The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1896-01-09
JACKIE.

strife there winds a little valley, and
through it a murmuring river flows.
A shallow brook leaps down the West
ern hills and joins it in it's race to a
greater river. Beside the brook, on a
rolling fern-fringed terrace, Is perch
ed a little red house, old and time
stained and battered. Behind he
house is a semi-circle of tree-crowned
hills, which protect it from all save
southern winds. A narrow, grass
grown country road passes by in front,
crosses the little brook over a low
plank bridge, and climbs the hills be-
yond.
Brilliant peonies, larkspur and vel
low lilies make. the little terrace bril-
liant, and the heavy breath of a thou
sand lilacs floats in at the open win
dow this cloudless day in June.
On the doorstep sits a wan and de-
jected little figure, and wonders va
guely why nature should be so beauti-
full and she should be so sad. The
brook sings merrily to her as it
splashes down the slope, but she sees
no beauty in flowers or music i'll the
purling stream.
Here in this quiet spot Jacob Wheel
den lives for many years, and supplied
his frugal needs by tilling his meager
acres. His wife, Mariana, had died
years and years ngo. and his house
and himself had been cared for by
Sarah Ludlow, whom the childleSS cou-
pie had taken from the poorhouse.
Sarah was weak and infirm; a spinal
disease had set it's mark upon her
puny frame, but she had done her fee
BILE best to care for Jacob and had sue
ceeded well.
Besides Jacob and Sarah a beautiful
collie dog. "Jackie,' was included in
the family, and had become by his af-
lection and fidelity the idol of both.
Jackie" was a '~plOughman's collie"
A rhyming, ranting rowing billie,
He was a cash and faithful tyke,
As ever lap a. sheugh or dyke.
His honest sonsie, baws'nt face,
Ave gat him friends in ilka place
His breast was white, his touzie back
Weel clad wi coat O glossy black;
His gaucie tail, wi upward curl,
Hung DER his hurdles wi a swirl.
".Jackie" guarded the place in the in
frequent absences of Jacob and Sarah,
and his Joyous noisy bark welcomed
them home. No roaming woodchuck
or cunning fox dared enter his domain.
He kept the cows, the hens II the
sheep in perfect order, and his playful
gambols were the solace of Jacobs
resting time and his presence a relief
to timid Sarah.
Now Jacob had succumbed to years
laid his burden down II gone tC
join Mariana. The farm, through JAG
- To- b ,n1 a will pnN
belonged to Lucinda Larcom, an an
Gent shrewish maiden lady, and Saral
was left perfectly destitute and inca
pable of earning her living. She hat
known of no way to do, of no place Il
go to. until the %neighbors, plying he.
forlorn condition. had interceded 70
her and had obtained the fOllOwin;
offer:
!, Said Lucinda to the deputy: Il al
. ways told Jacob he was a fool to TAX
I her from the %poorhouse, but he wa
+. always against listening to me.
I hain't got much myself, and l hadn'
: ought to do it. It's rObbin my sister
l children, but l have the rheumatic
t good deal and cant get around niue
l so if she wantSer she can stop wher
> she is and do what she can do for he
| board and clothes on one condition
: and that is that she gets rid of tina
II dog of hern. | can't stand no pesk
u dogs round eatin' their heads off, an
u my cat, Zebedee, couldn't stand hil
y near her. 81 4he can dispose of hi
> and then she ran get the house clea
v and swept. and something cooked II
all ready for me and Iezedee by neN
Friday week. Have some good toas
made. and some of them green gag
, preserves of hern, for | shall he read
= for a bite of something when | gt
4 there, about g.. Have her look shar
q now
& 1t was this condition that had dri'
1 en- all sweetness from the flowers an
"a all brightness from the sky, and eau