispered something.
Search the Witness" commanded
Judge Owl, Brownie Screech Owl
says that is the way they do in the
Court" and Bro. Coon, who really
had no right to do so, for he was
one of the jury, stepped forward and
put his paw into Tommie's trowsers
pocket. You see Bro. Coon dearly
loves to put his paw into places.
Sometimes he gets caught by reach
ing for a bright piece of tin in an
auger hole that has horseshoe nails
in ii to catch his paw.
Bro. Coon pulled out a string Tom
mie used to spin his top.
What is that?" demanded Judge
Owl.
at is something like the chicken
had on its feet that Bro. Coon stole
from Farmer Brown" spoke up Bro.
Rabbit. Bro. Coon coughed an EN-
barrassed little cough and continued
the search, and thus addressed Judge
Owl as he pulled knife from Tom
mics pocket. why, it's what Tom
mics father used to put the lock on
the parlOr door-and Tommie's moth
er uses to open the cans of tomatoes
when she can't find the can opener
and it could also be used to clean
ones finger nails" Tommie quickly
put his hands into his coat pockets,
for his finger nails had black mar
gins around the ends that looked like
he was mourning for for his grand
mother.
"Ah," said Judge Owl, as he no
iced TOmmie's finger nails, but he
made no comments, and right here
let me say that no matter how good
a little boy may be he must keep his
finger nails trimmed, or Judge Owl
will see them and tell all the ami
mails in the forest.
About this time Bro. Coon pulled
a piece of candy from Tommie's pock-
ct and quietly put 1t in his mouth,
but Bro. Rabbits sharp eyes saw
and he made up his mind to see that
Tommie got fair play.
Bro. Grey Squirrel had a high seat
in grape vine swing right over the
place where Tommie was q prisoner.
1t had started to climb the tall elm
when it was only little slip of
vine not near as large as the ones
your father set out in the grape ar
Dor. If it had looked to see how far
it had to climb to reach the top it
might have given up, like the Per-
kins boy does when he comes to a
hard lesson, but instead it had taken
a hold on the tree to win, just like
you will win If you try, try again.
1t had climbed the tree and grown
so strong that all the little boys in
town could not put it down. So you
see it pays never to give up.
At this point Brother Bull Frog
began to ask questions. The Gray
Squirrel acted as Tommie's lawyer.
Bull Frog said he would plead his
own case.
why didn't you shine your
shoes?" asked Bull Frog. And
right there Tommie resolved to never
again neglect to have his shoes in
good order. 81 do believe" said Bull
Frog, before Tommie could answer,
II do believe he has another rock in
his pocket, Brother Coon, take
it from him before he does some
harm"
ut does make my blood boil" said
Bull Frog, " to see"-
who ever heard of a snake or
turtle, fish or frog haying blood that
would boil?" said Gray Squirrel.
But a look from Judge Owl caused
him to be still.
Bro. Coon took the object from
Tommie's pocket.
please, your honor" begged
Tommie, take my knife, and my kite
string, and my candy, and my fish
hooks but don't take that"
"Why. why, what Is it?" asked
Judge Owl, as each one of the jury
examined 1t in turn.
Cdn you redu, JuuBe! dSkeu
Gray Squirrel. After much hesitat-
ing and clearing of throat, Judge
Owl red this these words: This BIZ
Owl read these words: This BIZ
BILE is given to Tommie Tompkins
by his mother. May he always con-
tinue to be kind to everything and
everybody and grow to be a good
man"
BY this time Brother Rabbit had
real tears in his eyes, and after
Brothers Skunk and Rattlesnake had
testified Brother Rabbit was seen 10
whisper to Red Squirrel, Terrapin
and Sister Possum.
II beg Your Honor to contine the
prisoner In the hollow atump iail."