The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-09-03
&or nou'tg Rfadtrs.
SAM.

with nobby coats, and smiling painted faces,
1 rne clothing dealer in his window places
10 make meat children enviouS, SuppoSe);
wen, Sam wasn't dressed ut all like one of
those.
Raiment like his no lively lad enjoys;
1t had been cut for several different bows;
ana, taxing garments as they come and go,
he had about one suit-or nearly So
sun, dry-goods are of life small-sized part;
a Dad coat often hides first.class heart
his race suggested, to the casual sight
A bulldogs when he's waiting for a tight;
AND on it might be traced full many a streak
as tnouGh IL were not Numbered once a
And yet his eyes were handsome, for a fact
Chat is, of course, the one that was not
BACKED,
For he had fighting-more or less-to doi;
But MS well eve looked rather good and true.
You youngsters, huddle round here where L
RI tell you why they called him Picnic Sam. q,
night.
A regular tirst-class picnic appetite;
anu WIN a zeal good children stood in fear
Attended every picnic he could hear of.
When sunday schools were going to have "a
spread,
He'd always join, week or two ahead:
And though no verses he had ever learned,
Tried to look serious like and deep concerned.
AND qt some good boy he was sitting near
Would answer every question, loud and clear
twas strange, when near the time of feasting
came,
How sure school was to get Samuers name.
why" said teacher, rather prone to scoif.
~ I'll smell picnic full fortnight Off -
Twas strange, in different schools he rayaged
round in,
in. :
Three times he actually tried to pass
AS member of an old folks Bible class:
And once appeared trough brick-bat among
pearls)
In small, timid infant class of girls,
But in whatever company he came
His appetite stood by him all the same.
No picnic near, in weather foul or pleasant,
But Sam and stomach managed TO be present
And when, with innocent, unconscious air.
He placed himself at table, firm and square,
With one eye partly closed, the other 10 ok ng
lntently at the different styles of cooking,
And when, with strengthening knife and
fork,
He brought himself down seriously to work,
ana marched through every dish in conquer
And ravaged all the adjacent territory,
Making the table for some distance round
Look like tiercely hard-fought battle-ground,
A smile upon his placid face would fall,
AS il life wasn't failure, afte: all.
But when the exciting dinner hour was
gone,
Sam always felt quite uncalled-for and alone;
felt snuooed and frozen and made quite game
Sights that he didn't even know the name of,
But which he sensed as keenly do not doubt
AS if some foe had told him all about it.
He always felt by that vague feeling haunted
That hangs around folks when they are not
wanted.
Because a boy is greedy, dull and droll
1t needn't follow that he hasn't Il soul
because his stomach Graves more than its
part,
It's no sign he was born without a heart;
Though ragged, poor, or coarse. or impolite,
He may resent a wrong or feel a slight.
lis dangerous work, this making game of
Thinking, perhaps, they do not heed your
jokes
Don't fool yourself; for, ten to one, they know
And feel it worse in laboring not to show it.
Well, on one day particularly fine,
Sam felt himself invited to help dine 4.
In a small grove, green, shady, fresh and cool,
A recently-diScovered Sunday-schOol
Which, when he'd Joined, he'd muttered,
"This'l pass;
It's swell crowd; the board'll be first-class."
And so it was; and for an hour or more
Sam slew things as he never did before,
Wondering, with q gastrOnomic SMILE
Where all these victualsd been all this long
And made the teachers feel great surprise
That they'd 50 moderated their supplies:
And in his stomach could not but confess
That lite to-day was one good, square success.
Then, after dinner, feeling perk and smart,
He tried to make a little social start,
And frisk and frolic round like any other,
And be accepted as a boy and brother.
But all the children shrank, with scarce-hid
loathing,
From a strange lad in such imperfect clothing;
And soon Sans face misty sadness wore,
As if to say, II blieve I'm snubbed once
He tried to put them under obligations
With street accomplishments and fascina-
tons; -... ...
In turning somersaults and hand-springs led,
Whistled and sang, danced, stood upon his
Even tried friendly sparring match, till
Right in the act misunderstood, and shak zen
(By the strong mother of the lad he battled),
Till the provisions in him fairly ratified.
But whatsoe'er he did, discreet or bold,
1t seemed to drive him further in the cold.
The grove was near a river; on whose brink
Samuel sat down, with lots OF time to think,
And watch some light boats swiftly past him
With happy children nlttingto and fro,
Content to sec him safe and dry ON land.
And he thought mo, amt much in de-
mand."
Just then trim young miss came tripping
With golden hair, and more than handsome
And Sam remarked, his face full of glad
creaseS, b..
THAT'S the smart girl that scooped EN- speak
in pieces;
1 wonder if she learned hers like a song, -
Or made the speech up as she went along.
She came out first, though last upon the track,
But spoke so long it held the dinner back;
Still, what she said was sweet an soothin
rather,
Bout how We all are children of one Father.
If that's so, she's half-sister unto me--..t 4,
At least think I'll speak to her, and see"
Then, thinking pleasantly to clear the way,
He shouted, Miss, this 'ere's pleasant day."
But she fiounced on, more naughty than be-
fore; .,
And Sam remarked, ~ b'lieve I'm snubbed
.. once more, ....
While, roughly sad, the boy sat must g,yet,
setP' 3 1ffF III .T'.Fi - 49, Nf
And, following with his eyes the fear-edged
scream. ' +'''T -