The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-05-18
Gar-''-.grr'.--',,c-'.' ~
"a POOR =WHITEl
! PRODIGY {
By MABEL SHiPPlE CLARKE PELroN. 8
u ~V&r~s~etr~~~%llr.~,~eoralsl
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

| VI ALo ldul1ly WHO ever uulSuGQ what
he undertook Joe Kimsey, his ia
Their, was esteemed even by his
| friends 'low-down, no-account, and
trit1ing.'' Mrs. Kimsey had so much to
do, that she did nothing thoroughly.
When his father wanted job we'll
done he gave it into Billy's hands.
| When his mother delegated RESPONSE
| b1llty to anyone, it was to Billy.
When he was IL Billy heard of an
| Industrial school recently opened on a
| farm about 80 miles from his home.
Now school possessed no great
| charm for Billy; he had an acquaint-
| ance as casual as possible with the
| one that doled out the three RS to
| the children of the settlement; but the
news spread among the coves that if
you went to the new school you would
learn how to make right smart of
money. And money is as rare as roc's
eggs in the North Carolina mountains.
Billy confided his aspirations to
Lucy, the sister nearest him in age,
and his especial friend
Il low I'll go there little bit,' he
said, and learn how they do hit, and
then I'll come back and learn you-all."
A few days later Maria Kimsey
kissed her son "Good-bye'' across the
baby kicking in her lap; the boys
shouted an Indifferent $50 long," and
Lucy went with him down the road
piece as he started on his long tramp.
At the end of nine days he walked
into the house as the family was
sharing the contents of the evening
saucepan of stewed fruit, and de-
manded his portion.
Did they lick you awfu1?' whisp-
cred tender-hearted Lucy, slipping her
hand into his and drawing him to a
soap-box that she had turned over to
serve as resting-place for his tired
Dody.
Lick me? No, ma'am!" returned
Billy Indignantly.
Then why did you come back,
honey?" asked his mother
TOO young" replied Billy, blowing
Justify on his apple-sauce. "Mr Nc
he's grand. liked him. He told me
theys just beginning the school, and
they amt got room for no more'n a
few, so they's only taking 'em IA and
up
Then, as far as I can see, all
you-all's got outen your trip is a pair
of sore feet" remarked Joe, cutting
the tobacco for his pipe.
Il amt sorry I went" persisted
Billy. I'm going back when I'm A.
"Sho, Billy, you'll forget all about
hit by then," said Maria.
II won't forget" insisted Billy, wag-
ging his head. Mr. Mcdowell, he
kind of dared me to come back, and I
don't take no dare. I'm going. He's
got the best carpenter shop I ever
see, and he says / can learn ITO be
carpenter. He done showed me every
thing there. They's IS boys''
Did you like emp
mot much. licked one of em be-
cause he laughed at my pants
What about your pants?" asked
Maria Indignantly.
Nothing, only the other fellers'
wasn't so stringy on the ends. I'm 60
ing to work and get some clothes be-
fore I go back"
The Kimsey cabin was a couple of
miles from the nearest post Office,
Moreyville, with it's few clustering
houses. The railroad track ran
through Joe's farm, and was Billy's
usual path to the village, where he
went almost every day.
On his way home from Moreyville
he used to fill his pockets with pieces
of coal that had fallen from the pass
| ing coal trains, as an offering to his
| mother, and it was while he was bal
ancing himself blithely on one of the
rails one day that he was smitten
! with an idea. He would collect all the
| coal he could, and try to sell it in the
settlement. He was going to the ham,
! let at the time, and he laid the scheme
at once before the postmaster and the
| blacksmith, and each of them placed
with him an order for bushel at 20
cents "per." He provided himself with
a 'crocus SACK" and began his &C.
emulation on his homeward trip.
| Every day Billy walked the track
now in one direction, now in the other
Early in the winter the supplies for
the stations were sent south, and the
trains multiplied. It was fortunate
Increase for the young merchant, for
just then he had more orders than he
could fill. The post office and the
smithy were regular customers. So
was the doctors Office, and almost
every family in the settlement took an
occasional bushel
! AS trade increased Billy pressed in
to his service the willing Lucy, only
too pleased to be allowed to help.
Even with her aid he found difficulty
LIN moving his stock, so big and so
heavy were the bags, and so far apart
were the customers. Some sort of re-
lief became imperative, and Billy hill
upon the plan Of employing "Loosh'..
The dog had been trained to draw the
baby in soap-box, and he might as