The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-05-18
Phil mused for few moments. He

was thinking of his mother, and how
thin and faded, and limp and shabby she
had been, and how she had pined, and
suffered. and died. and he answered at
last that he thought Tom Brown was
right. and that he shouldn't like to
see Jennie leading the life and dying the
death his own poor mother had, and all
that evening Phil sat very still in cor
ner By the fire, holding his little loves
hand, and staring dreamily into the en-
bers, irving to find out ''better line"
for himself than street-tumbling.
He used to be puzzling ct it night and
day, and the more he puzzled and
thought the more ambitious he became.
He had floating ideas of himself as
clown in circus, great acrobat in the
music-hall, and harlequin in panto-
mime, drawing no end of money, and
making his father, Tom Brown, and
Jennie as happy as the day was long.
There was to be no more poverty, no
more hunger. no more trudging the
streets. and collecting the revenue from
hard-hearted sight-seers; Moggs, Brown,
and himself were to be gentlemen, and
walk abroad in tail-coats and broadcloth
trousers, thick polished boots, and Chin
ney-pot hats, and Jennie was to be a la
dy, and wear real silk gown, gold
brooch, and long gold earrings, and they
were all to have pudding every day in
the week, Sunday moi omitted, and be
happy and jolly accordingly.
They were wonderful dreams that
f1oated through the boys brain, and he
told them all to his faithful sweetheart,
who believed in them as though they
had been gospel truths. And it really
seemed at last as though the good time
was going to begin, for Tom Brown
came home with news which made Phifs
heart leap in his bosom, and sent thrill
OF excitement through Moggs' frame.
And this was the news. Phil and
Moggs and Jennie were all to 60 on the
morrow to the theatre where Tom work
ed, 10 be engaged for the Christmas Pan
tomime, and they went and were taken
on. Jennie to dance in a fairy ballet,
and Moggs and Phil to play their aero
batic tricks in sham street on the
stage.
They were announced in the bills as
Moggs and his wonderful monkey, and
were forbidden by the manager to play
any more in the streets. but were put on
to rehearse in their attic to their hearts
content.
They got up good many new tricks,
and Moggs thought they would be quite
success when they came out; and Phil
was sure his dreams were coming true,
and that they were on the high road to
fortune and fame.
The eyentful night came at last, and
after hard day rehearsal the two men
and the two lovers set off for the theatre.
Phil and Jennie walked hand in hand,
Jennie full of fun, but Phil very quiet
and thoughtful.
His head ached little, he said, but it
would be all right when he began to act.
They soon reached the place, and,
hurrying in, dressed for their parts:
Iut,g buttara Il, d1s thta and pink and gold with
spangled suit, and Phil in complete
monkey-skin, which covered all his
beauty, except the bright eyec laughing
through the holes in the mask.
He was nightly applauded when he
laughter at his odd tricks, and he began
quite to feel rs though he was very
popular actor indeed.
be let down in swinging garland of
roses. and perform some of his choicest
tricks with his father
Hold hard, Phil said Tom Brown
as he lowered him steadily and carefully
from the flies. Don't look down."
But Phil did, he couldn't help it. He
saw his father and Jennie looking up at
him, he saw the glitter of the footlights,
and then-he grew sick, and he never
knew how, but he fell, and struck his
head heavily against the corner of the
scene. And when the screaming people
looked again there was blood flowing
from under the monkey mask, and blood
on the spangled dress of the tumbler,
who had picked up the lad, and was cry
inc out that his dear boy was dead, and
blood too on the wings and skirts of
little fairy who held Phirs hand, and
wept, as fairies are never supposed to
weep.
Well, they took the poor little broken
monkey into the green-room, and doc
tor came and examined him, but it was
all of no use. for Phil just opened his
ewes and kissed his father and Tom
Brown and Jennie, and whispered that
he '.meant to 90 in for a better line," he
closed them again for ever, and Moggs
was left to tumble on alone, the last of
all bis company. And he. poor man, be-
ing so lonely, and wretched, and very
poor, tumbled into the workhouse, and
very soon after into his grave; where he
was forgotten by everyone but Tom and
his daughter.
And Jennie grew up to be lovely wo-
man, and great actress, and marrieda a
kind good husband. and had little boy
whom she named Phil, which plainly
showed that she never forgot her first
love, Moggs' Monkey.