Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-07-28

| OeIn! ana ne turned MS mead away.
! Very meekly 1 leaned forward and
asked: ''Will you please pick the
worms off the morning-glory vines?
They are eating all the leaves. can
not couch them"
With look that showed the mascu-
line pity for my feminine weakness
and had in it touch of cnivalry, Jack
went to the vines and worked an hour.
kept away from him, and worked in
doors.
"Da's all gone" he announced. yer
needn't be Altered to go out there
now" / looked the gratitude I felt,
and waited, for it was evident Jack
| had a proposition to make. 1t would
have made it easier for him if he had
known how gladly l would accept any
proposition that would attach him to
the house.
IF you'd like me to watch dem
things'-fine reserve that he did not
say worms-"I'Il keep 'em off,
Thank you said, hastily. getting
up and offering my hand. How kind
you are!" He hesitated a moment,
and then his dirty band rested in mine
so quietly that l knew Jack and l were
1
years old. He looked about Is, except
his face, in which were the lines of
middle age Such a barren life history
even for 16 years! His mother had
died eight years before, after a life
that, when he looked back on it in his
manhood out of wider knowledge of
the worlds moral standards, would
make him blush. There had been
other children, but all older, and he
did not know anything about them.
His last step-father had thrown him
off after his mother died, and Jack
had drifted. One woman had let him
sleep on the floor in her house part of
the time. 1t was the best she could do,
for she had six in the family, and two
beds.
That hunger and Jack were familiar,
his stunted body showed. He drove
horse that was used to hoist the buck
cts of coal from 4 canalbOat, and this
he had done since he was very small
boy. He looked upon himself as
great success in the business world,
for he sometimes earned two dollars
a week. He could read very haltingly
in a primer, but he could not write.
His life story came in patches, and
was revealed all unconsciOusly.
Work stopped. Jack looked thinner,
but the wall of reticeBce was most diff
ficult TO scale or to penetrate. That
Jack was hungry often was . certain
ty. but who dare suggest it to this king
of his own kingdom?
Jack had become problem. Being a
woman with great faith in mans abiIi-
1 Ill Of
taking the seat of a learner at the feet
of him who had once been boy, 1
sought a man who knew and loved
boys.
: Jack must go to the country. \
year is the time for which he must go.
You find out how Jack feels, and I'll
find the place"
When the country was suggested,
Jacks face flushed Il mahogany red.
and his eyes glistened. At once cloud
oyershadowed him. How can 1 take
care of meself?"
The way will be found, Jack, if
you'll CO.
I'll go tomorrow"
The Junior Republic opened it's
doors, and the day of departure came.
With great fear and trembling the
question of clothes was broacned. 1t
was met with I'll get clothes meself
if can get a job regular"
Yes, but to 60 on the train, Jack,
those you have on will hardly do. If
you would let me get you some clothes
) to go in"
: The face, that at times looked at you
: with the loving confidence of baby,
and again with the keen, skeptical
glance of a man who had known more
knaves than friends, was raised to
mine, and, with the trembling lip of a
proud soul forced to face his own in
adequacy to meet the world, Jack said
simply: IF yell feel better, I'll take
= de cloes to go away" This was Satur-
= day.
, d. Sunday afternoon the clubhouse was
1 open for the boys, but Jack was not
there, nor could he be found. The bell
rang, and boy came in. Say, Jack
amt had nothin' to eat since vest day
r mornin'; he's behind the coal box at
r the corner" said the small boy cham
pion, whose thin neck and wrists told
of sympathy born of experience. No
] message would bring Jack. At last he
was visited in the corner. where doubt
less he had spent the night, and per-
] suaded to go to a restaurant near by.
y He could not ea1. He drank a cup of
2 coffee, and took some buns to carry
A away.
l This was my success in my effort to
} establish a friendship with Jack. /
could force him. out of pity for me, be-
t cause l showed my feelings. to consent
!. to take clothes, but he would not tell
Y me even then that he was hungry.
That week say" Jack on his way to
I the unknown land of Country.
f The new clothes were bought. under
and outer, but where was bath to be
! obtained? How were the old clothes
t to be disposed Of? The kitchen of the
clubhouse became bathroom. Many
2 directions were given as to the use of
2 soap and towels. and at last Jack
] emerged in n clean white shirt and
}. gray trousers. with a face crimson
/ from a liberal use of soap, water, and
t muscular strength. The TRANSFORMED
2 ton wrought effects beyond the i'm
| agination when Jack stood dressed
with collar and tie and straw hat with
/ a red, white and blue ribbon band. He
/ was a new being. DE first time had
: new cioes since me mudder died" was
S his comment.
r l. p