Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-07-02

the way OF all the eartn, ana MIS-. ATnolu
still lived in the little house and contin-
ued to do SO up to the present, which
brings US to the time when James Henry
bought his jack knife.
| The first few weeks after his new ac-
| QUESTION, the only result was great piles
| of shavings, and his mother said she
| never had SO easy time keeping nres.
| Ere long, however, his devotion to his
| knife precluded every employment, and
| Mrs. Arnold mentally wished he was not
| so handy He was the veriest Ounce that
ever vexed a teacher; but as he gratui-
tously furnished the scholars with tops,
| water-wheels and pointers he was in high
| favor with them. Impervious alike to
| coaxing and ridicule, he seemed perfectly
contented to be forever at the foot of his
| class, so long as little Kate Williams
stood at the head Kate was just six
years old when James Henry was ten,
and as she was good scholar, and the
daughter of the village lawyer, she was
held up to the scholars as a pattern of
| excellence She was sensible and not
easily spoiled, and in those days evinced
strong preference for James Henry
| over all the others, not even excepting
George Clifford, which continued even
after he was in Latin and algebra, and
| James was stumbling through geography;
and James Henry felt little short OF idol
| airy for Kate.
But the time came when tops and dolls
! bedsteads and rides on sled would not
| comfort her; when she went to the Acad-
envy and was escorted home from lyceums
and singing schools by George Clifford
for what girl of sixteen is regardless of
beaus and moonlight?
As for James Henry, he was the Cock
| ney's ideal of Yankee. Tall, lank,
light haired, shrewd-eyed, simple and
laxative; when he stood leaning up
against wood pile whiting, you would
| exclaim: GA live Yankee" Strange that
this is the recognized type, when in real
| ity it is the exception. The rule follows
after youths of George Clifford's style.
Meanwhile James Henry was not idle.
| He had fixed up the old churn so that
it worked like charm; the Widow Ar
| mold said the old clock had found a voice
and licked regularly and loudly in the
corner, and on clear afternoon the
passers-by could hear mysterious noises
| in the attic where James Henry was
working at some machinery of his own
The neighbors shook their heads and
calculated: "Jest like his father, shift
morn he did Coin on twenty-one, and
layin' round for his mother to wait on"
Kate had kindly feeling for her old
schoolmate and.was sorry to hear Of his
shiftlessness, and she decided when she
had an opportunity to talk with him in
| friendly way and endeavor to make him
understand that it would be much better
to undertake some steady employment
than to follow the bent of his cratic
fancy.
One day returning from the village she
passed Mrs Arnold's house and paused
| to note it's appearance, which was not
one whit improved, but as unkempt and
dilapidated as is suitable for the
| abode of genius. Kate gave little sniff
of contempt at the black walls and the
flying shingles just as James Henry came
to the door He no sooner saw her than
he called out: How dye do, Kate?"
"Good morning, Mr.. Arnold" replied
Kate.
He appeared disconnected for mo-
ment, and said deprecatingly:
IL hope hain't put you out, nor
nothin'."
Certainly not" she answered freez-
ingly.
II should feel powerful sorry if I had !;
but wait jest minute"-and he vanished
| into the house.
Kate was vexed at his assurance, as
she was pleased to call it, and walked
on, determining not to wait, but, curiosity
becoming stronger than pride, after few
steps she paused just as James Henry
came running breathlessly toward her
holding something 10 his hand.
| "There, Kate" he said, and blush
| h;o fora phila hiS foil la pl
form twisted about awkwardly +" made
| it for we some little spell ago, but hain't
| had no chance afore to gin it to ye."
When he was embarrassed he talked
the vernacular in way to make an ETY.
mologist's hair stand on end with frenzy,
but Kate did not notice it, her attention
was fixed upon the work-box, dainty and
| delicate enough for princess. On the
corner was bunch of grapes with leaves
and tendrils, so exquisitely natural as to
| deceive one, particularly as they were
stained rich purple and dark green,
while the whole was beautifully pol
ished. Delicate carvings of network
and flowers adorned its sides and the tiny
compartments. No wonder Hates eyes
glistened with pleasure.
"Why, James, is it possible that you
made this? 1t is perfectly lovely"
Girls say perfectly lovely when look
ing at sunset, eating an ice-cream or
describing picnic, and Kate felt hardly
satisfied with the words, but James
Henry was delighted Perfectly lovely;
yes, and so was Kate, with the bright
| flush upon her cheeks and the pleasant
sparkle in her eyes.
II am real glad you like it," he said;
Il whitfield out your name on the side
| there. You haven't noticed it, guess"
| He could not account for the change in
her expression. The mouth drew down
| into a scornful curve, the forehead took
On wrinkle, and her eyes were ready to
| overflow with vexation. There 1T was,
| scorn, anger and sorrow. What could it
meang
"Ain't the letters pretty? liked them
best of all That c."
"That C!' she repeated scornfully.
"C-a-t-el Did you think that was the
way to spell my namey"
| "Oh! is that all?" he exclaimed. II
was afraid you didn't like the way made
'em"
He could not have said with Shakes
| paara - What's in Manner Tor TO him