Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-03-22


When Thamre consented to sing for the
citizens of Havermash, last year, nobody
was more surprised than the citizens OF
Havermash themselves.
# was characteristic of Havermash to
have attempted it. Nothing Is too good
for Hayermashers. Were 81. Cecilia prima
donna for a season, It would appear to
them quite natural TO seek her services.
Have they not a brown-stone post office
and senator, street railway and a eoun.
" Jail, a local newspaper, an author (the
public needs scarcely be reminded of the
sHayermash Hand Organ a Tale of Love
and Poverty'') atd a shoe and leather
trade Transeending all, is not their city
chatter two years old
When the Happy Home Handel Assoui-
alton, headed BY little Joe HAvermash
(grandson of the original shoe and leather
man, whose wooden cubbler's shop occu-
pied the site OF the present post-ofice in
1889, took upon itself, TO the unanimous
appreciation End patronage of the imme-
dlate public, the performances Of an "ora-
torio" last Christmas Eve. "We will
have Thamre," said Joe serenely.
still, when Joe came home from Boston,
breathless aud radiant, one night early In
the season, with Thamre's tiny contract
(she wrote 1t on a card, he said, with her
glove on, just In going out, and the card
was as sweet now--see as the glove, and
the glove had Just the smell of our English
violet, no mere) to sing in the stone post
Office at eight O'Clock on Christmas Eve,
on such and such conditions (simple
enough) and for such and such remunera-
tion-that was the astonishing part Of it
even Havermarsh was of Its guard enough
TO be surprised.
"She'll come" said Joe. 81 supposed
she would. meant she should. But the
terms are astounding. / was prepared to
offer her twice that. I'd pay big slice OF
il out Of my own pocket TO get her here.
There's no trouble about terms. Did you
see what Max offered herl Do you know
what she's getting night in New York
Do you know what she asked usl Five
hundred dollars sir Only five hundred
dollars. Think Of il, sirl But the con
diuons are the most curious thing. sh'
scorns to take so little, may be. dom
know. All know is, every dollar Of 1t II
10 go to old women who haven't lived 81
they'd ought to In this town. For the re
lief of the aged women of Hayermash
who, having in their youth led question
able lives, are left freudless, needy, anC
perhaps repentaut in their declining
years. That's the wording of the agree
ment. l signed It myself in her little re
morocco notebook. Most curious thin
all roundl us my opinion, sir, 1t takes
woman to get up an uncommon piece q
work like that.
Last Christmas Eve fell in Havermas
wild and windy. The gusts fought fur
ously with each other at corners, and Ut
der fences, and over the bleak spaces
which the new little city abounded an
through which il struggled painfully ava
into the open county. Where the sno
lay, it lay in tints of dead sharp blue, col
as steel beneath the chilly light where
was blown away, the dust few fine an
hard like powder. Overhead there hun
only shades of steel. One long, low lii
of corrosive red, however, had eaten ]
way through against the western hi
country, and looked liks rust or bloc
upon a mighty coat oil mail.
So, at least, Miss Thamre faneie
shiyering little In her folded fnrs, az 81
watched from the car window the swoo
sng of the night upon the bleak, outlyil
lands and approaching twinkle OF q
town.
Ii was a cheerless night for the prin
donna to be in Havermash- Joe had be-
saying so all day. The prima donna be
self thought so would seem, when he han
ed her from the cars. She scarcely spo
shither about her, through the shrek a
smoke, with that keen battling glance
hers, which all the world so well RENE
bcrs. Joe felt rather proud Of this.
knew what the eccentricities of genl
were; was glad of a chance to show hi
self at ease with them. Had she bidd
him stand on his head while she fou
her trunk, or sit on a barrel in the draul
and wait for her to compose an aria,
would have obeyed her sweetly, think
all the while how 1t would sound, told
his grand children on winter nights.
Half Havermash was at the stau
All Hayermash remembers that, IL '
with difficulty that Joe could get her
her carriage quietly, as behtted, TO
faLcy, the conduct of lady's welcome
did not expect to see so many I
ple," said Miss Thamre, in her pretty,
cen,ed, appealing way. "What are
here for 2"
Pm sure don't know" said Joe, v
puzzled air, 'unless they're here to
me-"
This amused the lady and she laught
little genial laugh, which bubbled
TO the ears of the people pressing mel
to her in the crowd.
"She laughs as well as she sings"
number of the Happy Home Handel
ISOLATION,
''she has the eye of a gazelle and
smile of SPHINX" said the Author,
took out his notebook to "do" her
religious weekly.
''She travels alone" said a mothe
TOUR daughters. (she had indeed, G
TO Havermash quite alone, with nel
chaperone or maid.)
"She can wear silver seal and not
green," said brunette, in black and
net,
she secs everything within mi
her." said Joe to himself, as he hell
hGm of her dress back revereftly from
carriage wheels.
1t would seem that she saw far and
tinclly. for half within her carriage
she paused and said abruptly;
isr'
An old woman was pushing her
through the reluctant crowd a very
cradle old woman, tattered and spls
with mud. Sue bad a blanket shawl
her head, and her unhealthy yellow
hair blew out from under it, over her
before the wind.
A crog ol villainous urchins foil,
pelting her with slush and snow, anl
leYs oil that shrill, coarse boys cry e
the most p tiful sounds on earth) by '
the presence of a sacred mystery or
Towful sin is indicated, not alone In u
mash.
sod Mother Goosel Old Mother {
Hi, vi there Mother Goosey's out
Christmas stockin's for her dar-ter
Mother Goo-oo-ose 20
Everybody knew how Old Mother
hated the boys (and with good n
poor soul y; but nobody had ever se
offer them violence before that night
In minute she had grown SUI
liyid and awful to see, rearing hei
ngure to Its full hight against tn,
and blood eolored background of th
where sudden gap in the crowd h
her alone.