Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-03-21
MARKED DOWN.


But ! promised, Joe, and when a
fellow has given his promise, it hadn't |
orter to be broken-'specially to his
mother"
wall, mebbe yer right as far as the
old woman is concerned, but them's
the boss's orders, No man leaves
these shops till this machine is finish
cd which won't be afore 'leven if it
amt higher twelve, an yer know well
'nough what'll follow: you'll be mark
ed down and lose yer job. Iwon't
promise you another"
And the rough middle-aged machin-
ist Joe Walton, drew his brawny,
soot-begrimed bare arm across his
@rinkled forehead, whistled softly and
piled himself clorer to his task.
Jem Mather was a slender youth,
aged IL, learning his trade, and re-
ceiying also paltry stipend, little
enough for him TO exist upon, but
from il he had saved enough to bring
his little pale4aced mother from the
erowed city Of New York to his west
ern home.
The world had not dealt fairly with
Jem and his mother.
Walter Mather, the father, was an
honest, intelligent, hard working
mechanic, who had put something by
for rainy day for his family; but it
80 happened that the very day the
kindly father was killed by an ex-
| plOsion at the mill. the bank wherein
hls little saving lay was declared in
| solvent.
Jem was 10 years old then, and for
ionr years he did what he could to
help his mother keep "the wolf from
the door" He was like his mother.
never strong and the lines OF want
/ and care became engrayen forever up
on his young face.
a II a gentleman become interest
ed enough IN him TO send him west.
| and 10 give his mother place in
his house TO do plain sewing.
Three years had passed.
Jem was apprcntieed for four years.
lie had one more year to serve, and
then be would be earning and receiv-
ing the wages Of man.
One year more How Jem said it
over and over TO himself. Then he
would send for his mother, and they
would be so happy.
The wife Of Mr.. Hart, the gentleman
who sent Jcm west, and with whom
Mrs. Mather made her home, failed in
health and died, and Mr. Hart decided
to 20 abroad. To break up his home
He recommended the little woman ia
other friends, but Just then came such
heart-hungry letter from her ono
nmb, her boy Jem, that she decided
to 60 10 him. Mr.. Hart hardly APP
proved, but he saw the mothers ach
ng heart showing through her eyes
and placing 500 in her hand and
procuring a ticket for her, he saw hel
safely aboard the train for the west
Mrs. Mather hadcareiully saved near
III every penny OF her earnings sine,
tcms absence, so she felt quite ricl
in d small way, and oh, so rich witt
with happiness to think she should
soon clasp her boy to her heart.
As for Jem. whose every though
and wish was for his little mother, h
was iubilant. lie, too, had saved
and felt sure they would get on
somehow until another year and the
they would never want again. So h
, wrote her a gay letter ending with tn
promise, II will not fail TO meet yo
al the train. He did not dream &
ANYTHING to prevent him. The shop
closed at @ O'Clock and the easter
train was not due until s. Plenty {
time. was his thought, as he busie
himself putting finishing touches {
the two small rooms he had procure
for their future home. Everythm
: was very simple. even meager, bu
very clean, and some of the "boys" n
the shop had made Jem n fewpresent
in the shape OF a rocking chair Tor n
!, mother, several pots OF flowers ana
few cheap chromos. They added not
/, little TO the brightness and comfort {
, his home. and when he closed thedoo
and turned the key to 90 to his wor
in the morning, it was not without
, little feeling Of pride.
They were all in the world to eac
other. this fond mother and lovln
dutiful son.
And now this order had come, N
man to leave the shops until this mi
chine was finished" Jem's heart ga'
bound and he gulped down a dl
$ sob. If il had been any other night
Q ,Lounht Jem. "or could in any va
let mother know" but that SCENT
Q impossible: so he confided to his frier
r .Ioe his ouandary, though for that ma
d ter every man in the shops was inte
rested and knew ofNlrs. Mather's COZ
e inc. and nearly all were wonderil
1t what Jem would do when the ord
It was given. -, ~
q .Jem's steady habits and kind, obi
ING WAYS had won the hearts OF mo
IL of the worbmen, and his love for !
d mother had touched them all deeply
n am have to manage it somehow
J. sa;d lem to himself, with trouble
g eyes. at will never do TO disappoi
y ,Sother now. Dear little mother; VIII
would she think"
|. me "boss, Tom Greenwich, was
q hard master, and Jem knew anappe
a to him would be useless, Jem was
d ohedient lad, too, and if the "bos
/ 4 lie l,sa aaafaCt