The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-09-01
miscellaneous.
A SURPRISED JUGGLER.

A SURPRISED IUGGLER.
Philadelphia Times
Let me close my eyes for an instant
| and shut out my present surroundings
and, by slight effort of the magma
ton. can transport myself to Mann
my's cabin, away off on q plantation
down in old Virginia.
L see again the pictures upon the
walls, cut from illustrated papers and
pasted there by my own small hands;
l see the clumsy corded bedstead in
the corner, supporting its well-beaten
feather tick - l see the broad stone
fireplace, SO associated in my mind
| with chestnut roasts, molasses stews
and other culinary frolics dear to the
hearts of children, that it cheered HE
even to look at it; | see the rude
wooden shelves to the right of the
fireplace, with the odd bits of colored
crockery arranged upon them | see
Mammy's calico-covered easy chair to
the left; | see on the floor beside it
her time-stained willow work-bas1et,
and, lying in it, her two pairs of old
fashioned, silver-rimmed spectacles,
Her nigh W anu IuT OIL ;, dS Size
called them.
| even seem to hear the roar and
crackle of the flames as they leaped
up the cavernous chimney and the
tick of the nervous little clock on the
mantel that told the time in a perelnp-
tory manner, as if it was positive of
being right and would brook no con-
tradiction. Then comes Mammy's
voice, II amt name Nanny, name
Woreout," in reply to Silvy's call of
Nanny o, Mammyn'
Nanny, who was never anything
but Nanny to us, no matter how I'M
reasonable were the demands which
followed the utterance of that appel
latiye, was always named "Woreout"
or something equally discouraging to
further appeal when Silvy's modest
requests were preferred. The old
woman never did know, so she fire.
ouently declared, chow cum Mars
JOHN to buy SIGH sorry -lookin' niger
no way. l always did mistrust de
look of 'er.n
And indeed, there did seem to be
something about poor Silvy's very
physical conformation that veXed
Mammy's righteous soul.
what you want, gal - she would
say when the little darkey, drawn by
the merry laughter of my three broth
ers and myself, would venture to
creep into her room in the evening
and, standing aloof with meekly fold
| ed hands and depressed chin, would
gaze with longing, uprolled eyes to-
wards the illuminated space about the
hearth with its Enclosure of childish
faces, scarcely less bright than the
| freight itself.
"Nothin', Nanny" would come in
conciliatory accents from Silvy. But
Nanny was not to be appeased.
Den take nothin' an go,n she
would say and into the darkness, with
slow, regretful steps and many a back
ward glance, Silvy would return. My
brothers were little apt to lord it
over me, as being a girl and several
years their junior, but II weeks visit
to the city a short time before this oc
currence which l mean to relate, and
| a dazzling vision of wonders to which
| their rural eyes were strangers, had
elevated me, SO | fondly fancied, to
the position in their esteem which |
felt should have been all along mine.
1t was on a certain day, closely fol-
lowing upon the heels of my return,
when my parents had driven several
miles away to spend an old-fashioned
social day with some friends, that a
scheme for strengthening my claim to
their respect evolved itself in my small
brain. had witnessed a performance
! in legerdemain, while in the city.
Why not pretend that had possessed
myself of the juggler's secret and was
able to perform tricks as wonderful as
his?
True, an awkward disclosure would
follow, but the situation would be re-
lieved by laugh at my brothers ex-
pense, and, reared upon their fallen
| superiority, my ascendancy would
| still be maintained. Accordingly,
having gravely informed them that
by simple command l could make
! Silyy. whom we knew to be in the
kitchen rubbing the dinner knives,
come from beneath the bed in my
mothers room, they assembled in that
apartment and awaited with we'll
feigned eagerness the performance of
this feat.
There had been much retiring be-
hind mysterious dark curtain on the
part of my city exemplar, l remember
ed, and, having no arrangement o
this sort at hand, l substituted my
mothers dressing room, into which |
made frequent trips, presumably for
the purpose of performing certain
mystic rites which must precede the
grand, browning act of the entertain
ment.
But, alas, my brothers, despite my
superior advantages, were more skill
ed in the juggler's art than l.
During the performance of my in
carnations l overheard, though feign-
ing to be oblivious to them, such
whispered specuiations OH their part
as: do you believe she can do it p
and, "Yes, | believe she can. She's
had sort of a curious look ever since
she came back from town.
At last everything was in readiness,
and, arrayed in one of my mothers
skirts, pinned up in front so as not al
together to prevent locomotion, and
sweeping in ample folds behind, and
with blue veil arranged in a fantas-
tic manner about my head, l took my
stand yard or more from the bed,
and, erecting my microscopic form,
commanded silence among my wills
pering audience with an imperious
wave of an improvised wand. Then,
with an unsuccessful attempt to imi-
tate the professional air of Wunter-
mein, said:
'Silvy, come out from under the
bed and stand upon your feet"
An immediate agitation of the ball
fringe upon the dimity valance sur
rounding the old-fashioned bed sue
ceeded the utterance of this fiat.
Then the white curtain was thrust
rudely forward and Silvy's black head
with it's innumerable twists wrapped
curiously round and round with white
string and crossing and recrossing
each other in a bewildering network,
suddenly emerged. She remained
upon all tours, a queer, unclassical
quadruped, until well clear of the bed,
then, scrambling to her feet stood
in her usual attitude before me with
hands meekly crossed upon her blue
checked apron.
My brothers stood apparently aghast