The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-06
THE SCARECROW.
VERY PATHETIC STORY OF SELF-SACR|F|CE.
8. P. MCLEAN GREENE IN HARpER's BAZAAR.

8. p. MCLEAN GREEN
| He had not that humorous expression of
|hountenance which his name and garb i'm
piled.
On approach, his facs appeared thought
|tuI, dignifed, even with touch of sadness.
| He had come an old man. childless. COM
|panioniess, and meekly and deprecatingly
taken up his abode in deserted hut on the
|putskirts Of the village.
! Rumor having at first mysteriously limited
That he was ''miser," or an escaped crini-
hal in hiding, had ceased to take note OF
his harmless, INDECENT life. He could even
bbtain sometimes odd jobs of work in the
village to do, sinceshe would work always
Faithfully and at less than half price.
But 20 peculiarly indeed did his appear
knce resemble that of his forlorn prOgeni-
kors, the tattered and rickety sentinels OF
the corn fields, that it had been known to
bring smile to the features OF even the
prosperous brood from the primary depart
ment Of the academy were wont to cele-
|brate his approach at distance with sug-
Restive warblings of "Caw! cav! caw!'
3Scarecrow, or 'Old Cav Carson" he was
he was therefore called indifferently.
"Tm outer 9 job, said the Scarecrow. ad-
:They amt nothin' in ordinary labor !
pan't do, and they amt nothin' but what
will do. I'm pooty nigh desprit for work
lee now. I'm 1ookin' anywheres for q job. =
~ hope as you don't contemplate maxim
no change in your clos. Mister Carson
paid recognized wit, with choice gravity.
III. osr ".
Anything in material, only 80 long as 1t
YOU'D ought to git mar'd, Cav, faser-
mater like YOU" said a callow youth on the
soap box, putting ostentatiously at bad
aWhy, it don't seem as though YOU
ought TO be out of job at this season, =
said another, with the same imperturbable
Il was not supposed that the dull mind
of the Scarecrow had appreciated these sal.
lies. He stood downcast, with no sign OF
Intelligence.
Young Harry Cheese, in wealth and beauty
and ambition the virtual lord of the vii
lage, was lounginR on the counter with two
college chums, guests for whom he was get.
ting what entertainment he might out OF
this rural sitting. Harry had been
gayly testing with the village lSse clowns owns
nations, success in his first love; there was
q flush as of wine in his swimming brain.
"Whv. look here, Mr.. Carson" said he,
'.the birds of the air are raising the dick
ems, they say. with my corn fields over yon-
der. Now I'll pay. you quarter Of dollar
a day the season through just to loaf about
there and keep the nuisances of. What do
The scarecrow raised his eyes, deep, sad
unreproachful, but Harry Cleese's own sud.
~ Young man." he said simply, sin
a-lookin' of craft over, the question amt
rigged?' but How fur's she benp In
a-takin' of long viyages needcessity be OF
storms. In been long viyage. I'm accept
your offer and I'll do the work faithful.
The work appears to need of doin'. can
keep the birds off, and can hoe between
|times. I'll do it faithful, and I thank ye
Kindly"
"Come, take a retainer, Mr.. Carson -
said Harry, the blush still on his cheek,
AS he held a generous note toward the old
man.
The Scarecrow shook his head. II don't
need any retainer. Pm on'y too glad o.
kindly
Among the calamities which befall the
outcast poor is the occasional demolishing
: of their frail dwellings by wind and rain.
Thus Daniel Miguel returned from his days
work at the factory to find his gaunt, dark
eyed wife standing beside the dosolated
wreck of their poor home, one infant in her
arms. five others tugging at her skirts. At
the same time the Scarecrow, whose hut
formed the only habitation in sight, was
seen winging his lame and tattered flight
toward them.
''Do you speak Enelish2'' said he to Mig
mel, eesticulating. II couldn't make her
there to eat-house-fre-warm
Gomez
ooh, mine Colt! tank! yes,'' said Miguel,
promptly seizing the infant in his wife's
arms and taking her forlorn hand. "Mon-
sieur Skekerow have the goodness to invite.
Gomez
''Why, it's as much yours as mine, you
know" said the Scarecrow, leading the
way briskly. ''She want much of craft,
but Tn got her patched up snug-good- fire
in there-'nough to eat-as much yours as
NINE" {
'"Tell her to make tea-Rit supper-dry
Fhe children The old man produced his
but was not wretched. for it was scrupu-
|ously clean. A fire, evidently freshly
made, was roaring in the cracked stove.
Your house won't never stand prop
PIN up agin, but when the rain stops,
veil try and find some or your things,
AnQ cry en- up Ihero was Anus zoo
much O. this here bed o. mine. Here, Mr..
Miggerwell, you must piece couple more
buter it. and put up curtain over there by
Ehe beam, N keep the fire goin'. Tn got an
Engagement. Tn got to 60 down to the vii
Iage fore supper"
With the same eager cheerfulness Mon
sieur Scarecrow tottered down to the vii
LACE in the rain. He had, indeed, been
bervino several weeks now in the corn
delds, and he had several dollars s'laid by, /"
for he was an old man, and had been, as
he said, on a long voyage, and was
bonscious sometimes that he was very near
bort, and he had a great longing that
Enough might be found by him wherewith
10 bury him. But this he forgot coming
home, his arms laden with bread and pota-
toes and a can OF milk, and even bit of
meat and few teacups, for he had but one,
and that would never do.
At the sight of the food for her clamor-
ing children, something like color came to
lrs. Mlguel's face, CLEAN of hope to her
nismal eyes.
'Pay next mont" cried Mr.. Miguel,
Eagerly; mo money, wife was seeck: Little
Pettee, there, see! she was seeck all time
doctor- cine-no money-pay next
mont"
The children ate greedily. Little Pettee
hte . mouthful or two with symptoms
pr unnatural hunger, and then fell back in
her chair listless and satisfied.
N"Seeck." explained Mr.. Miguel-"fve