The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-09-14
CASTLES IN SPAIN.
A STORY FOR BOYS.

Any passer-by meeting Sam Feisbie
in the street would have seen only n
stocky, freckled boy, with II turned-up
nose, and eyes unnaturally staring and
light. But when Sam looked in the
glass, he saw IN exceedingly handsome
fellow. He used to bow to himself, af-
ter he had given his necktie q jaunty
knot and set his Scotch cap q little to
one side, practicing all kinds of %salutcs,
from the dignified nod with which he
would dismiss his stan when he was Il
major.general, to the low obeisance he
would give to IA young lady when he be-
came the most noted beau on Fifth Ave-
nue., for to these proud positions did
Sam aspire. Nor were these the only
ones. The books Sam had read were
few, it is true, but they served him only
as material out of which to construct
romances in which he was the principal
~figure-always dashing, always noble,
always triumphant. On Monday, after
his Latin lesson, he would sit in his
room planning out the magnifcence of
his conquests when he should be dictator
or tribune. He scowlcd in the glass,
~inagining"a plumed crest" above his
forehead; how he would rccline on the
chariot when the people came out to
meet him, bringing his prisoners and
mighty spoil home to Rome! On
Tuesday he was Robin Hood, in green,
a culver at his back. Well could he hit
the deer with his gray goose shaft! No
archer wei had been known in merry
England with his skill and bravery. On
Wednesday, San turned n somersault,
and (having been at scientific l~ecture)
became n great naturalist. lie fancied
how he would look gray-hcaded and in
u long, dusty robe and velvet skull.cap;
for of course all astronomers or chem
lists dressed in that fashion. He had
just discovered the philosophers stone,
and was on the point Of being crowned
by some unknown queen when he went
to sleep. And so on through this week
and every other week. That an
cient Rome and merry England
belonged to centuries long past did not
check him in the least. Room could be
found in this country for Robin Hoods,
or new CAESARS or Antonys. lie wound
up on Sundays, after lie had been ut
church, with declaring his intention OF
becoming II missionary.
"Don't talk to me Of schools or bust
ness, mother" he said. 81 am going
out to India, to convert the Brahmin
priests. / shall talk TO them rational
ly, and I've no doubt they will all come
over to the true religion promptly, and
| shall ride on an elephant and sleep in
a-let me see-in a bungalow, and have
Hindoo slaves, and no doubt after a
while they will murder me, and / will
become a martyr, and on the anniver-
sary of my death there will be a ermon
preached about it,"
His mother was n good deal touch
ed and startled by these pious inten-
tions; but the next day Sam happened
to 60 to see a play, and came home wild
with the new heroes offered there for
his homage and imitation. There We're
kings strutting to and fro in long ermine
robes, lovers paving the ground and
shifting their breasts under balcony
windows, and gallant sailors dashing
to the footlights and shouting out that
they "were-aye, every inch II man."
Sam strutted, and smote his breast, and
declared himself every inch a man, and
was King, lover, and jolly Jack-tar all
in one. 1t was about this time that his
father proposed that he should go down
to the coast with him TO spend a few
days in fishing.
"Ask the Widow Sennett to let her
son 90 with u.s." he said to his wife.
"Jimmy Sennett is a quiet little fellow,
who may have a good influence on this
conceiled boy of ours. Besides, the
holiday will do the lad good. l am
afraid he has had few holidays since his
father died"
The truth was, Jimmy had had no
holidays; but he was such q merry liz
tie chap, and so ready and willing to
be of use even in his busiest time, that
he was u favorite with every body. He
was Jimmy with the whole street,
from the grave old minister to the boot
blacks, and they all would have beer
glad of q chance to do him a good
turn. Mr.. Feisbie noticed him atten
lively as he sat in the car before hin
with Sam his coarse, clean clothes, hi
bright eyes that wandered here ant
there, seeing every thing, and the de
lighted little chuckle which he coult
not repress. Sam was pouring fortl
his intention of becoming a great rail
road man, and running roads and train
on new and improved plans, and Jim
my listened in silent awe and admira
ton.
"You are glad to come, my boyP'
| said Mr.. Feisbie, touching Jim on tn
, shoulder.
"Oh, yes, indeed, sir! | say
7, the sea, nor was on n Doat.'
I 81 am going to be a sailor, and CON
q mand a snip" said Sam. "And when
\ some night, q steamer strikes against
. rock, and is going to pieces, l will b
there in the very knick of time, an
take off her passengers at the risk of m
!, own life. l shall take the children frs,
and then the women, and my men sha
go about the work ever in that dreadfl
danger like machines, l shall have sue
u fine discipline on board"
!, A thin, pale man, in a white hat h
', sat near reading the morning pape1
looked up at Sam, over his spectaele'
. and studied him attentively, at whic
- Sam drew himself up consciously, "H
sees the mark of genius in my face"