Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1932-08-19

Amity Dam. When the letter was
typed and signed he put 1t In Shads
hands, saying:
Take a train to Ashfeld at eleven.
When you get there inquire your way
to Amity Dam. 1t will be ive-mile
walk for you. Have you money!
1--WE got twenty-one dollars in my
pocket." was the proud answer Of the
boy. 'Mr. Converse give it to me-"
keep it a secret and hang on to it
GOod-by.
The boy had almost two hours to
spend before train time. He walked
around the village, to him wonder
full place. with its town hall and
houses and stores that looked large
and important. He had never written
a letter. He had seen only three or
four letters in all his life.
al don't know how I'd go to work
to write letter." he said to himself,
I'm too ignorant. I've got to learn
something. I've got to-"
The store windows interested him.
II is significant that he should have
stopped longest in front Of a book
store gazing wistfully at a lot of
books. The merchant observed him
and came out with the familiar query:
as there anything we can do for
you?"
81 want to learn a lot O. words l
don't know"
Soon he had bought q pocket die
tionary, q small diary, lead pencil
and a cheap watch. With these treas
ures he went to the station and began
at once, while he was waiting, to
study the dictionary. He arrived at
Ashfield and learned his way to Amity
Dam. The day was far spent. Mr..
Smithers read the colonel's letter. he
was q bearded solemn-looking man Of
middle age with a gentle voice that
softened the price of dry goods and
won the confidence of women.
"PI give you a trial." he said. "Ten
dollars a month and board is all /
can pay you"
Shad agreed to these terms.
''Sit down here and rest yourself"
said the merchant prince Of Amity
Dam. Wen 60 home about nine
o'clock"
After Shad rested while, Mr..
Smithers showed the boy his establish
ment from cellar to garnet. 1t was
the usual country store Of that time.
Mr.. Smithers wrote out for the boy
list of his many duties. Before they
went home the merchant gave Shad
lesson in wrapping packages.
Mr.. Smithers lived in a frame house
near the store. His wife was a kindly
gray-haired woman. With a candle in
her hand, she led the boy to his room
above stairs, where she lighted q
small lamp and put it on little table
at his bedside. Two books lay on the
table. One of them was the story of
Toby Tyler. He had learned to read,
! but he had never read any book save
the First and Second Readers. Be
fore he slept he made this entry in
bis diary:
II love Kurnel Blake an all his
folks. Walked from Ashfield to the
store in an hour and 20 minits."
1t was an entry Of greater import
ance than he knew.
The days were filed with joy for
the homeless lad. He was quick to
learn. He enjoyed his work.
One day tall brown-bearded man
entered the store. Shad was alone
talking with boy known in the neigh
borh0od as Bony. The man had q
serious face and a brisk manner.
Hurry up, boy. and give me pound
Of the best tea," he commanded.
He paid for his purchase and hur-
ried out Of the store. This stranger
was not like any other person Shad
had seen in Amity Dam.
'Who is thatT he inquired of Bony.
"That, sir? It's Cyrus Doolittle.
We call him Cyrus the Great He
hurries more an does less than any
man l know Of. He's a politician.
Hes the great man of the town"
Bony was born satirist. A slim
hatchet-faced lad with a sense Of hu-
NOR. he worked at odd jobs here and
there.
IF you want to know more about
Cy Doolittle, you ask OIL Bumpy Brown
bout him."
"WhO is Bumpy Brownr' Shad
asked.
Hes the best dammer in Amity
Dam. Now an then he takes a holi.
day an sets down comftable an
spends 1t cussin' Cy Doolittle."
This somewhat fanciful introduction
being ended, the boy endeavored to
restrain his Imagination with no great
success. while he presented the out
standing facts in Mr.. Browns biog-
raphy.
'sBumpy is an old Teller with a
wooden leg who lives bout three miles
away in the cur'usest shack you ever
see. It's on the shore Of the river.
As liar he'd take the first premium
at the county fair. Nobody believes
him"
Don't he like Mr.. Doolittle?"
"Hates the ground he walks on,
He'll start from Piermont sober and,