Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Vol. 5 / Jimmy's Cruise in the Pinafore, Etc.

hat I never minded the tide; and presently discovered that I was floating out to sea, with neither sail nor oar. At first I was very much frightened; for there was no on

or, of all the queer boats I ever saw, this was the queerest. It was a great wooden bowl, very cracked and old; and in it sat three gray-headed little gentlem

to laugh, as the books, wigs, and spectacles flew about; and, urging my boat nearer, I managed to fish them up, dripping and sneezing, an

ry wet handkerchief. "We were going to that island yonder. We have often tried, b

fore. I rubbed my eyes, and looked again. Yes: there it was,-a little island, with trees and p

e name of i

his finger on his lips, and

s a secret; but, if you manage t

lled me with a strong desire to land on the island. The odd house, I found, was built like a high-heeled shoe; and at every window I saw children's heads. Some were eating broth; some were crying; and some had nightcaps on. I caught sight of a distracted old lady fl

time to ask the old men what it meant; for a cat, playing a fiddle, was seen on the shore. A little dog stood by, listening and laughing; while a dish and a spoon ran away over the beach with all their might. If the boat had no

dubbing all by itself. One of the new men had a white frock on, and carried a large knife; the second had dough on his hands, flour on his coat, and a hot-looking face; the third was very grea

lso saw a little boy in blue, asleep by a haycock; and another boy taking aim at a cock-sparrow, who clapped his wings and flew away

linders,

that looked very nice; but, all of a sudden, she droppe

d of a gay young frog who came tripp

iders, madam; also of frogs." And he puffed himself

I asked, staring at his white v

rat, got me into a sad scrape once; and Rowley insists upon it

g a little woman along. The little man looked very hot and tired; but the little woman looked very nice, in a smart bonnet and shawl, and kept looking at a new gold ring on her finger, as she rode al

d marching with a very dignified step. Then came a rook, in black, like a minister, with spectacles and white cravat. A lark and bullfinch followed,-friends, I suppose; and then the bride and bridegroom. Miss Wren was evidently a Quakeress; for she wore a sober dress, and a little white veil, through which her brig

oo so much, that he became quite rude, and so far forgot himself as to pull the bride about. This made the groom so angry that he begged his friend, the sparrow, to bring his bow and

tage of the confusion that followed, I le

see a goose dragging an old man down

's the matter

is prayers," sc

e was never ta

, so away with him. Don't interfere, whatever you do: hold your tongue, and go

nd peeped in; for I heard some one crying, and thought the cross bird, perhaps, had hurt some one else. A little ol

; for her gown was nearly up to her knees, and she was nearly as ridiculous an object as some of the young ladies I had seen at home. She had a

he trouble?" said I, qu

who sold me wooden nutmegs, and a clock that wouldn't go, and some pans that came to bits the first time I used them-somebody cut my new gown and petticoat off all round, in the shameful way you see. I thought I never should get home; for I was su

of tea, and go to bed. You can make your gown decent to-morrow

t the old woman; thou

put her teapot on the coals. "He's a remarkable beast; and you'd better sto

look in at the window. The closet was empty, I observed;

our mistres

itely taking the pipe out of his mouth, and

rove of smok

r it," said t

dish in her hand, and, fearing she might think me rude to peep in at her windows,

a third was eating roast-beef, as if he had just come in from his work. The fourth, I was grieved to see, looked very sulky; for it was evident he had been naughty, and so lost his dinner. The little pig was at the door, crying to get in; an

omething nice, and feeling hungry, I stepped into a large room near by,-a sort of eating-house, I fancy; for various parties seemed to be enjoying themselves in their different ways. A small boy sat near the door, eating

accounting for tastes," I added, looking at a handsom

pin in her hand, and no nose. She sobbingly told me a bird had nipped it off;

med to be hiding a three-peck measure under his chair, while he waited for his wife to bring on some cold barley-pudding, which, to my surprise, she was frying herself. I also saw a que

he best were at Newmarch's, in Bedford Street, and she ran on, much pleased; but I'm afraid she never found that best of bake-shops. I was going quietly along, when the sound of another horse coming made me look round; and there I saw a dreadful sight,-a wild horse, tearing over the ground, with fiery eyes and streaming tail. On his back sat a crazy man, beating him with a broom; a crazy woman was behind him, with her bonnet on wrong side before, holding one crazy child in her lap, while another stood on the horse; a third was hanging on by one f

my porridge, I bought a baked apple and a cranberry-pie; for she said they were good, and I found she told the truth. As I sat eating my pie, some dogs began to bark; and by came a tro

so hard I could do nothing to comfort him. While I stood talking to him, a sudden gust of wind blew up the road, and down came the bough of a tree; and, to my surprise, a cradle with a baby

re to be out of the way of Tom Tinker's dog. I'll soon hush it up,"

kitten, m

kitten,

When I got to the hill-top, I was shocked to find some people tossing an old woman in a blanket. I begged them

like it?" I asked

l tell you: it's my turn t

everlastingly cleaning house. Now and then we get so tired out with her that we propose to her to clean the sky itself. She likes that; and, as this is

e I'll try your plan. It seems to me that you have a great many queer old ladies on this isla

t of all. We expect her every minute; and Margery Daw is to let us know

I, "you speak a

cobwebs will fly. Don't hurry back," shouted the man; and a f

very odd house which was built by an ancient king called Boggen, when Margery

ome! she

seen: all the others were nothing compared to her. She had a pointed hat on over her cap, a red cloak, high-heeled shoes, and a crut

reds and hundreds of little children suddenly appeared, like a great flock of birds,-rosy, happy, pretty ch

y lass, who was sitting on a cush

ittle people who ever read and love

feeling very queer, and as if I

ave them in your hand," replied the

"Mother Goose's Melodies." I was so delighted that I had seen her I gave a shout, and tried to get near enough to hug and