The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-12-27
ately, the locnfocos would not ignite,
| or e thau did would sn1ltter little,

ately, the locofocos would not ignite,
or, if they did, would sputter little,
flare up. and then darkness followed.
"Well, muttered Joe, 81 never saw the
like of it before. It's funny"
..yes, it is-very,' said the queer
visitor, sarcastically. 'Now, when you
have burned all your matches, and can
find no other excuse, you'll perhaps com
ply with my request"
s'But," cried Joe, with little. show OF
indignation, 81 can't 30 into the street,
in the midst of snowstorm, with the
wind biting and whissling around ones
ears, and without my hat and coat and
| boots-can II"
The irascible visitor laughed shrilly and
pounded the floor with his staff.
When he had arrived at the conclusion
that he had laughed enough, the little
man said;
"Joe smudd, you are fool, an idiot,
a donkey, goney, an ass! But you have
voice."
"Why, what have done?" demanded
Joe.
sHa! he! Why, you've been talking
about your coat aud hat and boots" was
the answer. "And, behold! you have
them all on you, and-why, Joe Smudd,
you're dressed like gentleman!"
I2" queried the now bewildered cob
bier.
:'To be sure to be sure you are. !
never saw q gentleman better dressed.
Why, man, where were you going before
took the liberty of entering this elegan
studioa To visit some grand lady, doubt
less, and entrance her with your voice
Ha! ha! Joe Smudd, you are a hypocrite
yes hypocrite, sir"
'T-I9" persisted the cobbler. "You're
mistaken. I'm not dressed. How could
be9 I 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; II 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 carriage awaiting u.s."
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.
1t was not an easy task to descend the
crooked fights in the dark with stranger
hanging heavily on an arm of the guile
less mender of shoes.
But the cordwainer, being accustomed
to every turn, succeeded without accl-
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 1t 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, - said LOG
more detormiuedly than he hau
any time during the interview. Look! !!
I'm not dressed
'sBah! l say you are. See, there's the
gas,light, and here" and the little man
ran to the carriage and took out: of it a
miror-'look at yourself, and if you are
not attircd like prince rll-rll eat you!
Ha! hal"
Joe looked, as invited.
He started back, overwhelmed with
amazement.
"Could it be him!n he mentally cried.
''Is that me, Joe Smudd? Why, I'm
splendidly dressed, and my face is
shaved-and-and =" he added, as he
drew from small pocket in his trousers,
to which was attached a costly chain, a
large gold watch! While doing this he
saw something glitter and scintillate in
the light. He looked again, and on one
of his fingers was magnificent diamond
ring.
"WeN, ncver!" he exclaimed.
"Whcn, where did get these things
and howe"
"Bv your voice" answered the little
man, throwing his stick fifty feet in the
air and fairly catching it on the end of
his nose as it fell. Nov, Signor Smud-
dio! Ha! ha! That's good! From
Joe Smudd to 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 q vast
theatre. Before him were thousands of
faces. There were eager, expcctant 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.
1t rang in his ears like 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. SigLor Smuddio; Dye
hear," screamed the little man, rising
and throwing his stick with a furious
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