The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1919-05-08
Over the Skyline

'NS P'HS hSSS auu oNGpb "uIsAIluB X
around the corners Of rude log cabin
situated on the crest OF rocky slope
in the Ozarks. It was the rudest sort
Of home but it had that atmosphere
that endeared it to the occupant. A
little to the rear Of the cabin might be
seen a few scrawny chickens that look
ed as il they might have proceeded
Noah from the Ark. The abode Of
these venerable specimens was sort
Of shelter formed by bending saplings
and interlacing pine boughs, In front
Of the house the view was much more
promising albeit bit rugged. The
hills rose all around the cabin, with
paths and sheep trails winding here
and there among the rocks and ghost
like trees that raised their skeleton
branches 10 meet the winty shy, while
overhead solitary crow tapped cav
ing TO the west.
On such gloomy day and into such
life came Billy Jones, His psreuta
were typical mountaineer Of that
seclioDi rough and unedUcated, but
hoping io' better things lor Billy.
One day as the young mother sat
rocking Billy's cradle visions OF what
might be, came to her mind. In the
dim vista oIthe future she saw Billy, a
great man. That meant more school
ing than he could get at their district
school but at the county seat, Forsyth,
not far away, they had a splendid High
School. Not many days before bul,
letin had come explaining why Billy
should be educatedi yes, it must be
it would mean that she must wear the
same old hat another season and that
she couldn't have the new range but
she didn't mind since it was all for her
boy. Every spare cent must be put
in the little bank on the mantle to
J give him a chance to face the world
squarely.
The DAYS slipped away into weeks,
the weeks into months and months in
to years. Billy went through the trials
! Of babyhood into six year old boYhood,
and each year had seen the small
= amount Of savings increase.
Was Billy's first day at school a Joy
TO his motherl Yes and no. He
hadn't been very we'll impressed with
the older boys teasing; in fact he had
come home home rubbing his eyes
with MS dirty little fists and vowing
} never to go back, It was only by the
use Of a great deal Of persuasion that
Billy went to school the next day, and
the next, and so on.
The Forsyth High School Bulletin
was resorted to each day to fire Billy's
ambitions until he finally became SO
imbued with the idea that no one in
school could exceed him in industry
and attention. The booklet had now
7 become dirty and we'll worn. On the
1 margin were figures calculating Billy's
t expenses for High School training,
, The day Billy was twelve years old,
$ on coming home from school every
, thing seemed to lorebode something
evil. He opened the door, softly
E there was the fire burning brightly, bu'
S what was that on the bedi NO1 Yes
! it was Dad, and how strangely still ant
r white he was. Ali The Doctor was
T speaking now.
No, madam, he will never regain
consciousness again.,
T Billy didn't know what It meant but
e he learned that Dad had been working
# on new chicken house and had faller
of the scafoldiDg. Billy learned the
Significance Of the Doctors words tht
next day when Mr.. Thompson brougl
! : long box and they placed Dad in it
4 That afternoon anew mound was raised
8 out on the knoll and Mother and Billl
= were all alone. He, now, began L
J. realize what his parents had done 10
t him. He worked before and aite
g school but sometimes it just seemed
as il they would have TO use the saw
= inos The teuntstion mas resisted