The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-28

OIIlce hours are from getting up time until
the hour he goes to bed. He does not
stop to eat. But he's never idle during
recess, neither does he lose time on the
street. While walking rapidly Jake can
do various useful things. He can crochet
in transit, he can knit, and, especially he
can manufacture baskets. "Oncet I
bumped against a lady on the street.
said the boy bee yesterday, "but she jes'
laughed and said, oh, what a lovely bas
ket.'''
When Jakey was told recently that he
would have to wear spectacles because
of near sight, another boy asked him,
Don't you wish you had some gold
gasses?"
mo, I don't wish for 'em; I'm goin' to
get 'em!'
Mem: Jakey wears gold glasses.
And that's why the wedding breakfast
served at Jakey's home last July, after
the marriage of his sister, was one Of the
most elaborate dinners that the neighbour
hood has seen. That's why Jakey's
mother wore a gown that
-..:+ Knew How II Should Be.
But Jakey knew what a wedding should
be. Early last spring he had attended the
matrimonial festival given in honor of a
bride who was the best friend Of his big
sister Rebecca The dinner at that we'd
ding could not be described in English.
In Russian it was-well, it was equal to
the splendid things he once enjoyed at
Odessa. And the gown that was worn by
the mother of the best friend of Rebecca
was an exquisite silk that Jakey had sell
dom seen off Nicollet avenue.
Now, Rebecca herself was to be married
in July. But she had said nothing about
the wedding breakfast. Her father, Will
liam Eviden, a tailor had not been in
America long enough to get well started
at his trade. His family, too, included
besides his wife and Jakey, one little
brother aged four, one "littler' brother
aged two, and the half-sister Rebecca,
aged twenty There might not be any
wedding dinner after all. And Jakey had
heard no talk about his mothers new
dress.
But when a boy is twelve years old and
has learned so much in the Lincoln school,
he can get most everything he wants. If
he tries. That was Jakey's argument to
himself. He did want a dinner, big
dinner, at Rebecca's wedding. He also
wanted a splendid dress for his mother.
He should have to earn "a lot OF money
inside of six weeks.
So Jakey went to work. He didn't tell
anybody about his plans. 'Jakey never
tells us anything he's going to do said
his teacher, Katherine r. LARSEN. lie
surprises us when he's done it. =.
Jakey went to work at once, making the
many things he had learned to make at
the Lincoln school. There he had learned
basket making as part Of the regular
training in industrial arts. But although
he made as fine baskets as any OF the
boys or girls, that" was only one thing
After school hours he had taken private
lessons" from his teacher, and he had
learned to crochet umbrella shawls' and
to weave doll rugs. While other pupils
were waiting for their. weaving looms to
Mi To1r DO fyoo
loom for himself after examining a model
on the teachers desk. He also had
learned to knit mittens for the two little
brothers. These various accomplishments
he had perfected while walking to and
from school and while sitting on the
ground in the schoolyard during recess.
Markets His Wares. ::
Hence the six weeks Of opportunity be-
fore the wedding were filed with long
hours of knitting and weaving and has
kerry. When he had manufa ctured an
armful of merchandise, Jakey would take
it to some street corner and sell it to the
passers- by. He sold many dozens of at
tractive mats and baskets and shawls and
rugs to the delegates attending the Ma
tional Educational association. =.
Several weeks before the wedding Jakey
had earned no less than $40. With the
connivance Of the sisters best friend part
of this sum was transformed into a brown
silk dress. On the wedding morning the
silk dress was banded to Mama Eyes,
she was. glad said Jakey this morning.
The rest Of the money bought the re-
narkable dinner the taste Of whose good
les still fingers in the two little mouths
Of the two little brothers.
But that was only a beginning, says
SJakey.S Although he stands high in all his
studies, he has had time, during recess
and 'leisure hours" to manufacture
large stock of merchandise for his Christ
mas bargain counter. r. ~,