The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-12-13

to school every term for three years. He
studied evenings, and all the time wher
not at work, during vacations. BY
incesssut devotion to his books through
those three years, he was able to master
all the textbooks used in that institu
ton. For the last two terms of hii
course. he was a member Of Jennie.
classes. He graduated when she did
and, in most of their joint studies, wa;
marked several points above her.
How did Jim think he came out
Going home with Jennie that last day,
after school had closed, he repeated the
words Mr.. Long had spoken three years
before: "Y'aint nowhere side Nv her"
and thought they were truer now than
ever.
Had the want ter git ter know
which he began, given place to want"
ess likely to be satisfied q?
"a Il !. 4aaaiez had =hee@..<lEsare. thsts ter
own views concerning the result OF ineir
rivalry-if it was such-coincided With
Jim's she probably weuld not haveexN
pressed herself as she did to her mother,
that evening, when the two were alsne'
II suppose" said she, che thinksrhe's 5
done wonderful thing; but I don't II
had studied and studied and studied
as he has. should have been far ahead
ofthe great. great giant. But of course
1 don't care a fig about it, mamma"
Whether Jennie's remarks indicated
happy frame of mind or not, might be =
question. But without question she
used a happy word when she spoke OF
Jim as a giant, for he was a mighty
youth. Jennie was really petite. She
knew it; but it did not trouble her that
those girls who were familiar with her
called her Little Jennie Long"
Jim knew that he was of great stature
for his age; and was little sensitive on
that point I don't think he fancied
being called "Big jim And it may
have been his aversion to that name
that accounted partly for his blushing so
deeply one morning. of his last term, when
he had taken his seat at the opening Of
school Some mischievous youth had
written stanza on the black board
which was on the wall which faced the
seats-and written in such a large hand |
that every scholar could read it from |
where he sat This is a copy of the lofty |
verse that the teacher hastened to erase
as soon as she discovered what the
scholars were laughing at;
'' But one dares write what every ore know
Thst several lit le fsllers fret,
Because chance they never get
To talk and walk with Jennie Long.
Who hinders them7 Big Jim-the strong
He comes with her; and with her goes;
And thinks she wants him to, s'pose !
When Jim's eye caught that, his face /
turned very red, as red ss-Jennie's.
The youth that wrote that poem /,
dared" to write il; but he did not dare
o make himself known.
Of course it was nothing but 'boE
lay" but Jim felt that he was 4
nough to being man to look at it fIorfS
mans standpoint. And looking at it
n that light, he thought it proper to tell
ennie that night when they went home /.
hat he was very sorry that some mean /.
elbow had annoyed her in such way;
hat he would find sout the puppy who
Trote the stuff and give him a sound
hrashing.
But Jennie, to the surprise of Jim,
Ould not see wherein she had been in.
lred to an extent that demand auy such
purse as he proposed to take. And she
issuaded him from his sanguinary pur-
ose. Not easily, however, but by
rguments made in an earnest manner
nd urged more and more strongly, until
e was conquered.
Without meaning it, perphsps, Jennie
i'd some things, before they reached
er fathers door that were calculated to
islead Jim, as to the place he occupied
/ her thoughts. 1t was nothing posi-
vely encouraging,I but something that
sme nearer to being that than anything
lie had ever before said to him. OF
,urze it must have been uninteutional,
II nothing in that line was repeated
uring their walks to and from school
lie remainder of the term. And when
le term closed, as was said before, Jim
1t that she was farther from him than
yer. He saw with the clearness of vision
lat is characteristic of young men in
is state of mind, the hOpelessness of any
tempt to make himself her equal in
ny respect, and then acted as youth in
is circumstances usually does. He in
ended to remain with Mr.. Long until he
as of age, for he knew he could be OF
reat service to the farmer in the two
ears that intervened between the pre-
mt and that time. And he wished to
epay the latter for his kindness to him.
For the first few months of those two
vears, he was apparently quite self
ossessed in his association with Jennie.
Sut that is all that can be said TO his
redit He broke down-utterly sue
umbed-before six months had passed,
roposed and-told Jennie he did not
lame her for not caring for him, and
oped she would forgive him for offering
uch a poor creature as himself to one
Ike her; that he could not help it; that
e felt he must know what he was to
er, and now be did know.
Jim had discovered Jennie the even
ng when he asked that question, sitting
n bench under the great maple, back
f the house. There she left him, and
vent into the house and there for a long
ime he remained after she had gone sit
ing in her place, with q sensation at his
leart unlike anything he had ever be-
ore experienced. Not contented to
ct "well enough" alone, he had gone
rom the negative comfort of conjecture
nto the positive pain of certainty.
The next morning he entered upon his
abors with less encouragement than
Jacob did upon his, after Laban's second
promise. Less by as much as refusal
s less than promise.
And Jennie? If her nights rest had
been less sweet and refreshing than usual
he showed no signs of it. She appeared