Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-04-23
CHARLES INVESTMENT. =


various sections of Thornton, an
nouncing that "Signor Wonderoso, the
world-renowned prestidigitateur and
ventriloquist, will give one of his unique
and unrivaled entertainments, at the
Town Hall, Thursday evening, Dec.
Goth. Admission, twenty-five cents"
OF course, we have stated but small
portion of what the "bill set forth,
and words would fail were we to attempt
description of the pictures with which
it was illustrated, depicting many of
the marvellous feats to be performed at
the time and place mentioned.
"Sleight -of-hand performances were
rare in Thornton, and the younger por-
ton of the community eagerly and i'm
patiently awaited the arrival of the dis
tinguished "Signor."
Wherever bill was visible, crowds
of boys-and girls, too-were to be
seen gazing at it, with eyes and mouths
wide-opened and " e fear these posters
were the cause of many "tardy marks "
placed on the teachers registers during
the two days its announcement preceded
the performance.
Widow Bowen and her son, Charlie,
twelve years Of age, were sitting at
their supper-table, the evening prior to
the night of the entertainment.
"I do Wish / could attend the per-
Torrance tomorrow evening"" said the
boy.
"I wish you could, Charlie, returned
the mother.
"All the rest of the boys are gong,
and it only costs twenty-five cents"
"That is not a large sum, and to those
who have plenty of money it is a mere
trife. but to us it is great deal. 1t
will buy many things that are absolutely
needful to our comfort, and you know /
am obliged to work hard for every cent
l have"
81 know it, mother, and had no
thought of asking you for the money.
Mr.. Jones has some wood which he
wishes split, and if you will allow me
to remain out of school tomorrow, l
can easily earn twenty-five cents"
CT should be sorry to have you re-
main away from school, even for one
day, as you have been neither absent
nor tardy this term"
"I could study little harder, and
make up my lessons in few days, he
said in a disappointed tone.
"What would you think of it were |
to say we will eat nothing tomorrow,
and make up for the loss of food by eat
ing more the next two or three days
You smile at the absurdity of the idea,
and we'll you may; but it is no more alb
surd than to think of making up neg
lected lessons. You probably might
get the lessons so as to recite them, adj
ditionally to attending to your regular
school duties, yet there would remain
to You the consciousness of something
gone.
81 know you are correct, mother, -
said Charlie "but I have always
wished to see an entertainment such
as this is to be, and there has never
been one in this town since can re-
member"
81 appreciate your desire to witness
the performance, as / do the fact that
your inability to attend will be one of
the trials that will enter into your life as
they do into all lives"
81 don't propose to cry about it." he
said, making an effort to smile, which
was not quite successful "But we are
to have a rehearsal at Frank Mason's
this evening, and quarter of seven is
the time appointed for MS to be there
so as it is now past six'-looking at the
old-fashioned clock standing in one cor
ner of the room" / must start, and
rising, he put on his coat and hat and
went out.
The members of the grammar school
which Charlie attended were preparing
for an exhibition, and among the exer-
cises was dialogue by four boys.
The rehearsal of this dialogue was
that to which he referred. Frank Ma.
son, at whose home the rehearsal was
to take place, resided little more than
mile from Mrs. Bowen's, and Charlie
found, on his arrival, that the Other
participants in the dialogue were al
ready there.
Aren't you little late, Charlie p
asked one of the boys-Henry Fisher
as Charlie entered Franks room.
Mr.. Mason was one of the wealth,
men of Thornton, and Frank had al
elegantly furnished room all to himself
az guess not. Am ], Frank?"
"No. You are five minutes ahead o
time" replied Frank, consulting hi
gold chronometer.
"Going to the entertainment, to-mor
row evening ?" asked Henry.
"I am not" returned Charlie, quiet
ly.
"You ought to CO." said the fourtl
boy, Will Ames. '"Tis the bigges
thing on record a regular .journe,
days, quot, knee Plus uitry, and -"
Here Will, who had imperfectly &C
quired few French and Latin phrase
from hearing the high school scholar
recite their lessons IN these languages
broke down.
Hal Ia ha You throw Language
round fearfully; don't you, Will !?
laughed Frank.
1 ~