Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-12-04
TWO PoLYOPTICON PARTIES.
The Reason why Jack Lee Gives Free
shows Every Christmas Eve.

shows Every Christmas Eve.
ByM. E. L., in DR.. Foote'S Health Monthly.
Little Mrs. Lee had constant evil
dences of the fact that smoke indicates
fire somewhere, even if the smoke
was only swell on her small boy S
mischievous hands.
you've been playing with fire
again, Jack2" she inqHiringly affirmed
on one particular DAY, just before cleo
ton.
did you see me2" asked Jack,
without raising his honest blue eyes.
Mrs. Lee was a wise young msther,
so she said reassuringly:
"Tell mamma all about it, Jacxl
Did you have an awful nice timer
The effect of the invited confidence
was electrical. Jacks face grew alb
solutely brilliant with certain mirth-
full recollections as he answered, boy
like;
"You bet We had a bully good
time You just ought to have seen US
making daisy fires in the tin cans, and
when we saw the cops coming, we
ran down the back alley, and then |
HOult. Alls ~ was lhh
II say, marin, he contiaued, insin-
uatingly, went you please give me
that busted barrel out in the yard to
make bonnie of on lection night, if
the best mans 'lected, cause l don't
want to have to steel a good one from
other peoples back gate, like some Of
the other boys do"
Neither did Mrs. Lee care to have
the family honor tarnlshed, so she
said:
eyes, Jack, you can have the bar
rel, with the mental determination
to have her small boy rather more
carefully guarded, for he was not yet
six years old, and he seemed just
little too progressive for his age.
1t was really wonderful how often
those tiny never clean hands proved
traitors, and disclosed the working of
their youthful masters busy brain !;
and in time Mrs. Lee learned, from
the peculiar smell, to tell just what
manner of fire Jack had been tam
pering with. Once, the combined
odor of gas and matches rather mys-
titled the little mother, but the usual
cheerful inquiry revealed the nature
of her darling's investigations.
II was only getting my alligator to
going" he said.
Mrs, Lee was perplexed: what did
Jack mean2
'Why, don't you know, mamma
don't you member when we were
going up in the alligator at the store
the other day, how 1t shook funny,
and the man told us about the gas,
and he pulled a cord, and we rode up
and down? So | made one most like
it; come up stairs and see
No second invitation was needed,
and sure enough there was an i'm
prOmptu elevator; a small bed drawn
near the window where the curtain
cord was within convenient reach,
and the lighted gas supplied imagin-
airy steam.
The rather pleasant smell of burnt
sugar always told on the lighted
candy cigar, and one day the never
idle hands were strongly lmpregnated
with kerosene.
Jack, asked Mrs. Lee, who had
one of her happy thoughts, what
have you been doing with your Poly
opticon"
Just getting it ready for my
party" Jack unhesitatingly an
swered.
did you try to light the lampp
asked the anxious mother.
'"Course not Didn't YOU tell me
never to do that, and didn't l prom
Use / wouldnt} No, marm / tell
you that just fixed Poly up for my
party
Mrs. Lee breathed free again but
the party What could the boy mean
She found out soon after dark, when
dozens of boys and girls-Jack' play.
mates-came trooplng ina regular
surprise party; out Mrs. Lee was equal
To the occasion. lack had arranged
the Polyopticon-his amusing and in.
structive wonder camera-upon the
table all right So Mrs. Lee secured
the white screen TO the heavy curtains
in the bay window, lighted the lamp,
and then the show commenced, But
Just before Mrs. Lee put out the gas
she was aStonished by having fifty
cents IN hve-cent pieces slipped into
her hand by the small doorkeeper
who had offered his services for the
occasion.
what is that for, Roberto" she
asked
well, you see, Mrs. Lee, " Robert
bashfully answered, Jack said this
was to be free show; but he told us
the other day that mis- papa was not
very well, and he 'sposed he was
kinder tired out, working SO hard, and
Jack said he wished he could help
him out; me and VIII Jones made
it up between us to chaig e the rich
boys FIVE cents piece FOR coming in
to this party, but don't you be uneasy,
we let the girls and the POOR boys in
for nothing; and if you please, just
use the money gave you to help
Jacks papa out little"