Connecticut western news., 1895-03-07
JACOB AND ME. :"

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 "Me" was Rupert, and it was early in the summer that he begged to have his hair cut.
 "It's so hot and tickly and tangly and boversome, and I'm old enough to look like boy," he said, which was true. His mother put her arms around him-they were sitting in the big wick CT chair ky the parlor window-and held him as if she would never let him go
 '.I want my baby as he is," she said, which was also true. There was Q little silence.
 It was low, little room, full o1 quiet and half darkness There were some we'll filled bookshelves, well chosen pictures, just enough pretty and more or less worn rugs and cushions and bowl of garden roses on a low table. The child leaned his head against his mothers shoulder, the despised hair bright tangle against her dark gown and gazed adoringly into her face, but she was looking out of the window
 
 trees and the slender spire of St Mi chael and All Angels were clearly de- fined against the cool twilight sky. There was churchyard around St. Mi chael's, but it was in the shadow. The twilight deepened. A oowbell tinkled in the distance, and a, young man and two girls with pretty shirt waists and tennis racquets went chattering laugh ingly by.
 at St. Michael's," said Rupert. II go in sometimes to hear him do it. He likes it. When he isn't playing, he is talking to those three nice girls in the little house down the road. They each have scrapbook, and the little boy has a scrapbook, and they put everything in''-
 He stopped suddenly, his gaze fol lowed his mothers across the meadow, and he slipped one soft arm around her neck, while she took possession of the little brown hand and kissed 1t gently. An old woman came slowly down the road-an old woman, with straight, white hair, blue calico gown and red handkerchief twisted around her neck. She was driving flock of clamoring ducks and geese, and Rupert's interest was at once awakened.
 Buy me one, mamma, one of the big white ones. It would be such good company, and I'll never say anothe, word about the hair" It was an odG fancy and odder bargain, but it ended in Mrs. Cardell's most promising gan der. very much surprised and named Jacob, being shut up in Mrs. Ware's chicken house for the night. He did prove ''good company. Witt a string around his leg for safety, ht followed Rupert hither and yon. To gether they planted a garden and dui it up from time to time to see how i grew" together they hunted for frog in the meadow, and together they wadeC in the brook below the hill; together they sat on the steps when it was tim' for mamma" to come home, holding long and rather one sided converse l ton.
 In September plan began to grow | in Rupert's little head, and he told la cob all about it.
 Mamma had begun to teach in tow1 now and was away all day. Julia, tn, maid, could be very good when sh chose, but the day Rupert came tum bling into the kitchen, his feet yer. | muddy, dragging after him poor bewil | dered Jacob by the length of his string trying to explain all in a moment, sh | said:
 "Did ever see the like of such bothersome child, and the pesky beast and picked them up unceremonious l ly by the left wing and the right arr and put them down on the doorstep Rupert cried little, and Jacob wen to sleep on one leg, and presently Juli repented, spread nice slice of graham bread with apple sauce and presented as peace offering, explaining that sh had just scrubbed the kitchen and wa i'll tempered into the bargain "along o reasons you can't comprehend. An' tell me about the plan, darlin."
 Rupert sniffed, ate some cf the brea and fed the rest to Jacob, talking all tn time.
 Mammals birthday and st Michae and All Angels day come just the sam next Saturday-and papa used buy a goose and apple sauce and a cak with candies. Twenty eight it was las year. This year makes 29, and the bi punch bowl full of Michaelmas daisie papa used to go way into the cour try when we were in the flat in towr but here the meadow is full of then Jacob and me found them-and candle in the silver candlesticks and dime cards. Could you paint dinner cards Julia? The boy that plays the orga could do them, think" !" but Julia w. thinking of something else, her for' head wrinkled up, her pale blue eyt gazing into indefinite distance. Rupert wondered suddenly why Juli didn't go on and finish being pretty. Her hair was soft and wavy and browl and though she twisted it up tight twice day it generally rippled loosel above broad white forehead. Her ey, were very light, but shaded by lon dark lashes, and her cheeks were th color of wild roses. Beyond this ht beauty ceased Her mouth was yer wide; her waist was very big; she he self was very long, and her fingers wei bent quite crooked with rheumatism Rupert tried to straighten them out ; she went on talking.
 "It's cake you're wantin, and al pie sauce and daisies-them' s easy got and candles. There's plenty left frol Christmas, but a goose'd be a big itel on the bill, an it as small as it has be, an bit of steak here, an handf1