Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-02-26
JOe'S Likeness.

Joe's Likeness.
| Mrs. PEACH and her son Joe set off
one Saturday afternoon to do some shop
Iplng at their nearest market-town. The
purchases to be made were chiefly for
Joe, who was leaving home the next week
! to go and settle with his uncle, who was
a glazier, and had offered to bring the
| boy up to his trade. Joe was but a rough
country lad, and had only hitherto
worked on farm, so this seemed to him
a rise IN life, and his mother was anxious
to start him respectfully as far as
clothes went.
you'll want new cap and jacket for
Sundays, let alone shirts, stockin's, and
such like. But I've saved enough to buy
what is needful," said the good woman,
as they walked along, you must have
a pair of smarter boots, too"
| you'll be spendin' vast amount of
money on me, mother" said honest Joe,
more mindful of the drain upon the slen-
dertamily means than of the prospect of
| his grand new clothes. I'm thinkin' as
it will pinch you sore for yourself and
the little 'uns'
Never mind US, lad,' answered Mrs.
Peach, cheerfully; well do we'll enough,
But you must not go and forget on u.s."
| Forget you! no fear o. that" said Joe,
warmly. MAYBE as | might forget just
what you look like, though" he added,
with chuckle, for he had a scheme in
| his head, and this was the way of opening
it to his mother, and gaining her con-
sent.
81 don't think as I'll forget the look o.
you, Joe," she said, a little reproachfully'
pr1t I ,irht If
you," he persisted, "and | wouldna' like
that; so, mother, I've saved up shillin',
and | want you to come along VII me to
the likeness man, and have your pictur'
took"
"My pictur'! Why, what should an
old woman like me have her pictur' took
for?" cried Mrs. Peach, with laugh, but
by no means displeased for all that
"Why for me, to be sure!" said Joe.
"And you are not old, mother, and you
look handsome in your best plaided
shawl"
This argument had some weight. Mrs
Peach smoothed down the folds of her cot
ton gown, wishing il had been her "Sun-
day stuff" and thought to herself what
lucky thing it was that she put clean
cap under her black bonnet. But she
said:
81 rather have you took, lad, nor me-
Joe was cunning in his answer: NAY,
you won't forget the look o. me, you say,
so why should you want my pictur' ?"
"I'd like it too" she said.
"But there's on'y one shillin'," was the
reply, and it was conclusive; there was
| nothing further to be DONE
So, before the shopping was done, and
while yet the day was bright, the two
found themselves in the presence of Mr..
Jones, the photographer of the place, and
very shy they both felt as they made their
| wishes known. But Mr.. Jones was so
| kind and friendly, having taken fancy
| to the simple couple, that the shyness
wore off, and he soon knew as much
about his visitors as my readers have
learned from their talk upon the road.
you'll take me jist as am, sir" said
Mrs. Peach, resolving not to be fattered.
Joe would like me best so, wouldn't you,
Joel On'y, for sure, be vexed as
he didn't tell me afore we set off as he
wished me to be took, as then could have
put on my best gown"
"It's you and notyour gown as l wants."
said Joe; and Mr.. Jones saw the look of
affection with which the boy regarded his
mother, and set about the work before
him with more than his usual interest.
When he had done be turned to the lad
and asked, wouldn't your mother like
your likeness, too?"
AYE, that l would, sir;" cried Mrs.
Peach.
"On'y mothers spendin' all her money
fittin' of me out for my journey down to
uncle's," said joe
Come" Mr.. Jones said, "I'll tell you
what I'll do. You'll make a good subject
as we call it, and I'll take you for nothing,
I'll keep likeness of you for my window,
and you shall have another to give as a
parting present to your mother"
Joe colored and grinned. "Me in the
window, sir ?" he cried
Mrs. Peach, too, cast up her hands in
delight and surprise. "My Joe in the
window! Well, never! He's bonny face
enough, for sure. If only he'd his new
jacket an weskit ready"
II shouldn't like him in them half so
well. want him exactly as he is-round
hat, market basket and ALL" And Mr..
Jones settled the blushing lad in high
backed carved oak chair, and told him to
sit quite still for few moments.
The few moments produced wonders
indeed. Never was a likeness that gave
more satisfaction than JOe's. His mothers
was good, but his was even better. When
it appeared in Mr.. Jones' window manya
passer-by stopped to admire the rustic
figure and frank, happy, boyish face
AS for Mrs. Peach's own particular
copy, it was valued far more than any
thing she ever possessed; more than her
fine red tea-tray, or even than the glazed
picture Of the Queen in her robes and
crown, which had hitherto been the pride
Of the good woman's heart.
"My Joe's likely lad" she would say
to herself, gazing proudly at her new
property. There's not better nor hand
somer nor him anywhere. 1t would be
hard to forget the looks on him now.
And sure, the basket and boots are just
like natur' tool That Master Jones is
rael clever chap. But if it had ma been
for the dear lads wanting to have his old
mother took, I'd never have had this here
of himself''
Joe, on his side, often took out his
mothers likeness at his uncle's. give
got her after all, the good old mother.
And if | was to turn out bad boy I'd
be ashamed to look her in the face, I
would, though it's only her pictur'. I
wouldna like to see it. if I'd gone and
done aught wrong. And then she
wouldna care to look at nv pictur'
either."-Ch0tter6or
THICK, greasy hair should be well and
repeatedly washed, and dried by friction
with warm towels and by tanning. Do
not scrape the scalp with fine comb, but
gently remove the loose daudrIIfT with q