The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-01-11
PUSH AND PLUCK.

DC push an the lllllc WIN me II i m ever
going to amount to anything, and I'm
bound | willn'
Jim Brand drew as close as he could
to the little end window of the garnet in
which he slept, trying to catch the last
rays of light on his worn book,
ITS tussle' he presently eX-
claimed, looking of into a dark corner
of the room. with a face which showed
q mind hard at work over some knOtty
problem. eff ] only had some one to
show me bit! The words are all
straight enough -Pve got them pat, but
where the sense comes ms more than /
can see. The square of the hvpOthe-
muse of a right angle triangle is equal to
the squares of the other two Sides To
be sure, but how TO get at it is what
beats me"
Jim closed the book, one he had dip
ped into because he had exhausted
everything else within his reach. But
the expression OF full determination to
conquer some day what now badled him
was fixed on his bright homcly face
and seemed to extend to every stout
limb of his stubby frame The boys
sturdy resolve to obtain an education
grew and throve under what might be
considered great disadvantages, were it
not that it has been abundantly proven
best order of minds obstacles seem only
TO furnish stepping-stOnes TO higher sue
cess.
He lived with his widowed mother in
a small country village, and for the last
two years had worked for q farmer
hard work, poor pay and a scant taste
of schooling in the winter. His aspira-
tions now were for something better i'm
the way of instruction than the country
school afforded. -Four miles away, in
larger town. was a good teacher, and
Jim wanted now to stay at home, study
harder and recite TO this man, but how
to accomplish this he could not see, for
ne must still earn his living and help his
mother.
A tri-weekly mail was carried
through their village, it being off any
regular routes. The carrying OF this
had been offered 10 Jim and had cNcit-
cd him greatly, for the same road would
take him to the teacher he was anxious
TO reach, thus enabling him to Kill two
birds with one stone. But difficulties
were in the way. A scrubby pony had
been placed at his disposal for n very
low price his carefully boarded saw
ings would cover it-but its keep was a
serious matter. Jim had been cherish
ishing another pro ect for q year past
Last summer he i'm company with IN
Irish farm-l1borer had been driving an
empty hav-wagon along the road when
something appeared in the distance
which astonishcd both. 1t was surely
neither man, horse nor dog. 1t came
toward them with marvellous speed, and
as it drew near developed human, yet
inhuman, aspect which had something
frightGuly comical about It. The horses
grew restless at the mcanny sight, and
Jim sprang 10 their heads, while Pat,
fcrvcntly invoking the protection OF the
Virgin Mary and an untold number of
saints, showed his lack of faith in their
efforts in his behalf by Immediately
tumbling himself over the hedge. where
ne lay concealed.
AS the thing came near it ran to the
side OF the road opposite to which Jim
had turned his horses and there fell To
pieces, and while one part of IL leaned
against the fence, the other in the shape
oil a well-looking, bluc-nauuelcd boy,
ran toward Jim.
"Oh-did l frighten your horses9'
he cried, in tone OF frank polteuess.
''WeU, i m sorry. ought to have stopped
sooner but where I live the horses arc
getting used to them and I didn think.
Whoa, now-pOOr fellow patting
them, and the well-mcaning creatures
- looked an immediate recognition OF the
friendly voice and touch.
what have you got there"' asked
Jim, looking i'm great curiosity at the
thing leaning against the fence.
"A bicycle-havn' you seen any?
guess there are not very many about yet,
but my father amachire man and that $
how / came by the luck of getting one.
We're boarding at Farmer Merrivale' 5
down there and | can make the distance
out here i'm loss than no time. p This was
indefinite, but it was three miles, and
Jim had seen for himself how like u
thing of life the wonderful skeleton
steed moved. lie examined it with
thoughtful eyes.
81. Ii doesn't have to eat, does it?'
mo, said the boy, laughing, ''Only
little oil once i'm a while. -
But its cost was beyond that Of n
pony Jim watched in delight and
longing as 1t, with its owner, were
spinning down the road, while Pat crept
from his hiding place with many an cN-
clamation over the ''van-legged wheel
barry
From that hour Jim had never given
up the idea of possessing q bicycle,
and in dreams ha seen more than
one picture of himself flying over the
roads carrying on his back 4 bag of
mail-matter and a sachel of school
books.
Il think Tn 60 down to the State
Fair next week. mother
ITO the State Fair, Jimmy2' she said.
in surprise. lie did not often go on q
frolic
.'Yes, I'm going to try if can't make
little money there
e. How, my bOy?'
Pm told the fairgrounds arc more
than a mile out of the city. and that
there's always a great demand for teams
60 carry passengers to and from ID.
I've been talking to Deacon Granger,
and he's willing TO trust me with his
pair of gravs. and I'm gong to hire
brown bic new spring wagon. and l
believe l can make a good deal over
what I shall have To pay for team and
wagon
4? And their keep, and your own -?''
this mother and son were use TO very
close calculating.
Yes. | think / can do il.
He was on the alert for passengers
oo,Jv on the first morning of the fair.
Evbibitors only were arriving on that
Jav hut he founl plenty to DO among
tLGsa who desire the carriage of light
articles and fancy wares. On the sec
md dav the people came pouring in
80, al directions, and the accommo-
Jatino boy with the well-governed, light
eta,,,,inor Draws was in constant demand
I'LL third daV was brilliant in sunshine,
~ ~ and fairgrounds and the space
aI,, seemed alike overlooking