Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-10-17
SKIMPSE1.

-b4N"'
SKIMPSEI.
,., all out of tune, snatch OF
a ''-p7, melody Il, he sat perched on
Po3l Ia with his peaked cap turned
,,[ and thrust on the BACK OF ms
'l' lt +.' miserable thin legs in their
ill 90 trseches. all doubled up, sat
'li'' From under plentiful crop of
''s'i hair shone his blaze eyes-eyes
r., , MY twinkle in them in spite
'.' . 'j thi, was big race day and
"a a. nj Monmouth park, and as yet
ri lad no hope of a mount.
,.,nsev was a Jockey and made his
-'' ,ba race track. He had been a
.Iu rom the time he was old enough
Eo-se and now he was eighteen
s.I gpdred Jockey. Tom Ferrars
aome once. and Ferrars was the
anon the track when he rode;
the Jockeys and stable boys and
---,,rd and one loiterers about the
10 was Skimpsey. They had called
,1irpsey. in their own expressive
over since his father died and Tom
.,ss1 TO saving money. This is very
lin bows about the race track, and
Tam suddenly ceased betting and
-,,si, friends to cigarettes and other
;5.sipations in which he had pre-
,t,dulged. they regarded him with
fDos with absolute dislike.
his unpopularity ever troubled
~ he never allowed himself to
Always cheerful and good
= among the boys, and willing and
e1. to his superiors, he soon won
-slf a reputation as a conscientious
sable lightweight jockey. Conse-
t his services were often in demand,
NJ or twice a week Skimpsey made
II 10 tine city and laid in the lap of
-t5er, who lived in the humblest of
n the poor part of the city, a very
sss5e sum of money. 1t was hard
:. TO resist the many temptations at
racA, TO bear the jokes and taunts of
.hsr bows, but when at last he would
the money in his mothers hand he
q feel fully recompensed.
Ermpsey's mother was a seamstress,
As her wan face and bent form at
J.. ndlstriously strove to do her part
Shmpsey in the brave struggle. OF
|hpsey's father, perhaps the least said
,ette-. He had been q trainer of race
j., and finally attained an official posi-
OF the race track. Dying suddenly, it
discovered that he had robbed the club
(7g 500; and it was TO make up this
|risHcy, to restore honor to his dead
b. name and to his own, that Skimp-
! With his mothers assistance, was
fh1G so industriously. The sum at
seemed, to these two poor people,
ll0ls, but the earnings of a good
Esy are surprisingly large, and now, the
punt almost completed, the money lay
savings bank on Broadway.
T. 30 it was that Skimpsey whistled
PLY rs he sat all by himself on the
l1islce. He thought of his mother,
bow glad she would be when the debt
l-1. She need not work any longer,
Fought, for he could earn money
U to support them both easily. He
I md her a pleasanter home than
Miserable fiat, and he would buy her
r. velvet coat, like Mrs. Hinton, the
pas wife, wore. Then when he could
'isome money he would buy him
aasF suit Of clothes, and, joy of joys!
i''s watch chain with a big silver
y hanging from it, and perhaps some
aug beaver hat like Dan McCarthy's.
va al these bright visions chasing
0'AeF through his brain, it is not sur
-lg mat Skimpsey did not hear the
-.lI bel! for the first race. He did not
le.l the trumpet calling the horses
Alu later the roar Of the vast crowd as
Gy went up, They're off They're
~ Ilu- suddenly he heard a voice say
mere be is!' and Skimpsey jumped
= ron the fence as two men ap-
iched him.
,s'F1 Z, said Mr.. Hinton, the trainer,
~ ! >, MI Melville, as wants you to ride
\ n, aafian IN the Seaside stakes"
y Ia. me- cried Skimpsey in delight
u-tr.Ne. tor be had never ridden in
! ! 81 important race.
ls; what's the matter? Don't Won
The mouutsp
'5i-Psey tried to say something, but
: UsnaIly, and his freckled face
-, - I a- than ever in his delight.
+ r. E'V 10 ride, and $3.50 if you win,n
H u and Skimpsey's mind revert
y. sle money in the savings bank, now
NJ sn9't 500 Of the 5000.
49,, -,-1' ferrGTs," said Mr.. Melville, Maid
a, a. owner, you're TO ride to win.
va OA and stay near the front till the
M, ,I", ana then let her out for all she
n, > the time, Skimpsey," added
n % make a reputation for your
nj tae mares well in it at ninety-eight
|, r. %ua ought to win. There are no
M 'saI"eights free; that's how you
a- 1P'ey didn't care how it came about.
i,r i anew that he was to ride Maid
,r- -ur the Seaside, to make fifty dol
f.. "ay, and perhaps two hundred
A, ~ his blue eyes fairly danced for
"A tI tue prospect. How his mother
,S D,sss MN if it could only put the
!. sun into her handl
5,s seaside was third on the pro
n aud there was still another
ls ~ Oe run off before it. Skimnsey
Iar ,et to where three or four stable
to1ic VI -! ,ne grass discussing the vari-
le,a re VI interest to themselves.
10 som comes skimpseyp' cried one.
DIN 10 u pSey, amt ridin today, l seen
yLat in,l sad Skimpsey sententiously.
easide,n
, hat onw
laid Marian >,