Show TOWBOAT PILOT by elston J melton caxton printers printer 4 by lyn connelly here at last is an intelligently written book for adolescent boys one of the best ot of its kind since the immortal mark twain penned that perennial favorite tom sawyer tom briggs is essentially a good boy but because he takes precious tune time away from his lus daily chores to swim with his chum johnny san ders and because he dreams con scantly of the day when he might be a towboat pilot on the mighty gasconade river he is considered lazy and shiftless by his cruel stepfather and many of the town citi zens you U share tom toms s frustration when after he works hard to buy himself a small boat so that be he can fish to support his family his stepfather sells the boat and pockets the money you U share his horror when his bunting hunting rifle goes off acci dentally in the post office and he is accused by mr pugh the ter of having deliberately attempt ed to kill him despite bis his many handicaps tom proves through sheer perseverance and courage that he is capable of being a towboat captain the story carries him from the age of 12 when be he is in the dream stage through the age of 21 when he makes his first cruise as a pilot but long be fore the realization of bis his ambition he cams earns the respect of his neigh bors when he clears mr pugh of a possible murder charge of which only tom knows he is innocent thus that he holds no malice in his heart for the postmaster who would have sent tom to a juvenile home when he too was wrongly a accused cc used of a crime the book is a joy for those loving the great outdoors mr melton a prominent missouri newspaper man knows his subject well and handles it beautifully with the result that there emerges a book full fun of tears and joy tenderness and adventure |