Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-07-26

CHILDREN,S COLUMN.
LinlpetY Jack.

/ 4aWV fellow whom nearly all the boys
I tT5&a of the neigtborhood called
L sSsaAssr L;mpety Jack, for sport. 1t
would have been better if they had pitied
him for his stupidity, and helped aim TO
his wits as well rs they could. But no
body ever thought of that. Probably if
the boys had thought of 1t they would
have gone to work and helped him just
as heartily as could be. But, at any
rate, they didn't. They made, instead,
more and more sport of him every day,
until at last they thought they could
have some very wonderful fun indeed.
They worked and conjured with an aw-
full mask and red flannel and pastboard
and wire and fsh-skins, and great big
green beads for eyes, until they sue
ceeded IN producing a horrid looking
monster-that is, when they found Il
man named Philigan McDermot, who
was willing to put on the mask. and all
the traprings. Then they took him to
a cave by the sea and dressed him up
| and made him squat down in a damp
corner Such Il dreadful object was
| never seen befare, and the man himself,
as he sat there, shivered to think of his
own appearance. Well, meantime some
of the rest who had Joined in this cruel
plan to trighten Iimpety Jack, can to
| find him and tell him that "a gentleman
| WdnCeu 10 Stt lltli dtOtlt pll
business" "
"Wom't-it be jollyn' they whispered
to one another i'll great glee. We won't
let any harm really come to Limpty, but
| we'll make hlm think he is in a peck of
trouble before we get through with him.
So they all chimed i'll, ''Oh yes, Limp
ETY.! it's so! The gentleman wants to
see you alone. Very important busi-
ness. You II. find him in a cave by the
/ sea. And be quick, Limpety Jack, :"
| added their leader, "he'S the husband of
the beautifulest mermaid that ever lived.
/ She sends yoa a bag OF gold by him.
i He'll be wanting sacrifice OF you to
pay for the gold, but never you mind.
Do as he tells you and it win be all
right"
FAY, butlI willn' cried Limpety Jack
in great glee. GA bag Of gold from a
mermaid! Bless my, lucky stars!' And
off he ran to make himself fine for the
wonderful person who sat waiting for
him in the cave by the sea.
/ Now it so happened that Limpety
Jack had a pretty little boy of his own.
and SO had Philfgan McDermot, the ina Ii
4 who sat waiting Jor him.
"Let me go with you, Dad - cried
i little Jack.
.4"No! no!'' answered Limpety Jack.
81 must go alone to get my bag OF gold.
Stay you where you be.''
'sLet NE go with yOu?' cried little
! Phil McDermot.
! "No! mol answered Limpety Jack.
81 must go alone to get my bag of gold.
Stay where you be-" ....
/ But Master PHI was a self-willed
/ little self-wilteti fellow, and he followed
Limpety Jack on the sly, not showing
himself till they were at the very mouth
4 of the cave All the miselfiverus fel-
4 lows were hfden away in the eaye, al
II most bursting with suppressed laughter
i and waiting 10 see what Lilnpety Jack
Il would DO when he should come upon
4 the monster.
/, s'You can't go in with me-" whisper
) ed Iimpety Jack to Phil, just outside
n the entrance TO the cave
! "But I will, "insisted the child.
.sWe'il See," said Linfpety Jack, as
catching the boy in his arms, he waded
!. into the water with him and sat him
! down hard upon a great rock thai
5 stuck its top out of the waves:
s.Sit We there till come back Will
? the bag of gold,'' said Limpety Jacl
} Esternly There was no danger of hi:
} being disobeyed, for Phil knew he mus
drown if he slid off the rock. And Wh'
would hear him scream through all tht
wailing Of the sea.
-sNow! 20 said Iimpety Jack, as he
, entered the cave
t NV stars!" he cried family, as his as
tonished gaze fell upon the terrible
figure squatted in the corner, "but th'
9 mermaidy have ii most singular taste Ii
: the way of fiusbands!" Ssiil he was to'
. eager for his bag OF gold TO back on
! now.
ID. ssGood day, sir,'' bowling as well a
5 he could, what with his wet legs and thu
/, trembling that suddenly came owe
!, him.
!, 'sGood day to you," croaked terri
I BILE voice. 81 have brought you "a bas
e of gold from my wife"
], ssMany thanks to her, Pm sure, sir,
;, faltered Limpety Jack, bowling agail
and.steDping forward about an inch.
"But." reared the mer maids HUSBAND
"you can not have it for nothing. Their
\ must be sacrifice. Set your son Jacl
: on the great rock near by, in the sea ,an'
e when the waves wash him off and tax
e him to my wife, the gold is yours"
s Poor Jacks teeth chartered. But Ia
could not give up the gold.
S .s1 our MightinesS," saSd he family
+. .scouldu' We think of some other sacri
) fice?"
e "Not another" beloved the mel
IL maid S husband, and low sumblin
IS found seemed to spring up in the cav
l. (but it was only those wicked boys try
8 ing not to laugh.)
&c "Well, sir" said Limpely Jack, .
!. haven't any too much sense. That
g know as well as the best ones. But
n like my boy too wellto give him up fc
u all the gold of the sea- And with
10 great sigh he turned to go away.
l. .sHold!" he cried suddenly recollec1
se ing something. 81 did leave behind III
10 on the great rock in the sea, mo-
beautiful boy. | didn't mind me to q
t. it, The saints forbid me! but by tn
ID time he's most like washed of, and gor
Of to your wife under the sea [the Loi
he save him! A most beautiful boy, yot
d worship, the son Of one Philip .McDe
lg M"
!" Oh but you should have seen II
~ monster spring to his feet, cast off ii
al mask, and tear out OF the cave, he al
~ ali the wicked jokers siter hint Lin
- ely Jack ran too, and now he cared f
" more for finding poor little Phil tbs
=, for all the gold that ever was seen.
- The tide had nearly covered the roe
20 and there, on the very, very top. wi
~. the water pouring over his two tin
=. feet, stood little Phil. 1t seemed as
nv each wave must wash him off. Th,
nc y. rushed into the sea, but Iimpety Ja
:. | was hrSt. lt was knee nlgh-brea
~, high--chin high ;.and all the while I
' waves were dashing them against I
sharp rocks. The strongest of the
TIC drew back discouraged. Then all Il,
could distinguish was Iimpety Jacl
black head. They saw the frantic lit
boy leap towards 1t as if it had called
IN him, and then Phil McDermot, who h
=, stood as turned to stone, fell back ON /
u" shore like one dead.
~. When he opened his eyes there sto
'"' his little boy beside him, screami
with terror at his outlaniSh dress. Z
las men were busy with Limpety Jack, n
ty- bing him, shaking him, pounding hin
anything to bring the poor fellow
us life.
a They succeeded at last, and strange
say he always seemed To be brighter
les his wits from that hour, Ii might Ia
inc been owing to the shock, or to the br
cry in saving little Phil, or to the 1
that at last they thought of helping |
, ,'e' Certain it is he was never again cal
c, Limpety Jack.