San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-12-10
JESS.

claim some twenty miles from WnaJ Is
now the thriving city of Sherman, then
mere hamlet.
Their three children were small, the
youngest being a mere baby. There WAS
much hard work to be done, large share
of which fell upon Mrs. Willard, who was
one of those frail, ambitious, tireless little
women that are 80 often found among
overworSed farmers wives. Besides her
housework she managed the kitchen gar
den, did the chores" and at times even as
sisted her husband in his own work.
When lie was away the loneliness and re-
spOnsibiiity of her position were almost
uneHdurablc. Their nearest neighbOr was
, seven miles away, and the prairies were
bleak, windy and cherries. Occasional
parties of Indians addicted TO begging and
stealing would come by, thus adding fear
to her OChCr anXietieS.
After a year OF this life Mrs. Wizards
strength so gave way that her husband
tried to procure other hoIIsehelp, but there
were no females to be hired. Even male
help was scarce. Nearly every one was
working for themselves. The country su-
thOrities had handy way Of diSposing of
Migrants by local application of the state
law against carrying concealed weapons.
AS each tramp usually had pistol or knife
hid somewhere about his person, they
would fine him $50. Having no money, he
would he offered to any one who would
agree TO pay the county that amount and
take his labor in return at a valuation not
exceeding twenty-five cents a day. But
even this supply of labor was limited, and
Mr.. Willard thought himself fortunate in
securing an undcrsiZed lad of Is, whom
the supervisors at Sherman were Offering
to hire in front of the court house door one
day when he happened to be there.
81 don't like his looks, said Mrs. Will
ard promptly when her husband with the
lad behind him rode up to his own door.
What is your name, boy?'
"Jess-so." mumbled the stranger very
hoarsely.
Can't hear your" exclaimed she little
fretfully. What is your name'"
"Jess-so," exclaimed he in the same
ravenlike key.
The creature is an idiot" began the
tired housewife, but her husband laugh
ingly iaterposcd.
HE is telling you the name he goes by,
Ellen. Ask him questions and you will
soon see why. Won't she, JESSE"
"Jess- So" replied the lad nonchalantly
"Ie was arrested for doing nothing and
having rusty pistol that would be dear at
City cents"
Jess here showed that his tongue could
enunciate other ideas by remarking that
this convicting weapon had cost him dol
lar not long before,
"Well, YOU were cheated then. But here
he is, Ellen; make the most of him for six
months. Perhaps by that time we can get
girl"
SO jess was installed Us general assist
ant and chore boy, position he filled fair
ly well, though his shy ways and absent
manner rather added to the distrust of his
mistress He was frail and awkward,
though in his movements he could bc
swift and supple upon occasions. He also
seemed to Ike both timid and obstinate, and
unless spoken to he seldom spoke, except
when with the children. In their company
he was sociablc enough. His childish way
of asserting 10 most that was said rather
piqued Mrs. Wizards curiosity.
cts strange you don't remember more
about yourself, =" she said to him more than
once.
''Jess-so," the boy would reply indiffer
emily. 81 haiu't much sartin about any
thing. 'Ceptin' work." he added, as il this
thought had Just occurred TO him.
Are you right sure them folks you was
with last got froze up in that blizzard"
'Jess-so. We was travelin' and campin'
was froze up too. Don't think I've ever
had good memory since"
Cant you think of single name, nary
one?"
She well knew how unsatisfactory the
answer would be, yet suspicion, however
vague, is apt to reassert itself in this way.
She feared that so much obstinate self for
getfulness s;IvOred more of design than
misfortune. But Mr.. willard told her that
she ought to consider herself fortunate.
you are the only woman this side OF
Sherman that has any hired help, said he.
''YoU must not be too particular"
Mobile | am wrong" said his wife re-
signedly. Goodness knows! | want to do
my duty to that boy; but folks as forget 50
much seldom have anything good about
them TO remember"
''The children like him, Ellen" con-
tinued her husband. THAT is one good
point lie can't help forgetting some
things, / suppose. What he says about
being in last winters blizzard may all be
So We know it was awfully severe, and
that two of the boys toes were frozen off
somehow. When we think what sad things
Nay have happened to him, perhaps it is
mercy he can't remember"
jess, who was stolidly washing dishes in
the Kitchen near by, shot a grateful glance
at his employer, though his lace was other
wise expressiOuless as a Chinaman's.
''debbe you are right" said Mrs. Will