News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-02-11
JAKE, THE COWBOY.
BY BELLE C. GREENE.

1t was cold, uncomfortable day. The
wind blew in gusts down the chin
ney of our little school-house, putting
Gut the fire and making the question of
| keeping warm hopeless one.
The half-naked children huddled
about the stove and patiently conned
their lessons. Poor things, they were so
used to cold and suffering, that even the
dreary school-house was comfort COM
pared to their miserable homes!
missed my big boy, Jake If he
were only here, could send him to the
woods for fuel. He was always our de-
pendence in a cold or rainy day. He
had wonderful luck with the rickety old
stove, and could make the fire burn when
nobody else could
Jake was my favorite scholar He was
only rough cowboy, and had borne
terrible reputation, but he always be-
haved himself in school, and was so kind
and helpful, that l had come to rely
upon him as my right hand man.
On the day L opened my school he
came to me, and, tucking an enormous
quid of tobacco away in his cheek, said
awkwardly, II wan'ter jine your school.
| amt nothin' but 4 cowboy, but I've
tux notion lately ter learn to read. I
reckon l should like to know how to
read, " he added, with wistful glance
into my face.
His evident earnestness and his sim
plicity touched me, and l answered cor
daily, II shall be glad to have you
come, and have no doubt you will learn
to read very fast will do all | can for
you, and you must help me. We will
help each other" :"
He seemed embarrassed; dropped his
eyes, shifted his quid, then spat dextrous-
ly into corner of the room, and wiped his
lips on the back of one great hand
Il reckon you hain't never hearn O.
me" he said, finally, with an uneasy
laugh. Il amt ginerally counted much
good round here"
"But wouldn't wonder, " he continued.
looking me over with the air of a con-
noissur about to bargain for pup or
horse. II wouldn't wonder now, if you'n
me tux to one another, teacher"
Il think we shall, -" said, good ma
turedly, land you look as if you might
be friend worth having, if you chose -
He was a noble, great fellow, fully six
feet tall, with limbs like the trunks Of
trees, and the haad and shoulders of a
young Hercules.
At my remark he blushed a tawny red,
up to the roots of his hair, and made
sudden movement as if to offer me his
hand; then drew back and choked,
struggling to speak.
II can be, and I will ber'
he muttered at last, hoarsely,
and strobe away to a seat closely
followed by his dog savage, ugly look
ing cur, which seemed inseparable from
his master, and came to school as regu-
larly from that day. The dogs name was
Tige, and l noticed that Jake was always
considerate of him, sharing his own din
ner with him when he was so fortunate as
to have any; and once, when the poor
brute came in wet and shaking with the
cold, he gave up his own warm place by
the fire, muttering by way of apology, as
his eyes met mine, that ''the little cuss
was gittin' old" There seemed to be an
almost human sympathy between them.
One afternoon Jake came in covered
with blood. He had evidently been
fighting, and what was more remarkable,
had got worsted; but he went com
posedly to his seat as if nothing had
happened. Indeed, quarrels were so
common among the scholars, that if
they did not bring them into school, I
took but little notice of them. So on
this occasion | said nothing, but | saw
Tige crawl to his masters feet and look
up into his face with a questioning
whine. He had been doziug comforta-
bly, by the fire all the noontime and so
had not shared his masters trouble,
whatever it was
Receiving no attention. he finally
s1uatted down in front of him and pa
tiently watched his angry, downcast
face; nor did he have to watch long.
Jake suddenly lifted his eyes and
flashed lightning glance at boy who
sat opposite him on the other side of the
room. Then, clearing the distance with
one bound, the dog was at the offenders
throat And | knew it was with him
Tom Carnes-that Jake had quarreled
'Call off the brute!'' gasped the fell
low with terrible oath.
Jake spoke to the dog, who reluctantly
loosed his hold, and rising to his feet,
stretched out one brawny arm toward his
foe: 81 call him off, he said, ''because
you'n me will settle our own little diff
kitty. 1t lays 'twixt you'n me-not
you'n the dog-and I'll have it out with
ye, and soon, toow with threatening
shake of his fist
| heard no more of the matter; but
few days afterward Jake was absent from
sch oil, for the first time, and | missed
him, as | said in the beginning of this
sketch. | made inquiries of the scholars.
but no one knew anything about him
Tim Carnes was also absent, but thought
nothing of that as he was always irrcgu-
lar in bis attendance.
My oldest scholar among the girls
Jimmy by name-she was the brightest
and most advanced pupil / had.
The other girls both hated and ad-
mircd her, seeming to regard her superb
ority as a rcproach and insult to them
selves.
Jusging from her appearance jimmy
must have been at that tim, eighteen or
twenty years of age; but he did not
know how old she was, nor did she
care.
s'What's the odds2" she said, with