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The boys howled approval.
You see, continued Jerry, I was most skeered to give you bacon cause dad would have missed it when he got back. Dad aint got much money, an I guess he wouldnt like me to be too free with the victuals. But if youre willin to pay
Sure, well pay, said Bob.
So Jerry set a frying pan on top of the stove, touched a match to the pile of straw and corncobs inside, and produced a strip of bacon from the larder. Even Bob, who prided himself on his culinary abilities, had to pay tribute to Jerrys deftness. In ten minutes the first panful of crisp bacon was ready and a second lot was sizzling on the stove.
Talk about your reed birds! said Dan eloquently.
Never tasted anything better in my life, said Nelson. Is there any more milk there?
Ten minutes later the banquet was a thing of the past, and the four sat back and sighed luxuriously.
That was sure fine, said Dan. My, but I was hungry!
Me too, answered Nelson. But look here, how about you? He looked inquiringly at Jerry. We havent left you a thing.
Oh, I had my dinner at twelve, answered their host, as he cleared the table. You see we have our breakfast about six, dad an me.
You say your fathers away to-day? asked Bob.
Yes, gone over to Roslyn to buy some feed for the horse.
And you live here all the year, do you?
We only come here last April. We used to have a farm down near Hicksville, but we lost it.
Thats too bad. Is there just you and your father?
Jerry nodded soberly.
Mother died year ago last May. Me an dads been kind of helpless since then. Things dont seem to go just right nowadays.
Do you go to school? asked Nelson.
No. I did one year over to Newton. It was a mighty nice school too. There was three teachers. I learnt a whole lot that winter. I been intendin to go again, but since mother died
Jerrys voice dwindled away into silence while he stared out into the sunlit stable yard.
I see, said Bob sympathetically.
Mother she taught me a lot at home when I was just a kid, resumed Jerry. Spellin, rithmetic, and all about Scotland. She was born in Scotland, you see. I guess I know moren most fellers about Scotland, he added proudly.
I bet you know a heap more about it than I do, said Bob.
I guess youre through school, aint you? asked Jerry.
I get through this year, answered Bob. Then Im going to college.
Jerrys eyes brightened.
Is that so? he asked eagerly. I guess youre pretty smart. What college are you going to?
Erskine. Ever hear of it?
No. Jerry shook his head apologetically. You see I dont know much about colleges. I Id like to see one. I guess Yale must be pretty fine. I expect its biggern that boardin school over to Garden City?
St. Pauls? Some bigger, yes.
Is the school you been going to like St. Pauls?
Not much, but Nelson and Tommy here go to a school a good deal the same. Hillton. Ever hear of Hillton?
Again Jerry shook his head.
Whats it like, your school? he asked.
For the next quarter of an hour Nelson told about Hillton Tom interpolating explanatory footnotes, as it were and Jerry listened with shining eyes and open mouth. It was all very wonderful to him, and he asked question after question. Dan tried to tell him that while Hillton was good enough in a way, the only school worth boasting about was St. Eustace. But Tom tipped him out of his chair, and as it is difficult to uphold the honor of your school with any eloquence from the hard floor of a carriage house, Dan decided to shut up.
I guess it costs a good deal to go to a school like that, said Jerry regretfully.
Not so awful much, answered Nelson. A fellow can get through the year on three hundred.
Jerry nodded gravely.
I guess thats kind of reasonable, aint it?
Yes. Then if a fellow is lucky enough to get a scholarship, it brings it down to about two hundred, maybe.
Whats a scholarship like? asked Jerry interestedly.
Nelson explained.
I guess its pretty hard to get into one of them schools, aint it? pursued Jerry.
Oh, not so very hard.
Think I could do it?
Well I dont know. I think maybe you could if you had some coaching.
Whats that like? asked Jerry.
Nelson glanced appealingly at Bob, and the latter took up the task. Half an hour later the four decided that it was time for them to be going. Bob broached the matter of payment.
How much do we owe, Jerry?
I guess about a quarter, answered Jerry.
A quarter! cried Tom. Get out! That was worth a dollar! It saved my life.
Its worth fifty cents, anyhow, said Nelson, and heres mine.
Well, said Jerry accepting the coin reluctantly, but I dont feel just right about it. You see, the milk dont cost nothin, and the butter dont cost nothin, and the bread was only five cents, and
That bread was worth more than five cents to us, laughed Dan. Here, take the money, and dont be silly. Dan held out his half dollar, and Bob and Tom followed suit. Jerry looked bewildered.
Whats that? he asked.
Were going to pay fifty cents, said Dan.
Yes, but he paid it, replied Jerry, pointing his thumb at Nelson.
He paid for himself, thats all.
Gosh! I didnt mean you was to pay fifty cents apiece! cried Jerry. Fifty cents is moren enough for the whole of you!
They laughed derisively, and tried to get him to accept the rest of the money, but nothing they found to say had any effect.
I been paid enough, said Jerry doggedly. Im much obliged, but I cant take no more. You didnt eat moren a quarters worth of victuals.
In the end they had to let him have his own way. As they were fixing their packs on to their shoulders Jerry approached Nelson. He held out a soiled envelope and a stump of pencil.
Say, would you just write down the name of that school you was tellin about? he asked awkwardly.
Surely, answered Nelson.
Hillton Academy, Hillton, New York, read Jerry unctuously. Thanks. Im goin there some day.
Thats fine, answered Nelson heartily. Youll like it, Im sure. Maybe you can get up this year while Im there. I wish you would. Id be glad to show you around.
This year? No, I couldnt do that. You see, Ill have to earn some money first; three hundred dollars, you said, didnt you?
Oh, you mean youre going to enter? asked Nelson.
Yes, Im goin to school there. You see Jerry paused and looked thoughtfully out into the afternoon sunlight you see, mother always intended me to have an education, an an Im agoin to have it! he added doggedly. Im goin to get out of here; there aint nothin here; Im goin to get a place on a farm and earn some money. I guess one year there would help, wouldnt it?
Yes, it would, answered Nelson earnestly. And I dare say if you got through one year, youd find a way to get through the next. Lots of fellows pretty near work their way through school. Look here, Jerry, supposing I wanted to write to you, where could I direct a letter?
Dad gets his mail at Bakerville. I guess if you wrote my name and his name and sent it to Bakerville, Id get it. I Id like first rate to get a letter from you. I aint never got very many letters.