The midland journal., 1898-11-25
CRANBERRY JAKE.
GENEROSITY BRINGS .....
..... IT'S OWN REWARD.

AAl ELL, Jdhcs duo "hoU w Jou
w want? Speak up lively, for !
must be off to the meadow" said Farm
er Brown to a small specimen of hui
manity which had suddenly appeared
before him.
"Please, sir, want o job" was the
answer.
"You want job, Jake? Ha, hai-and
what can you do? Can you rake the
cranberries or run the machinery, or
see to the flood gates?"
"I don't know. sir, but could try,
for please, sir, fathers sick again, and
mothers having hard work to get
along with all the children and not
much work coming in this year, and
she told me unless I could earn the
money for it myself, I couldn't go to
school this winter, and so you see I'd
like job If you can spare one."
Kindly Farmer Browns face soft
ened as he looked at the thinly-clad
little urchin so early in life in quest
of "job," and he said with smile:
"Well, my little man, come on then.
You shall have your job, but mind you
must work stiddy. No play in work
hours round here, remember. It'swork
we're after"
Little Jake drew himself up with a
sturdy look of independence as he
| said:
"You just bet I can work, Mr..
Brown"
"Well, come on, then" said the farm
er, and together they made their way
down the long road leading to what
was known as the cranberry meadow
or bog.
Mr.. Brown had kept on, adding bed
now and then, from year to year, until
his cranberries formed his most i'm
portant product, and the picking sea.
son was hailed by the grown-up boys
and girls of the neighborhood as the
one chance of the year to earn little
money for new clothes and extra
schooling.
Jake put both hands in his pockets
in imitation of Farmer Brown, and fol-
lowed him with a businesslike air
which might have distinguished mil
lionaire, so full was it of Importance.
AS they drew near the scene Of his
| future 1abors he became more and
more alive to the Importance of his
first job.
Jake was not, at first sight, pre-
possessing youngster-a face all
freckles from exposure to sun and
wind, not even redeemed by the saucy
turn-up nose, that in story books al
ways makes interesting the plain face.
No, Jake certainly was not hand
some, but there was a pathetic look
about the mouth and eyes that seemed
! to appeal TO ones heart for pity and
sympathy, a look as Of one who had al
ready known some of the burdens of
life.
But, although Jake appeared so
timid and shrinking, there was some
thing true blue about the little fellow,
and under his ragged jacket there beat
an honest little heart that was des-
tined to do something noble yet in the
world.
Down in the meadow were the cram
berry pickers hard at work gathering
the ruddy berries, sorting them. pour
ing into barrels, everyone eager and
alert to do his or her part in the cram
berry harvesting of the year.
1t was pretty scene, viewed by one
who had hitherto been a stranger to
It. The hills in the distance all af1ame
with the autumn glow, and the farm
houses nesting in their shadow-the
meadow lands and fields beginning al
ready to look bare and sere. for the
frosty nights had been many-the
cranberry bogs were the spot where
life seemed to be centered.
Dozens OF men were raking the cram
berries from the flooded bogs, while
inside the picking-over house dozens
of girls were hard at work picking
over the berries as they ratified down
into the bins before them.
One OF them, a slender. fair-haired
| girl, turning toward her companions,
said, In clear tones: "See here, girls.
]. for one, am about tired OF this kind
OF work. Shan't you be glad when It is
over. and We cap go home and get a
rest ?''
"Yes, shall be glad" said Fannie
Damon, 'for dream of feranberries by
night and think Of them by day. until
! am almost turned into a cranberry
myself; aud then. too, as school has
begun feel impatient to be among my
books again"
! "It's always books with you. isn't