American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-08-27
Youths Department.
PICNIC SIM


just huddle up around here where am,
And listen sharp while memory wandcrs to
And brings out what he seemed like when [
He lived in one of those high-stretchci affairs
Called tencmcnts, up any amount of stairs:
His room there, when the tired streets he for
Was just what room he crow led in and took
| Though he lived high he never had the
And for the most part took his dinners out;
| Break last and supper were not in his way:
| His motto always was, Ono meal per day;
Or rather, may be, when you squarcly met it,
One meal per day, providing can get it.
| His glrments-well, you We stood and looked
At those plump, Iittlo. beaming, madc-up
With nobby coats, and smiling painted faces,
| TO make meat children envious, l suppose);
Well, sam wasn't dressed at all like one of
Raiment like his no lively lad enjoys;
II had been cut for several different boys;
He had about one suit-or nearly SO.
Still, dry-guods are of Iifeea smail-sized part;
| bad coat often hides Il firSt-clasS heart.
His face suggested, to the casual sight,
| bulldogs when he's waiting for hight;
| As though it were not Numbered once a
And yet his eyes were handsome, for a fact
crhat ,, is, ef course the one that was not
For he had fighting-more or Iess-to do;
Fut his well eye looked rather good and true.
| You youngsters huddle round here where 1
I'll tell you why they called him Picnic Sam.
This young home heathen had, by day and
| night.
A regular first-cIass picnic appetite;
And, with zeal good children stood I'm fear
| Attended every picnic he could hear of.
When Sunday-schools were going to have "a
He'd always join. week or two ahead;
And though no verses" he had ever learned
| good
Would answer every question, loud and clear
| Twas strange, when near the time OF feasting
How sure1 school was to get Samuels name.
saia Fiji
| Twas strange, in different schools he ravased
What various kinds of classes he'd be found
in.
Three times he actually tried to pass
| AS member of an old folks Bible class;
| And once appeared trough brick-bat among
| In a small, timid infant class of girlsi
Bpt in whatever company he came
| No picnic ne ,r in weather foul or pleasant,
| But Sam and stomach managed to be present.
And when with i9n9e ,e. uRco , air.
With one eye partly closed, the other look ng
Intently at the different styles of cooking,
And when, with strengthening knife and
He brought himself down seriously to work,
And marched through every dish In conquer
And ravaged all the adjacent territory,
Look like fiercely hard-fought battle-ground.
A smile UPON his placid face would fall,
As if life wasn't failure after all.
But when the exciting dinner hour was
Sam always felt quite uncalled-for and alone;
Felt snubbed 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 bad tod him all about it.
He always felt by that vague feeling haunted
That hangs around folks when they are not
Because boy is greedy, dull and droll.
1t needn't follow that he hasn't Il soul;
Because his stomach Graves more than It's
tsno sign he was born without a heart:
Though ragged. poor, or coarse, or impOlite,
He may resent wrong or feel a slight.
'Tis 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
In small gr4ve, green: shady fresh and cool,
Which, when he'd Joined, he'd muttered
It's a swell crowd: the board'u be first-class.'.
And so 1t was; and for an hour or more
Sam slew things AS he never did before,
W ordering, with a gastronOmic smile,
Where all these victualsd been all this long
while;
That they'd SO moderated their supplies:
And in his STOMACH could not but confess
That lie to-day was one good, square success
Then, after dinner. feeling pork and smart,
He tried to make n 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
From strange lad in such imperfect clothing;
And soon Sans face misty sadne s. wore,
As il to say, Il bIieve I'm snubbed once
more
He tried to put them under obligations
With street accomplishments and fascina-
In turning somersaults and hand-sprngs led,
Whistled and sang, danced, stood upon his
Even tried friendly sparrins match. till
Right in the act, misunderstood. and shaken
GBy the strong mother of the lad be battled),
But whatsoe er he did, discreet or bold,
1t seemed to drive him further in the cold.
Samuel sat down, with lots of time to think,
And watch some light boats swiftly past him
With happy children fitting to and fro,
Content to see him safe and dry on land.
And he thought, mo, 1 amt much in de-
mand."
Just then a trim young miss came tripping
With golden hair. and moro than handsome
eye:
And Sam remarked, his face full of glad
THAT the smart girl that scooped 'em speak
in pieces:
! 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.
fthat so, she's half-sister unto me
At least think I'll speak to her, and see.'
Them thinking pleasantly to clear the way,
He shouted, Miss. this 'ere a pleasant day"
But she bounced on, more naughty than be
fore;
And Sam remarked. ~ b'lieve I'm snubbed
once more.
While. roughly sad, tho boy sat must q yet |
He heard shout, Help! help! our boat up |
Set!''
And, following with his eyes the fear-edged |
scream,
Sam saw three children struggling in the |
stream.
And two were rescued; one went meath a |
wave;
The waters closed above her like grave.
She sank, apparently to rise no more,
While frantic crowds ran up and down the |
And, mid the turmoil, each did his b st,
Shouting first-class Instructions to the rest.
Its the swell GIRL" thought Sam, that's |
made this row;
wonder how she likes the weather now.
I'd save her-ff IL wasn't too much bother
Good deeds for evil-children of one Father
rather think she's gone down there to stay;
She can't be yelled up, If they try all day.
Wonder, if | should save her, twOuld be bold.
I've dove for pennies-s'pose dive for gold"
\ hen throwing Off his coat-what there was of
it
He plunged into the water rose above it
Plunged in again, and came once more to air, |
Grasping pretty, golden tress of hair,
And fine, stylish, shapely girl attached,
With pale, sweet face, and lips that with it