, 1884-05-03
THE CHILD VOCALIST.

iney were stanulnX IN tne loDDy OF tue va
rieties- Raymond had dropped in fer a few
minutes while making his nightly round OF
the theatres The manager, eager for a good
notice in the daily upon which his companion
served as a dramatic critic, was himself al
most Extensively agreeable.
"The hit of the shown he emphatically af-
hrmed. You'll wait for him, Won't youi
He comes on next"
Il don't know whether | can spare the
time,' said Raymond. smoothing out the
play-bill that had been crumpled up in his
hand. And, in type which stood out bolder
than the rest, he read:
LITTLE DOT!
"The phenomenal child artist, in his wonder
full character chariscs"-foilosTed by-more
terms of a laudsiory character, similarly ex-
travagant.
Raymond carelessly cast his programme
aside and watched the two upon the stage.
They were going through what figured on
the hills as an "acrobatic song and dance"
Presently they executed u remarkable
somersault that brought forth a cloud of
dust and made their exit, followed by the
deafening applause of the gallery. In re-
Spouse, they came out and bowed, aud the
stamping OF feet and ~clapping Of hands grad
ually ceased.
The quiet that fell upon the house WAS
broken by the tinkle of tho prompter's bell.
The eyes OF the audience expectantly sought
the wings. The musicians raised their in
strninents and began to play one Of the pop
ular airs in vogue.
E~Watch him. Whispered the manager,
"A born actor and no mistake" W p
As he spoke, u little figure. clad in a black
velvet suit with delicately striped pink stock
ings, appeared ON the stage. A crimson
ba n1sarchiaf Nnroftr,taf lcifghtI,, Fro,.. H.
pocket and an ~eye-glass dangled at his side.
In his hand he held a light cane, which he
twifled foppishly at intervals.
Such a pinched, wan lace he turned to
ward the audience, as he began his song in
t . yellow glare OF the foctligbts! A fever
la flush was on his cheeks and his ewes
spurkled with UNNATURAL b~riliancy. Ray
mond felt his heart grow soft with pity US be
listened to the rare, sweet voice that to his
experienced ear already showed signs Of
breaking.
Poor little chap" he murmured; hes
scarcely - l should judge And
somehow a tender thought of his two
little chicks, dreaming perhaps of
their childish heroes at the time came to hin.
He watched Little Dot through the mist that
had gathered in his eyes.
Thu song soon came to an end. and the
child disappeared, followed by the enthus-
iastic approval OF the audience. The man
ager Joined in the applause and turned to
Raymond, his face beaming with pleasure.
~Ehl chr he said, aelightedly. s-sDoesn't
he bring wi the housed An infant prodigy,
and all that, you know. Pom my word, its
worth the price OF admission to see him
alone"
Rather a lit subject for the Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, l
should say remarked Raymond, dryly.
For my part I hate your infant prodigies.
They. all ought to be in their beds at this
hour enjoying the sleep or healthful chill
dren."
The manager eyed him sharply.
r-Stuff and nonsensei' he gruuted. Then,
in a more cheerful tone: Just watch him
this next turn. His drunken man is something
wonderful. I'm capable of criticising that,
you know And hs hushed the chuckle
Oh his lips as Little Dot-a complete meta
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in with n high silk hat
crushed over his eyes and n white handker-
chic: hanging from his c~uat-tail pocket.
The drunken hiccough and thick utterance
with which he rendered the song fairly con-
vulsed the audience, When he was through,
he was greeted with q terrific storm of APP
plause.
True to life. wasn't iti' laughed the man
oyer. well, it ought 10 be. He's had
plenty Of chances to get points, goodness
knows. His fathers Whitley of the stars
VINO 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 II cool SIS to
her every week.
Raymond listened with his eyes intent
upon the stage. Little Dot was responding
- III aa.onI annnra IVkav, H. aus-tzl l.
was vociferously re-demanded. Again he
came out and delivered a pathetic little reci-
tation that evoked fresh applause. Raymond
grew indignant.
what a sbamel' he -mutteredt angrily.
They'd keep the poor little fellow before
them the whole night il 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,
aud in its place wa look OF utter WEAKNESS.
The audience must nave noticed 1t for the
house grew still and the performance pro-
ceeded with the next act
Raymond buttoned up Ibis oyereoat
closely and left the theatre. 1t was a
bitter night, and the streets were we'll
nigh Deserted The snow lay deep upon the
ground, and a raw, bleak wind blew the still
falling fakes remorsely into his face. In
bPAtS u va AN Ao u NC NOhhl Nv ulSlDlhS tQt
peaked, wan face. from his thoughts. A
picture rose before him of Little Dot, trudg-
ing his way back to the hotel in all the snow
at an hour when other children were costly
tucked away in,bed, and his heart was filed
with pity at the contrast.
poor little chapl' he said again, with a
sigh. I'll give him a good notice"
The next night found him ut the Varieties
behind the scenes. At his request he was
taken by, tue manager to the d~ressing-rootn
that Little Dot occupied, and introduced to
him. The child was with his mother waiting
"lts the gentleman who was kind enough
to write the notice about you" she said to
bin. you must thank him for it."
-Oh, it was got was itr' he said, turning
his big blue eyes up at Raymond. you're
an editor, amt your
The awe with which he asked this question
brought a smile TO Raymond's face.
mot exactly" he replied al write for the
ue~wspapers.Pi hUtfm NFF
sDa yon ~ aaid tho nhud . ~. /.