The National tribune., 1883-03-08
TIE WRONG COAT,
An Involuntary Contribution and What
Came of It.
IBy Rose Terry Cooke.l
/" Firel Fire ~

of his cotbed in the loft and instinctively
hurried on his trousers. His fathers head
rose above the ladder, ust as he shuifted on
his shoes, shouting: Hurry up, tell We!
woods afre! COMM this way quicker'n scat!"
Jack scrambled down the ladder without
stopping for his Jacket He knew what the news
mcant-he had heard about forest fires before.
His father had always thought that the creek
which ran in front of their house would guard
them, but now the air was dark with smoke,
and he could hear the roar and crash of the
forest falling before its mighty foe, while
sharp gusts Of wind swept ashes far and wide
over the grain fields of the farm. But the fire
was still on the other side of that slow, narrow
stream: could it, would it keep the enemy
from their house and barns?
1t would not do to run the risk. Jack at
word went off to harness the horses. and put
them to the big wagon, while his father helped
his mother to gather few wraps and valuables
together, and dress the frightened, screaming
baby.
When the Parrys moved to Michigan Grandpa
Dibble, who always objected to everything,
said to his sOn-in.l law:
but how'll We edicate the children, John?"
az don't know, Father" said John Parry.
Sary III teach I'M to read an write. prob'ly,
and I'll insure they'll learn to mind an be
honest. I take it that these two things will
have to underlay any cdcation that's good for
shucks: we must risk the rest"
Obedience and honesty Jack had indeed
been thoroughly taught. He had never har-
messed the horses alone before, but at his
fathers order he went to work manfully, and
was all ready when the others came to the
house door.
ooh, Jack no coat on?" said the delicate,
trembling little mother
Cant stop for it now" said John Parry.
It's life or death, Sary! There goes big
white-wood smash across the crick! Run the
critters, ,Jack-the fires after us "
In another moment they were beyond the
house, but not an instant too soon, for burn
ing branch, whirled on by the fierce wind,
swept through the air and lit on the roof,
which blazed like paper beneath it.
Jack lashcd the terrified horses into a run,
while his father, on the back seat held the
sick baby in one arm, and put the other about
his wife to steady her.
The air grew heavier and hotter; the roads
| were rough, the wagon springs hard. Blinded
with smoke and frightened at the nearing
roar Of storm and flame, the horses flew
on beyond the power of any guiding hand
There was a sudden lurch the wheels tilted on
q log by the waysidc, and the back seat pitched
out behind, with all its occupants! Jack clung
to the reinS instinctiyely, but he could no more
stop the horses than he could arrest the whirl
wind and fire behind him. Father mother
sister, all We're tossed into the track of the
fire like dry leaves, and never again did he
see one of them. Their fate was certain he
could only hopesit had been sudden and sure
death.
Carried on byf force he could not control or
resist, Jack whirled along the flames nearing
him every m0ment TILL lust rs he felt their
hot breath on his neck, the maddened horses
reached the lake shore, and plunged headlong
into its waters. But he at least was safe, for
| the shock threw him out on tho sand.
Poor Jacki In the morning he was a hearty,
happy boy asleep in a good home; at night a
homeless, penniless orphan, with scarce clothes
to cover him. Days passed over his head in a
sort of blank misery. A few others, escaped
also from the devouring flames, shared with
him their scanty food; kindly woman gave
him an old woDIen sack she i'll knew how to
spare to cover his ragged shirt, and he found n
pair of India-rubbers lying on the shore, which
| concealed his worn shoes; but more desolate,
helpless creature than the poor boy can hardly
| be imagined.
! After a week or two, he begged his way to
| Pompo-a settlement farther up the lake, which
| had not been touched by the great fire-and
heard there that good people at the East had
sent on clothes to be distributed among those
! who had lost theirs. He soon got chance to
ride over on a lumber-wagon, to the nearest
| place where these things were given out-a
| town ten miles beyond Pompo-and there the
agent gave him couple of shirts, a warm vest,
| pair of balf-worn black trousers, and very
! good coat of mixed cloth, that until then had
| proved too small for the men who had applied
for clothes. But as Jack was fifteen, and large
for his age it just fitted him, and once more
clothed neat and clean, he went back TO POmpo
where he had found place to work on a farm
| happier than he had been for a long time.
1t was night when he returned to the farm,
and quite bedtime; so he ate some bread and
milk Mrs. Smith had saved for him. and went
up to his garrct chamber. As he took off his
new coat to hang it up, with boys curiosity
he explored all its pockets In one he found a
halfsoilcd handkerchief, just as if the owner
had taken the coat down from the closet peg
and sent it off without thought, for the gar
ment was almost new. But underneath the
andkerchief lying loose in the bottom Of the
pocket, were two twenty-dollar bills!
! Jacks heart gave great bound here was
| windfall indeed and he began to think what he
| should do with his small fortune. But perhaps
there was something else in the other pocket
yes, here was "a letter directed, sealed. and
| stamped, all ready to mail and in d small in
| ner ast-pOcket he found three horse car
| tickets, a cigarette, and three-cent piece. In
| the other breast-pOcket were a gray kid glove,
and n card with a name, :" James Agard, Jr."
! He looked at the letter again; on one corner
! was printed Return to James Agard Il Co.,
| Decrford, Conn, if not delivered in ten days"
Jack was not dull boy, and it flashed across
! him at once that this coat had been put into
| the box by mistake; it must have belonged to
| James Agard, Jr. He looked again at the
! handkerchief, and found that name on the
| corner.
What should he do? The coat had been
| given to him-why not keep it? He sat down
! on his bed to think His short end of tallow
candle had gone out but the late risen moon
poured food of mellow light through his
window and seemed to look him in the face.
While he thinks the thing out at the West, let
| us take up the Eastern end of the story
Just three days after the great fires. certain
! prompt young people in New England church
congregation came together in the parlors of
that church to receive and pack clothing for
the burnt-out sufferers; and for n week con-
! tributions poured in upon them, and gave them
work for both head and hands. Into this busy
crowd one day hurried a slight, active young
man, dressed in o gray business suit.
"HalIo!" he called out, cheerily. "Pve
come to help the Old-clo' boxes along. Give
me work at once, Mrs. Brooks-any thing but
sewing"
Mrs. Brooks laughed
"Can you pack barrel, Mr Agardf"
"Yes, indeed Just pile on the things" and
he went to work with an alacrity that showed
| he knew how to do his work This energetic
little man packed more than one barrel before
| night, and in order to work better threw his
coat aside as the rooms were warm. When
evening came, he drew himself up with a laugh
exclaiming: y ai
"There! can go,West, young man. and
earn my living ~ a pork packer, if you'll only
| recommend me- Mrs. Brooks"
"That | WilIH said She land others too