The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-07-30
THAT UNLUCKY QUOTATION.
A STORY OF "PINAFORE,"

a STORY OF "PINAFORE.
They would have made very pretty
picture on a painted tile. as they sat on
the porch in the vivid afternoon light.
The cottage itself was as trla and COM
plete as toy house; its color was a soft
gray. The late sunshine was goldenly
clear, and all the green world was shin
ing, fresh from a SHOWER. Auntie Trib
was sitting in q bright red rocklng-chair,
and her pretty old face was as pink and
white as a bunch of roses; and as for
Sallie herself-well ask any critic in
Rockdale, from the oldest innabitant
down to the finest toddler, and you will
hear a mere enthusiastic comment than
any which can supply Rockdale is
&at little New England village, far
away out Of the world, in rocky, billy
and-daley district, where the direct de-
scendauts OF the Puritans still hold their
sway. : 's-
Auntie 'Tribs son, Free Grace Hill
called 'Free' for short-made his name
good at an early age by snatching his
liberty and marching away .to town.
never mind sohat town; we can call it
L.. He verified lis mothers title at
the same time, for she became indeed an
embodiment of trlbulation; but Free
disappointed her agreeably, for he found
a good situation, and worked in it faith
fully and steadily. He was now a never
failing source of pride and delight when
on his brief visits he dazzled Rockdale
with his "town-made' garments, his
dainty mustache and general air Of
"style."
His last visit, however, proved an epoch
IN the history of Rockdale, and alss in
the history OF his fair little orphan cousin
Sallie. He brought with him an older
friend, employed in the same house with
himself, but in d 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
ed at the cost OF many pair of highly
polished boots and much studied elegance.
will not attempt to describe the eff
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 a force
and energy that produced the effect of a
bombardment. Ere long, however, it was
discovered that the newcomer was proof
against every species OF attack. Not that
he was invulnerable- from it. The
truth was that he had fallen under the
very first shot. He had not been beneath
Auntie Trib's roof twenty -four hours be-
tore he had succumbed Internationally
to the force Of Sallies charms The little
fa g.
her steadtast gray eyes, stole at once into
his heart-an honest heart, for there is
no william in this unpretending tale-and
from henceforth he was her iege knight
for life: 1t 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 sallie 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 happy little
damsel with ring upon her finger.
All this did no: happen long ago, but
in this very year Of 1879. Rockdale was
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 agitatlrg the world beyond? By
newspapers, Of course; but women do
not often read the newspapers carefully,
no fy1ya pf
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, ali
the village was on the alert; but no one
cared what the fashionable folk stared at
through their opera-glasses in the great
cities So this year, when III NJ. s.
Pinatore" 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 enthusiasts
to singing "Little Buttercup'' and "The
Merry Maiden and the Tar" INCORRECTLY,
of course), and not finding quite so warm
welcome as in some of the larger cities
soon set sail again for more congeniai
haven. But the mania for quoting the
ibretto especially the "hardly ever
epidemic spread in that region as it did
everywhere. -
Our friend Jack Arnold went to see the
performance, and of course he thought
of Sallie all the evening, and envied
young Hill, whose lady-love was in tho
party. The two young men were medi
tating briet visit to Rockdale, an6
hence it was, perhaps, that Jacks
thoughts were too far away to allow d
his giving full appreciation to the incom
parable little opera. All the tender
music filled him with thoughts of love
from which the irresistible jingle of tn,
merry choruses beguiled him only To-
the moment. Therefore, when the do,
came for the journey to Rockdale, and h.
found himself at last in the presence o
his beloved, his mind was quite absorbed
by the JOY Of it, and he had no leisur,
for such trifing matters as the discussio,