The Story of Tommy Tucker

Summary

Little Tommy Tucker sang for his supper.

What did he sing for? white bread and butter.

How could he cut it, without any knife?

How could he marry, without any wife?

LITTLE TOMMY TUCKER was a waif of the streets. He never remembered having a father or mother or any one to care for him, and so he learned to care for himself. He ate whatever he could get, and slept wherever night overtook him—in an old barrel, a cellar, or, when fortune favored him, he paid a penny for a cot in some rude lodging-house. His life about the streets taught him early how to earn a living by doing odd jobs, and he learned to be sharp in his speech and wise beyond his years. One morning Tommy crawled out from a box in which he had slept over night, and found that he was hungry. His last meal had consisted of a crust of bread, and he was a growing boy with an appetite. But Tommy was a plucky boy with a lively wit and a way of making his way. People liked him and so he managed to earn a living and eat quite well and ended up as Sir. Tomas Tucker.