Jack's Ward; Or, The Boy Guardian

s, was Jack's removal from the street to the school. While his father was out of

ed to study, and Jack was not one of these few. The freedom which he had enjoyed suited him, and h

ow up a dunce, Jac

d write alread

r upon life with that sc

n get along as we

to do better than the average. I am ambitious

t does a feller to study

said Aunt Rachel, who might be excused for a littl

ead ache to st

weak, Jack," suggest

ly," said Rache

d that Jack shou

ght he. "She's always talking against

an suggested itself to our hero. He shrewdly suspected that his aunt's single blessedne

she had a chance," he thought

hool-fellow, he concocted the following letter, whic

he liberty I have ta

ften, though you don'

o marry. I am not youn

e a good trade. I hav

he only one I know of

you meet me in Washing

a blue ribbon round yo

ll have a red rose

your brother's family a

try to keep us apart

NI

nt to school one morning. She read it through, firs

rom, Aunt Rachel?" a

estions about what don't c

it was a love l

our aunt," said his

to her brother's unbounded astonishment. "I suppose

l such thoughts out of yo

f men are so shiftless," said his s

me?" asked the coop

e," said Rachel,

ly into her pocket, withou

ld acquaintances," thought her bro

uge in her room. She carefully locked

anybody of the name of Daniel? It must be some stranger t

or a short time. Then s

It's a great responsibility to make a fellow being unhappy. It's a sacrifice, I kno

Rachel's

nd. The appointment was

self, "nor that troublesome Jack. Martha's got some blue ribbon, but I don't dare to

Martha," she said, a

e forenoon! Isn't th

dache. I guess it'll d

aid her sister-in-l

t dry-goods store, and bo

quired the clerk,

coloring a little, as though the use whi

ribbon, and pre

any better, Rachel?

," answer

o steady lately, perha

have," asse

n't stand work as well as when you w

undred by the way you tal

l. I thought you might feel as I do

, in the same tone. "There isn't anybod

ng. "She takes offense at the most innocent remark

"I wonder if I have ever noticed him. How little we know what others think of us! If he's a likely man, maybe it's my duty to marry him.

ch led her to regard with favoring eyes the suit of this supposed lov

'clock. He looked roguishly at his aunt as he

Jack. "If she doesn't t

am far from defending, w

itting, and went upstairs. Fifteen minut

going, Aunt Rac

lk," she answ

you?" he asked,

o go alone," sh

ing, when her sister-in-law had left the house. "She was

aid Jack

on his hat and bent his st