The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-10-01
JACK.


ft'T don't know about sending such a
h9rdened little chap as he ls
That is the kind that need to CO."
But what ifnobody'll take him"
Then I'll bring him back"
80 said the superintendent of one of
fhc earliest companies of children sent
but by the fresh-air fund, and so it came
1bat Jack joined the eager little crowd
1rawn from alley and slum of the great
e;ty.
He is tough one" said the super
intendent to himself, watching Jack as
BE. half carelessIy, half wilfully tripped
up one or two smaller boys in the'rusk
which came when they were leaving the
Steamboat in order to take the cars.
lie don't look like the right sort, "
aid one or two farmers.
f they were the right sort they
nSuldn't need our help" said pleasant
laced woman who sat in spring wagon.
''Put him in here, please. Come, my
boy, will you go home with me2n
Jack climbed into the wagon, but
made little answer to the kindly attempts
70 draw him into conversation. His
eyes were never raised toward her as he
trode along in dogged silence, and Mrs.
Lynn began to conclude that she had
fnken hold of a very hard case indeed.
But it was quickly seen that there
Nore some Things which Jack loved. Be
ofc night he had made friends with
I@rses, cows, chickens, ducks, geese and
|'s, and lying under "a tree in rspt adj.
plfation of pert jay which chartered
Above him, and almost succeeded in
coaxing it to light on his finger.
Come with me, and I'll show you
Something MORE" said Mrs. Lynn, the
next morning after breakfast. She put
a pail of salt into his hand, and they
walked up little glen, then up a steep
hill, when she called:
:" Nan, nan, nan, nan, nan, nan-come
nan, come, nan; come, my pretties
come, my pretties.
A quiet little pattering was heard, and
down along the path which led higher
up Jack saw coming a line of soft look
ing white things.
What's their names2" he cried, in
great interest.
'"Sheep. There are a great many more
up over the top of the hill, but they
don't know me very well, so they don't
come. We must go further.
Higher up they went to where sunny
pasture sloped more gently down the
other side, and there were hundreds of
the pretty creatures nipping the short
grass or lying under the trees. They
looked at the strangers with shy, gentle
eyes, but gathered near as Mrs. Lynn
repeated her call
q Jack laughed and whooped and rolled
on the ground in the excess of his de-
light at first frightening them away.
But he was soon. in among them, winning
them by his coaXing tones to taste the
salt ne held out to them. The boys face
seemed transformed as Mrs Lynn got her
first full glance at his eyes, and wondered
at them. ThSy were laFge and clear and
soft as he laid his hands lovingly on the
heads of some half-grown lambs, and
presently tenderly lifted one which
seemed little lame
''You may take that one. to the house, if
you like" said Mrs. Lynn, "and l will
bind up its poor foot, -
lie did so. and when he carried il back
n the flock he remained all day, only
foing to the house when called to dinner
RE the sound of the conch.shell And
tFery day afterward the most Of his time
tas spent on the breezy hillside, per-