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

ing little Jake with him. and a. be en-
tered he said In his brisk. hearty voice;
Look here. girls. I've brought you
new helper. Make him run errands for
you. and can you make room for him to
pick over at one OF your bins?'
No one spoke at first, for many in the
neighborhood had no sympathy with
Jake's drunken father, or for his shift
less family. as the neighbors called it.,
so there seemed to be no place for
Jake until at last gentle Fannie
Damon broke the silence by saying:
81 can make room for him here, Mr..
Brown" and Jake took his place be-
side her. and she kindly instructed him
in his new duties in way that forever
won his honest little hearts allie
glance.
Day after day Jake held manfully
to his duties, but ofttimes the work
was hard and irksome, for beside the
constant picking over ii was: Jake,
come here" and, Jake, run there"
from morning till night, and not al
ways in the kindliest tone either, for
some of the girls would not forget that
he was drunken Jake Taylor's boy, and
must be treated accordingly.
Girls" said Fannie one day, "please
be more kind to Jake, for he Is such
good boy and tries so hard to be help
full"
"Do you suppose we're going TO treat
old Jake Taylor's boy like prince"
said Kitty, outspoken rs usual.
"But, Kitty, let's be kind to him for
his own sake" said Fannie. "He is very
quick to feel every slight. and he is so
sensitive about his father already.
That is what makes him so shy"
The cranberry picking season sped
on. The October days and nights were
very chilly now. and Jack Frost had
painted all the trees in brilliant colors,
while the frost flowers lifted their
white faces from the brown stretch OF
meadow lands like children Of sum-
mer, pale with fear at finding them
selves so far away from their kindly
mother.
Little Jake worked faithfully day
after day, despite weariness and the
fact that no one indoors or out seemed
disposed to pay him any attention. ex-
cepting his gentle friend. Fannie. whose
kind words and smiles had made him
her willing slave. So when one day
came, and she was not found in her
place, life looked dull indeed to little
Jake. He winked back a tear as he
heard some one say that she was tired
out, and would not be able to work
any more. although she had depended
on the money to pay for term at the
academy, which she had hoped would
enable her to teach In one OF the vii.
lage schools, rs her invalid mother had
almost nothing :or her support.
As Jake listened to the talk about
her, the thought came 10 him: "Well,
here is my money. might give II to
ber." He put the thought away as one
that must not be entertained, but as
he remembered her kindness, II oc-
CURED to him over and over again, and
It seemed so like q voice that he found
himself unconsciously answering:
"well. don't want 70 60 TO school.
too, and I haven't any other way TO
earn money. Why should I give II TO
her.
So he thought on all day. one min
ute deciding that his friend should
have his money. the next thinking tina;
he needed It quite as much himself.
The hours went by very slowly. No
one seemed to notice him except TO
send him hfther and thither on er-
rands, now to the story above with
message. now out to the edge OF the
bogs where he would fain have lin
gered, for the autumn air was bracing
and clear. and the meadows were so
pretty with the rudy berries showing
their heads above the water which
flooded them.
Farmer Brown, who h ad bee kind to
Jake whenever he had a chance to
speak with him. met him as he came
from an errand back into the cram
berry house.
"Well. my little man, how is business
to-day" he kindly asked.
First rate, SIR" answered Jake,
Strengthening himself, and growing
certainly an inch taller under the
kindly look.
As he reentered the room one OF the
men shouted 10 him from the upper
floor: "Jake, bring up some water and
be lively"
He started cheerfuIly on the errand.
but when half way up the ladder-like
stairway he heard a creaking sound
and fel. something give way. Fran
tically be clu:ched at the side Of the
ladder, but failed TO find support, and
with a cry fell to the floor beneath.
where he lay motionless. The terrified
girls ga thered around while Mr.. Brown
lifted him from the floor, pillowing his
head on his knee. while he tried TO re-
store him 10 consciousness.
At last he opened his blue eyes, and,
.eeiug Fannie Browns kindly face
above him, nurmured. family:
Splenge give IL all 70 her for Won see