The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-02-27

quite make out the writing, for with all
his Opportunities" as our worthy
principal designated his vicinage to
wisdom ard learning in the capacity of
shoeblack, the lad was unable to de-
cipher manuscript hadn't the pa
tience," he declared.
Jennie Smith read the letter for him
amid the general applause. Justice and
righteousness had triumphed, it ap-
peared, and Amanda Liza had proved
herself q Irregular brick" as Jennie,
with beaming eyes, observed, handing
back the precious scrap of paper to
Jake, who carefully wrapped it in his
ragged handkerchief. The letter con-
tanned q brief invitation to the lad, urg-
ing him to come and see his old friend
"a day was appointed tor the visit, and
the street and number where she was to
be found we're written out in o school
girl hand. A fashionable and wealthy
quarter of the city where Jake was not
likely to be very familiar.
Jake set himself to work without loss
of time, about backing his boots, albeit
the appointed day was somewhat abont
a week ahead. But it would take a deal
of fixing, he explained confidentially, to
get ready, and he hadn't much to fix
with. Jake's normal condition was not
that of a dandy, certainly. He could
only, as o general thing, be lured by the
prospect of drive to red himself up"
as Mrs. Squimps said. To be ragged
and let alone was his heaven. But this
time he arose to the greatness Of the
occasion he brushed and secured,
washed out his sole white shirt, busted
and Strengthened his battered old hat,
and mended his trousers.
Deeply interested in Jake's fortunes,
we watched the proceedings.
"But, Jake" said Jenny Smith, one
day, "what are you going to do for a
coatP" -.
Unhappy suggestion! Jake looked
aghast. He hadn't thought of that.
Certainly he couldn't make his appear
ance IN that overgrown coachman's rig,
in which he was won't to illustrate the
academical responsibility on the road.
And he had nothing else. No necessity
had ever before developed itself for any
thing save shirt sleeves and q wooden
jacket.
An awful pause came over our delib-
erations for Jake. Miss Smith whis-
tied, and finally suggested her water
proof-we were all ready to fling ours
at his - Jake couldn'tg go mufied
like an Italian brigand. He shook his
head.
Night closed without any solution of
the difficulty; but we trusted that some
how the lads quick wit would find o way
out Of il.
The next morning, however, a new
turned Il from the contem-
Of Jake's disasters. The house
had been robbed. We were all terribly
scared, and Squimps was in q fever Of
and wrath. His coat-his
best beloved blue-black coat, in which
he was wont to dignity trustee meet
ings, ornament his pew on a Sunday,
and pay visits of state to his patrons
his coat had been stolen. His coat, a
man so devoted to the interests of edu-
cation that he scarcely had time to go
to the ~tailor's ; to think that an un-
grateful, inappreciative, Idle world
should have permitted him to be rob-
He raved, he stormed, he threat
ened vengeance, he lectured us on the
Of the times, and forgot our
Latin.
Vague forebodings of lurking assas-
sins, masked robbers, and frequent Skin
into the wardrobe and dormitor-
.es about this time kept us all in a ner-
furry, to the exclusion of all
of Jake. But late one twilight
afternoon, aswe sat huddled in the win
lows of the long school-room. waiting
he supper-beu, we saw him issue
rom the outhouse. Oh, horror Oh,
,pparition of terror! For with its tails
nearly touching the ground, his long
overlapping his hands, Jake
Tore without q doubt the missing coat,
boldly marching in his stolen finery
Town towards the road in sight Of
Is all.
In sight of sharpereyes, too, it seemed,
or not far from the house Squimps
pounced upon him.
Poor, kind, light-hearted Jake We
leld our breath that day and the next,
or Jake had been marched of to prison,
md Squimps' eloquence and morality
we're in full flow. He said o longer
race than ever at dinner, and we were
III glad when, hungrily cycling the
'canty board, we heard the visitors bell
ummon him to the psrlor. I think we
we're in better appetite than usual that
lay, and we left little behind us for our
Mentor as We filed up stairs towards the
Passing the parlor door,
here rushed out upon us a little figure
n a trailing silk dress and bonnet full
# nodding French flowers. 1t was
Amanda Liza.
sob, girls p she cried, Historically,
with an apparent desire to
embrace the whole troop. Poor
lake p |