The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-12-27

! lately, the locofocos would not ignite
or, if they did, would sputter little
flare up. and then darkness followed.
seWeil, muttered Joe, II never saw TIT
like OF it before. It's funny"
ss.Yes, it is-yery," said the quee
] visitor, sarcastica.ly. ssNow, when yol
have. burned all your matches, and cal
ind no other excuse, you'll perhaps com
/ ply with my request. -
HBut, y cried Joe, witha little show O.
indignation, 81 can't go into the street
in the midst of a snowstorm, with thi
wind biting and whistling around one!
ears, and without my hat and coat ano
boots-can I2n
The irascible visitor laughed shrllly ane
4 pounded the floor with his staff.
When he had arrived at the conclusion
that he had laughed enough, the little
man said;
stJoe smudd, you are fool, an idiot
a donkey, y goney, an ass But you have
"Why, what have I done9" demanded
Joe.
"Hs! ha! Why, you've been talking
about your coat and hat and boots" wa
the answer. "And, behold you have
them all on you, and-why, Joe smudd
1 you're dressed like gentlemanw
"IG" queried the now bewildered cob
bier.
:'To be sure to be sure you are.
never saw gentleman better dressed
Why, man, where were you going before
took the liberty of entering this elegar
studio2 To visit some grand lady, doubt
| less, and entrance her with your voice
| Ha! ha! Joe Smudd, you are hypocrits
yes hypocrite, STRIP
'I-I?" persisted the cobbler. "You're
mistaken. I'm not dressed. How could
be9 have Just left off work-that is,
minute ago-that I might learn that
sweet song Of yours. "
"Well, never mind, Joe Smudd," re.
piled his visitor; ~ won't argue further
with YOU about dress. You're all right.
Take my arm and assist me to the bottom
of your terrible breakneck stairs, and
there we'll find a carriage awaiting US"
Joe, feeling it would be more comfort
able for him to sing his new song alone,
gladly assented to the invitation to con-
duct the sarcastic intruder to the street,
at once offered him his support.
It was not On easy task to descend the
crooked fights in the dark with a stranger
hanging heavily on an arm of the guile
less mender of shoes.
But the cordwainer, being accustomed
to every turn, succeeded without acci-
dent in getting to the lower hall.
When they had reached the sidewalk
the carriage was there, drawn up in front
of the door. To it were attached four
splendid horses, their hides glossy and
black as night. There was a coachman
and footman in brilliant and costly livery
standing near the open door of the vehi.
Gle, prepared to hand them to the soft
and warm seats within the cosy body
thereof.
Joe shrank back when the little man,
in an exhuberant manner, waving his
stick in the fashion the conductor of an
orchestra swings his baton, invited him
to precede him in the carriage.
Can't, do It. sir. .,ssaid loo
moro detern1iHed thn,ls he. bad usss
any time during the interview. Lock!
Pm not dressed y
'Bah say you are. See, theEe's the
gas.light, and here,n and the little man
ran to the carriage and took out of it
mirror-slook at yourself, and if you are
not attired like prince rn-rns eat you!
Ha! hal"
To- 1oo1-oI n, sD1s%aI TO-.
He started back, overwhelmed with
amazement.
"Could it be him!'' he mentally cried.
"Is that me, Joe Smudd? Why, I'm
splendidly dressed, and. my face is
shaved-and-and Ln'.-h he added, as he
drew from q small pocket in his trousers,
TO which was attached 81 costly chain, q
large gold watch While doing this he
saw something glitter sjnd scintillate in
the light. He looked again, and on one
of his fingers was magnificent diamond
ring. -
Swell, ncver!'' ne exclaimed.
"When, where did get these things
and how2"
"By your voice." answered the little
man, throwing his stick fifty feet in the
air and fairly catching il on the end Of
his nose as it fell. "Now, Signor Smud
dio! Ha! ha! That's good! From
Joe Smudd 70 Giuseppe Smuddio. Pray,
signor, enter. Beauty, wealth, popu.
larity await you in the palace of the
muses-the home of cultivated harmony
in east Fourteenth street. Ha! ha!
Allons, signor!"
Joe felt himself putting up and swell
ing with his Importance.
He had not, so he thought, been more
than comfortably seated in the carriage,
when he found himself standing behind
the footlights of the stage of g vast
theatre. Before him were thousands of
faces. There were eager, expectant faces
everywhere, and near, as leader of the
orchestra, swinging in the air his big
stick, was the queer little man who had
insisted upon his honoring the occasion.
And as he stood in the vast presence,
cheer upon cheer greeted the cobbler.
It rang in his ears like q mighty storm
of sound. Then there came at the end
of it tremendous crash of music. Big,
drum and little drum, bugle and trumpet,
clarionet and serpent, and fifty other in
stSuments sent forth one mighty and
harmonious voice.
When the instrumental part had been
brought TO close. there was dead
silence. So still was it that Joe Smudd,
alias Giuseppe Smuddio, could hear the
ticking of his watch, the beating of his
heart!
"Sing! Sing, Sigllor Smuddio; Dye
hearr' screamed the little man, rising
and throwing his stick with furious
gesture upward untilit struck the ceiling,
and which on falling hit the bald pate of
the big drummer, causing that much in
iured gentleman to howl with pain.
Joe opened his mouth as if to sing,
and, notwithstanding the audience again
applauded more deleriously than on his
advent, never a word or note could he
get out of his throat.
There he stood, as if transtixed, with
his mouth wide open! ~
The people in the parquette and boxes
and galleries, pcrceiving this, began to
stamp, and then to hiss and groan.
AS this had no effect on the vocal organ
of the unfortunate Joe, they commenced
throwing ill-smclling eggs, rotton oranges
and decayed cabbages at him, and these
little attentions were followed by howl
ing and screaming and tearing up of the
seats and the firing of all kinds of missiles
at the little conductor who had brought
him to this pass, and who, it5vas evident,
was wild with anger and indignation.