Year: 1870

TOM TOPERLY.


Tom Toperly was the veriest sot in all
the world. He had been great many
things besides topper, but had always
been topper since he was twelve years
old, and he was now twenty five.


Tom had passed through all the tenn
perance orders aud societies that had
sprung up in the neighborhood, aud he
came out as much Of q sot as he went
in.


He was bachelor, perhaps because
he was not sober long enough to seek
out wife, perhaps he was so much Of a
locomotive demijohn that no sane
woman could have been found foolish
enough to link her fate with his.


Tom had arrived at an era in his
eventfui life when he was too shiftless
to work for gin, his favorite beverage,
and he then began to think that the
poor-house would have to shelter him,
when one night he miraculously disap-
peared. He was so well known around
the town that everybody missed him,
and there was general inquiry as to
his fate, but no tidings came.


1t was the fifth day after his disap-
pearance that Tom turned up on the
the steps Of tavern about ten miles
distant from the town Of his nativity.
He was penniless, and the landlord had
just turned him out Of doors. He was
as sobe as he had ever been in his life.
A man in a rough farmers coat saw
him, and tapping him on the shoulder,
! said


"What are you doing here: say,
man?"


waiting for some one to ask me to
drink; may be you're the chap" said
Tom.


The rough looking man smiled and
| replied


"You look as if you had taken drink
enough in your life."


"I'm awful dry, haven't had drop
to-day" said Tom with woful face.


"IfI will find you as much as you can
drink, will you go with me?' inquired
the gentleman.


'Yes. and stay with you," answered
Tom, "till the stock is out,n and he
sprang to his feet with some show of
agility.


"Get into the wagon, then" said the
gentleman.


"With pleasure, SIR" said Toni, as he
clambered into the farmers wagon be-
fore the tavern.


Tom was driven five miles into the
country, and was set down in farmyard
abounding with fowl and cattle


"This is our home" said our kind
friend.


Tom thought it a queer place to get as
much rs he could drink, but he didn't
venture to remark.


The gentleman led the way to hand
some stone house. gave Tom seat in
the porch and ordered boy to bring a
pail of water.


Hep yourself" said the gentleman
at is good, and you will stay with me
a long time before you drink the spring
dry"


Tom thought his friend was facetious
He chuckled little and ventured to
say, "But the liquor?"


''What liquor?" returned the gentle
man, as if he was astonished. "Ther
is none about my premises


but you told me if I went with you
l should have all could drink"


$50 you shall-the spring never gets
dry. and the dairy is large"


Pm not used to H."


II know that WE'LL" returned the
farmer, but mean you shall be. Come,
We'll not dispute now, for supper Is
ready


Tom was not unwilling to try a good
supper. and as night was coming on and
he wanted a place to lay his head, he
did not care to scold about the the trick
that had been played upon him.


When he was ready to go TO bed, the
gentleman conducted him to a neat
room, and bidding him goodnight,
locked the door. In the morning Tom
found himself prisoner.


"There is a man trap, sure" he cried
kicking furiousIy against the door.


"What is all that noiseu' said voice
outside.


II want to come out" said Tom.


You are my prisoner said the
farmer, for it was he who answered
Toms summons. II can keep YOU here
as long as | please; but if you promise
not to go off the farm for three months.
you will be fed and cared for. I only
want your word for security. What say
you?'


"Pll do it," cried Tom, eagerly. ar
guing to himself that if only his word
was taken, the bonds that held him
would not be powerful, although he felt
degree of pride to think that the farm
er manifested 50 much confidence in
his integrity. He naturally thought
The whole matter queer one.


In u day or two Tom saw that the
farmers only object was to do him