Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-10-18
"COUNTRY'S VICTORY.

BY Jesse Sartell.

practising on the campus, but Jere-
miah Scott sat under the elm with the
iron entering his soul. His broad
back was towards n group of girls
whose voices came to his freckled
ears like the gurgle of the brook that
crossed his grandmothers farm. These
words separated themselves:
why, what is the matter with that
boys back?"
"Oh, that is Country! You have
not seen all Our rustic curiosities yet.
His grandmother must have been let
ting out his coat to make il large
enough for him. and that is a strip
of new cloth. Isn't it FUNNY"
Jeremiah's soul swelled with wrath
and grief as the girls voice went on
sweetly. did you ever see him
standing up? There are dark stripes
around each leg of his trousers where
tucks have been let down."
Honestly"
lust wait till he stands up"
jeremiah, watching the football
game with angry unseeing eyes.
wished that the great elm might grow
old, die, and be uprooted before It
should be necessary for him I'd rise.
He knew the voice of the girl who
had spoken first. She was the judges
daughter, Lucy, who had been away
for year in New York, and conse-
quently was looked up 70 as superb
or being. jeremiah had watched her
fail 1tcfo
him deeply that she should have seen
the mark of his grandmother's eff
forts, but her next words filled him
with conflicting emotions.
He has a nice face. like him."
He held his breath to listen. Surely
she must be maAing game of him, as
every one else did-but-no-
why isn't he on the team?" 1t
sounded like a serious question with
no suggestion of mockery.
What, that country jay? He
wouldn't know a football from pump
kin-he might try to eat it,"
I'll ask Jack about it. He might
help win the game"
John Singleton, Lucy's brother. was
captain of the team. and took the re-
sponsibility seriously. For several
years the high school had been beaten
by the Tigers" of the neighboring
village, and it was getting irritating.
The coming game was a matter Of
great anxiety to Jack. Ii the team
would only do as he wished there
might be more chance. but some CT
s.l.-
out of condition. 1t was discouraging.
He and Lucy talked it over on the
way home from school. Lucy was
thoughtful.
THAT boy they call Country doesn't
smoke. He's big and strong. There
was a big boy OF the lower grade
teasing little one, and Country was
passing through the hall He lifted
the big one by the collar and raped
his heels against the wall three
times, and told him in a kind of drawl
not TO do that again. He did it as if
lie were dreadfully strolg-aIi-I
think he's nice"
HE might do-only he's not in our
crowd-but il he isn't too stupid"
They talked of the matter to their
father that evening. His eyes bright
ened.
Jeremiah Scott" he said. His
father was in my regiment. A splen-
did fellow. II jeremiah is like his
people he ought to be the right sort.
] remember when Scott was the first
inside the breastworks. He has
medal for that. If young Jerry could
do for you in your game what mis-
father did in that battle"
When, the next day, George Slocum
appeared heavy-eyed and pale from in
digestion, jeremiah was summoned
from his gloomy vigil under the elm
tree. The captain looked him over,
and nodded approval. After all, the
Fellow did not look so stupid when
one saw his face-and the unwieldy
appearance Of his body was chiefly
due to his clothes.
That afternoon was a strange AMI
delightful experience 10 jeremiah. At
the end of it. he was a regular men,
Der Of the football squad. In a few
days. for the great game was drawing
near and training was being hurried,
he was put in at half-back.
Then he ceased to be a butt, groups
OF girls did not laugh as he passed, no
one joked, no one gibed. 1t was
everywhere ''old man." and "old fell
low" and no one thought of asking
him the price of oats. He was still
called Country, but with an accent
of friendly admiration to which no
one could object, and when the day
came for the great game, he was
happy and at peace with the world.
The Tigers had come on from
Crompville. The Playground swarm
ed with onlookers. jeremiah. stand.
ing head and shoulders above the rest
of the team. looked about at the
crowd and wondered who among them
all, to look at him now. would ever
imagine that he had been, not so
very long ago, an outcast ard an
alien. He was like the others now
except for being so much larger and
stronger. but that could not be helped.
de was conscious that strangers
fsked about him as if pleased. and his
head was perhaps getting somewhat
turned when he heard the old familiar
litter from a group of girls. CHANGING
round to learn the cause he saw that
his grandfather and grandmother had
come.