Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-04-14

aud learning in tho capacity OF shoe
black, the lad was unable to decipher
manuscript hadn't the patience" he
declared.
Jenny Smith read The letter for hin
amidst general applause. Justice and
righteousness had triumphed, it appeared
and Amanda Liza had proved herself n
regular brick. as Jenny with biimming
eyes, observed, handing back the
precious scrap Of paper TO Jake, who
carefully wrapped il in his ragged hand
kerchici. The letter contained briel
invitation TO the lad, urging him 10 come
and see his old friend-a day was
appointed for the visit. and the street
and number where she was TO be found
we're written out in round, school girl
hand. A fashionable and wealthy quarter
OF The city, where JAKE was not likely 10
be very familiar.
Jako sci himself TO work without loss
Of time at blacting his boots, albeit the
appointed day, was somewhere abou, n
week ahcad. But il would take n deal of
| fixing, he complained confdentially. to
get ready. and he hadn't much TO fix with.
Jlkc's normal condition was not that of
a dandy, certainly. lie could only, rs
general thing. bc lu,ed by tho prospect
of drive to cred himself up" as Mrs.
SQuimps said. To bo ragged and let
alone was his heaven. But this time he
rose TO the greatness OF the occasion
he brushed and scoured, washed out his
sole white shirt, busted and Strengthened
his battered old hat, aud mendcd his
lrowScrs
Deeply interested in Jake's fortunes,
we watched the proceedings.
but Jake" said Jenny Smith one
day, "Hhat arc you to do for coat ?"
Unhappy suggc .tion! Jake looked
ashast. He hadn't thought OF that. Ger
lainly he couldn't make his appearance in
that oyergrown coachman's RIG, in which
lie was wont to illustrate tho academical
rcspcclabili,y on the road. And he had
nothing else. No necessity had ever
before developed itself Tor anything save
shirt sleeves and WOO led jacket.
And a full pause came yer our delib-
cratiuus for Jake. Miss Smith whstled,
and finally suggested her water piool-
we all were ready to Aus ours at his feet
but Jake couldn't so mufllcd like an
Italian brisand. lie shook his head.
Night closed without any solution oil
the difficulty, but we trusted that some
how The lads quick wit would find way
out Of it.
The next morning, however, new
sensation turned US flom the contempia.
ton Of Jake's disasters. The house had
been robbed We were all terribly
scared, aud Mr.. Squimps was in . fever
of defamation aud wrath. Ills coat,
lis Les, beloved blue black coat, in which
he was wont 10 dignity trustee meetings,
ornament his pew of = Sunday, and pay
visits OF state TO his patrons-hiS coat had
been stolen! His coat. q man so deyo.
ed TO the interests of education that he
scarcely had time to so TO the tailor's 10
think that an ung:a!elnl, inappreciatiyc,
idle world should have PERMITTED HIM to
be robbed. lie raved. lie stormed, he
threatened vengeance, he lcctured us on
the dc.eneracy OF the times, and forgot
our Latin.
Vague fcrcboding oflurkinS assassins,
masked robbers, and frequent skirmishcs
into the wardrobe and dormiiories about
this Iime kept us all in nervous furry,
to the exclusion OF all thought of Jake
Bot late one twilight afternoon. rs we sat
huddcd in the windows OF the long
school room waiting the supper bell, we
saw him issue from, the clubhouse. Oh,
horror. Oh, arparition Of terror! For
with its tails nearly touching the ground,
its long sleeves overlapping his hands,
Jake wore, without n doubt, the missing
coat, boldly marching in his stolen iinery
down toward Tic road in sight of us all.
In sight OF sharper eyes too. it seemed,
for not far from The house Mr.. Squinps
himself pounced upon him.
Poor, kind, light hearted Jake! We
held our breath that day and the next,
Tor Jake had been marched off TO prison,
and Mr.. Squimps' cloquence and morali
ly were in full ilow. lie said longer
grace than ever at dinner, and we were
all glad when, hungrily eying the scanty
board, VIC heard The visitors bell sum
mon him to The parlor. think we were
in better appetite than usual that day,
and left little behind US for our Mentor
rs we fled up stairs, toward the school
loom. Passing the parlor door there
rushed upon US = little figure in trailing
silk dress and n bonnetlul of nodding
French flowers. 1t was Amanda Liza.
"Oh, gir!s!" she cried, Historically,
bywildercd with an apparent desire 10
embrace the whole tioop. Poor Jake!"
Mr. Squimps, tall and solemn, rose
with dignity, and closed the parlor door
upon their further conference. Weheard
him make this consoling remark:
Il always knew he'd come to no goodr'
II seemed that Amanda had learned OF
Jake's mishap through some stray news.