American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-09-16
CASTLES IN SPAIN.
A STORY FOR BOYS.

glass, he saw an exceedingly handsome
fellow. He used to bow to himself, af
ter he had given his necktie a jaunty
knot and set his Scotch cap little to
one side, practicing all kinds of salutes,
from the dignified nod with which he
would dismiss his staff when he was a
major-general, to the low obeisance he
would give to a 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 magnificence of
his conquests when he should be dictator
or tribune. He scowled in the glass,
imagining''a plumed crest" above his
forehead; how he would recline 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 ever had been known in merry
England with his skill and bravery. On
Wednesday, Sam turned somersault,
and (having been at a scientific lecture)
icf 10 fa
how he would look gray-headed and in
a 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
to sleep. And so on through this week
and every other week. That an
Gent 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. He wound
up on Sundays, after he had been at
church, with declaring his intention of
becoming 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
1 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 1 will
become martyr, and on the anniver-
sary of my death there will be 8 sermon
preached about it,
His mother was good deal touch
ed and startled by these pious inten-
tions; but the next day Sam happened
to go to see play, and came home wild
with the new heroes offered there for
his homage and imitation. There were
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 man."
Sam strutted, and smote his breast, and
declared himself every inch 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.
aAsk the Widow Sennett to let her
son go with us,' he said to his wife.
sJimmy Sennett is quiet little fellow,
who may have good influence on this
conceited 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 merry lit
tie chap, and SO ready and willing to
be of use even in his busiest time, that
he was 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 been
glad of chance to do him good
turn. Mr.. Feisbie noticed him atten-
lively as he sat in the car before him
with Sam; his coarse, clean clothes, his
bright eyes that wandered here and
there, seeing every thing, and the de-
lighted little chuckle which he could
not repress. Sam was pouring forth
his intention of becoming great rail
road man, and running roads and trains
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 the
shoulder.
sob, yes, indeed, sir! I never saw
the sea, nor was on boat"
81 am going to be a sailor, and COM
mand snip" said Sam. "And when,
some night, steamer strikes against a
rock, and is going to pieces, I will be
there in the very knick of time, and
take off her passengers at the risk of my
own life. shall take the children first,
and then the women, and my men shall
go about the work even in that dreadful
danger like machines, 1 shall have such
fine discipline on board"
A thin, pale man, in white hat,who
sat near reading the morning paper,
looked up at Sam, over his spectacles,
and studied him attentively, at which
Sam drew himself up consciously, 'He
sees the mark of genius in my face" he
thought.
"Your vacation has just begun" said