The Tom-Boy (1909)
Taken at Ladden Rock Farm, by courtesy of the owner, Wm. L. Marks, during the glorious month of June, a time when Mother Nature opens wide her lap and scatters her gifts about in careless abandonment, this picture offers a series of scenes that should hold attention by their beauty alone. But in addition is told the charming story of the Tomboy. At the time of the opening scene she is just budding into charming womanhood. Left motherless at an early age, her father, a lifelong invalid, in his desire to give her those pleasures denied him, has encouraged her live her life out in the open air. She has grown up on the beautiful estate more like a boy than a girl. Her favorite companion and playmate is young Ned, the son of a neighboring boyhood friend of her father's. It is the one desire of her father's heart to see young Ned and herself safely married before he dies. The only other member of the family is a ne'er-do-well nephew, to whom the Tomboy's father has given a home and education. This nephew, noting the growing feebleness of the invalid father, has been planning and scheming to marry the Tomboy in order to secure the fortune that will be hers on her father's death. The scene opens with a charming view near the house. The nephew, angered at the Tomboy for some slight she has given his advances, is venting his anger on one of her poor pets that happened to be in his way. Dobbins, the old gardener, who has raised this dog from a blind puppy, cannot bear to see such abuse and remonstrates with the nephew. The nephew laughs sneeringly. Letting his righteous anger get the better of him, Dobbins strikes the nephew. The nephew cruelly fells him with a savage blow of his cane. Away the nephew goes, for fear someone may have seen him. Here come the Tomboy and her father to spend their customary morning hour by the lake. They discover old Dobbins lying senseless. Tenderly they lift him up. They question, but he refuses to tell how he was hurt. The father orders him taken to the house. Scarcely have the Tomboy and her father settled themselves when young Ned arrives. The father greets him warmly. Ned thinks this is a good opportunity to press his suit with the Tomboy. The old father encourages him. The nephew appears in the rear and overhears what they are saying. But the Tomboy is obstinate. She cannot see her childhood playmate Ned in the role of an accepted suitor for her hand. The father grows insistent. Finally the Tomboy stamps her foot and rushes off in a temper. The old father becomes greatly excited. Rising in his chair, he calls angrily after her. Now he lifts his fists. But the excitement is too much for his feeble frame. He gasps, strives frantically for breath, and falls lifeless into young Ned's outstretched arms. Young Ned lays him gently on the grass. The Tomboy, repenting of her foolish anger, returns to ask her father's forgiveness only to find him lying lifeless at her feet. Overwhelmed with grief, she kneels over him, sobbing. Young Ned stands by, ready to comfort her in this her hour of trouble. Scene II The Nephew and an Adventuress Plan to Disgrace Young Ned. Scene III. A Sinister Meaning Given to a Kind Deed. Scene IV. Young Ned Gets a Snubbing. Scene V. The Final Plot to Be Rid of Young Ned Overheard by the Old Gardener. In a secluded part of the grounds the adventuress is awaiting the nephew. Here he is at last. Hurriedly they talk over their plans. They have decided it will be necessary to be rid of young Ned forever. The stone bridge over the lake is the place. Young Ned cannot swim. If he should by any means fall into the water, who would know how it happened? But how to induce him to come there? A letter! Scene VI. The Plot Frustrated by the Tomboy's Heroism. Young Ned has received the note and is waiting for the adventuress at the bridge she indicated. He is idly reading her note and wondering why she wishes to see him. Here she is. She greets him and again thanks him for his kindness. Now she invites him to take a seat so they may talk it over. Back she glances to see that all is ready. A quick move and her handkerchief is floating on the water. Young Ned offers to recover it for her. Out over the water he reaches his fishing tackle. Up creeps the nephew. A quick push and the boy is floundering in the water. The two plotters hurry away. Meanwhile the Tomboy has gone for a horseback ride and is trying in the excitement of a wild gallop to forget what she had seen the other day. What was that? A cry? She listens intently. Again it is repeated. Down comes the whip across the flank of her horse and she is away at a breakneck pace. Back at the bridge the poor boy is fast losing his strength. No help is in sight. Ah! here comes the Tomboy. Down the hill she gallops. Courage, boy, she will soon be with you. Off the horse she throws herself. Into the water she leaps. Now she has the boy and is swimming ashore with him. Here comes the old gardener, who has arrived too late to prevent the plotters, but is in time to help the Tomboy. He calls for help and two other men come. They lift the boy and girl from the water. The boy soon recovers enough to tell his story and the men rush to catch the two guilty plotters before they escape from the estate. The boy and girl are left together. Scene VII. The Lovers Reunited and the Plot Revealed. Retribution.
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GenresShort
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| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Sidney Olcott | Director |
