Thomas Pearson

“ Tom was impressed by his mother’s faith, but soon objected,–
“Mother, do you think we can always trust our feelings? You said a little while ago that you felt that there would be trouble with the Indians; but nobody expects that. And now you say that you feel that all God does is right. Now, if you are wrong about the Indians, and about father’s being in danger from them, how can you be sure that your feelings are right about God?”
“Tom,” replied she, “I have a great many impressions that come to nothing. But there are some that never do. And I know that God does right; for I feel that he does ”

“ In 18 a moment Tom had forgotten all his gloomy thoughts and high resolves, and was as eager as any of them, as they tried to secure the nimble prize. A lively time it was, too; fear and speed against numbers, noise, and strategy. A good force were the pursuers; the “olive plants” of the Joneses grew very naturally in regular gradations, like the steps of a flight of stairs. Tom, Eliza, Charley, Bob, Sarah, Bill, and Bub, the four-year-old, were all active with hands, legs, and lungs, while the mother stood in the doorway, surveying the scene, with baby in her arms. ”

“ Tom, who had listened absorbed to this before unread chapter in the family history, was deeply moved, and, while the tears filled his eyes, asked, in tremulous tones,–
“Do you think father’ll ever get over it, mother?”
“Tom,” replied she, “your father has a true heart and a good mind, and I believe that, in some way, good will yet come out of this long-continued trial. He’s taken a great liking to the missionary; and Mr. Payson seems to understand him better than most, and I am praying that the acquaintance may lead to something brighter for him ”

“ And he’s a great marksman, you know: it wouldn’t do for an Indian to get in the way of his rifle.”
“But, Tom,” said the mother, taking his hand, and suddenly changing the subject, “why is it that you don’t get better faster? Your skin is real hot, and you look feverish. The doctor said you ought to have been out before this.” Tom looked down, but did not reply. “Tom,” continued she, tenderly, “something is troubling your mind. I have known it for some time. Don’t you love your mother well enough to make her your confidant? What is the matter, my son?”
Still the lad did not reply ”

“ Why were they not his? Do all have their longings for something brighter and better than the present brings? something for which they must wait and wait, and perchance never attain?
Tom knocked modestly at the storekeeper’s door. A moment, and the money-lender opened it, saying, heartily,–
“Walk in; walk in!”
“No, I thank you,” answered Tom; “I called to say, that as I am to start on Monday to begin study at the east,”–and the young man’s tones grew tremulous,–“General and Mrs. McElroy 296 and mother are to be at the missionary’s to-day, and they desire the pleasure of your company at dinner.” ”

“ It was, however, more difficult to persuade Tom to remain behind, than for his parents to give him up,–hard as it was for them. He had so long been the staff of his mother, that it seemed like selfish desertion for him to stay with the missionary, while she went farther off on the frontier.
“It is your duty to remain, Tom,” urged the mother. “God has opened the way for you to cultivate your mind, and fit yourself for usefulness; and we shall not be so far away but that you can come to us at any time, if we need you.”
“And are you not afraid to go where there are so many Indians?” asked Tom. ”

“ But why did he leave so mysteriously?”
“I don’t know,” replied Tom. “Captain Manly tried to find him; he wished to present him to 227 General McElroy. He said he did not doubt that government would reward Long Hair for his services.”
“Well,” sighed his mother, shuddering as she spoke, “how different these Indians are from us! They come and go so noiselessly, and talk so little! ”

“ Tom could hear the sound of the pursuit as it died away, and knew that there was now no immediate danger to him; and, stooping down, he took a long draught from the spring, and bathed his fevered brow. Then, climbing out of his hiding-place, he passed quickly upon the ridge, and descended into the ravine below, where lay the mutilated form of the red man.
“Who knows but he is the murderer of some of our family?” he said, as he drew near. “No; none of our folks have such hair as that,” he added, after examining the scalps, one by one. ”

“ The lad needed no second hint, but sprang away, and severed the thongs that bound his Indian friend to the death-stake.
“Ugh! Tom good friend; big soldier-boy,” ejaculated the grateful Indian.
“Are father and mother safe?” asked Tom.
“In cabin there,” replied Long Hair. 221
Tom hurried forward towards the dwelling, but Long Hair seized him, saying,–
“Maybe they think you Injun; shoot you!” for his keen eye had caught sight of the muzzle of a gun pointing at them from out an aperture in the building. “White chief come soon,” he immediately added. “They no fire at you; see, gun gone.” ”

“ Tom eyed the pork longingly as he continued his narration, and, seeing no prospect of getting it, abruptly said,–
“I hadn’t tasted a bit of food till I came here since five o’clock this morning, and I’ve got to Walk all night.”
“Law me!” ejaculated his good-hearted hostess; “if I haven’t forgot to help ye, I was so scared ’bout the Injuns;” and she passed it, adding, “Husband, you jist go down cellar, and bring up a pumpkin pie, and some o’ that gingerbread. The boy mustn’t leave this huss till he’s had his fill;” and the tears came into her large blue eyes. ”

“ But do not seek high things for yourself. Be not anxious to become what is called a great preacher, nor aspire to a ‘brilliant settlement.’ Sacrifice not conscience for place and power and the applause 298 of sect. Keep humble. Keep Christ ever before you; and may he watch between me and thee while we are separated from each other;” and she kissed him a fond farewell. Tom stepped aboard the steamer, which rapidly bore him away, carrying in his heart the images of the godly missionary, fair-haired Alice, and his mother–the little group that stood on the shore gazing so lovingly after him. ”

“ But where was Tom? When he returned from doing the errands, he was surprised at not finding either Mrs. Smith or Bub at the minister’s, and was standing undecided what to do, when the clergyman drove up. Tom immediately stated his perplexity.
“You don’t suppose the woman went home, leaving Bub here alone, and the child has strayed away?” suggested Mrs. Payson, apprehensively.
“I scarcely think a woman of her age would be so imprudent,” replied her husband. “She may, however, have gone to the village, and 155 taken the child with her for safe keeping. It would be well, Tom, to go down and see.” ”

“ Very little required to be done to either of the grounds, and to-day the park forms an ideal and picturesque spot for spending a holiday, being in close proximity to Judge's Bay, on which stands the remains of the old cottage formerly tenanted by Judge Swainson. Delightful views of the harbour are obtainable from the grounds, and bathing may be indulged in on the beach. One of the residences in the Park has been utilised as a tea room. ”

“ In an hour or more we reached the beginning of the causeway, and fifteen minutes later we were in Bailey's Harbor.
"I wouldn't mind something to eat," said Ed Mason.
"Some ham and eggs," I suggested.
"And some of those mince turnovers," remarked Jimmy Toppan, almost breaking into a run.
"And some coffee," said Mr. Daddles.
"Do you suppose there is any of that chowder left?" asked Ed
Mason; "it's always better warmed over."
"The Captain must have had his supper long ago," said I. "And gone to bed, too," put in Mr. Daddles,—"say, do you know, it's pretty late?" ”

“ Pope we knew was librarian of the Sunday School at home, and that if he knew any smugglers he had kept it a secret. Ed Mason had got rid of his pebble, and he now joined us again.
"Are you ready, men?"
"Ay, ay,—heave ahead!"
So we started once more. The streets were black as ink. They were paved with cobblestones, and there did not seem to be any side- walks. The buildings were fishermen's and clammers' huts, boat- houses, and small shops,—all dark and deserted. The fog shut out everything at a short distance. At the top of the hill there was one dim light in the rear of a little shanty. ”

“ Tom was agitated with strong and conflicting emotions as he pursued his lonely way. His boy-nature had been terribly roused by the exciting scenes through which he had just passed. He had experienced the strange feeling which men feel, when, in battle, they are stirred by danger and the sight of blood to deeds of blood. It was under this feeling that he was led to precipitate the Indian from the bluff, and to view his remains with so much composure. But now a faintness came stealing over him. ”

“ One day Tom, chancing to visit the wigwam, found Long Hair there, shivering with a violent 184 attack of ague. He was alone, and had been for two days.
How bare and cheerless appeared the Indian’s life to Tom’s sympathetic nature then! for an Indian, when sick, has few comforts. Solitary he sits wrapped in his blanket, or lies on the ground, with no one to nurse or care for him; no nice dishes to tempt his feeble appetite, no hand to bathe his fevered brow, no medicines to assuage his pain or drive disease away. ”

“ And I’ve had an eye on you myself quite a while; and, bad as they say old Cowles is, I like to see others do well. You stuck by your folks when you wished to go off; that’s right. You made the most of your schooling; that’s in your favor. You are an honest, right-minded lad, aiming to be, I suspect, some such a man as that missionary.”
Tom’s surprise grew apace. How did this rough, swearing, covetous dealer ferret out his heart’s secrets? ”

“ We’ll save every one; and who knows but when Tom gets well he’ll contrive some traps and catch hens enough to make a pair of pillows, or a feather-bed?”
“Is a feather-bed very nice?” asked Sarah.
“Very, when the weather is cold, and a body is weakly, as Tom is now; it’s so easy to rest upon. There, Eliza, you may pass me the one that is picked, and I’ll dress it. How fat it is! and so tender! What a feast we shall have! How thankful we ought to be that Tom’s eyes were not put out when he shot these hens! ”

“ But Tom had finished his meal, and rose to go, when his hostess said,–
“You won’t think o’travelling in the night–will yer?”
“Every moment is precious,” replied Tom.
“Well, husband,” said she, “if the boy feels, under the circumstances, that he must go, it isn’t in me to detain him. But it seems to me we orter do as we’d be did by, and help him onto his way a piece. Now, you jist go and harness the hoss into the waggin while I put up something to stay his stomach like till he gets to the fort. You could drive him there just as well as not, husband.” ”

“ I, indeed, thanks to the way in which Tom had defended me, was the only person unhurt.
“Green, do you look after the hatchway,” said Pearson to the other man who had escaped. “Tom, do you and Jack show your muskets through the stern windows, I have some work to do. The savages think they have us in a trap, but they are mistaken.” He opened, as he spoke, a hatch which led to the magazine, and I saw him uncoiling a long line of match, one end of which he placed in the magazine, while he led the other along the cabin to the stern-port. ”

“ Instantly the bushes parted, and Long Hair stepped into view. His eyes were bloodshot, his blanket torn, and his whole appearance indicated that something unusual had happened.
“Why, Long Hair!” exclaimed Tom, greatly startled; “what is the matter?”
The Indian glanced warily about, then laid his ear to the ground, listening intently, and arose quickly, saying,–
“Indian come. Much fight. Kill white man; kill white squaw; kill pappoose.”
“What of my father and mother?” inquired Tom, excitedly. “Have they been murdered?”
“Long Hair save ’um little; father shoot one, two, tree, ten Injun. ”

“ Tom looked thoughtful. “Yes, you were right, Pearson; you’ve done it all; and now I want you to do one thing more. Please look after Willy a bit when he comes out; he’s such a daring little chap, he’ll always be running away from the stewardess.”
“Ah, you want me to be nurse now—do you?” said Pearson; “all right, lad, and as the song says, ‘Don’t forget me in the land you’re going to.’ And you can still stick to my old motto, that ‘Working is better than Wishing.’”
KIND TO EVERYTHING. ”

“ An aged Italian sat behind it, reading a newspaper. He sold us peanuts, and exchanged facetious remarks with Mr. Daddles. As we left the peanut man, we heard a far-off shouting. Down the street came a tall, thin man, ringing a great dinner-bell. He was very lame and made slow progress. Now and then he would halt, and shout something at the top of his voice.
"What's the matter?" Sprague asked a man, who stood in the door of a cigar-shop, "is there a fire?"
The man grinned.
"That's the town-crier," said he.
"Town-crier!" exclaimed Mr. Daddles, "I didn't know there were any of 'em left." ”

“ Jones’s patch; doubtless the trampled and scattered corn had tempted them in now.
Tom’s eyes danced for joy, as, peeping at the hens, he hurried on his clothes. Hundreds were there pecking along like so many turkeys. It was the combined whirr of their wings that woke him so effectually; many an older person on the frontier has been deceived by the same sound, supposing it to be thunder, so heavy a noise do these wild fowl of the prairies make when numbers of them fly together. ”