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Read Ebook: Outlines of a Critical Theory of Ethics by Dewey John
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Ebook has 523 lines and 68141 words, and 11 pages
SHAWN OF SKARROW
SHAWN OF SKARROW
BY JAMES TANDY ELLIS
THE C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO. BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
THE C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO., BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
Frontispiece Shawn and Coaly Page "You'll be a great fisherman, some day, Shawn" 24 Burney begin to take out the shells 36 "De Prodegale Son" 52 "I'll give you ten dollars to set us over" 62 "You and the doctor got your birds" 82 They were nearing the last hundred yard flag 90 "W'y, Jedge, you know my name" 106 The Cabin of the American fell with a crash 126 Lallite ran up to Shawn, giving him both her hands 139
SHAWN OF SKARROW
"Oh Shawn!"
It was a shrill voice calling from the bank above the river.
"You can holler till dark, but I ain't goin' to answer you while a blue-channel cat is nibblin' at this line."
Through the short and chubby fingers a stout sea-grass line was running out to the accumulated driftwood in the eddy below the wharf-boat. Suddenly there came a spasmodic jerk of the line.
"He bluffed that time."
The front finger tapped the line, as an expert telegraph operator taps his key.
"He's coming back for that crawfish tail now." The line went taut. The freckled arms executed a series of lightning-like movements and the catfish lay on the shore, a five-pounder, beating the sands with his flashing tail.
"Oh Shawn!"
"I'm a-comin' now; come on, Coaly." The little brown dog wagged his tail and got up from his resting place in the sand. They went up the hill toward the little frame building on the bank.
The boy's mother met him at the door. She was a frail-looking woman, upon whose face was a sorrowful and melancholy expression.
It was a matter of but a few moments for Shawn to array himself in his best clothes. As he turned to go, his mother wearily took his face between her hands and kissed him on the lips. The black eyes beamed tenderly upon her, and over the sun-tanned features flashed a smile of cheerfulness and love.
"Take that fish to Mrs. Alden, Shawn."
"It's for you, mammy."
"No, take it to her."
Shawn climbed the hill and went up through the alley, going around to the side entrance of the Alden home. There was something about the great house which always filled him with a spirit of awe, and as he glanced over toward the long garden and orchard, there came into his heart a yearning such as he had never known before.
A servant opened the door, and Shawn held up his fish: "This is for Mrs. Alden; she sent for me." The servant took the fish and said, "You will find Mrs. Alden in the next room. Leave your dog outside." Shawn walked into the room. A woman with a sweet spiritual face sat in an invalid's rolling-chair.
Extending her thin white hand to Shawn, she bestowed upon him a smile of tenderness.
"I am glad you came, Shawn; take that chair." Shawn was striving hard to remember his mother's parting injunction in regard to his shins.
"How old are you, Shawn?"
"Yes, mam, fourteen past in March."
"How long have you attended school?" The black eyelashes fell and the smile vanished. "I went to old 'fesser Barker up to Christmas twice."
"Why did you stop?"
"I put red pepper on his plug tobacker!"
"Did you go to any other school?"
"Yes, mam, I went to Miss Julie Bean six months."
"Did you quit that school?"
"Yes, mam, I put cuckle burrs in her bonnet."
"Weren't you sorry for it?"
"Yes, mam, but too late."
"You spend a good part of your time fishing, don't you?"
"Yes, mam, but I catches them."
"Isn't there anything you would rather do than fish?" A long silence followed, then the eyes suddenly brightened:
"Yes, mam."
"What is it?"
"I'd rather blow up hog bladders with a quill and bust 'em!"
"Shawn, have you ever thought of what you would like to do in life; what you would like to make of yourself as you grow to manhood?"
"Yes, mam, I'm goin' to be a doctor!"
"Indeed!"
"Yes, mam, indeed, I help doctor Hissong roll pills now, and he helps me in my books more than I learned at school."
"Shawn, I am going to ask you to begin with the term of school which opens soon. I will furnish you with books and tuition and will help you in every way."
"Will it help me to be a doctor?"
"It will help you in everything."
"Could I take Coaly with me?"
"I hardly think so."
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