Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-01-12
PUSH AND PLUCK.

'Push-push-push! Yes, it's got to
be push all the time with me if L m ever
going to amount to anything, and I'm
bound willr'
Jim Brand drew as close as he could
to the little end window of the garnet in
which he slept. trying 60 catch the last
rays of light on his worn book.
'lt's tussler he presently ex-
claimed. looking or into n dark corner
OF the room, with face which showed
n mind hard ut work over some knotty
problem. "If ] only had some one to
show me bit! The words are all
straight enough I've got them pat. but
where the sense comes in more than /
can see. The square OF the hypothe-
nus of n right angle triangle is equal to
the squares of the other two Sides To
be sure but how To- get ut ii 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 o full determination to
conquer some Jay what now bail ed him
was liked on his bright, homely 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 m ght be
considc cd great disadvantages were it
not that IL has been abundantly proven
by many b illiant examples that to the
best order of IN nds obstacles seem only
to furnish stepping-stones to higher sue
cess.
lie lived with his widowed mother in
small country village. and for the last
NNur.. 4
hard work. poor pay and n scant taste
OF schooling in the winter. His aspira-
tons now were for something better in
the way of instruction than the country
school n 'ordcd. Four miles away, in a
larger town was n good teacher. and
Jim wanted now to stay at home. study
harder and recite To- this man, but how
10 accomplish this he could not see, Tor
he must still earn his living and help his
mother.
A tri-weekly mail was carried
thro 9Th their village. il bejng off any
regular routes. The carrying OF this
had been offered TO i'm and had excit-
ed him greatly, Tor the same road would
take II IN to the tea her he was anxious
to reach, thus enabl ng him to kill two
birds with one stone. But diflicu ties
were in the way. A scrubby pony had
been placed ut his. disposal for very
low price his carefully boarded saw
iDgs would cover it-but its keep was a
serious matter. Jim had been cherish
ish M another pro ect for year past.
Last sum uer he. in company with an
Irish larm-laborer. had been driving an
EN- ty hay wagon along the road when
something appeared in the distance
which astonished both. 1t was surely
neither man. no SO nor dog. Ii came
toward them with marvellous speed. and
rs IL drew near developed human. vet
inhuman, aspect which had something
frighttuly cOmical about il. The horses
grew restless ut the uncanny sight, and
Jim sprang TO their heads. while Pat,
fcrvently invo ing the protect on of the
Virgin Mary and an untold number of
saints, showed his lack of faith i'm their
efforts in his behalf by immediately
tumbling himself over the hedge. where
he lay concealed.
a. the thing came near it ran to the
side o! 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
o q well-looking. blue-tlanneled boy.
ran toward Jim.
"Oh-did / brighten your horsesop
no cried in tone OF frank pOlteness.
''Well, m sorry. ought to have stopped
sooner. but where | 1--we the horses are
getting used to them and didn' think.
Whoa nOw-pOOr fellow" patting
them. and the well-meaning creatures
looked an immediate iecognition of the
friendly voice and touch.
what have you got there% asked
jim, looking in great curiosity at the
thing lean NJ against the fence.
4 "A bicycle-havn't you seen anyP /
kguess there are not very many about vet,
but my fathers n machine man and hat 5
lhow came by the luck of getting one
rWe're boarding at Farfner Merrivale' 8
down there and can make the distance
out here in loss than no time" This was
IN iehnite, but il was three miles. end
jim had seen for himself how Ii a
thing of lie the wonderful skeleton
steed mo Ell lie examined il with
thoughtful eyes.
II dOesn have to eat. does it?"
No. said the boy, laughing, .Only
alittle oil once in n while.5
But its cost was beyond that of a
pony, Jim watched in delight and
longing as it, with its owner, were
spinning down the road. while Pat crept
from his hiding place with many an ex-
clamauoplbver the "wan-legged wheel
barry.f easIttt tHtF
From thashour Jim hadinsvSr given
up the idea of possessing bicycle,
and in dreams hal seen more than
one picture Of himself flying lover the
roads carry ng on -his-back bag of
Matchmaker and a sachel of school,
Il think ~rlTgo down to the State
Fair'next week, mother