The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-05-22
Jenitna's Opera.

Jemima's Opera.
"Jemima Screw! Jemima Screw
Where in the world are your"
Coming, ma" and then softly,
"oh dear, thought l was going to
have all this rainy day to myself. l
wanted to finish Lily's and Flora's
dresses, too, for the opera this after
noon. But 1 shall have to go down
now, and you girls must sit still and
study your lessons till / come back.
Be good or shall not let you go to the
opera.
So saying Jemima settled her dolls
in their chairs, gave them miniature
spelling books, and then proceeded to
go downstairs.
Mother Screw noted the sober face
and lingering step. She understood
their meaning very well. But she said,
cheerily:
"Why, Jemima, did you think you
were going to be upstairs all day
You've been playing three good hours
now. Still, l shouldn't have called
you, child, only Pete brought me his
overalls to mend. They are the only
pair he has, so had to sit right down
and mend EN-"
Being an affectionate, good-natured
little girl, Jemima had already recov-
cred from the petulant fit. She threw
her arms around her mothers neck,
saying:
Never mind, ma, only wanted to
finish Lily's and Flora's dresses. But
they can wear their old ones to the
opera. guess they would rather do
that than stay at home -
Bring 'em down to me, child, and
I'll soon finish 'em. Then right after
dinner Pete shall go for Bessie, and
you can have good long afternoon to
play in"
May we make as much noise as we
please, ma? For we are going to play
opera on the old spinnet, and there's to
be boating party besides"
ooh, yes, provided You don't come
through the ceiling But, now hurry
with the potatoes if you want dinner
early"
Soon after the noon meal Bessie ar
rived, bright and merry. Then Mrs.
Screw dispatched the children to the
garnet, loaded with doughnuts, apples,
hickory-nuts and the completed dresses
for the dolls.
They were to have Just as good time
as they could, and make as much noise
as they wanted to till they were tired.
Let me tell you what they did. First
all the dolls were dressed in their best
and placed in row before the old
spinhet. Then the little girls took their
places at the aged instrument. Oh
such pounding, trilling, chasing each
others fingers up and down the keys,
screaming, singing, laughing 1t was
opera, indeed.
Now there came an intermission, dur
ing which great inroads were made upon
the refreshments. Having sufficiently
refreshed themselves, the children
dressed the dolls anew for the boating
party. Into the cradle, which had
rocked three generations of babies,
tumbled the girls and their dolls. To
and fro from one end of the garrett to
the other they slid it. The rockers be-
ing short and worn very slippery during
all these years of rocking, and the old
oaken floor being also very slippery, it
was feat which the girls could easily
accomplish. Mother Screw down stairs
was sorely tempted to ask for respite,
but she didn't. She only said, "Well,
the afternoon can't last forever"
The boating was, however, at length
brought to an end by Bessie, who un-
fortunately rocked little too hard, and
the entire sailing party was unceremo-
niousiy tumbled upon the floor. The
girls laughingly picked themselves up,
but as it was growing dark they did not
care to play any longer. Instead they
took seats in the west window, finished
their apples and doughnuts, told
stories, and said what they would like
to have.
Nina" said Bessie, "s'pose @
fairy should come right to us now, and
say she would grant our wishes, what
should you wish for ?"
First L would ask for apretty name
say Evelin Gray, Florence Percy, OF
May Somers. Then / would wish to
live in the city, wear ruffled dresses ant
over-skirts with beautiful sashes every
day, and have crimped hair and lovely
blue ribbons to tie it with. 1t is YOU
turn now, Bessie ~
"Well," the little girl replied, &c
should wish that might sit up in thi,
old garnet all day and have it Just GOV
cred with story books and doughnuts.
Now the shadows deepened Til,
little girls gradually grew quiet. The.
peered fearfully into hooks and Gran
mes; listened and started at the squeak
ing and scraping of the rats and mice
Then as one bold rat raced over tn,
spinnet keys, Bessie and Jemima mad
rush for the stairs. Down they raj
pell-mell into the kitchen with such
chatter and patter, that Mother Sore,
started up in alright, saying: VIVA
on earth after we, children rats, bats
cats, or the old cradle itself p So end
ed Jemima's opera. and Home
The