Aunt Jos Scrap-Bag, Vol. 5 | Page 3

jolly?"
"I guess it would; but I can't. Mother needs me every minute out of
school," began Jimmy, with a shake of the head, having made up his
mind some time ago that he must learn to do without fun.
"But we shall be paid for it," cried Will, clapping her hands with the
double delight of telling the best part of her story, and seeing Jimmy's
sober face clear suddenly as if the sun had burst forth with great
brilliancy.
"Really? How much? Can I sing well enough?" and he clutched her
arm excitedly, for this unexpected ray of hope dazzled him.
"Some of them will have ten dollars a week, and some more,--the real
nice ones, like Lee, the singing boy, who is a wonder," answered Will,
in the tone of one well informed on such points.
"Ten dollars!" gasped Jimmy, for the immensity of the sum took his
breath away. "Could I get that? How long? Where do we go? Do they
really want us fellows? Are you sure it's all true?"
"It was all in the paper, and Miss Pym, the teacher who boards at our
house, told Ma about it. The folks advertised for school-children, sixty
of 'em, and will really pay; and Ma said I could go and try, and all the
money I get I'm going to put in a bank and have for my own. Don't you
believe me now?"
Miss Pym and the newspapers settled the matter in Jimmy's mind, and

made him more anxious than before about the other point.
"Do you think I would have any chance?" he asked, still holding Will,
who seemed inclined for another dance.
"I know you would. Don't you do splendidly at school? And didn't they
want you for a choir boy, only your mother couldn't spare you?"
answered Will, decidedly; for Jimmy did love music, and had a sweet
little pipe of his own, as she well knew.
"Mother will have to spare me now, if they pay like that. I can work all
day and do without sleep to earn money this way. Oh, Will, I'm so glad
you came, for I was just ready to run away to sea. There didn't seem
anything else to do," whispered Jimmy in a choky sort of tone, as hopes
and fears struggled together in his boyish mind.
"Run as fast as you like, and I'll go too. We'll sail in the 'Pinafore,' and
come home with our pockets full of money.
"'Sing, hey, the merry maiden and the tar!'"
burst out Will, who was so full of spirits she could not keep still
another minute.
Jimmy joined in, and the fresh voices echoed through the street so
pleasantly that Mrs. Peters stopped scolding her six squabbling children,
while Kitty's moaning changed to a feeble little sound of satisfaction,
for "brother's" lullabies were her chief comfort and delight.
"We shall lose school, you know, for we act in the afternoon, not the
evening. I don't care; but you will, you like to study so well. Miss Pym
didn't like it at first, but Ma said it would help the poor folks, and a
little fun wouldn't hurt the children. I thought of you right away, and if
you don't get as much money as I do, you shall have some of mine, so
Kitty can go away soon."
Will's merry face grew very sweet and kind as she said that, and Jimmy
was glad his mother called him just then, because he did not know how

to thank this friend in need. When he came out with the parcel of vests
he looked like a different boy, for Mrs. Nelson had told him to go and
find out all about it, and had seemed as much dazzled by the prospect
as he did, sewing was such weary work.
Their interview with Miss Pym was a most encouraging one, and it was
soon settled that Jimmy should go with Will to try for a place on the
morrow.
"And I'll get it, too!" he said to himself, as he kissed Kitty's thin cheek,
full of the sweet hope that he might be the means of bringing back life
and color to the little face he loved so well.
He was so excited he could not sleep, and beguiled the long hours by
humming under his breath all the airs he knew belonging to the already
popular opera. Next morning he flew about his work as if for a wager,
and when Will came for him there was not a happier heart in all the city
than the hopeful one that thumped under Jimmy's threadbare best
jacket.
Such a crowd of girls and boys as they found at the hall where they
were told to apply for inspection; such