Dinah was a true southerner and spoke with all the old-time darkey accent. Jenny beamed at the simple trial given her, and cleared her throat to begin.
“Oh yo’ Jenny! Come yeah, Ah say, chile! Doan yo’ heah yo’ Mammy callin’ yo? Heah I’se waitin’ fo’ to carry yo’ ober Jordan an’ yo’ don’ heah me, nohow!”
Jenny’s manner and voice, to say nothing of the expression on her face, was so exactly the counterpart of Dinah’s that everyone screamed with enjoyment.
“Jenny, that is very clever! Can you imitate my ways as well?” laughed Miss Martin, after the fun had subsided.
“Oh you’se is easy to do, but don’che git mad at me?” pleaded Jenny.
“Of course not, child. It is all done in a spirit of fun.”
Then Jenny mimicked Miss Martin to such perfection that Uncle Ben, who had quietly approached the group, clapped his hands and laughed.
Examination went on merrily after Uncle Ben’s appearance, and many talents were discovered in the number of Little Citizens who applied that morning. And so diversified were the abilities signed up for, that Miss Martin felt sure of succeeding not only with a theater company but with a circus troupe as well.
“I have discovered an embryo Buffalo Bill among the boys, and he will have charge of the lassoing and broncho busting,” said Miss Martin looking at her lists.
“And Molly rides bareback. Several boys are pugilists and target shooters. With practice they will be able to take the part of Indians in fighting and shooting, then we can have the old scene of Buffalo Bill’s stage-coach hold-up in the West.