The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-06-14


full of life and fun, and with = heart as
warm and true as Pills.
They were piaymates, when they had
any time for play, and they always SYM
pathised with each others woes, and
| shared each others joys-whether they
came in the shape of halfpence or APP
pies, cold puddingor cake.
In short, Jennie reciprocated Pills
| affection. and they had plighted their
troth. one moonlight Sunday night, in
the attic which was Pills home.
They had promised to be true to each
other, and love each other for ever, even
when they were grown up, and Jennie
was to be Pills wife and trudge after
him through London streets, and carry
round the hat for the money as Pills
mother had done.
And when in their childish innocence
they went to their two fathers, who
were playing at crbbage by the tireside,
they were quitehurt and offended because
the men laughed. Indeed, Moggs laugh
ed so heartily that the tears ran down
his cheeks, and vet his laugh ended in
sob. which sounded rather like crying.
as he bent and kissed first Jennie and
then Phil.
"Well, we'll" said Tom Brown, who
was Jennie's father, 'this beats every
thing ever heard on. The dramar isn't
anythink to it. And so you're going to
be my son-in-law, young feller?'
Phil nodded gravely.
"And you're thinking as my Jennie
is going on the everlasting tramp with
YOU. ehp 1t won't do for her. Phil; she'd
die on it in month. Yon nv! must 4 st stlriIke
gTt. Now don't you think I'm right"
Phil unused 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 pinned, 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 dresmily into the en-
bers. trying to find out better line
for himself than street-tumbling.
He used to be puzzling at il night and
day, and the more he puzzled and
thought the more ambitious he became
He had floating ideas of himself as a
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 we're 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 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 no, omitted, and be
happy and Jolly accordingly.
They were wonderful dreams that
tloated through the boys brain, and no
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 Pills
heart leap in his BOSOM and sent thrill
Ut eAoitenent through Nloggs frame.
And this was the news Phil and
Moggs and Jennie were all to 90 on the
morrow to the theatre where Tom work
ed, to 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 |
wore forbidden by the manager to play |
any more in the streets but were put on |
half salaries at once, and so were able |
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 eventful 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 a little, he said but IL
would be all right when he began TO act.
They soon reached the place and,
hurrying in, dressed for their parts:
Jennie in white and pink and gold, with
butterfly wings, Moggs in a splendid
spangled suit, and Phil in a complete
monkey-skin, which covered all his
beauty, except the bright eyes laughing
through the holes in the mask
He was nightly applauded when he
came on, and the people shouted with
laughter at his odd tricks, and no began
quite to feel as though he was a very
popular actor indeed.
AT last came a scene where he had TO
be let down in swinging garland Of
roses, and perform some OF Bis 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 coulJn't helm II Tia