Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-07-31
THAT UNLUCKY QUOTATION
4 STORY OF "PINAFORE.

THAT UNLUCKY QUOTATION.
4 STORY OF "PINAFORE."
They would have made very pretty
picture ON painted tile. as they sat on
> the porch in the vivid afternoon light
The cottage itself was as trlS1 and COM
plste as toy house; its color was soft
gray The late sunshine was goldcnly
clear, and all the green world was shin
ing, fresh from a stower. Auntic Trib
was sitting in bright red rock1ng-chair,
and her pretty old face was as pink and
white as bunch of roses; and as for
Sallle hcrself-well, ask any critic in
Rockdale, from the oldest inhabitant
down to the finest toddler, and you will
hear a msre enthusiastic comment than
any which can supply. Rockdale is "a.
neat little New England village, far
away out of the world, in rocky, billy
and-dalcy district, where the direct de-
scendants OF the Puritans still hold their
sway.
Auntic Trib's SOD, Free Grace Hill
called Free for short-madc bis name
good at an early age by snatching his
never mind achnt town; we can call it
L.. He verified lis mothers title at
the same time, for she became indeed an
embodiment Of tribulation; but Free
disappointed her agreeably, for he found
good situation, and worked in it faith
fully and steadily. He was now never
failing source of pride and delight when
on his brief visits he dazzlcd Rockdale
with his "town-madc'' garments, his
dainty mustache and general air of
"stylc.'
His last visit, however, proved an epoch
in the history Of Rockdale, and also III
the history OF his fair little orphan cousin
Sallic. He brought with him an older
friend, employed in the same house with
himself, but in more advanced position.
This parsonage, whom he designated as
Jack Arnold, Immediately sent poor Free
into the shade, and cast him down from
that pinnacle OF fame which he had mount
cd at the cost Of many Il pair OF highly
polished boots and much studied elegance.
will not attempt to describe the cf-
feet which young Arnold produced upon
the 'simple village maidens.' Every pref
ty vile which had formerly been directed
toward the fortunate son Of Auntie Trib
was now leveled at his friend, with force
and energy that produced the effect of a
bombardmcnt. Ere long, however, it was
discovered that the newcomer was proof
against every species OF attack. Not that
he was invulnerable-fa from it. The
truth was that he had fallen under the
very first shot. He had not been beneath
Auntic Trib's roof twcnty-four hours be-
tore he had succumbed Internationally
to the force of Sallie's charms. The little
Puritan maiden, with her cameo face and
her steadfast gray eyes, stole at once into
his heart-an honest heart, for there is
no civilian in this unpretending tale-and
from henceforth he was her liege knight
for life. It was not by passionate plead
ing and great deeds that he under.
took to win her for his own: no
the task was but easy, after
all. He was fair, good-humored, tall
and handsome; Free said he was CAPT
tai fellow, and Salie had great faith in
Free; he was devoted and unreserved in
expressing his affection: what more could
maiden ask? Before his vacation was
over he had bravely made known his
love, and was shyly but readily accepted
and when he and Free left Rockdale they
babe tender farewell to a happy little
damscl with ring upon her finger.
All this did no: happen long ago, but
in this very year of 1870. Rockdale was
9 nestled away far and deep among the
hills; 1t was not very near the town Of
l., and L. itself was not great
city. How should Rockdale know what
was agitating the world beyond? By
newspapers, of course; but women dc
not often read the newspapers carefully
and the two women of this narrative sell
dom looked into them. Especially did
they, in their Puritanic rigor, neglect the
amusement columns. After all, why
read of operas, plays and concerts that
one cannot see or hear? When anything
was "going on in Rockdale itself, all
the village was on the alert; but no one
cared what the fashionable folk stared al
through their opera-gasses in the great
cities. SO this. year, when H, NJ. q
Pinatorc" sailed iauntily, with colors fly.
ing, into American waters, many of the
inhabitants of Rockdale rocked not Of it
and this simple fact brought consterna
ton to the house Of Hill. The ''saucy
ship found its way to- l., anchored
there long enough to set few enthusiastic
to singing "Little Buttercup" and "Tht
Merry Maiden and the Tar' Incorrectly
Of course), and not finding quite 50 warn
welcome as in some of the larger cities
soon set sail again for Il more congenia
haven. But the mania for quoting tn
. libretto especially the "hardly ever
epidemic spread in that region as it dix
everywhere.
Our friend Jack Arnold went to see tn
performance, and of course he though
of Sallie ali the evening, and envie'
young Hill, whose lady.love was in til
party. The two young men were mcdi
tating a briet visit to Rockdale, AM
hence it was, perhaps, that Jack
thoughts were too far away to allow G
his giving full appreciation to the incom
parable little opera. All the tende
music filled him with thoughts Of love
from which the irresistible jingle of til
merry choruSes beguiled him only &c
the moment: Therefore; when the da
came for the journey to Rockdale, and b
found himself at last in the presence {
his beloved, his mind was quite absorbe
. by the JOY of it, and he had no ]eisu1
for such trifling matters as the discussio
ola pretty new opera. So Salhe was lei
still III her bcnighted ignorance; sh
knew nothing of "Pinafore''
They began to talk Of mundane ma
tiers, no Acver, on the second evenin.
when they were all seated together.
''" '..'rhat poor Laura. Beamis?" sal
Auntie Trib, compassionately. 4"Did 20
know she'd got back, Freee"4E
"Laur:t Beamis!" uttered Free, with
laugh, and glancing at Jack, who locke
tritie conscious. "You had t1irt-"
.-,..g1 Yes interrupted his mother; ''an
they do say she's been, Tilted by som
town young man to a degree that's mad
her a poor, broken hearted consum,
tive" ,c,.y.; :. s-..c22 l.
"Dear mcs' exclaimed Free. 4..Hea
and lungs gone at one fell swoop! Thu