--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Peay, Ida Stewart collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 19 number: 3 published: 1916-01 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Ida Stewart Peay, "Jed at the Old Academy," *Improvement Era* 19, no. 3 (January 1916): 202–211.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1903unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1903unse start_page: 202 end_page: 211 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1916-01) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1903unse publication_year: 1916 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1916, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Jed at the Old Academy Jed at the Old Academy THE THIRD OF A SERIES OF FOUR "jED" STORIES, EACH COMPLETE IN ITSELF BY IDA STEWART PEAY Jed's first day at the Academy was nearly over. Every onehad been very good to him, excepting", of course, the girls who hadlaughed at his flannel shirt and high-heeled boots. But since hehad slipped away and spent his last dollar on a regulation "Acad-emy Student" outfit, he felt almost able to smile over even thattrying occurrence. And the beloved President, how wonderful hehad been to the lone, bewildered sheep-herder! The new studentwould never forget it, never. Whenever he thought of the kind,understanding sympathy in the deep-set, grey eyes, his heartswelled with emotion, a big, vital love was growing within him forthe grand old teacher. He had set his mark high before he saw Dr.Maeser, but it was twice as high now. He intended to study andwork with every last drop of energy in his body, and as he emergednow from the little dark frame entrance of the school building andstrode rapidly away he felt the supply to be unlimited. Before hereached the street across the diagonal path leading out from thedoor, he had overtaken two professors on their way home. One ofthem put out a hand to detain Jed while he said with an encourag-ing smile: "It is Polysophical this evening, you must be sure to come." The big sheep-herder looked at the man with a puzzled ex-pression. "Polysophical!" He had never heard the word before.What ever did it mean ? "What time ?" he managed at last to ask. "Seven thirty. You'll be there?" "Yes sir," Jed promised, as he passed on. He did not hear the remarks the teachers made about hissplendid physique. He could not suspect that had he come toschool a few years later he would have been discovered by the"Coach" and made the pet of the school in no time. He did noteven know that when Mr. James, who owned the small farm in thecc\ge of town, with six cows to milk and ten head of stock to feed,had watched those chores dispatched with speed and thoroughnesshe had laughed with glee and declared to his wife in the eveningthat they had found a treasure. Blissfully unaware of his unusualstrength, vigor and precision, Jed went methodically through hisduties and was back to the Old Ware House before seven thirty. JED AT THE OLD ACADEMY 203 He kept repeating to himself the word "Polysophical." Whatkind of an affair would it be, anyway! It turned out to be nothingmysterious, after all, but a very entertaining program of speak-ing, reading and music. When the sheep-herder wrote to Hebeand Abe about it he called it "half meeting, and half concert." Jed was deeply absorbed throughout the evening; he, cer-tainly, never had heard such talking, he felt stirred to still higherstriving. The reading and music, too, delighted him. The bestpart of his nature was alive and rising to the higher and finerthings of life. When the entertainment was over the new studentwent down stairs with the crowd. Outside he watched the peopledisperse in lively groups. As yet he had met only teachers, therewas not a student to whom he could speak or attach himself to walkup the street in comradely fashion. A sense of loneliness depressedhim, he yearned for Hebe and Abe. There never had been a time,even when the older people had criticized and reproached himmost, when Jed could not be bosom friends with any boy in Black-gulch. Now he hung disconsolately on the outside of a circleof young men who stood around the little frame entrance watchingthe people come out. These boys were making remarks and oc-casionally laughing, not always softly, as the girls filed by in smallgroups of twos and threes. Presently as some young women cameout one boy said to another, "There's you're girl, Ben, get along and see her home." "No thanks," declined the youth addressed as Ben, super-ciliously, "she's not my girl." "Now, you know she is, so you don't need to craw-fish out ofit that way," maintained the first speaker, giving the young mancalled Ben a playful shove that would have sent him sprawling atthe girl's heels if he had not stiffened and resisted instantly. Whenhe had shouldered himself back into the middle of the crowd an-other young man asked, "Why didn't you take her home, Ben?" "O, 'cause didn't want to," scoffed Ben loftily. "Took herhome one day last week—asked her for a kiss and she didn't haveany more sense than to kiss me." "Didn't you want her to kiss you?" some one in the crowdenquired impulsively. "No," scorned the boy without noticing who spoke to him. "What did you ask her fur, then?" demanded the voice. "Just to see what she'd do—test her," snickered Ben stilltaking no note of his questioner. "Now you don't respect her any more?" "No, I don't," declared Ben. "By dern, if I see how much better you are than the girl!"said the voice. "You did the offerin', yet you still seem to be highlyrespectin' yourself." 204 I.MI'ki >VEMENT KRA "Well, of course, but who arc you?" Ben looked around inangry surprise. "Well," drawled the voice as its owner stepped out into thespot of light thrown by the lamp burning in the little frameentrance, "I'm a feller that likes your way of doing a heap lessthan 1 do the girl's." "Mo, it's thr cow-puncher that galloped in this morning, is it?"lien Shumway laughed sneeringly as though the opinion were notworthy of further notice. "Yes," owned the girl's champion, "an' I guess my notions arepretty countryfied, anyhow I ain't goin' to ask girls to kiss me andthen go 'round pulling down their characters if they do it. Thetest that's used on girls ain't too strong for me." "O, say, fellers come on, let us join the cow-puncher's Sundayschool class." mocked Mr. Shumway, laughing derisively. "Say,that's a good one." The other boys first snickered and chuckledthen joined with amused good nature in Ben's guying laughter. "By George, boys, I think the cow-puncher's right, though I'dnever thought of it that w7ay myself," a young man stepped outinto the circle of light and smilingly offered his hand to thestranger. "Say, you're the kind of a chap I could trust my sisterwith ; put 'er there !" he said with hearty good will, adding politely,"my name's Bleeson." "Bleeson! Why you look for the world like—a—a—like—a—did your sister teach school down south last winter?" "Yes, and she's down there again this winter." "Yes, well, then," said the big sheep-herder, for, of course, itwas Jed, "perhaps you've heard of me, Ware." ''Jed Ware," cried the boy. Jed nodded while he and the young man shook hands vigor-ously. "Boys, this is a friend of Amy's," cried young Bleeson warmly,"come and meet him, and shake the hand of a real gentleman. By-the-way, my sister said that you were coming and—a—and,George! I'm glad I've 'run on' to you. Amy says he's the finest fel-low in the land." Tt was fortunate for Jed that the light was dim, for this goodword from Amy Bleeson dyed his brown face red, and caused aglad delight to sparkle in his black eyes. Jack Bleeson was evidently held in high esteem, for thestudents readily came forward to get acquainted with the cow-puncher. All but Ben Shumway, he turned on his heel and walkedhaughtily away. When the introductions and hand-shakings wereover, and the crowd had started up the now deserted streets. JackBleeson remarked regretfully, "Pshaw! Ben didn't need to get 'on his ear." 'Course we'veall thought the way he did was alright—done it ourselves, maybe JED AT THE OLD ACADEMY 205 —but when Ware, here, took exceptions—why I just naturallythought his view was the most fair—anyway, I wouldn't like mento try my sister." "O well, no one would ever think of treating Amy Bleesonthat way, it's only a certain kind of girls—" Joe Anderson began,but Jack interrupted him. "O yes, certain kind of girls—but I suppose the fellows thatare at such pains to discover 'certain kind of girls' and then ad-vertise them don't look any better to Ware, here, than the girls." "That's what gets me," mused Jed, "you fellers thinking it'salright to offer, what you think it's all wrong for a girl to accept." "Well, a man wants to know what kind of a girl he's outwith," Joe Anderson, defended. "He doesn't want to have a girlthat any fellow can kiss." "No, he just wants to kiss as many as he chooses, then con-sider the one he thinks ain't been kissed the only one fit for him,"laughed Jed. "Ah, now, Ware, you've kissed the girls yourself," teased JoeAnderson, "own up." "No," denied Jed, "haven't been around girls much. Neverpartic'Iarly wanted to kiss any of them—and didn't know anythingabout this' test business you fellers carry on. There's never beenbut one girl—a that is—if I ever did care that much for a girl, I'dthink of testing the angels as quick as offerin' her such an in-sult." The young men discussed the question all the way up thestreet. Presently young Bleeson stopped, and giving Jed a friendlypat on the shoulders remarked, "You're alright, Ware, Amy thinksyou are. I know you can teach us fellows a thing or two aboutsome matters. I turn off here, good night." After Jack Bleesonleft the crowd, and the others had walked on some distance, oneboy began to chuckle, "'Spose Jack's got his foot in it now withBen," he said. "I hope there'll be no feelings between them on my account,"deplored Jed. "O, there's sure to be," predicted the other. "You know Jackand Ben are quite chummy, and, besides, Ben has serious pre-tentions towards Jack's sister, Amy." Once again Jed could be grateful for the darkness, else surelyhis new friends would have seen the startled look of pain that cameinto his face upon this revelation. He soon left the crowd. As hewished them good night they answered pleasantly, somehow heseemed to have established a line between himself and them, even ifhe had attacked one of their favorite pastimes. When Jed was outof hearing one man expressed the conclusion of all as he remarked, "Raw, but rather a fine chap." Swinging along in his strong easy stride Jed soon reached the 206 IMPR( >V1 MINI I RA farm in the edge of town and climbed the stairs to the little roomthat was his. When he had lighted the lamp on the small studytable, seated himself and opened his books, he raised his eyes tothe tiny old fashioned mirror on the wall above him, and lookedlong and soberly at his own reflection. He could not help butsec that it was a strikingly strong and handsome face that lookedhack at him. But the big sheep herder was not conscious of hisoutward self, deeply perturbed he was gazing into the deaths ofthe fine dark eyes as though trying to see the soul behind them.Presently he murmured aloud, "JvA Ware, did you come up here to get some schoolin' be-cause you knew yon was ignorant or did you come thinking maybesome day by studin' abit you might get to associate with—withAmy Bleeson? If you come for the sake of the girl, you'd takethe trail back tomorrow. She's not for such as you. She belongsto the big school, the big town and the 'blue-bloods.' Like as notshe's already promised to that stuck-up guy who goes 'round kiss-ing girls just to see if he can—and her as pure as the angels." Jed looked hurt, injured, then his dark eyes gleamed angrily atthe thought. Ihnv he despised a man who could aspire to thehand of Amy Bleeson and he kissing other girls he didn't evenrespect! Jed remembered noticing' Shumway during the day.He was the best dressed young man in school and had a cold,proud, almost disdainful way with him that had somehow irri-tated the country hoy before he knew him to be the sweetheart ofthe little teacher. Jed knew intuitively that Shumway was thearistocrat of the school. And to think he had imagined she "wouldlook with favor on a great, awkward, ignorant sheep-herder!"Then Jed's thoughts went back—for the thousandth time—overone wondrous moon-lit evening, now months ago, when the littlegirl teacher as he called her to himself, had held out both herhands to him. and with that pulse-quickening sympathy and kind-ness shining in her deep blue eyes, had murmured softly, "O youbig Jed." This precious little memory heartened him. "O well," he broke into audible words again, "any how I'mgoing to get some schoolin'. a whole lot of schoolin' and then,we'll see!" In his masterful way Jed put aside his tormenting reflectionsand began on his studies. He worked and worked and tried andtried, when it was far past mid-night he was still not prepared in asingle lesson. It was woefully discouraging, and after a few-more unsuccessful attempts the sheep-herder retired, heavy ofheart and brain weary. In the blessed land of dreams he was soonback to the sheep-herd, lazily playing cards and smoking sociablecigarettes with good old Hebe and Abe, with no lessons nor striv-ings nor jealousies to mar the care-free day. Many weeks had passed since Jed had entered the Brigham JED AT THE OLD ACADEMY 207 Young Academy. His severe trials had brought him more thanonce to the point of giving up, but every time he had conquered andrenewed his effort with redoubled determination. At first it seemedlike no matter how hard he worked he made no headway, butfinally his labors began to be rewarded. The vigor and energy withwhich he pursued his studies could not have failed to bring results,but that alone did not account for his unusual progress ; he hadalso, with this great capacity for work, a good memory, splendidreasoning powers and quick perception. It developed that he had aremarkable head for mathematics and the languages. Before com-ing to school he had been thrown with Mexicans, Indians, andScandinavians and had quickly picked up a smattering knowledgeof their various tongues. He began the study of Spanish and wassoon leading the class. In Arithmetic, too, he was advancingrapidly and finally at the beginning of the second semester foundhimself in a class with Ben Shumway. From that first evening when Jed had impulsively called the cityboy down, young Shumway had despised the sheep-herder and hadshowed his contempt in many small, but by no means unnotice-able, ways. When Jed entered his class in mathematics Mr. Shum-way said slurringly to the teacher, "Do you think it is fair to the rest of us to allow some one inthe class that will hold us all back?" Jed's brown face reddened as he took his seat in confusion, buthe vowed to himself that Shumway should be the one to be left be-hind. He threw himself into the work with a will and it wasquickly apparent he would be able to keep up with his fellow class-mates. The big herder had not been too busy to exchange glances nowand then with the girls and to indulge occasionally in a little play-ful repartee. The young women found him very interesting, so hedid not lack for invitations to parties and socials. At first he per-sistently refused to be lured from his lessons but finally encouragedand actually coaxed by Jack Bleeson, who had been as friendly asBen Shumway was hostile, Jed sometimes accepted. Wherever hewent he never failed to attract attention ; he always entered intothe fun and helped out so appreciably that he was at once in con-siderable demand. When the third dance of the season camealong—there was one every five weeks—Jed attended. The first young lady he danced with came back to her seatbeaming with pleasure. "He's the grandest dancer!" she exclaimed extravagantly toher friends and thereafter the sheep-herder found himself thecenter of a merry whirl and the object of very much attention. "You can trust the girls for discovering a chap like Ware,"one of the professors remarked as he observed the country boy'spopularity. 208 [MPR( >VEMENT ERA After the party was over Jed stood with other male studentsaround the little frame entrance outside to watch the people comeout. When the young lady with whom he danced first passed,one of the scholars suggested, '•'There's the girl for you, Ware, Allie Peck sure thinks you'reabout right." "I'm not looking for a girl," said Jed. "Some girl down south must have Ware's heart," spoke up JoeAnderson, "or he'd surely he flattered by the notice of Allie Peck ;why she's the prettiest young lady in school now Amy Bleeson isaway." "( ), many people think Allie is hotter looking than Amy," putin Jack Plecson. "Pooh," cried Jed off his guard, "the Peck girl can't hold acandle to Amy Bleeson for looks—or for anything else." "Ho! ho! Now the cat's out of the bag!" roared Joe An-derson, immensely amused. "Amy Bleeson! Well, who'd havethought!" All the young men laughed and teased Jed except one. BenShumway's lip curled in scorn, "Some folks can look high," he slurred, "when they havemore gall than gumption." The boys knew by the venom in his voice that Ben wasindignant and disgusted. Jed knew it and answered with char-acteristic independence, ' I have a right to admire any girl I choose, at least theyoung lady's objections are all I'm intending to notice." Jack Bleeson quickly and wisely put further words at an endby breaking up the gathering. After this it was an open secretthat Jed and Ben were at sword's points, though the city manscorned to look upon the big cow-puncher as a rival. A few days after the foregoing incident Jed was passing Mr.Shumway's desk when his eye fell upon a fat letter boldly ad-dressed to Miss Amy Bleeson. Young Shumway reached out andlaid his hand over the letter, not, however, until he was sure Jedhad read the name, then with a contemptuous glance, as if accusingthe passer-by of trying to find out other people's affairs, he put theenvelope in his pocket. This slight-of-hand performance succeededin tormenting the country man, his heart was sore for many days.In a few weeks, as he was passing Mr. Shumway's desk again,another letter was lying conveninently near the edge of the bench.With one glance Jed recognized the pretty feminine hand-writingof the little girl teacher. There was a triumphant light in Shum-way's eyes as he once more pretended to snatch the envelope frompryers. It was useless for Jed to tell himself that Amy Bleeson wasnc thing to him and was free to write to whom she chose, even to an JED AT THE OLD ACADEMY 209 unfeeling- aristocrat who continued, as all the boys well knew, tokiss girls just for fun, considering it not only a legitimate pastimebut the main one in which a man could prove himself a real sport.Jed was facing the fact that this particular young lady was all theworld to him and whatever she did affected him tremendously. Hewas seriously considering writing Amy himself—he had grownvery bold of late, he called her Amy, just Amy, dear Amy. But,no, he could not write to her yet. Arithmetic was getting easy,so were some of his other studies, but writing, letter writing,that was too much at present. So Jed bore Shumway's teasingand ground his teeth when he saw the young pleasure-seeker outwith girls not up to Amy Bleeson's standard. He plunged into his studies with greater force than ever,working early and late and never giving up until he had ac-complished whatever he set out to do. O, but he was restlessduring the warm bright days of spring. He only held himself tohis tasks with a grip of iron and a real ache to leave Shumwaybehind in mathematics. This desire was at last realized as he wasonce more advanced. "I'm glad I did not have to hold you back," he remarkedwickedly to Ben as he left the class. One week before school closed for the summer vacation AmyBleeson came to Polysophical with her brother Jack. Jed sawher enter from a seat in the back of the room. She was noddingpleasantly this way and that and laughingly shaking hands witheverybody. Strange that the appearance of a young girl withsmiling blue eyes and fluffy yellow hair could set the pulse of agreat strong man to surging that way. Jed wondered at it as hefelt his heart pounding like a sledge hammer aginst his chest. Hemissed much of the lecture, because he could not take his eyes fromthe face of the pretty visitor. When the program was over thesheep-herder hastened down stairs and stationed himself as usualat the entrance to watch the people file out. Suddenly MissBleeson and her brother emerged and Jed took a step forward justas Ben Shumway very naturally and easily fell into step with thepair—by the side- of the young lady—and the three chatting mer-rily walked away. The crowd had seen Jed start forward and they now guyedhim good naturedly, though that was the smallest reason why thiswas the bitterest moment of the boy's life. No comforting dreamscame to him through the night, for he never once lost consciousnessin sleep. He felt that he was a lost boy. He knew now that hehad been working for Amy Bleeson and since she had walked awavwith the other fellow—well the ground seemed to have slipped outfrom under his feet. Ah, Shumway has fine manners and fine clothes, if his moralsare loose—what does it matter! Women do not care for real 210 IMPROVE MINT l'.RA worth in a man, they think only of his appearance. Jed tried tothink it all nut through the Inn-- night. When morning came hehad arrived at the conclusion that the only place he could get backhis peace of mind was at the sheep-herd. This particular Saturday, it happened, had been planned for a,school outing upon the mountain side. It was a beautiful warmmorning toward the last of May and Jed decided he would go, ashe had never been upon the great Wasatch which towered majestic-ally above the town, and upon which he had often looked withstrange fascination. He tramped listlessly up to Oak Springschancing to be the first one to arrive there. When he had viewed the landscape for some time, his eye rov-ing admiringly over the green fields, the little town and thesparkling lake in the distance, his spirits began to rise. What abeautiful picture! What a wonderful world! It was good to bealive, after all! Crowds of young people were coming into view.There was half a dozen girls and boys in the first group, Jed turnedas they approached him and recognized, first of all, Amy Bleeson.He did not know who else was in that small company; he onlyknew Shumway was not with them. When the little girl teachersaw the sheep-herder she came forward with her pretty brightsmile—Jed thought the sight of her must make everybody feelgood and happy. "Why, Jed, I'm so glad to see you," she cried gaily, "and I'mso proud that you have made such a splendid record, Jack hasbeen telling me—I knew you would!" She held out her hand to him. Jed took it and pressed itwarmly murmuring, "Glad to see you—oh, thank you." Then Miss Bleeson won-dered at his strange confusion, he seemed to be looking over herhead at something. It was Shumway's rapid approach that hadcaught his eye and his breath, too. Then Jed did a bold anddesperate thing. "Will you run away with me to that peak, yonder—away fromthe rest. Come, will you go with me?" he asked quickly leaningslightly towards her with all the old dare-devil mischief in hisdark eyes. "O won't that be a lark!" exclaimed the girl catching the fireof his spirit, and Jed guided her quickly around a boulder—away from Shumway—and they started the upward climb together. As thev put distance between them and the other man. ledgrew light-hearted and full of fun. like he used to be in Black-gulch. Soon Miss Bleeson remarked, "O it's good to be with you, Jed, you are always so lively." Jed's eyes sparkled with pleasure, as he led her to a great flatrock, where they sat down cide by side. Being thus with her wasalmost too much for the big. lonely, hungry-hearted sheep-herder; JED AT THE OLD ACADEMY 211 he was too happy to speak. They looked out over the entrancingpicture before them, and marveled over the beauty of the scene.All nature was fresh and lovely, in the pale green of early spring,and a million suns were reflected in the morning dew. Presently they began to talk of Blackgulch, of Hebe, Abe andSally Brown, of the school over the "tater hole," and Jed's workin the Academy. Miss Bleeson was lavish in her praise of hissplendid progress. At length the young lady suggested that they return to thesprings. Jed slipped down from the rock and stood before herin evident confusion. He seemed to have something on his mind. "Miss Bleeson—o—er—" he began hesitatingly, "do you think—a—would it be asking too much—that is, will you go to theparty with me next Friday night?" Miss Bleeson burst into a merry laugh. Jed's distress wassurely comical. "Why, yes, Jed, of course I will," she said. Jedlooked and felt so relieved and delighted that when their eyes metthey both laughed happily. "I'm ashamed to ask you so far ahead but I—a—" "I'm glad you did," smiled the girl. Then they were silent a long time. Presently Jed museddreamily. "Do you know, it was just such a morning as this that Ithought of when I first saw you—spring time, sun-shine, blue skies,wild flowers—" he closed his eyes slowly as though a deliciousthought were in his mind. "Do you know, it seems like I havebeen with you in this very spot before, sometime," he meditated,his dark eyes bright and gentle. Miss Bleeson looked up at the big herder, her blue eyes blueras she laughed softly, "O you strange Jed!" Jed's pulse quickened, once more his ambition was fired. "I'vechanged my mind about teaching over the 'tater hole'," he said,"if I ever teach it will be—" "In the Academy, of course," smiled Miss Bleeson.