Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-26


listening to the talk,
Sorry you struck, Jack?' asked
in fun,
Yes, he said, springing to his feet
i am, | know it seems mean for me to
go against you boys, especially when
| wrote the petition, hut | believe
we'd better give it up and go back to
school. I'm sorry, boys, but I'm go
ing back, anyhow
He picked up his hat ard dinner
pail.
Jack and were the same age and
had always been good friends. His
'treachery' made me angry, | am
afraid spoke pretty harshly TO him,
and so did the other boys; but he
kept on.
There were only four OF us now,
but We agreed to stick it out.
The next morning Bob and made
no movement toward getting ready
to go to school after breakfast
Aren,t you going to school, hoys2'
father asked.
mo, sir, said. We are out on
strike
"'Ohon said he. Then the strike
y
are out?'
-Four, said Rob. Jack Burns
didn't have spunE enough to stay in
it.
"'Well, said father, i am inclined
to think Jack has as much spunk as
any of you. He certainly has more
sense, With that, he turned and
walked away.
Later in the day Rob and met
| Fred and Harry and we all decided
not to speak to Jack Poor Jack,
| He felt pretty sore when we passed
| him that day without paying any
/ attention TO him, though he tried
| hard not to show 1t. Ii was little
hard, too, to crush him in that way,
| but we felt that it had to be done,
Well, Monday morning came, and
| tnat where Joe Jamieson's part oil
the story begins Joe's parents had
been very poor and had never got
ahead in the world They died when
Joe was very young and left him to
take care OF himself
He wasn't very strong, but he had
grit, and that helped him. Heworked
around for different farmers, and
{
sending him to the poorhouse, when
he showed that he could take care OF
himself they let him do so.
He had been working two years for
| father and was great overgrown,
! awkward fellow, but steady work
man and always so good natured that
we al liked him.
THAT morning at the breakfast
table, father asked:
Is the strike still '.on, boys?'
Yes, sir, we both answered very
promptly
You don't intend to 90 back TO
school, them
I'VE said that We proposed to stay
out till our petition was granted.
Father didn't speak for few min
utes; then he turned to Joe.
Joe, he said, how wouldyou like
to 90 to school"
Joe started, grnued and looked
greener than ever, but said nothing.
He thought father was making "a Joke
at his expense; and Rob and thought
50. too and were considerably anus
ed until he went on.
'Wellr' father continued, when
you finish your breakfast, Joe, you
can change your clothes and get ready
Tor school,
"You ought to have seen Joe then,
il he wasn't surprised | never saw
, anyone who was.
But what about the work, Mr.
Howard?' he stammered
I" The boys will do that, father
said
".Why, father said Bob. 'yor
don't expect Ned and me to do farm
> work."
Why not? father asked = Nv,
fed and clothed you, and hired Joe to
do the work that you might have
time for something else. In return
have asked that you attend schoo
, and do the best You can in YOU
I studies Now you refuse to do thai
any ongcr. II Joe, here, is willing tC
( 90 to school and do what expected
, you to do. why, Pm willing to Civ,
+ him the chance Turn about is fai
D play, and shall expect you and Ned
between you, to do the work.
+ Remember he continued, 4 hav
!, let you make your own choice in thi
> matter of the strike, and haven't triet
= to coerco you. Hiss Ward reasone,
' with you, and did her best to max
: you see how foolish your act was, bu
, you refused to listen.
II Now there is no more TO be sal
! about it, one way or the other. TIL
q matter is settled.
+ ~ think you are both old enoug
;. to use your own judgment, SO ] hay
. let you follow your own course. BIZ
/ now, if am to support you longer
q and you refuse TO repay mein the wa,
d wish, it's only fair you should max
Il some other return.
q by that time there was big lum
in my throat, and | wished the strik
A. had never been thought of. CUES
j Rob did, too, for he was staring har
: at his plate.
4 II looked at mother, but she sal
,e nothing.