For a day or two after that, he was a most miserable boy. He did not know what to decide upon next; and he never was happy unless he had something to dream about. But, one afternoon, as he stood in his father’s office, a well-to-do farmer drove up with a load of grain, and Tom suddenly saw the way out of his quandary. There were four horses hitched to the sled, and they were so slick and fat, and the farmer seemed to be so happy and contented, that Tom could not resist the thought that he would like to be a farmer. In fact, after a few moment’s consideration, he decided that he would be one, and he resolved to act upon his decision at once. After a little maneuvering, he commenced a conversation with the farmer, during which, he asked him if he “didn’t want to hire a boy!” The man replied that he did, that he was just looking for one, and, that, if Tom would go home with him, he would soon make a first-class farmer of him. Tom, delighted with the idea, at once sought an interview with his father, to whom he hurriedly explained his new scheme. Mr. Newcombe, too busy to be interrupted, answered his request that he might be permitted to go home with the farmer in the negative; but Tom, who was a great tease, was not to be put off so easily.
“You don’t understand what I want, father!” he began.
“Yes I do!” replied the merchant. “I know all about it. But there’s one thing I don’t know, and that is, what foolish notion you’ll get into your head next!”
“But, father!” said Tom impatiently, “may I go? That’s what I want to know!”
“No, sir, you may stay at home!”
“O, now, why can’t I go?” whined Tom. “Say, father, why can’t I go? I want to learn to be a farmer.”
How long Tom would have continued to tease his father, it is impossible to say, had not the merchant, well-nigh out of patience, ordered his son to “go home, and stay there, until he should learn not to bother persons when they were busy.” Tom reluctantly obeyed; but the moment he reached the house again went into the sulks.
This last idea, he thought, would suit him much better than any thing he had ever before thought of. Heretofore, when he had explained his plans to his father, that gentleman had invariably said,
“Tom, you don’t know enough! Go to school and pay more attention to your books. Get your education first, and decide upon your business afterward.” But this was something the boy did not like to do. He could not bear to study, and all his calculations, as to what trade or profession he should follow when he became a man, had been made with reference to this particular object—namely, to discover some business which could be successfully conducted without a knowledge of arithmetic and geography, two things that Tom thoroughly despised. But now he had hit upon the very thing—farming; a farmer had nothing to do but drive horses, take care of cows, and spread hay; and that did not require a knowledge of arithmetic or geography. That was just the business for him; and he resolved that some day he would be a farmer.
During the remainder of the winter, Tom held firmly to this determination. He thought, and dreamed about nothing else; and a farmer’s sled or wagon was an object of great curiosity to him; at least all his playmates thought so, for every morning and evening, before and after school, and all day Saturdays, Tom was seen loitering about the market-houses, looking at the horses, and talking with the farmers. This state of things, we repeat, continued until spring, and then all these ideas were driven out of his head as suddenly as they had entered it.