Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-08-16
Rough Jacks Little Lad. "
A STORY OF THE ENGLISH colLrEnrEs.

NV"Sh enough no looked, indeed,
tho great black bearded fellow, with
his greasy cap pulled down over his
hard, surly, bulldog face. And ho
was rough by nature MS well as by name.
Those hugh bony hands Of his, which
could swing the heaviest pickax for
hours without firing, and could toss
about great Jumps Of coal which other
men could hardly lift, were always
ready TO knock down any one who dis
pleased HIM; and many sturdy fellow
In the B'Sckpool Colicrics wore sears
and bruises enough to make him sorry
Tor having ever tried his strength
against the terrible Jack.
But there was ono person to whom
even Rough Jack never said harsh word :
and that was his little jim, the only
child he had. Jims mother had died
soon after ho was born, and his aunt
VINO kept house for Jack, was big bony,
sullcn- faced woman, almost rs un,ilv
5000 'N'N'5 40 INC rough collier
himself. But no mother could have
been more tcndcrly careful of the little
fellow than they were. However dirty
and unlidy they might be themselves.
they did their best TO keep Jim's face
clean and his clothes in order; and
cross-srained Aunt Susan, who was
always grumbling at having "sitch II
power o work to do" sat up at night
several times, after her days work WAS
over, TO knit little pair Of socks as a
birthday present for him.
jim had been n pet of The whole
ncighborlood ever since he could rc.
member; and these savage, wiId-lookinr
men, fierce and surly with every one
else, always had n kind word for
"Rough Jacks little lad," as they
called him. Every day he used to carry
MS ia'iiers dinner 10 the works in :,
it'lc basket, going fcarlcssly among the
coiilcrS savage bulldogs, which seemed
to know him quite as we'll as their mas.
ter', and would way their stumpy toils
and put up their ilat-n heads to be
patted whenever he went by.
Indeed, the "littlc ladn seemed ,o
nave such perfect trust in every ono. and
10 be so sure that nobody would hurt or
vex him, that it Was not easy for ouv
one even 10 think Of doing SO. Tho
rough collie lads whose great smart
was to pclt each other with heavy Jumps
oil coal which made br,l:sc wherever
they hit, shout ell TO ono another to sion
the moment they saw the littlc fair.
haired head in the distance, anil once.
when Rough Jack and his mote-who
had been great friends hitherto. quar-.
rc''eu about something, and were going
10 light, little Jim stepped in between
Them and, taking hold OF hi, fathers
jacket, looked up at them both with on
mir Of such piteous establishment that
The two fierce men, after cyine him
-'t " iiOiicuti turned Their backs
md slouchci off in sham : faced kind
OF way; and the next morning they were
as good friends ms ever
But after while troubles began TO
come upon Blackpool Collicry. Bus,.
ness grew slack, and wages had TO be
reduced which bore very hard upon
these reckless fellows, who spent their
money as fast as they got it, never
thinking of laying anything by. There
was p'enty of grnmbling and growing
against young Harry Forester, the
great man of the district, whom his
fathers death about year before had
'cit sole owner of the colicry; and the
quiet people of the ncighborhood began
TO lear riot, and to talk of sending for
soldiers from the nearest large town.
But amid al t!.c.r t:oublc ,he rouoh
men were still MS loyal as ever to their
"littic lad" Many srumblcr went
without his dinner 10 buy something
good for jim; and Rough Jack as he
danced the little fellow OH his broad
shoulder, woro something rs nearly
approaching to n smile rs his IRON focc
could assume.
At last it began 10 be whispered one
day among the golfers that Il number of
them were to be discharged. No one
knew how the report had arisen, or even
whether IT was irue or not; but
the mere thought OF it was quite
enough for these wild fellows,
ripe as they already were for mischief
eve nun fmustl strike" muttcrcd a
big, sullen-looking pitman.
SAY, VIC mum strikc-but not az thou
meanst'" growlcd Rough Jack, clinch-
ing his slcdge- hammer fist with terrible
emphasis. 'I'sc not let my little lad
starvo for a tn gentle folksi' England.