The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-11-24

CRANBERRY JAKE.
GENEROSITY BRINGS .....
..... IT'S OWN REWARD.

\AI ELL, JAKE. anu Wnat 40 you
w want? Speak up lively. for l
must be off to the meadow" said Farm
er Brown to q small specimen Of hui
mani,y which had suddenly appeared
before him.
"Plcase, sir. want n job" was the
answer.
You want a job. Jake? Ha, ha! and
what can you do? Can you rake the
cranberries or run the machinery, or
see to the food gates"
II 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 l could earn the
money for It myself. couldn't 60 to
school this winter. and so you see I'd
like n job II you can spare one"
Kindly Farmer Browns face soft
cned as he looked at the th!nly-clad
little urchin 80 early In life in quest
OF "1ob," and ne 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 ne
said:
You just bet can work. Mr..
Brown"
We'll. 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 pu, both hands in his pockets
in imitation Of Farmer Brown. and fol-
lowed him with a businesslike air
which might have distinguished a mil
lionaire, 30 full was II Of Importance.
As they drew near the scene OF his
'u;ure labors he became more and
more alive 10 the Importance OF his
frs. Job.
Jake was not, q. frst sight, a pre-
possessing youngster-a face all
treckles from exposure 70 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. hut 'here was a pathetic look
about the mouth and eyes that seemed
TO appeal 10 ones hear: for pity and
sympathy, look as Of one who had al
ready known some Of the burdens Of
life.
But. although Jake appeared so
,imid and shrinking. there was some
ihins true blue about the little fellow
and under bis ragged jacket there bea:
an honest little heart that was des-
tined 20 do something noble yet In the
world.
Down in the meadow were the cram
berry plckers hard a; work gathering
the rudy berries, sorting them, pour
ing ia'o barrels, everyone eager and
sler; 10 DO his or her par. in the cram
berry harvesting Of the year.
I, was pretty scene, viewed by one
xho had hitherto been stranger TO
t.. The h!lh IN the distance all aHame
With 81. autumn glow, and the farm
house. n.stlug In their shadow-.he
meadow land. and fields beginning al
ready 20 look bare and Eere. for the
frosty nights had been many-.he
cranberry bog, were the spot where
lie seemed 20 be cen.@yed.
DozsIS N men were rakng the cram
berries from The flooded bogA while
!Esice She p.cking-orer house dozens
0. grls were hard az work picking
over 'hs berries az they ratified down
into II. binn before them.
o1s 0. thsn, : sIebfer, taIr-haired
girL turning toward her companions,
ss!i, 81 clear ,onss: see here. girls,
:! .sr one, an about sired o' Ills k'nd
0. ~o,I, GhsH'i yon bs glad When {, ia
ops', ar! a.. can 90 home snd ys, a
r.s:T-
Yea. shall be gIs1," raid Ysnni.
Damon, "sor cream 0! !ersnbsrries by
Sigh; ssa ;k!ak o. .hsm by day, until
] Az almost tnrss3 !Eio . cranberry
C5sels; sES thsn, 100, ~ school has
b.2rn feel .nsps;!ss..e bs among ny
hooks sgsis,'