The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-08-30
= GREAT FOOL4


moreover, he looked Ike bis name,
or Ike the image which the sound of
his name, in q musical ear, would
call up ia the mind For Johns
should be strong, and quiet, and true,
and John Holt was al Of these. Also,
The name indicates that this John
was DOT given to super!luous orna-
ment either of his person or manner
Physically be was SO well proper
toned that his weight could scarcely
be guessed, and 30 broad shouldered
that you had to set him beside anoth
er man Ia order to realize bis superior
height. His skin was fair and bis ewes
blue, but the hair, which had been
tow-colored in bis childhood, had
deepened to brown. Ordinary per-
sons would call bin goOd-luoking
rather than handsome, but a close OBJ
server would pronounce his profile
perfect, and his mouth and chin mod
els OF firm and symmetrical chiseling.
The brows were straight and strong,
though smooth; and bis not very high
forehead was broad and open. Al
together, i, was such a face as would
look well carved in granite, and had
in life, indeed, & somewhat granite
look; for John Hollis face was not
one of those which are called express
sive, but were, il repose, pretty near
ly always the same look.
Such faces are not mobile, nor are
they intended to be. You do not ex-
pect the trag to sway in the breeze
that moves tho locust boughs. \
pleasant smile, pleasant light in the
blue eyes, soltened any appearance
ofste9nness which strangers might
have iancied they saw in him. His
friends and acquaintance did not
need any such gentle assurance. To
,hem JOHN Holt's characteristics were
u womanish gentleness, a most mar
ve!ous and absurd honesty, and a pa
tieBce which, to them, locked only
too much like cowardice. In his
family John was called great fool.
Outsiders sometimes applied the same
epthet, but not in bis hearing.
Johns father had died when the
lad was bat ten years old, and left
his wife to bring up her family of FIVE
children and manage the farm. She
was perfectly capable Of doing it, and
even wary business men were on
their guard when making bargain
with the sharp Yankee matron. -Four
of her children followed in her foot
steps, and knew perfectly well which
was the best end Of bargain; but
John-weil, if he was fool it was
not because she had not warned and
talked TO MIN
But, boy or man, he possessed his
soul 10 patience, and was even sur
prised ii the pet name was withheld.
IL rung in his ears from childhood.
When be stood up in school, and un-
flinchingiy took a thrashing that be-
Ionced 10 another boy, just because
he had promised that boy not to tell
on him: when be lent his new skates
and stood f0giorn on the borders Of
the pond, while the other boys skim
med the ice on his runners; when he
gave his bright uew quarter to a
whining beggar boy who forthwith
invested il in beer and cigars; when
be listened with round, honest eyes
20 every absurd story that was told
him; and believed every word; or
each and every oHe Of these occasions,
the pet name was lavishly applied in
chorus
Once the lad came near redeemiDg
his character. a boy half a head
taller than himself had been teasing
little Nell Cramer, and, a: last, push
ed her down in the snow, the children 4
being on their way home from school /
John Gew at the COY ike tiger, and,
in spite of his superior size gave MIN
a sound beating. This looked Ike
pluck, certainly; but, then, Tom Clyde /
belonged to one of the richest fami-
lies III low IL aIu datrE tbt cSdLliiS lie
got. they went no more for a long
time to Mrs. Holt's and were indig-
nant that John was hot sent TO beg
Tom 5 pardon. Besides, Nell Cfa-
mer's people were not much of any
thing. and it is never worth while TO
offend a lion for the sake of serving a
mouse, though the little creature 5
eyes be brighter than the stars of
heaven. Nellie's little starry eyes
winked out at John askance through
a veil Of tangled curls, and she kept
very near his elbow as he walked
pantiug homeward after mis- triumph
John did not grow wiser as be
grew older, anu took upon himself
the cares Of life. Mrs. Holt bad a
large and valuable farm just on the
borders of ihe town. Streets had
crept gradually about her fields, and