Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-04-07
OUR BOYS ;
and GIRLS !
TOM. TOMMY, THOMAS
CEOAo4O+O+OIc4-oH,Ln.

Ny FIRST recollection OF life is that
Of finding myself in roomy basket
with my little brother who was Just
my age. We were TWO weeks old and
We lived in that same place four
months, playing together and being
cared tor by kind young child who
seemed to love animals.
One bright afternoon my mother
took my brother Tom and ME for visit
to one of the neishbors, and as we
neared a Shag looking old house she
said: Now, Tom and Thomas. you
young rascals must behave We'll and
treat this new cat whom you are to
NEE. with noliteness."
YES, ma am" We replied.
We were as good as our word. We
liked Tommy, who was only four days
younger than brother and | were, and
we had many good time with him
after that. Some time later he came
running over to our home and he
was very much excited. for he had
just caught a younj mouse. and he
wanted to show his trophy. After that
We proceeded to hunt mouse holes
and to catch mice for our amusement.
A long long time after this Tom
got very sick. Mother sent me over
o .onmy3 to borrow some castor
oil. vas just going TO enter the
uCor when something terrible hap
pened. a great big mouse rcn by, 1t
must have been fully twenty times as
large as the mice we lad been catch.
ing. | was so startled that shriekcd
right out. | had never tried to boiler
before, so ii was a greater surprise TO
hear the noise than to see the mouse.
However, returned Immediately with
the medicine.
Thomas demanded my mother
the instant came into her presence,
what are you shaking about?"
"Oh! have just seen the most ter.
large as |, and | am awful scared of
it"
This struck mother as a huge joke.
and she just laughed to hurt herself,
She told me that was what little boys
got for catching mice.
That was just enough 10 arouse my |
fighting blood and was resolved up |
on doing something smart. On the
next day. when Tom was better. | |
made arrangements with him and |
Tommy TO steal out that night and |
practice singing.
When the time srrived we were all |
present and the practice came OF |
we'll. We found that all |
had extraordinary voices. In fact, we
were so delighted that we resolved TO |
give concert on the first night the !
moon was full. Tommy was to sing
Home. Sweet Home" Tom, Alex !
ander's Ragtime Band" and l. Good
by. Girls; Good-by."
At length the time arrived for our |
concert. We had only few auditors, |
but enough for our first public ap- |
pearance. Tom began with his selec-
ton. First he ran up and down the
assure himself that his voice was in
the proper order. Then he sang the |
first verse and chorus. But when he |
got TO the middle of the second verse
he had forgotten his words. Well, he
just sang on and made up the words |
as he went along. You could not |
what he said, anyhow.
Now 1t was Tommy's turn. He got
up with all the pomp and splendor OF
a famous singer and sang his song I,
very WELL in fact, it was better than !
could have done myself. Near the
end terrible tragedy occurred. Some
one threw a lot of rocks and tin cans
at our little concert troupe.
Didn't we take to our heels, tho!
My, You ought to have seen us!
This fine entertainment having been
interrupted so abruptly did not dis
us, however. We just planned
10 give another on the next Saturday !,
night at eleven o'clock. At this con-
cert we planned to sing "Tipperary,"
which was just out.
We selected new theater, which
was about half block from the old
one. This was nice new board
fence which was built just TO keep the
bulldog In the yard.
At thiszconcert We had almost dis
Visitor, a big black bull
dog, which barked continually thru
out the whole performance.