Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-01-28
CHAPTER II

That same summer / began going
to school. Perhaps I should say that
John Lane and began going to school,
as 1t was something Of joint adj
venture. We talked of 1t together for
weeks before the great event. At that
time my objective In life, in so far as
I had one, was to be a locomotive
engineer, but John had elected to be
the owner of wooden mill-blandly
overlooking the little question of
capital-and we discussed our school
training In the light Of these ambi-
tions.
On the eventful morning remem-
Der my father coming into the loft
and leaning over my bed, where I
Seigned sleep. "Puir wee mamie" l
heard him say. dropping into the
Scotch tongue which he reserved for
moments Of emotion, "it's long road
he's starting on, and hard one, too,
or he'll no be like the rest O. u.s."
Ny mother secured me well and
dressed me In clean new suit and
took my cheeks between her hands
and kissed me. and told me to work
hard and grow up good man like
my father. AT the gate met John,
and together we started down the
turnpike Of life.
spent the day becoming accus-
toned to my new environment, and
marveling over certain bald spot on
the teachers head which shone re-
splendent when the light struck II a
certain way, and wondering what pos
sible advantage 1t could be to To-
conceive engineer to know that A
had two slanting legs tied together
In the middle.
Two years later Marjorie and Jean
started going to school. and we were
proud boys indeed as we led them up
the aisle to the masters desk.
In those days. when large families
were still considered proper, two chill
dren were q comparatively small i'm
pediment; indeed, 1t was commonly
said among the townspeople that the
smallness of my fathers family had
made 1t possible for him to pay for
and clear his farm. At any rate my
mother was q person Of leisure BY
: comparison with neighber women who
were trying to clothe, clean. and dis
cipline ten. or twelve children apiece
The Lanes were In the same happy
circumstances as ourselves, and be
Ing also our nearest neighbors. a con
siderable friendship had sprung up be
tween the two families This developed
as we children grew older and had
mutual interests In studies and sports
Jackie was Jack now-and Jean
often came over to our house on q
winters evening, bringing their school
books, and the four of US sat about
our big kitchen table porting over our
studies or throwing or intercepting
furtiye glances between Jack and
Marjorie, and, may confess, between
Jean and Frank. Jean was fair. with
large blue eyes and clear pink cheeks
and lips that always made me think OF
roses. They seemed always as delicate
and tremulous as rose leaf after
rain.
At eight o'clock we would close
our books, and mother would say
Marjorie, you may bring up basin
<of apples" or perhaps 1t would be q
dozen ears of roasting corn. and we
would sit about the fireplace. MUNICH.
ing in great happiness. Then we
would have game Of blind mans
buff, in which had way of catch.
ing Jean, or button button. who's got
the buttons or hide-the-handkerchie
And at nine Jack and Jean would
leave for home. and we would
go with them to their gate, and |
would help Jean where the drifts were
deep. And Marjorie and would walk
back arm In arm, and she would talk
an unnecessary lot about Jack
Jeans first poem was written about
this time. She developed it one night
while ostensibiy busy at her studies
and slipped It into my hand when
we parted in front Of her house.
hurried home. but my mother and
Marjorie sat so close to the lamp that
had no opportunity to read it until
went upstairs to bed. Then /
smoothed the crumpled little sheet
and read
When ! am old
And very tall
] hope my name