The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-07-03

Then he took George through the
little door underneath the stage, where
there were so many ropes, and puliles,
and benches, chains, and other things
of that kind that the little boy would
have become lost, but, following the
stage-manager, he suddenly walked up
half dozen steps and was behind the
scenes of the great theater. Men and
women were hurrying to and fro, or
standing talking one with another.
George looked around him to see
where the trees were, and the houses
and fences he saw during tho perform
ances. He had wondered how tho
great trees grew in the theater, and
was considerably surprised and disap-
pointed TO find that the trees were
merely painted on canvas which was
fastened to wooden frame that was
mounted on wheels, which ran in little
grooves, so that men could easily push
it across the stage.
Now we'll proceed to business"
said the stage manager, and he made
Georgia take of his nice leather shoes,
and put on pair of very soft, flexible
slippers that were quite soiled, although
one would not notice the dirt should
he be among the audience. Then the
showed the little boy how to take few
simple dancing steps, to bow here,
where this chalk ring is drawn on the
stage, and to turn on his toes at such
aplace. George was very bright, so
he learned quickly and pleased the
stage-manager. The little boy was
tired before the lesson was over, but at
last the stage-manager said:
81 think you will do" Then he
called to large woman who had been
watching them Mrs. Brown, will
you see that this youngster has good
dinner with the rest of you at five
o'clock"
The woman nodded her head in re-
ply, and with George hurried out of
the theater to ans clearinghouse, close
by, and the little boy made quite COM
Portable meal, although the food was
not so nice as that to which he had
been accustomed at home. Then Mrs.
Brown took George to- the theater, and
told him that he might go to sleep in
one of the little MONS she said was
hers, while she took walk. The little
boy was quite tired, so he thanked the
woman and looked around to see
where was the bed on which he should
sleep. There was none in the room
(Which was hardly larger than good
sized closet), so Geergie threw himself
on pile of clothing in one corner and
was soon fast asleep. How long he
was in dreamland, he did not know,
but he suddenly awoke to find the
dressing-room lighted up, and a queer
lady dressed in scarlet and blue, stand
ing in front of little looking-glass,
putting something on her cheeks. Az
George uttered frightened cry the
woman turned and the boy saw she
was Mrs Brown.
"Now, be quick Georgia." she said,
, cit is half past seven and you must be
dressed"
She put on him pair of very short
, white breeches, pink stockings, white
| jacket and slippers, and tied over one
shoulder and under the opposite arm
? pit large pink sash. His hair was
t nicely combed, some of the red pow
der delicately rubbed on his cheeks,
| and the little boy stood at one of the
, wings, ready to step out with the other
cupids when the stage manager should
D motion them to do SO.
2 y
While all this was happening, Mr..
2 and Mrs. Howard were very much
} frightened because they did not know
what had become of George. After
S the pantomine was over Mrs. Howard
= sat by the window, watching for her
A little boy But he did not come, and
his mother felt sorry because he had
= disobeyed his father again. She did
S not feel anxious about him until Mr..
Q Howard came home from his Office
and found that Gsorgie had not re-
turned. Then they sent one of the
servants to inquire about him at the
/ houses of tho neighbors where he
/ often went to play. But tea time ar.
/ rived, and the servant came back with
: no trace of him. Mr.. and Mrs. How
+ ard became very much frightened
= then, and, after swallowing a little
Y food, the former hurried out in search
of his son.. He inquired concerning
0 him of the policeman he met, and
went to the station-house, leaving q
e description of George so that in hall
: an hour all the policemen in the great
d city of Chicago knew he was lost, and
e were hunting for him.
S Mr.. Howard continued the search
e and at a few minutes after six O'CLOCK
/ thought to go to the theater and ash
e if any one had seen which way his, sol
went when he left the building in tn,
e afternoon. The evening performanc,
had begun when Mr.. Howard askeC
d the man who sold tickets in the box
Office about his boy. The tickst-sellel
d wanted to know what he looked like
e and, after Mr.. Howard had described
s George, the man said that he was il
the building, and speaking through
l, rubber tube, such as the orchestr'