American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-10-04
FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS.
JININIY'S CRUISE IN THE PINAFORE.

James Nelson has n sick little sister,
Kitty, whom nothing but country air will re-
| vive; but his mother is too poor to take her
out of the hot and dirty city. So Jimmy sits
and SORROWS about it, until at last he makes
up his mind to hire himself out to a ships
Captain, and with his wages, paid in adj
vance, send Kitty to get well among the
cool, green fields.l
! Little did desperate Jimmy guess
what ship he would really sail in, nor
what a prosperous voyage he was about
to make, for help was coming that very
minute, as it generally does sooner or
later, to generous people who are very
much in earnest.
First shrill whistle was heard,
at the sound of which he looked
up quickly; then rosy-faced
girl of about his own age came
skipping down the street, swinging her
hat by one string; and, as Jimmy
watched her approach, Il smile began to
soften the grim look he wore, for Willy
Bryant was his best friend and neigh
Dor, being full of courage, fun and kind
Illness. He.nodded and made room for
her on the step, the place they usually
occupied :rs spare moments when they
got lessons and recounted their scrapes
to one another.
But tonight Willy seemed possessed
of some unusually good piece of news
which she chose to tell in her own lively
fashion, for, instead of sitting down, she
began to dance sailors hornpipe, sing
ing gayly: 81 IN little Buttercup, sweet
little Buttercup,'' till her breath gave
out.
"What makes you so jolly, WHIP"
asked Jimmy as she dropped down be-
side him and famed herself with the ill
used hat.
'Such fun-you'll never guess-just
what we wanted-if your mother only
will! You'll dance, too, when you
KNOW" painted the girl, smiling like
substantial sort of a fairy come to bring
good luck.
60 Fire away, then. 1t will have to be
extra nice to set me off. don't feel a
bit like jigs now" answered Jimmy, as
the gloom obscured his face again, like
Il cloud over the sun.
g You know 'Pinafore?'" began
viii, and, getting a quick nod for an
answer, she poured forth the following
tale with great rapidity: 'sWell, some
folks are going to get it up with children
to do it, and they want any boys and
girls that can sing to go and be looked
at tomorrow, and the good ones will be
picked out, and dressed up, and taught
how to act, and have the incest time
that ever was. Some of our girls are
going, and so am 1, and you sing and
must come, too, and have some fun.
Won't it be jolly?n
81 guess it would; but 1 can't.
Mother needs me every minute out of
school, began Jimmy, with Il shake of
the head, having made up his mind
some time ago that he must learn to do
without fun.
90 But we shall be paid for it, cried
VIII, clapping her hands with the dou-
BILE delight of telling the best part of
her story, and seeing Jimmy's sober face
clear suddenly as if the sun had burst
forth with great brilliancy.
Really? How much? Can 1 sing
well enoughp" and he clutched her arm
eNcitedly, for this unexpected ray of
hope dazzled him.
He was so excited he could not sleep,
and beguiled the long hours by hum
knew belonging to the already popular
opera. Next morning he flew about his
work as if for a wager, and when VIII
came for him there was not happier
heart in all the city than the hopeful one
that thumped under Jimmy's thread
bare best jacket.
Such a crowd of boys and girls as they
found at the hall where they were told
to apply for inspection! Such chirp-
ing and piping went on there, it sound
ed like big cage full of larks and lin
nets! And by and by, when the trial
was over, such a smiling troop of chill
dren as was left to be drilled by the en-
ergetic gentlemen who had the matter
in hand! Among this happy band stood
our Jimmy, chosen for his good voice,
anu VIII, DecstuSe Oh HcT DRY III
face and lively self-possed manner.
When the grand day came at last, and
the crew of jolly young tars stood ready
! to burst forth with the opening chorus,
We sail the ocean blue,
Our saucy ships n beauty,
We re gallant men and true,
And bound to do our duty!
Jimmy hardly knew whether he stood
on his head or his heels at first, for, in
spite of many rehearsals, every thing
seemed changed. Instead of daylight,
gas shone everywhere, the empty seats
were full, the orchestra played SPLEEN
didly, and when the curtain rose, sea
of friendly faces welcomed them, and
the pleasant sound of applause made the
| hearts under the blue jackets dance
gayly.
How those boys did sing! how their
eyes shone, and their feet kept time to
the familiar strains! with what Il relish
they hitchcd up their trousers and
lurched about, or saluted and cheered
us the play demanded! With what in
terest they watched the microscopic
midshipmite, listened to Ralph as his
sweet voice melodiously told the story
of his hapIess love, and smiled on pretty
Josephine who was a regular bluebird
without the scream.
That was the beginning of many busy,