Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1898 — JERRY’S CHOICE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

JERRY’S CHOICE.

“Now, see here, Jerry,” exclaimed Farmer Johnson to bis man of all work, “ye needn’t git oneasy Jest because old Podgers hez offered ye a dollar a month more’n I’m payin’ ye. I reckon I’ve got about ez much money an’ kin afford to pay ye about ez much ez Podgers kin or mebbe a little more. “Y»’r’ a fust-class worker, Jerry, I’ll admit that, an’ I don’t want ye to be gittin’ dissatisfied or thinkin’ of dlggln’ out, «o I’ll make a bargain wjth ye right now before we go any further. If ye stick to me an’ work ez well ez ye’ve bin workin’ right along fer the next two years, I’ll pay ye the same as Pod-

gers offered ye, an ’at the end of the two years Hl give ye the best critter on the place. Yes, slrree, Jerry, ye kin Aahe yer pick of any critter on the bull place, from a sheep up to a horse, or even a gl-raffe or elephant, if I happen to have one of ’em on band when it eomes time to take yer choice. “What d’ye say to that, Jerry? Is it • bargain?” “I*ll do it,” answered Jerry Brant, quietly, “and there’s my hand to bind the bargain.” No further mention was made of the irargain between Jerry and his employer until they were seated*at the dinner table, later In the day, and then Mr. Johnson, with a merry twintie In his eyes, glanced across the table •t his better fraction, and said: “Well, mother, I had to discharge (Jerry an’ hire him over agin to-day." “You seem to be in very good humor ■bout It, so I judge the difference couldn’t have been very serious.” commented Mrs. Johnson, who used to be a Yankee schoolma'am before she married and therefore didn't handle the U. 8. dialect with the off-hand familiarity •f her husband. “Serious? Ye kin bet It is,” ejaculated Mr. Johnson. “Why, I've got to pay him a month more’n I did before, an’ at the etid of two years, if he stays right along, he's to have his pick out of the critthrs on the place to take ■long with him and keep for his own. I expect he'll take a horse, but I can’t help (J. I wasn't goln’ ter let old Podgers hire him away from me, an’ then go around chucklin’ over it behind my back for the next six months.” “Mr. Podgers made flu attempt to hire him, did he?” “Yes, an’ a purty nervy attempt at that. Offered him ?1 more a month, but I settled the matter in a hurry by pilin’ the best critter on the place on top of that. But if he stays the hull two years I reckon he’ll earn it —eh, Jerry?” Jerry blushed, and answered that be would do his best. “Didn’t you exempt my pony, papa? J really can’t think of allowing Mr. Brant to run off with that, even If he does earn it,” exclaimed Fanner John■on’s pretty 18-yenr-old daughter, May, with a sidelong glance of admiration ■t Jerry's broad shoulders and manly features. “O. Jerry wouldn’t be menn enough to take the pony, I guess,” Interposed ber father. • ■a»“No," said Jerry, “I don’t want the y-unless the rider goes with It," lie ?d, sotto voce. what's that?” demanded Mr. .Johnson. “Unless what? I didn't ketch the tall end of that remark, exactly.” Jerry’s face turned crimson, ami he was about to repeat the remark, when the quick-witted young lady came to the rescue. “Mr. Brant”—she always called him by that title, because she considered It ■tore becomluffaud dignified than Jerry—“M r. Brant says he doesn't want •he pony unless the bridle goes wttli It, J bplieve,” she explained, Ingeniously. “Hugh! rreckon a halter is nil he’ll get with her If takes that pony. There wa’n’t anything In the writin's about fhrowlu' In a bridle,” said Farmer Johnson. “You needn’t worry, father. I think Mr. Brant will be generous enough to %»re me my pony," said May, teas irlngly. -•-***'. • «■*-**•-*- «r-

“Yes, you may keep .your, pony,” agreed Jerry, with an undisguised glance of admiration at the pretty face opposite him. May’s eyes fell before bls, but not until they had flashed back a look that caused his heart to beat high with Hbpe. The. fact of the matter was that stalwart, good-looking Jerry had long admired his employer’s handsome and accomplished daughter, but to-day was the first time he had dared to let her know it, either by look or speech. After that, however, their acquaintance rapidly ripened, and a* few weeks later Jerry Johnson by asking for the hand of his daughter in marriage. Mr. Johnson was engaged in the pastoral occupation of milking a cow at the moment this question 0 was sprung upon him, and he nearly fell off the stool in astonishment. “Want to marry my dartqy, May?” he gasped. “I guess not, young man! Nqt-if the court-knows itself. I’ve bln edyercatin’ her fer suthin’ higher than marryin’ her father’s hired man.” if that is the only objection, it can easily- be removed,” interposed Jerry; “I don’t expect to remain anybody’s hired man after my two years are up. I believe I told you when I came here that I had just graduated from college, and intended to make the pursuit of agriculture my life business, instead of going into medicine or law, or any other of the already over-crowd-ed professions. I believe a man with brains can put them to as good use in farming as in anything else, and I propose to prove it. “I am studying the practical side of the business now, and at the end of my two years I propose to go West and buy a ranch and strike out for myself. As far as my education is concerned, I don’t think I shall ever give your daughter occasion to bo ashamed of me, and as to supporting her comfortably and In becoming style, I believe I shall be abundantly able to do so, and ” “Can’t help that, Jerry!" broke in Mr. Johnson. “I haln’t golnter have ye luggin’ Maj’ off jest because ye two young folks imagine ye’r in love. A woman is a mighty queer an’ onsartin sort of critter/anyhow, as ye'll And out-soon enough when ye get hooked up in double harness fer life with one of ’em, an’ if I was in your place I wouldn’t be in any hurry 'bout talcin' a yoke of that kind on my shoulders.” “Anyhow, if ye insist on gettlu’ married in spite of my warnin’ ye'll hafter pick out some other partner besides the one ye've got yer eyes sot on at present, My darter is goln’ back to college next week to finish up her edyercation, an’ when she gets through her schoolin’ it will be plenty time enough fer her to commence thinkin’ ’bout the men. She’ll forglt ye by that time fast enough, so ye might as well give up all hope right now of ever glttin’ her. “I like ye well enough other ways, Jerry, but I don’t care fer ye in the role of a son-in-law. There, now, ye’ve got yer answer fair and square, and if ye want to stay an’ work out the balance of yer time, we’ll drop the love bizness right here, an’ I’ll treat ye as well as ever; but if ye don’t care to stay under the circumstances it is all right, an’ I shan't blame ye any fer goln’. Now, which is it to be, Jerry, stay or quit?” “I’ll stay,” said Jerry, quietly. And stay he did, performing his duties as conscientiously and thoroughly as ever, although the farm life suddenly grew sordid and dull when May went back to her college studies. The months rolled swiftly round, however, as mouths have a habit of doing, until eighteen of them had been crossed off the calendar of time. Then May, as bright and winsome as of old, came home with her dimples and diploma, and though he did not even dare to look his admiration, Jerry was straightway transported to paradise. Jerry's term of service flnallj’ expired, anil he regretfully announced that the time had come for him to strike out in life for himself. “That's so, Jerry,” said Farmer Johnson. “I had clean forgot 'bout yer two years bein’ up to-day. Waal, I’ll look over accounts an’ settle up with ye after dinner, an’ In the meantime ye kin be lookin’ round an’ sorter makin* up yer mind which one of the critters on the place ye want. I believe ye was ter take yer choice when ye quit.” “Well,” said Jerry promptly, “it won’t take me long to .make up my mind." Here he stepped quickly across the room to where May was gazing disconsolately from the window and whispered a question in her ear. For an instant her eyes met his, then she rose with a smile, placed her hand coufld-

ingly In his and together they faced her father. ■‘.‘This Is my first and only choice," exclaimed Jerry, with a ring of mingled pride and triumph In his tones. “But ye can’t do that—taln’t in the agreement. I said critter, not wlmmen

folks, an’ I hain’t golnter allow no such——” - ■ ? “Just a moment, if you please, Mi, Johnson,” Interrupted Jerry Brant drawing himself erect, with proudly flashing eyes, and still retaining May*! hand. “Haven’t I heard you allude the women as queer critters, consarned Critters, plaguey critters, and I don’t know how many other kinds of critters during the past two years and upwards that I have been with you?” “Yes, I s’pose ye have,” acknowledged Mr. Johnson, “but—er ” “All right, sir,” interposed Jerry, briskly. You promised me the best critter on the place, and this is the one I want—and the only one.” Farmer Johnson gazed at the handsolne and smiling young couple before him, in a half-indignant, half-indulgent sort of way for a moment, and then the latter feeling got the better of the struggle, and he quietly remarked: “Waal, a bargain is a bargain, an’ I s’pose I’ll hafter keep my word; but I say, young man”—-and Mr. Johnson’s eyes twinkled mischievously—“don’t ye think ye sorter missed yer vocation, not bein’ a lawyer instead of a farmer?”—Utica Globe,*

“WHAT D’YE SAY TO THAT, JERRY?”

“THIS IS THE ONE I WANT.”