James Oliver Curwood, Disciple of the Wilds

by Hobart Donald Swiggett

But Jimmie vowed that some day, somehow, he would go to that great school to study. “Whistling Jeanne” Fisher realized then that his mind was firmly set and that he would go to any means to gain his objective, as he had proven in the past.

Seriously thinking the matter over Jeanne at last came to the conclusion that there were other schools equally as fine as the ones in Sandusky, and that if he would work hard and save his money and speak to his parents earnestly, he might some day get the opportunity he was looking for.

With the following morning, Jimmie did begin work, at whatever odd jobs he could find during his spare time. Regardless of what the task might be Jimmie was on the job.

With winter’s arrival he hunted and trapped rabbits and continued with this until the arrival of spring. When the snows had passed and winter was no more he managed to get himself a job on an adjoining farm picking up brush, trash and waste at the extremely low rate of twenty-five cents per acre. The boy took this job and did his work without grumbling because it meant a few more dollars toward his potential education. His mind was fired with the ambition to go to school where he could study to be a great writer, and go to school he would.

Spring and summer soon passed, and during this time Jimmie Curwood had beaten carpets, picked up brush and accomplished many other jobs as well as saving his rabbit pelts from the winter before. He now had enough money to buy himself a brand new suit of clothes. But with the arrival of fall Jimmie began to worry about achieving his ambition. Many days of anxious coaxing on his part began to pay off in dividends. For Mr. and Mrs. Curwood decided that if their son was so intent upon attending school and college, they would see to it that he would do so, even if it meant selling the farm.

That was it! That was the solution to their problem. They would sell the farm and move into town where Jimmie’s father could once again set up in the shoe-repair business. Days passed during which time the problem was given much serious thought. It was only after a month of such deep thought that Mr. Curwood at last decided not to sell the farm, but instead to leave Edward behind to take care of it. So, at last, came the day when the family prepared to move into the little town of Wakeman. This happened to be Mrs. Curwood’s girlhood home town.

A great many things were loaded upon the old spring wagon and as the first load began to pull out of the barnyard, Jimmie noticed tears in his mother’s eyes. She hated to leave the farm but it was a great day for her because of the educational desires of her youngest son.

Jimmie did not ride along with the first load of household goods but remained behind to go with the last load. Although of late Jimmie had not spent much of his time with Skinny, his pal remained with him for the duration of his time on the farm. Naturally, lovely Jeanne was with him, too, for it was partially through her pleading that Jimmie was getting the opportunity that he so desired.

The fateful day for departure inevitably came. It was all that Jimmie could do to keep back the tears, but he manfully refrained. He told Skinny that he would see him again soon and then he kissed Jeanne goodbye and climbed aboard the wagon. But hardly had he gotten aboard than he jumped off and proceeded to walk with Skinny as far as Bingham’s old orchard. Several minutes later the two young men saw the end of their last walk together, for ahead lay the end of the long orchard.

It was an orchard that the two boys had played in often and which was surrounded by a tall, six foot fence. Without a moment’s hesitation, merely because he realized that he should, Jimmie Curwood climbed aboard the spring wagon as they reached the end of the orchard with his mother and father, and was on his way to his new home in the city. He was going to a home wherein would come bright new horizons for the future.