St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-11-02

me that what the boy had told me was
true, and that Jim really didn't know
that he WAS disturbing us at all, for
when l spoke and asked:
"Well, Jimmie, haven't you drummed
most enough for this time 7" he sprang
to his feet, and with the most distressed
look on his face, said:
81 ask your pardin, missus, but pears
like dis niger never will learn to keep
dem fingers still. | was listenin' right
smart though, missus, to what you was
Il tellin' bout de Good Shepherds car
ryin' ov de loss lamb home in his bosom.
| You jess go on wild de story, missus,
and I'll Jess sit ON dem hands so dey
can't make anoder bref o. noise see eff
l don't, now"
| The little fellow was in earnest, and
we went on without any farther inter
ruption, but could scarcely help watch
ing the little chap, he seemed to listen
so eagerly to all had to say.
After the school was dismissed,
called Jim to me, and learned from him
that he lived with his mother not far
from the school, and that his father was
away at sea, being cook on one of the
large merchant vessels running between
New York and Liverpool.
AS it was lovely afternoon l asked
Jim if he would like to have me go and
see his mother?
swell, now, reckon | would, missus,
he answered. ''Mammy she'll be right
glad to see yes" and SO with the black
est of guides | started for Jim's home.
| found his mother very neat and
respectable woman; and after talking
with her about herself, asked her some
questions about jim, and told her OF
what he had done in the Sabbath School
and that he had said he did it without
knowing it.
''Lordy massey, missus," she replied
''dat boy Jim, he no more kin help
drummin dan he kin help breavin. Dat
child, he went for to bangin on cherry
ting in de house when he want no big
ger dan a skeeter, he want. He'd rub
a-dub-dub on de tables wild his grand
fader's cane, an he'd wallOp cherry tin
pan he could get hold oh wild big iron
spoon, till he make us clean bout era
zy; an when he got big enufi to go to
school, golly, dey wasn't fence tween
here an de schOOlhus dat cherry blessed
bit of paint want wore off Oh, wild dat
little nigger's pOundin' Oh en-"
''Did he ever have drun,-a toy
dun, | mean,-when he was little
fellow ~
'NO, missus, he neber did. His fadeI
allus said, dat dat would be de tinishin
stroke, for if Jim should hab drum
sure enuff dat he'd hab us all in de mad
house in less dan week. But de fact
am, | dunno, sometimes | tink dat de
chile may hab IA gift, us de parsOn says
dat way, and dat we ort to glib him a
chance to try it and see."
| Immediately thought what l would
do for Jim, and with promise from
his mother that she would let him come
and visit me the next day, started fol-
home.
Promptly on time the next day he
appeared. | had told my brother (yOuI
Uncle William, children,) about him
and he had brought over his drum to
the house and was going to see if he
thought Jim was natural born drum
mer,-as you know he is a fine drum
mer himself | thought he would
know better than /.
As Jim entered the room the first
thing he saw was the drum, with the
drum-sticks laying across it ready fol
use. He didn't seem to see anything
else, OF any body in the room, bat walk
ed up to the drum and around it, but
never offered to touch it, only looking
at it as though it was something sacred
"Jim," asked, "wouldn't you like
to play ON a real drum? | have had
this brought here that you might try
it,
With gasp he answered:
"You's neber gwine to let me drum
OH dat, is you 7"
ayes, indeed" answered; "now lei
me hear you try"
At first he seemed almost frightened
but after one or two trials his courage
came, and he began to get more anC
more in earnest, until at last, with his
eyes fairly on fire, his head throw
back, his right foot keeping time will
his drumming, he seemed to have en-.
tirely forgotten where he was. He
went on and ON until, as we watched
and listened, we felt that there was, in
deed, no doubt but that Jim had the
''gift." There was nothing he had evel
heard attempted OH the drum that ht
: didn't try to do, and succeeded well
too; SO well, that your Uncle Will sale
he would send him to the best teacher
of drumming in New York, which ht
did.
After the first few lessons, in which
Jim improved very fast, asked him one
day: "Why don't you go to work ant
earn yourself drum 2"
"NOw, Missus," he answered, "'pear,
like you jess tryin' to fool dis poor mig
ger, cause my old nanny she say
most ebry day, dat dar niger Jim
he'll neber mount to muffin, tell We
but ouly jess gimme a chance, an won
dis chile put in de ticks, though, eh
Hi-yah !" and at the thought of his be
ing able to earn drum, the poor boy
forgot, for the first time in my presence
his manners, and after turning three o.
four somersaults, walked twice rount
the room on his hands, his feet in til,
air, without stopping.
| was never more amused in my life
but we all soon sobered down, and wen
to work to see what Jim could do. w,
were quite successful in getting hin
odd jobs that winter. He shoveled til,
/ sidewalks fol us and for some of gu
neighbors. We got newspaper rout'
for him, and the people said they hat
never received their papers so regular
ly before. Between spells he would
take his little stand and go on to tn,
street, where his CHEEKY voice calm:
out to the passers by, "Want shine
gem'man," drew many customer, ant
somehow it did seem as though jim