Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-12-23

dollar and half, but we must lay by two
dollars for the rent, you know; and there'll
be coal to buy next week. I'm sure Nam
ma will think we can't afford it,
"Come on. then," says Ben, bestowine
a farewell kick upon the iron sign of Jack
man & Company.
Mr.. Halliburton Todd has forgotten all
about bis own disappointment in listening
to the more serious trouble of these two
children. As they walk up the street, he
follows them closely, trying to imagine thu
| story of their lives. They stop now anl
then for a moment to look into the wind
ows of the toy-stores. and to admire the
| sweet wonders of the confectioners, bu
they do not tarry long. Presently, the eyer
Of Mr.. Todd are caught by large theatel
bill, announcing the Oratorio of the Mes
slab, at Music Hall, Tuesday evening. De
cember "a, by the Handel and Haydn So
| ciety. Mr.. Lang is to play the great organ
Theodore Thomas's orchestra is to assist
and the soloists are Miss Thursby and
Miss Cary, and Mr.. Whitney and Mr.. Sims
Reeves.
"Correct!'' says Mr.. Halliburton Todd
aloud. He knows now what he will d.,
with the coming evening. 1t is long sine.
his passion for music has been PROMISED
such qualification.
While he pauses, he notes that Ruby and
Ben are scanning with eager eyes the SAME
billboard. Rather remarkable children
he says to himself, ''to care for oratorio
IF it were minstrel show, shouldn I
wonder"
"Wouldn It like to go?'' says Ruby.
"Wouldn't II" echoes Ben, with q low
whistle.
dom you remember" says the girl
1.-THE night Papa and Mamma took US te
hear NilssonS Miss Cary was there, you
know and she sang this:
Birds of the night that softly call
Winds in the night that strangely sigh"
It is sweet and sympathetic voice that
croons the first strain of Sullivan's lullaby
II remember it," says Ben. "Mamma
used to sing it afterward, pretty near az
we'll as she did. And don't you remember
that French chap that played the violini
Blue Tom, they called him, OF some such
name"
Vieurtemps,'' laughs Ruby, who knows
little French.
"Yes, that's it. But couldn't he make
the old fiddle dance, thought" And the
boy tilts his basket against his shoulder
and executes upon it an Imaginary roulade
with an imaginary bow. 1--WE used te
have good times at home, didn't we-when
Papa played the violin and Mamma the
piano." Ben goes on.
"Don't!" pleads Ruby, turning, with a
great sob, from the bright promise Of the
billboard.
The two children walked on in silence
for few moments Mr. Halliburton Todd
still close behind them. Ruby has resn
lutely dried her tears, but her thoughts are
still with the great singers, and the voice
of the wonderful Swede is ringing through
her memory, for presently Mr.. Todd hear
her singing low:
CANCELS ever bright and fair,
Take, oh, take me to your care!'
swell, my child. he says, in low tone
II don't think that angels are apt to
have gray hairs III their whiskers, nor tt
wear listers; but there's an old fellow
about my size who would like to be an an
gel just now for your sake.'
While he is talking thus to himself, thu
children turn into the hall of tenemen'
house. Mr.. Halliburton Todd glances at
ter them, and sees them enter room OF
the first landing. He walks on a few step
slowly, hesitates, then quickly turns back
In moment he is knocking at the doc
which had been opened for the children
The knock is answered by the boy,
81 beg your pardon my little man, say
Mr. Todd. 81 am stranger to you; but
should like to see your mother if she is no
engaged"
''Cume In, sir" says VOICE within. i
! is the voice of lady. Her face is pail
| and anxious, but her manner is quiet ant
self-possessed.
ut is curious errand that brings me
madam, - says MIR. Halliburton Todd; ''bu
trust you will pardon my boldness ant
| grant my request. These children of yours
| CHANGED to be standing with me in from
of the same placard, announcing the ora
torio tonight; and heard enough of wha
they said to know that they have a rart
appreciation of good music. I have COM
to SEQ if you will let me take them to thu
Music Hall. this evening""
s'Oh. Mamma'' cries Ben.
Ruby's eyes plead, but the mothers face
is grave. "Your offer is extremely kind
sir" she says at length. slowly; land the
thing you propose would give my children
great pleasure; but
'sYou do not know me-" Mr.. Todd sup.
plies. ''That is true; and of course wlst
mother would not commit her children tC
the care of an entire stranger. Here's my
card,-sTodd & Templeton, Mattawamke-
ag, Maine, but that proves nothing
However. Pm not going to give it up so.
Let me see; wonder if 1 know anybody
that you know IN this big city. Who is
your minister"
eve attend, at present, St. Matthew'S
Church, of which Mr.. Brown is rector"
"What is his first name?'' "John. 1
Think
s.John Robinson Brown"
Eyes; that is the name
s'Cor-rect!'' calculates Mr.. Todd. trium-
phantly with distinct hyphen between the
syllables of his favorite lnterjection; ''that
fixes it. What luck this is ! know your
minister perfectly. He has been up in our
woods fishing every summer for five years,
and we are the best of friends. Can you
tell me his residence?"
~ know" cries Ben. HE lives next door
to the church, on Chaucer street"
'All right. Let the boy run up to his