Free A Time to Dance-My America 3 by Mary Pope Osborne Page A

love what Jed wrote. But even more, I love that he wanted to share his writing with me.
    July 5, 1865
    Early this morning, I set out to explore. Pa had left to look for work, Jed had gone to his job at the newspaper, and Jane Ellen and Baby
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    Abe had fallen back asleep. I left a note for Jane Ellen, saying I had gone to the market and would be back very soon.
    What I saw on my walk was amazing.
    I passed houses that looked like palaces, with grand entrances and columns and lawns and beautiful tall windows.
    Then, just a few blocks away, I saw filthy streets with dirty brick buildings all crammed together like rows of toy blocks.
    There were beggars on almost every corner. In some places, whole families sat in the street, asking for pennies from anyone who passed by.
    It is hard to believe that two such different worlds can exist in the same city. Our world seems to be somewhere in between.
    I do not want us ever to be poor. Until Pa finds a job with an orchestra, I wonder if I myself should not be out looking for work.
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    Pa heard today that soldiers blocked the entrance to Mr. Ford's theatre in Washington City when he tried to reopen it. The government has ordered that there be no more plays there.
    Jed says many people have turned against the theatre because President Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, was an actor. This does not seem at all right to me! President Lincoln loved plays. I do not think he would want people to stop going to the theatre.
    I told Jed my thoughts, and he agreed. But he said John Wilkes Booth's brother Edwin is also an actor. Many people think Edwin Booth is the greatest actor of our time. But he has sworn never to return to the stage because his brother John has disgraced his family.
    Our mother was born in Virginia. She had
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    two brothers. They may have fought for the Confederacy. They might have even shot one of the men I saw marching in the parade on Independence Day. I wonder: Are Jed and I disgraced because our uncles were Rebs?
    July 8, 1865
    This morning we heard newsboys on the corner calling, "Extra! Conspirators hanged! Read all about the hanging!" I rushed out and bought one of their papers for a penny.
    The paper said that the four conspirators who helped John Wilkes Booth plan President Lincoln's assassination were hanged yesterday in Washington. Hundreds of people came to watch. The article said there was a "universal feeling of satisfaction" in the city.
    I find this strange. Hanging the conspirators will not bring the President back to life.
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    Right now, I do not have a feeling of satisfaction. I just feel very sad.
    July 9, 1865
    Jed had his first assignment at a theatre last night. He saw
    The Widow's Victim
    at the New Bowery Theatre. At breakfast he told us all about it. He said the crowd was very rowdy and the evening was very long. Now he must write what he thinks of the play for the paper.
    I would love to see a play. Perhaps I can convince Jed to take me with him when he goes to the theatre again.
    Later
    At supper I asked Jed about going with him to see a play. He said there was very little
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    onstage that was suitable for a young girl to see.
    I said I was not so young, that I was very interested in the theatre, and that in all New York City there must surely be
    something
    suitable.
    Jed said he would ask his new friends at the newspaper if they can think of anything.
    July 11, 1865
    Hooray! Jed has promised to take me to the theatre! We will spend the afternoon on Saturday at Mr. P. T. Barnum's American Museum. The museum has a menagerie of animals, exhibits of ancient curiosities from all over the world, and a grand lecture hall where plays are performed every day.
    Jed brought home an advertisement for the
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    show that is playing there now. Here is what the advertisement says we will see:
    Claude Marcel or The Idiot of Tarbes
    A Grand Romantic Tragedy featuring
    New and Splendid Scenic Effects, and
    Appropriate Appointments and Costumes
    A
    grand