Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-08-29
JACK.

II don't know about sending such
hardened little chap as he Is"
THAT is the kind that need to CO."
"But what if nobody'll take him2"
"Then I'll bring him back" :.
So said the superintendent of one of
the earliest companies of children sent
out by the fresh-air fund, and so it came
that Jack joined the eager little crowd
drawn from alley and slum of the great
city.
'He is tough one," said the super
intendent to himself, watching Jack as
he half carelessIy, half wilfully tripped
up one OF two smaller boys in the rush
which came when they were leaving the
steamboat in order to take the cars.
''He don't look like the right sort"
said one or two farmers.
If they were the right sort they
wouldn't need our help, " said pleasant
faced woman who sat in a spring wagon.
'Put him in here, please. Come, my
boy, will you go home with me3"
Jack climbed into the wagon, but
made little answer to the kindly attempts
to draw him into conversation. His
eyes were never raised toward her as he
rode along in dogged silence, and Mrs.
Lynn began to conclude that she had
taken hold of very hard case indeed.
But it was quickly seen that there
were some things which Jack loved Be-
fore night he had made friends with
horses, cows, chickens, ducks, geese and
cats, and lying under tree in rapt ad.
miration 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
pail of salt into his hand, and they
walked up little glen, then up steep
hill, when she called
Nan, nan, man, 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 line of soft look
ingwhite things.
What's their names2" he cried, in
great interest.
"Sheep. There are 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 a 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.
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 he held out to them. The boys face
seemed transformed as Mrs Lynn got her
first full glance at his eyes, and wondered
at them. They were large and clear and
soft as he laid his hands lovingly on the
)eads 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 | will
bind up its poor foot"
I1G ulu 80, anu WHICH ne carried III DaCK
to the flock he remained all day, only
going to the house when called to dinner
by the sound of the conchshell. And
every day afterward the most of his time
was spent on the breezy hill side per-
haps taking in the beauties of valley and
stream and woodland which lay below,
but finding his fill of enjoyment in the
sheep. He was little seen at the house,
seeming not to care for any human soci-
ETY., but he took long walks at his will,
from which he once brought home bird
with broken wing, and again stray
starved kitten, both of which he carefully
.snded
Hear him" said Mrs Lynn, one day,
when she had gone out into the meadow
where her husband was at work. 81 be-
beve he knows every sheep there"
Jacks voice came ringing down the
hill,