Aunt Jos Scrap-Bag, Vol. 5 | Page 6

and the farmer with
whom they lived, seeing what a handy lad the boy was, offered him
work and wages for the autumn, so all could be independent and
together. With this comfortable prospect before him, Jimmy sang away
like a contented blackbird, never tiring of his duty, for he was a general
favorite, and Kitty literally strewed his way with flowers gathered by
her own grateful little hands.
When the last day came, he was in such spirits that he was found doing
double-shuffles in corners, hugging the midshipmite, who was a little
girl of about Kitty's age, and treating his messmates to peanuts with a

lavish hand. Will had her hornpipe, also, when the curtain was down,
kissed every one of the other "sisters, cousins, and aunts," and joined
lustily in the rousing farewell cheers given by the crew.
A few hours later, a cheerful-looking boy might have been seen
trudging toward one of the railway-stations. A new hat, brave in blue
streamers, was on his head; a red balloon struggled to escape from one
hand; a shabby carpet-bag, stuffed full, was in the other; and a pair of
shiny shoes creaked briskly, as if the feet inside were going on a very
pleasant errand.
About this young traveller, who walked with a sailor-like roll and lurch,
revolved a little girl chattering like a magpie, and occasionally breaking
into song, as if she couldn't help it.
"Be sure you come next Saturday; it won't be half such fun if you don't
go halves," said the boy, beaming at her as he hauled down the
impatient balloon, which seemed inclined to break from its moorings
"'Yes, I know That is so!'"
hummed the girl with a skip to starboard, that she might bear a hand
with the bag. "Keep some cherries for me, and don't forget to give Kit
the doll I dressed for her."
"I shouldn't have been going myself if it hadn't been for you, Will. I
never shall forget that," said Jimmy, whom intense satisfaction
rendered rather more sedate than his friend.
"Running away to sea is great fun,
'With a tar that ploughs the water!'"
sung Will in spite of herself.
"'And a gallant captain's daughter,'"
echoed Jimmy, smiling across the carpet-bag. Then both joined in an
irrepressible chorus of "Dash it! Dash it!" as a big man nearly upset

them and a dog barked madly at the balloon.
Being safely landed in the train, Jimmy hung out of the window till the
last minute, discussing his new prospects with Will, who stood on
tiptoe outside, bubbling over with fun.
"I'll teach you to make butter and cheese, and you shall be my
dairy-woman, for I mean to be a farmer," he said, just as the bell rang.
"All right, I'd like that ever so much." And then the irrepressible
madcap burst out, to the great amusement of the passengers,--
"'For you might have been a Roosian, A Frenchman, Turk or Proosian,
Or an Ital-i-an.'"
And Jimmy could not resist shouting back, as the train began to
move,--
"'But in spite of all temptations To belong to other nations, I'm an
Amer-i-can.'"
Then he subsided, to think over the happy holiday before him and the
rich cargo of comfort, independence, and pleasure he had brought home
from his successful cruise in the "Pinafore."

II.
TWO LITTLE TRAVELLERS.
The first of these true histories is about Annie Percival,--a very dear
and lovely child, whose journey interested many other children, and is
still remembered with gratitude by those whom she visited on a far-off
island.
Annie was six when she sailed away to Fayal with her mother,
grandmamma, and "little Aunt Ruth," as she called the young aunty
who was still a school-girl. Very cunning was Annie's outfit, and her

little trunk was a pretty as well as a curious sight, for everything was so
small and complete it looked as if a doll was setting off for Europe.
Such a wee dressing-case, with bits of combs and brushes for the curly
head; such a cosey scarlet wrapper for the small woman to wear in her
berth, with slippers to match when she trotted from state-room to
state-room; such piles of tiny garments laid nicely in, and the owner's
initials on the outside of the trunk; not to mention the key on a ribbon
in her pocket, as grown up as you please.
I think the sight of that earnest, sunshiny face must have been very
pleasant to all on board, no matter how seasick they might be, and the
sound of the cheery little voice, as sweet as the chirp of a bird,
especially when she sung the funny song about the "Owl and the
pussy-cat in the pea-green boat," for she had charming ways, and was
always