Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-05-04
FARMER JENKINS JACKET.

FARMER JENKINS JACKET.
ANY body thst'll take what don't be-
long to 'em, even if it amt with morn
pin, is thief, and Idont care who It's, Miss
Helen" said Farmer Jenkins, as he toasted
his feet by the kitchen fire, while waiting
for water to heat, that he might thaw out
the barn pump.
at makes you feel mighty mean, steal
in does" he continued, after few mo-
ments. 81 never stole but once, and I'll
tell you how twas.
You know when l was youngster,
lived down on the Medder Farm with
Square Peters. Wal, Jake Fisher, he hired
out there one summer, and one day when
we was to work together on the ma h,
says he
"Old Flint's pears are about ripe, BILL
"You didn't know old Sam Flint, l
spose, Miss Heleny"
Sam Flint's father. do you mean"
YES"
81 have heard of him, but l do not
think ever saw him"
"Wal, Jake, says he, Let's have some
Of them pears, Bill
"' don't want none, says |.
"'They're the best lookin' pears you
ever saw says he, and we can git some
tonight as easy as not. It'll be fun
oval, after while he kinder coaxed
me into it; so told him I'd go.
AT that time / had new jacket-blue
broadcloth-real nice cloth twas. 1t cut
me a little bout the armsize, but twas a
fust rate Jacket; and when I'd done work
evenin's, used to put 1t on. So that night
7 he, a.l az nd Jaly nd mo
over to Flint's orchard. When we got
down there, Jake, says he:
"' Bill, you are the lightest; you git up
into the tree
so | stripped off my jacket and tossed
il down, and was up in that tree quick
er'n q wink. | was spry as a cat in them
DAYS. Wal, I'd Jest gin one shake, and the
pears were beginnin to rattle down, when
up come old Sam.
"'Oho.o-o-oI says he, growlin' away,
now I've ketched ye, stealth my pears!
Jake, he cut and run, an II didn't
take me long to drop out of that tree, and
then made pretty quick time, too, thout
stcpDin' to pick up my jacket l heerd
old Sam growlin' agin when he got there.
" Ur-r.r! them tellers have got OIL but
one on ems left his Jacket
Says to myself, you're goner this
time, Bill! You'll be hung, nowr
Next day l happened along by old
Sans, and seen him out to the barn.
"'Some fellers tried TO hook my pears
last night says he.
did theys' says I. who was they?'
al dunno says he, morc'n nothin.
"Didn't you ketch 'cmy says l.
"No,' says he; but one ON EN- left
his jacket j..
"Didy says /. What kind of jacket
was itY
GA new one says he; blue broad
cloth; fust-rate piece OF cloth.
81 knew that as well as he did, but l
dd't tell him so. He went in and fetched
it out TO let me see.
"'That's fust rate jacket, says /; what
you goin' to do with it,
"'Guess shall sell it, says he; Il
hain't got anybody that it II fit
How much be you goin' to ask Tor ity
says L b. . ,o,,,r., COW. b. .,ts
with more'n that. Should think it might
be just about right for you, Bill. Try iton,
an let's see ...
$50 put it on.
"That's good fit says he.
"Wall, can't give no two dollars,
says !, takin' off the jacket an startin' up
the team was drivin'.
"Wal, Bill says he, if you want 1t,
I'll let you have it for dollar, seem It's
you
"No,' says I; I hain't got no dollar
to give; III give yer fifty cents for it,
"No, yer dontr says he. It's with
sight more that can't let you have it
for that, Billy
$50 went off; but was dreadfully
afraid Squire Peters would hear Of II, or
would ask me where twas, or somethin'.
"You see, twas a second hand jacket
he'd bought cheap someWh heres i6f me-
but it looked good as new.
"Twa'n't many days before was down
to Sam Flint's agin.
"Sold that jacket YETI says l.
"No." says he. Can't find anybody
that wants it,
"'Tell We what it's says /, I'll give yer
seventy five cents for that jacket, and not
cent more
"Wal, Bill says he, SEM it's you, I'll
let you have it for that!'
$50 he fetched 1t out, an walked off
with it; and / haint taken nothin' that
don't belong TO me, sence."
"That was good lesson and cheaply
learned" remarked Miss Helen.
"Wa1-yes-twas! Cost me seventy five
cents, an | didn't git single pear, nuther
But you see seventy.five cents in them
days was with as much as five dollars
now; an I'd been whole year gittin' that
seventy five cents.
81 was only boy, yer zee, and squire
Peters was plaguy mean with me; and l
don't care who knows it. He'd oughter
gin me a chance to git some schoolin'; but
he didn't"
And with sigh Farmer jenkins arose,
lifted the kettle Of boiling water from the
fire and marched out to the barn. His wis
dom had been learned by experience.
That is costly school. Get yours more
easily-by the experience Of others Youths
Companion.