The Portland daily press., 1869-03-02
Little Captain Trott.
BY HARRIET BEECHER STOWE.

- h@AhAAAA@A OA2ECaEh SIOWE.
We think that nobody can refuse to Cap
tain Trott the award of industry and energy.
de is energy itself. He believes in early ris-
ing, and like all others who practice TINS Sc
we're virtue, is of opinion that it is SIN ior
anybody to sleep after he is awake. There
fore he commences to whistle ana crow, ana
pick open the eyes of papa and mamma with
his fat, fingers. long before aurora crimsons
the east.5 as the poet says. For those hap
less sinners who love the dear iniquity of
morning maps Trott has no more mercy than
% modern reformer; and like a modern re-
iorner,. he makes no exceptions for circum-
stances.
II he is wide-awake and refreshed. it makes
no difference to him that mamma was up
half dozen times the night before to warm
ms miiK ana perform other handmade Offices
lor MS iorosnip; or that papa was late at his
once and did not get asleep until twelve
O'Clock. Up they must get; laziness is not to
De ndulged morning maps are an abomina-
ton to his soul; and he wants his breakfast
at the quickest conceivable moment, that he
may enter on the duty of the day.
This duty may be briefly defined as the
process of cultivating the heavenly virtue of
patience in the mind of his mother and of
the family and the community generally.
lie commences the serious avOcations of the
day after a shower of kisses, adorned by
fleeing dimples and sparkling gIances.
While mamma is hastily dressing, he slyly up
sets the wash-pitcher on the carpet, and sits
pleased spectator of the instant running
and fusssing which is the result. If there is
box OF charcoal tooth powder within reach,
ne now eontrives to force that open and scat
ter its contents on his nightgown and the
carpet, thus still further increasing the con-
fusion. II he is scolded, he Immediately falls
on his mothers neck, and smothers her with
sooty kisses. While taking his bath, he in
sists on sucking the sponge, and splashing
the water all over his mothers neat morning
wrapper. If this process is stopped, he shows
the strength of his lungs in violent protests,
which so alarm the poor woman for the char
acter of her family, that she is forced to COM
promise with him by letting him have a
bright pincushion, or her darling gold watch.
or some other generally forbidden object. to
console him
This, of course, he splashes into the water
forthwith, and fights her if she attempts to
take it away; for Trott is genuine Red Re-
publican in the doctrine of his own right to
have his own way. Then he follows her up
through the day, knowing exactly when and
where TO put himself in her way, In fulfill
ment OF his important mission of perlecting
her in patience. If she be going up stairs
with baby in her arms, Trott catches her
about the knees, or hangs on to her gown
behind, with most persistent affection.
In the kitchen, if she be experimenting
verdant Erin in the preparation Of some mys-
terious dish, Trott must be there, and Trott
must help. With infinite fussing and tiptoe
efforts, he pulls over on his head pan of
syrup-and the consequences of this move
ment all our female friends see without
words.
Is there company to dinner, and no dessert
and stupid Biddy utterly unable to COMPASS
the difficulties of a boiled custard, then mann
ma is to the fore, and Trott also. Just at the
critical moment,-the moment of projection
"a loud scream from Trott announces that
he has fallen head-frst into the rain-water
butt The custard is spoiled, but the pre-
cious darling Trott is saved, and wiped up.
and comes out, fresh and glowing, to proclaim
to his delighted admirers that he still lives.
Thus much on Trott's energy and industry,
but who shall describe the boundess veysG-
tility of his genius 9-AtlGntie Monthly for
March.