Tom Dick and Harry.

Southland Times, Issue 9375, 15 November 1886, Page 4

Tom Dick and Harry.

• — rr — •—: "< BYHAYTOBXKUi.?* -' Poor old Father Eldergood disaitrously had faUed, *"*■ '- -J " Dear eld Mother Blder good I her k gentle spirit quailed • ■ When, after all their life of toil, so hard with them it fared, ' „ , Tom. Dick, and Harry Bldergood were all the Sheriff spared. TheirTom/aeort of farmer boy, was nothing Thefir Die*, a Asing lawyer, made their loving, - hearts elate; ' ' " " Their Harry was a minister, the darling of them For whom tjhe, greatest they could do had always seemed toft small." Dick said the law was very hard, when worat 1 " had -come to worst, - • ' And toldthtm bow: he longed. to Bee the. harsh . *.v decree reversed: : "^- ;^.^ ■ - ... ± ■ And Harry said the Lord of jHosts would^keep '■/■.:■ ■: : theai-inhiacare; '-„'-■■"■■''■■ .;,./-;■;■■ ■ : ioid he knelt with them and offered up a very as^ncbingprayeri^^ Bnt Farmer Ton£by steady work, had gained a And •Sowlte i offered them a home with open heart and hand. . V., ,A . IGs dallrfarewas y^y/plain;: hishonae was • ; rbugn andsaoall, _ Brirheaitily^herwelconied'them and bade them . share it all. r r ?' '" And JTom toiled hard npon the farm, but prices ,•? oft were down, " ~ - And crop? were clipped. by frost and drouth that do no harm in town, While Dick and Harry gained in wealtk, as men always willjTom's7beßt endeavour barely reached tomjeet ,;„ the grocer's bill. - At last his farm was mortgaged ; this latrength was like to fail; He "tamed reluctantly to them and tola his f u "siiaple tale. Theyzpraised his noble efforts; to ease his load of care They" gave their tender sympathy; 'twas all * they to spare. But Harry wrote long letters to his parents ■' weU-oeioved. ' of holy faith and prayer their hearts ■'■"""were always moved. "''*"' And Dick sent dainty gifts to them, so rich and bright^ ween It made their daily fare with Tom Beem rather coaree atid mean. The father felt that debts and .dues could never come so. thicks If only Tom had been as shrewd a business man as Dick. And when o'er Harry's messages the mothers eyes grew dim, She wished that Tom had saving grace to trnst and pray like him. Dear old Mother Eldergood failed more and more in health; " Poor .old Father Bldergood pined for his scattered wealth; And so/ it came to pass one day they sought a better home, -Where sickness and financial griefs are not sup- _ .--i-- - posed to come. -Poor, Tom had feed tne doctor and paid the faithf til nurse ; But Lawyer Dick arrived in time to hire a " splendid hearse j And Harry kneeled devoutly, in the sight of all to piay, Andpreached jtheir funeral sermon in a most ' impressive way. . Tom humbly stood beside the grave with these distinguished men ; His shoulders ne'er had seemed so stooped or • garb so rough as then ; And all the neighbours thought it showed nobility and grace That they should own relationship with one so commonplace. And Mrs Q-rnndy whispered round among the people there. While dwelling on the trials that beset the aged pair ; •' How different might have been their lot" — God knows her words were true ! | "If only Tom had ibeen a man to match the other, two !"