Part 8 (1/2)
”G.o.d bless you, Tom!” said his father. ”Don't forget your good habits and principles when you are far away from us.”
”I won't, father.”
So Tom's long journey commenced.
Tom's plan was to go to St. Louis first. His father made some inquiries about the route, and recommended going to Pittsburg by cars, then to take the boat on the Ohio River for Cincinnati. This seemed to Tom to afford a pleasant variety, and he gladly accepted the suggestion.
As they were approaching Pittsburg, Tom occupied a whole seat on the left-hand side of the car. A brisk, plausible young man, of twenty-five, pa.s.sing through the aisle, observed the vacant seat, and, pausing, inquired, ”Is this seat engaged?”
”No, sir,” answered Tom.
”Then, if you have no objection, I will occupy it.”
”Certainly, sir.”
The young man was nicely dressed. In his bosom sparkled a diamond pin, and he wore three or four rings on his fingers.
”He must be rich,” thought Tom, who was of an observant turn.
”A pleasant day to travel,” remarked the young man affably.
”Yes, it is,” said Tom.
”Do you go farther than Pittsburg?”
”Yes, I am going to California,” answered Tom proudly.
”Is it possible? Are you alone?”
”Yes, sir.”
”You are young to travel so far.”
”I am sixteen; that is, I shall be in two or three weeks.”
”Still, you are young to take such a journey alone. Are you going to join friends there?”
”No; I am going to seek my fortune.”
Once more the young man looked surprised, and scanned Tom curiously.
”I presume you are from the city,” he observed, with a smile which Tom would not have understood if he had noticed it. The truth is, that Tom bore evident marks of being a country boy. I don't like to say that he looked ”green,” but he certainly lacked the air that distinguishes a town-bred boy. His companion evidently understood boy nature, for Tom was much flattered by the supposition that he was a city boy.
”No,” he answered, almost as if apologizing for a discreditable fact; ”I am from the country.”
”You don't say so!” exclaimed the other, in apparent surprise. ”I thought, from your appearance, that you were from the city. How do you go from Pittsburg?”
”By river to Cincinnati.”