Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1882 — JACOB AND SALLIE. [ARTICLE]

JACOB AND SALLIE.

Hit? name was Jacob. It had been his father’s before him, and his father’s father’s. The Storms were a hard-work-ing, money-getting race. Jacob Storm, the father of our hero, constantly said that “he couldn’t see why under the shinin’ sun a man needed an eddication; ’t any rat mor’n ’nough to reckon his crops and cattle.” Jacob, the younger, had once expressed a desire to attend school out of town; but Storm, senior, killed his ambition in that respect with a few words: “The old red school-house was good enough for your father and your grandfa her, and when you get all you can ti e 111 hud plenty of work til you; it shan’t be said that one of the old Storm blood ever hired out to work for strangers.” The inhabitants of Putneyville were not all conservatives of the Storm order. Sons of rich formers were in college, daughters of hard-working fathers and mothers were away at school, and Putneyville felt their influence when they came home for a vacation. One of the gayest, brightest, prettiest girls in town was Sallie Rivers. Her father had a poorer farm and fewer bonds than Ids neighbor, Jacob Storm. But the Rivers family worshiped another idol. From the mother down, everyone valued a good education. The father had been denied it, as he had been the eldest of a large family, and compelled to aid in supporting the rest. He was a man of excellent natural ability, and extravagantly fond of reading. When his girls and boys grew around him, they heard important topics discussed at the table ; they knew all about Congress and our relations with foreign powers, and once Mr. Rivers had been called upon to represent his town in the Legislature of the State. The boys of the family were compelled to work their way through college, and Sallie, the jovial, was determined to follow their example. *No wonder Jacob Storm, Jr., adored Sallie. He had lived near her for years, and carried her dinner pail back and forth for her, had purposely misspelled words to Jet her pass above him, and in all her maddest pranks he had rejoiced while others blaimed. Sallie’s brothers were fond of her, and ne-ver for one mo- ' ment thought it either unladylike or sinful for her to share all their sports. When one of their neighbors gave a party, the verbal invitation was generally, “ Sallie and the rest of the boys.” Sallie liked it; she was full of bounding life ; she hated silly airs ; and as her brothers were, with one exception, older than herself, sufely it was quite proper for her to do as they did. When Tom wrote home from college that his dear little sister “ must not go out in the hot sun or she might spoil her complexion,” Sallie wrote back : “ Don’t bother your dear old maid. I care more for good sound health than anything else; and those who really love me won’t mind a few freckles.” Sallie went on in her own way ; she flew from one end to the other of the large farm house, now singing a scrap of some familiar song, now chanting in full, clear tones some grand old anthem. Jacob Storm had once called her the “Will-o’-the-wisp,” and the name fitted her so well the boys took it up. The wildest colt on the farm would obey Sallie; she feared nothing ; went and came as she pleased, and accomplished in one morning more than her mother and Huldah, the maid, could possibly do together. Naturally this warm-hearted, active, cheerful girl was the light of her father’s eyes. He could not send her away from home like the boys, not even for the coveted education. For’three years in her teens she bore the restraint as meekly as possible, but the fourth year could not be borne. How much the girl suffered*!! secret no one knew. “Father,” she said, one day, as she sprung from her saddle, “my mind is made up. I shall go into the mill and earn money enough to attend school.”

“ But mother can’t spare you, daughter.” “Mother ia willing,”said Sallie; “she always wanted to study herself.” “Well, we seem to need you here, somehow.” said the old gentleman, strewing the colt’s neck to hide his feelings. “Yes, father, and you shall have me. I can work hard and come home to spend every vacation; and won’t you be glad to see me ?” Mr. B vers led the colt away, and did not answer. “Why not ?” he said to himself; “why shouldn’t she nave a fair chance ? I suppose I might sell off the meadow to Storm, and send my only girl away in good shape ; but it will spoil the farm, and I hate to.” He could not think of the house without her; he dreaded the long winter evenings, and the warm summer days, without fiis darling, and at last he sat down in one corner of the old barn on an old grindstone, which Sallie had often turned for him. He sat there a long time to overcome his selfishness; and at last, as he heard the girl's ringing voice calling him to supper, he rose up, saying, “She’s my only girl; and she shall have a chance, come what will.”

The boys were delighted. They were proud of Sallie, and quite sure she would do herself and the family credit. To be sure, Tom’s pride was hurt when he heard she was to work in the mill at Glen mere; but the new house which Tom had urged his father to build had cost more than they expected, and every year some new machinery must be purchased. It was twenty miles to Glenmere twenty miles from home-love, care and comfort; but Sallie did not falter. To be sure, it was a trial to leavp them all, a hard thing to select from her little store of girl’s belongings; and a small room in a boarding-house would never afford the delight that her own large, sunny chamber did. Sallie felt a thousand tears, but did not shed one, although hey mother and Huldah wept profusely as the carriage drove away, with Sallie’s father on the back seat with her, and Jacob Storm in front with Sallie’s brother Dike. Dike was younger than his sister, and in deep grief at her loss. It did not comfort him to be told that she would not board among strangers, but become a member of Mrs. Mora’s family. He did not choose to listen when Jacob told him that Sallie was too wise and too good to remain buried in Putneyville. Dike was 16, and at that age a boy considers everything a “burning shame” which interferes with his pleasure. “I wish I had her chance,” said Jacob, as the father and daughter talked in low tones on the back seat. “ Great. chance,” said Dike, “to go down there and work among all sorts, and never have any music or any home, or ” Dike paused; his feelings were too much for him, and yet he would not let Jake Storm see a tear in his eyes. “It’s a chance to make yourself something better than a drudge; a chance to pee and know what is going on in this

great world. Reading is good, Dike, but seeing is a million times better. ” Jacob read early and late, he thought and studied; but, after all, he knew the discipline which Tom and Joe Rivers were having would be a blessing to him. His only dread was that Sallie might consider him inferior to her. “She shall not get before me if I die trying,” he said. Sallie’s room was not so bad, after all; Mrs. Mora had done her best to please her old friend Mrs. Rivers. When Bailie’s books were unpacked, and her piano was in one corner, and her pet bird Glory hung up, the place was quite delightful. Sallie could not live in a dingy, dull hole; sunshine Was necessary to her existence. Her first week in the mill left her pale and weary, but a stout heart and a strong will kept her up. At night she was busy, her music and studies occupied every moment. Mrs. Mora tried to interest her in the sports and games of her fellow-boarders, but Sallie politely declined. A room-mate was impossible, as she desired to spend her spare moments in preparation for her future work. About this time she wrote to Tom : “It is a hard grind, dear old boy; and sometimes when my head whirls about with the noise, or the associations vex me, I feel like running away to China or Japan ! but I don’t; I only go home when I am free, and tike a good dose of Chopin or Beethoven; they tone me up. By careful management I shall be able to save some money. There is a little French girl here who is anxious to study Em glish; every week I give her a lesson for a lessqn; I speak and read French with her; then two of Mrs. Mora’s children take lessons on the piano, and my board bill is light. Who do you think comes here every Sunday? Why, Jacob Storm. Has father will not let him go to college, and he walks down here after work is done on Saturday, and returns Sunday night. He is a great friend of John Mora’s, and I have to be teased about him, but I don’t mind that. Jake seems like one of you, and every week he asks me about my lessons. “Jake gets books from the library here, and leaves them for me to read first; then we talk them over afterward, and Dike is getting quite interested.” Brave little Sallie I The days and weeks flew by, and found her at her post. She only saw the hard daily toil, only felt the bonds which kept her close until she could join the girls who quiet ly and easily walked the path of knowledge. “Sometimes his father allows him to drive down, and then you may be sure we have a good breath of country air. He said one day, in nis slow, deliberate fashion: ‘lf my coming annoys you, Sallie, just say so ; but it seems to me that you might not feel so far away if you saw a home face once a week,’ Sometimes he would bring a few flowers or some chickweed for Glory, and sometimes a piece of new cheese in a dainty box, and generally a note or message from mother or Dike. When ho drives down Dike comes with him ; and I can work harder all the week after seeing his rosy face.” She did not know that her example gave Joe new couiage, and kept Tom from many a “college lark;” she never dreamed that Jacob Storm was making a man of himself for her sake; she could not see the power she exercised over Dike, who was inclined to be a little wayward ; she never guessed that her devotion to self culture and study had stimulated some of her associates to go and do likewise. She only felt the pressure of the daily toil, and longed for the day of her emancipation ; only worked unceasingly.

Little by little the sound of the factory bell grew hateful to her, and its red brick walls wearied her eyes, but over and over to herself she said, “ There is no such word as fail.” Her brief vacations were seasons of joy. Jacob Storm wished they might last forever. He, too, was hard at work; and one day, when he and Sallie had discussed the merits of various authors, and compared notes concerning their studies, Sallie’s outburst of praise for his achievement drew from him an avowal of his love. “Why, Jacob,” said she, regretfully, “I never thought of you in that way. I should os soon fancy Tom marrying me. ” “You think I am clumsy and slow,” he said, “or perhaps stupid and ignorant, because I remain here when others go away; they have educated themselves with fate and fortune to aid them. I have done it thus far against fate and without fortune. I shall some day make the world hear of me; how, when or where I do not know, but it will come.” “1 believe you, Jacob,” said Sallie, “and I am proud of you; but love is something I know nothing of, and, until f have finished my course as a student, I must put pleasure out of my head. Don’t sulk, Jacob; I am not heartless, only ignorant. Come, saddle Tam O’Shanter, and let us have one of your mad rides to Sparkling Spring; it will be something to remember when I am grinding at the mill again.” Jacob obeyed her. Her wishes had been his law for years and he was manly, enough to be roudd of it. TIL JrwS t the goal was won. Sallie was in college devoting herself to her cherished books, and Jacob still worked as he had done before, now blaming himself for his folly in regarding his father’s wishes, now working at his books with the desperate energy of one who lias staked all on Every Sunday he visits Glenmere with Dike, but no longer spends his time with Sallie. At last a change came. Jacob Storm, Sr., was gathered to his fathers, and his son was free.

Dike wrote to his sister in boyish fashion: “Old Storm has gone, and Jake mourns for him as if he had been loving and tender, instead of a stiff old miser. Jake will leave here soon; he does not say where he is going. I shall miss him terribly. We‘ have read and studied together all winter. Jake knows a heap. He surprises me all the time. He is having your picture painted for me, from the one you sent home. I wish I could go with him , but, as you say, it would never do to leave father and mother alone. lam reading the books you ordered, but I can’t pin myself down to hard study after working all day. ” Sallie’s last year of college-life was drawing to a close, and the students were arranging for a separation, when an invitation was sent them to attend a lecture by an eminent gentleman who had been recently appointed to a professorship in a Western university. “ Going, Miss Rivers ? ” asked a Senior, as she peeped in the half-opened door of Sallie’s room. “ No, I think not. I shall enjoy tha time in writing home. ” “Do go. They tell me Prof. Storm is quite remarkable, and Darwinism has its attractions for all of us.” “ Prof. Storm was closeted with the Prex to-day,” said another Senior, “and I understand that the light of his countenance will illuminate the college tomorrow. ” “I think I will go,” said Sallie, suddenly. “It will not do to miss a treat.” In her rebellious littlq heart she was saying, “ I will go for the sake of the old name and my childhood’s friend, but poor old Jake' v ill never know it.” The hall was crowded, and on the platform sat the college President, with several distinguished gentlemen. The speaker’s face was partially hidden by the desk before him. When he rose at last, Sallie’s heart gave a quick bound ; for there before her stood her neighbor, friend and lover. He did not seem to see her ; his subject engrossed his entire attention. Sallie listened with pleasure. The physical training of the past added

strength to his mental acquirements, and his clear, manly voice charmed all listeners. _ . “Isn’t he fine looking?” whispered one. “ What a splendid type of manhood,” said another. “He understands himself perfectly, ” said a third. When the speaker closed, the applause was emphatic and prolonged. Sallie sat motionless. Surprise and pleasure mingled with a thousand memories. Prof. Storm did not heed it. He was looking at a bright face just before him, and answered the congratulations df his friends in an absent manner. “Pardon me,” said he to the President; “I-recognize an old schoolmate yonder.” . “Ah, indeed ! That s Miss Rivers, a young lady of remarkable energy and unbounded perseverance; she stands at the head of her class.” “She would be No. 1 anywhere,”said the professor, as he hurried away to join her. “ I’m so glad, so very glad,” was all Sallie could say. “ Are you? Then help me to escapo from all these eyes, and let me give you the latest tidings from home.” Miss Rivers was envied by her friends as she passed out, stopping now and then to introduce the popular scientist as an old schoolmate. Of what they talked, and how, it matters not to us ; we only know’ that a certain professor was absent from his post in order to attend the exercises at a certain college, where Miss Rivers graduated, and we also know that a wedding took place soon after. Mrs. Storm, nee Sallie Rivers, is also a professor in the same institution with her husband, and her excellent parents spend a portion of each season with her. —Germantown Telegraph.