Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-09-09
Gales aud Sketfhes.
LITTLE DOT.


few minutes while making his nightly
round of the theaters. The manager, eager
for good notice in the daily upon which
his companion served as a dramatic critic,
was making himself almost Extensively
agreeable.
1.-The hit of the show!' he emphatically
affirmed You'll wait for him, won't
you He comes on next"
Il don't know whether | can spare the
time, a" said Raymond, smoothing out the
play bill that had been crumpled up in his
hand Ard in type which stood out bold
or than the rest. he read:
LITTLE DOT.
The Phenomenal Child Artist, in his Won
derful character changes" followed by
more terms of a Mandatory character. SINH
larly extravagant.
Raymond carelessly cast his programme
aside and watched the two upon the stage.
They were going through what figured on
the bills as an ''acrobatic song and dance. "
Presently they executed a remarkable
somersault that brought forth cloud of
dust and made their exit. followed by the
deafening applause of the gallery. In re-
spouse they came out and bowed, and the
stamping of feet and clapping of hands
gradually ceased.
The quiet that fell upon the house was
broken by the tinkle of the prompter's
bell. The eyes of the audience expect
antly sought the wings. The musicians
raised their instruments and began to play
one of the popular airs in vogue.
Watch him." whispered the manager,
"A born actor, and no mistake"
As he spoke, little figure, clad in a
black velvet suit, with delicately striped
pink stockings, appeared on the stage.
A crimson handkerchief protruded from
his pocket, and an eye-glass dangled at
his side In his hand he held light cane
which he twirlpd foppshly at intervals.
Such pinched. wan face as he turned
toward the audience, as he began his song
in the yellow glare of the footlights! A
feverish flush was on his cheeks. his eyes
sparkled with unnatural brilliancy. Ray
mond felt his heart grow soft with pity as
he listened to the rare. sweet voice that to
/ his experienced ear already showed ksigns
of breaking.
Poor little chap" he murmured; he is
scarcely seven, | should Judge" And
somehow a tender thought OF his two little
chicks, dreaming, perhaps of their child
! ISL DtTOtS ut Tic IlIllC, tdIllt W ulh Tic
watched Little Dot through the mist that
gathered in his eyes. The song soon came
to an end and the child disappeared, fol-
lowed by the enthusiastic approval of the
audience. The manager joined in the
applause and turned to Raymond, his
face beaming with pleasure.
"EhP eh?" he said, deightedly.
Doesn't he bring down the house? An
infant prodigy, and all that, you know.
Pom my word, it's worth the price OF
admission to see him, alone"
Rather a fit subject for the society tor
the prevention of cruelty to children.
should say" remarked Raymond dryly.
For my part, hate your infant prodi-
gies. They all ought to be in their beds
at this hour enjoying the sleep of health
full children"
The manager eyed HIM sharply.
Stuff and nonsense ~ he grunted.
Then, in more cheerful tone Just
watch him this next turn. His drunken
man is something wonderful. fm capable
of criticising that, you know" And he
hushed the chuckle on his lips as Little
Dot-a complete metamorphosis- stag
gered, in with a high silk hat crushed over
his eyes and white handkerchief hanging
from his coat-tail pocket.
The drunken hiccough and thick utter
ance with which he rendered the song
fairly convulsed the audience. When he
was through, he was greeted with terri
tic storm of applause.
True to life. wasn't it?" laughed the
manager, well, it ought to be. He's
had plenty of chance to get points, good
meas knows. His fathers Whitley of the
Stars who are playing at the Globe this
week. Good actor, but boozes too much
That is why be and his wife separated
It's lucky she's got the boy. He's worth
a cool seventy-tive dollars to her every
week"
Raymond listened with eyes intent upon
the stage. Little Dot was responding to
his second encore. When he finished he
was vociferously redemanded Again he
came out and delivered a pathetic little
recitation that evoked fresh applause.
Raymond grew indignant
What a shamer' he muttered angrilv.
They'd keep the poor little fellow before
them the whole night if they could"
At that moment Little Dot appeared
from the wings and raised his hand to his
| lips. The pink glow on his cheeks had
died out. and in its place was look of
utter WEAKNESS. The audience must have
noticed it. for the house grew still and the
performance proceeded with the next act.
Raymond buttoned up his overcoat
closely and left the theater. 1t was a Bit
! ter night and the streets were well desert
ed. The snow lay deep upon the ground,
and raw. bleak wind blew the still fall
| ling flakes remorselessly into his face. In
/ spite of all his efforts he could not dismiss
the peaked, wan face from his thoughts
A picture rose before him of Little Dot,
trudging his way back to the hotel in all
the snow at an hour when other children
were cozily tucked away in bed and his
heart was filled with pity at the contrast
Poor little chap" he said again, with
a sigh. IN give him good notice."
The next night found him at the Varie-
/ ties behind the scenes. At his request he
was taken by the manager to the dressing
room that Little Dot occupied, and intro
duced TO him. The child was with his
mother waiting to "go on"
Its the gentlemen who was kind
enough to write that notice about you,n
she said to him, You must thank him
/ for it."
/ "Oh, it was you, was it?" he said, turn
ing his big blue eyes up at Raymond.
You're an editor, and't your"
,x-b; ob no 81 4 al, :,