Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-02-22

lis uoors. Then began n G.se0uraginy
search for work. When dag after dag
~ the weary tramp II The hot streets
resulted Ia nothing. and Jennie hel.!d
her snail store of money nearing the
vanishing point. the only alternative
Of going home iOomed up before her.
As q last resort she went 10 the ex-
changes where wOmen's work Is sold.
but II needed money Ia buy materials.
so she took the train Tor home.
Her mother. glad bey-nd expression
10 See her, could not. however. conce.,.
the fact that finances were at a yery
low ebb. But Jennie. In the club and
her tour Of the exchanges. had learned
a few thugs which she meant Ia pu.
TO practical use. There was still
some fruit on the place, the plums
were looking well. and wild blackber-
ries In plenty were to be had for the
picking. Jennie had arranged with
two Of the exchanges to try her jel-
lies and jams, and while she did not
know much about making them, she
knew her mother did, and she could
learn. SO she set to work. The first
consignment sold a bit slowly, hut
there was an encouraging call for
more.
The next unheard-of thing she at.
tempted was the forming Of ii girls
club for mutual improvement and So
cial enjoyment. She had obtained per.
mission to use the schoolroom for the
first meeting. Either through n mis-
understanding, Overmastering curios-
ity, or sheer deviltry, several Of the
girls brothers and sw%eethearts drifted
in, and sat together in the back seats.
The girls were up in front. curious and
expectant. Jennie beheld the male
contingency with just Il touch of dis
may. She also discovered Joe Banks
among them.
Il believe" she said. tive can get
together for study and social evenings,
and have some very good times. In
a small place like this. although we
are thrown together n good deal, We
never really know each other very
well. 1t is not knowing each other
that makes the miserable, foolish gos-
sip, makes us say and do unkind
things we never would If we knew.
Where I've been I've seen what 1t did
for the girls. Oh. you don't know how
wonderful II was to me to see how
the unseltishness, the kindness seemed
TO wipe out criticism and spiteful
words among those girls, just from
getting together and knowing each
other in the right way"
The young men, who had come to
have some fun. looked at the floor. or
up ut the lights. but remained quiet.
Jennie went on to explain the business
of forming the club, and added: ave
had not thought Of having gentleman
members, but it may be a great advan'
tnge to have them" Here audible
smokers came from the back of the
room. They subsidized when Joe Banks
rose to his six feet Of height and said
II think it would be greatly to our
advantage If the boys were allowed te
join, and l hope the ladies will amend
their constitution"
Jennie promised that this would be
considered at the next meeting. But
it was all in such a formal, impersona'
manner that Joe wondered if she hat
forgotten his existence. After the
meeting. he hung around to speak Il
her. He wondered how it was the
great city had not spoiled her, but
Instead had opened into bloom a ma
ture quite wonderful to him. In q
~stammering, ineffective way he triet
TO tell her this, but she stopped hin
with some businesslike questions rela
tive to the preparation of the grount
for spring planting. She meant t,
have a garden. and especially wanted
to start small fruits. He asked her Il
he might come and give her any help
full service he could. She assented il
a dignitied manner more BETTING tn,
new president Of "The Helpers" thai
the little Jennie Ames he used t
know.
! 1t was surprising the number of new
facts that sprang up regarding tn
, culture of small fruits. which made /
necessary for Joe to call at the Ame
cottage. The jellies and jams wer
: selling well, and Jennie was much ab
: sorbed and happy in her work.
I One day when the autumn began +
turn the greenery into gold and scar
, let. Jennie asked Joe where she coul'
find bittersweet. She remembers,
where there was some, hut she wante'
, a great deal. She knew Of I'M ex
q change that would take all she coul'
/. send. OF course Joe knew, or ut leas
he was pretty sure, and he arrange,
I to show her.
Promptly to the minute a car drov
1 up to the door. Jennie was somewha