Tom Van Dunk and Abram Hewitt: the Pond Story

by Louis P. West

It was late summer and the hay crops were in. Tom Van Dunk, a life-long Hewitt employee, was trimming around the fields with his scythe and stick. He was moving around the field where the march on Yorktown originated. It borders Sally's Pond.

The Hewitts had guests for the weekend. Tom heard them earlier in the day playing music. Miss Sally played the piano and Miss Nellie played the viola.

It was about 2:00 p.m. when Tom saw Miss Sally and three guests get into a small boat and go out on Sally's Pond. Suddenly he heard a scream. He looked up and saw the boat had upset and all were floundering in the water. Tom jumped into the pond and swam out. He helped them all to get hold of the boat. He then maneuvered the boat toward the shore. Finally, when close enough they got footing and walked out of the pond. All were exhausted and frightened. Tom went with them to the manor house. Miss Sally thanked him.

Tom went and picked up his scythe and stick and took it back to the farm and went home.

That evening when supper was just about over, Miss Sally told her father what had happened and how Tom had jumped in and helped them. Miss Sally said "Tom should be rewarded for his bravery."

Mr. Hewitt replied "I shall issue orders tomorrow morning for free rent and retire Tom with full salary for the rest of his life."

To this Miss Sally added "and any goods sold at the general store free to him."

Of course Tom was overjoyed, and the first thing he did was to go to the store and "buy" sixteen (16) pounds of tobacco. When asked why he bought so much tobacco, he replied: "He has been known to change his mind."