So, as the sun began to set over the two little farms in the peaceful Ohio valley on that first evening of Jim’s return, it once again found Jeanne and Jim together. And as the evening wore itself into the darkness of night time, Jeanne refrained from talking of his future authorship, but upon subjects instead which were more vital to her. She had not stopped to realize that during his stay in Wakeman her Jim had become more and more entrenched in the path of becoming a famous writer of tales. As the night began to grow long Jim at last began pouring out his heart to her, and then Jeanne Fisher realized only too well that to talk of anything else save writing was a hopeless task.
Jim explained to her how he had lingered over the many new magazines that he had seen in Wakeman; how he idolized the printed names of the famous authors whose articles and stories he had read. He told of how his heart beat just a little faster as he completed reading each new story. How he had read and reread every story in every magazine that he could put his hands on. Little did he realize it at the time, but he was developing a style all his own through all this extensive reading that was later to lead him to fame. He even became breathless as he explained how his heart had missed a beat every now and then as he read those adventure stories. Tales of Indian scouts, strong, brave cowboys, and fearless Indian chieftains. Stories of dauntless seamen who sailed the seven seas unafraid in search of gold and silver.
“Whistling Jeanne” Fisher realized to the utmost that night that “literature was the guiding star of his destiny.” She came to realize also that nothing save death would stop the young, yet determined, Jim Curwood. He had it in him to write, he had something to say and to tell about, and she knew that some day he would get his chance to tell it. Either he would get his chance or he would make that chance.
Like most men of literature, a writer must have something to say, something to tell. From the age of eight, Jim Curwood had a story to tell and he always did his best to tell it in an unsurpassed manner. His courage in the face of great odds is indeed commendable.
The character of “Whistling Jeanne” has played the major roles in most of Jim Curwood’s short stories, serials and novels. Her character and her beauty were, above all else, inspirational and courageous.
The character of Melisse in “The Honor of the Big Snows,” Josephine Conniston in “The River’s End,” and Jeanne in “The Flower of the North,” are just a few of the heroines for whom her lovable character has been responsible. These novels have been filmed and flashed on the movie screens throughout the world, and his novels have been translated and written into over fourteen different languages. “Whistling Jeanne” Fisher’s character was truly an important part in Jim Curwood’s childhood days.
With all of the words of hope, courage, inspiration and wisdom which came from those “rareripe lips,” how could Jim go wrong? How could he help but to succeed? For even in his childhood days he was constantly filled with inspiration, hope and above all else, confidence. For with those words of encouragement the boy firmly planted his feet and vowed earnestly that nothing save death could ever keep him from becoming a great author. An author whose works would give to the people of the world hope and courage to push onward. Today, nearly fifty-seven years later, those works which he spoke about at the age of thirteen have given hope and courage to many millions of people throughout the entire world.
There is little doubt but that those early childhood days on the farm down in Ohio were the days which proved invaluable in the shaping of Jim Curwood’s destiny.