Middletown transcript., 1914-02-07

eYour-er-little brother began
Broadway, but, not being eloquent by
nature, he left the sentence incom
plete.
HE thinks he'll be a Caesar. He
wants to kill some boys by strategy
for he's too fat to fight"
The girls laughed again. Now they
had begun the pleasant homeward
walk along the high road to the border
of the village.
Can you come to supper?" Clara
asked.
"As long as l can't eat on Broadway
! I'd rather go to your house than to any
other place know" said Jackson.
But I've got to go home first. This
collars wilted"
He was the only boy in Jonesville
who would have thought of that; he
was the only boy in Jonesville who
owned a pair of patent-leather shoes.
AS they passed his uncle's residence
the old man, who was his guardian,
caught glimpse of him through an
opening in the neglected shrubbery on
the great lawn, and sent a serving
man to bid him enter.
Jackson made a wry face for the
benefit of the girls, as he said good-by
to them, promising to appear for sup
per at the Spotswoods' He carefully
obeyed the summons, but it irked him.
His uncle always irked him. He be-
lieved, and there were others who be-
lieved. that his uncle tried to irk him.
They never had got on very well to-
gether; the old man was hard, con-
servative to the point of stubbornness
and opposed every young idea, particu-
larly to every young idea which
CHANGED to have originated in his
nephew's brain.
Well, Jackson" said his uncle sour
ly.
We'll, Uncle Abner."
Ready to settle down in Jonesville,
are you?"
Now. uncle" said the youth protest
ingly.
Your father settled down here,
settled down here, and you'll have TO
settle down here" said the grim, un-
lovable old man. ''You have obliga-
tions here. The Jones Gum factory
has built this town, and is responsible
for it You viii have charge of the
factory before long"
Jackson writhed. He didn't wish to
have charge of the factory.
TITS not good business, uncle" he
had once told the man who now SAT-
staring at him moodily. They'll think
it was the gum that made him bald.
Poor grandfather was too bareheaded
to be good advertisement for any
thing, except-an Indian"
why an Indian?" his uncle inquired
without suspicion.
"As an after-taking 'ad' of the best
scalper in the tribe"
This irreverence had abruptly end
ed that days interview
But this evening Abner Jones was
busy with more serious thoughts.
when are you going to work?" he
crabbedly demanded.
81 don't see"
Jackson, every Jones for two gen
erations has learned the gum business
before he was as old as you; but you,
foolishly INDUCED by your father-I
have never seen such madness as the
way he brought you up-have come to
manhood knowing nothing of it. Don't
you ever wish to settle DOWN.
Not yet" said Jackson, boldly. 'T'm
too young"
You're twenty-one."
I'm twenty-one; but I've lived most
Of the time in Jonesville. That makes
me just fifteen so far as actual age
goes-and yet the time seems longer
than it is" said the irreverent Jack
son.
I'm almost discouraged. I'm free to
tell you, Jackson, that, if your fathers
will had left me any opportunity for
doing so, should see to it that, when
l pass to my reward, you would have
no share Of the great business which
you hold in such contempt"
Pass on to your-er-yes, sir" Jack
son murmured.
Il have had tales brought to me of
some things you have said about Jones'
ville," said the old man bitterly. "You
have compared it most unfavorably
with that modern Babylon, New York"
'Well-er-uncle, you know New
York is-well, more metropolitan.
"Jonesville is metropolitan enough.
Jonesville is pleasant little town,
built by the industry and brains of the
members of your family, sir-in both
Of which you seem to be most singular
ly lacking; and, while it has fewer
people than New York, it has more vir-
tues. You viii be the only Jones re
after have gone. am far
from Well. ="
Instantly the young man was con-
trite. He had no wish to hurt his |
uncle's feelings. }
I'm sorry. sir. if you are feeling ill,
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