Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-11-13
JACK AND JILL.

1t was too funny for anything, but we
were married. 1t didn't concern the
world in the least, but it was matter
of no small amount to Jack and myself,
As we came out of the small box of a
parsonage, that we were actually man
and wife. DR.. Pitcher, the Lutheran
dominic, eyed us sharply as he came
into the cozy study. How well l re-
member that morning! The sunshine
fell across the window garden. with its
fragant flowers, and made golden spot
on the carpet just at Jacks feet. In
front of me was Beatrice Di Csnci, after
Guido, on the wall, and the sad, pathetic
face haunts me yet. 1t seemed to speak
to us, saying, "Children, you are SO
foolish!" DR.. Pitcher evidently thought
so too, for he was bachelor, and ques-
toned Jack quite awhile; but Jack was
manly and frank, and he had letter of
introduction from good old DR.. Clark,
who had known him from boy, and so
our dominic was satisfied.
1t was very solemn after all, the serv-
ing man and maid came in as witness
es, and / nudged Jack as they looked at
us i'm astonishment, as much as to say,
"What do these children want to COM
nit such foolishness for?" But we an
swered the questions, we took each 9TH
er's hand, the good doctor prayed so
tenderly, as if his own past had toned
his words, and went out into the sum
shine, past the gray church, one, to
climb the hill of life together.
Jack kissed me in the shadow of the
Tower, although told him he shouldn't
on the public street, and we turned our
faces toward home. Jack was twenty
and was sixteen; no wonder you grow
solemn and shake your heads, you older
ones, but believe the young folks will
envy us now, but not by and by, per-
haps, for life is a tough thing, and the
hill for Jack and Jill was no exception.
But we commenced to climb with light
hearts, we were strong and young, and
we loved each other. "Until death do
part" did not seem a very hard thing to
answer to from the DOCTORS lips.
We had four rooms to ourselves-a
little bird-house of tenement-kitchen,
par.or and two bedrooms; yet what in
the world we wanted of an extra bed
room one could hardly tell, as we were
both orphans in this western city, far
away from any one we knew.
We were alone in the world, we loved
each other, why not climb the steep hill
hand in hand? Jack worked in a great
Touring mill; his day began at seven
and closed at six; what nice long even
ings we had to study and read and
dream To be sure, Jack lad only forty
dollars month and we had many sums
in addition and subtraction to do to keep
out of debt, but he said | didn't grow
poor and my Dutch ancestors certain ly
would not have been ashamed Of me In
that regard. was accustomed to take
my hair down at night to please him
it was blonde, the color of gold-and he
called me the "Mermaid," so covered
was by the meshes of light. l was just
little proud of my hair, like a silly
child, and used to tell Jack jokingly,
| "If worst came to worst, L could sell
that for bread" One evening our land
lord came in just as / had allowed the
last coil to fall. He inquired Of Jack il
l was younger sister. "My wife, Mr.
Lane" said Jack, smiling. / thought
1t too bad that looked so young, but
nv cheeks would be red, and l was
plump as partridge.
But that first year sobered us little
we found Fate was no sentimentallsti
and hard facts must be faced and con-
quered, if possible. l looked after the
house, did the marketing, and planned
to see how far twenty dollars month
would go in providing our food. The
first month l spent thirty, which made
Jack look sober, but the next month
did better, until, finally, was able with
ease to do what desired. Jack and
were determined to lay by something II
we went hungry; we had dreams fol
the future, which We hardly breathed tt
each other. OF course We did not live
in very ample style; pastry and cake
were not always on our table. l kept al
few things until could do them well
Jack was patient, 1 had a good cool
book, was blessed with common sense
and kept bravely at it.
Perhaps you are quite tired OF all thi
recital, but Jack and lived il all, will
hearty faith in God and each other. W.
had Sut little, but from that little w
extracted every ounce of happiness.
had small library from my father, ant
when the curtains were dropped, tn
stand drawn out and the lamp lighted
our STUDENT" the one luxury We in
dulged in-the little kitchen was not
place to be despised by people like US
We read aloud in turn, dictionary o.
the table for reference, and an encyclC
padia in one volume, which we prize
very highly. We found the readin