The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-09-18

fastened to wooden frame tnat was
mounted on wheels, which ran IN httie
grooves. 40 that mon could easily push
t across the stage. s
..Now we'll proceed to business,
said the stage manager, ana ne Mau
George take of his nice leather shoes,
and put ON a pair of very soft, nexioie
slippers that were quite soiied, aitrous
one would not notice the dirt shocad
he be among the audience. Then tne
showed the little boy how to take lew
simple dancing steps, to DOW mere
where this chalk ring is drawn on inc
stage, and to turn on his toes az sucn
a place. George was very bright 50
he learred quickly and pleased the
stage manager. The little boy was
tired before the lesson was over, put az
last the stage-manager said:
AZ think YOU will do" Then ne
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 nSe
o'clockp"
The woman nodded her head in re-
NV. and with George hurried out Oh
the theater to an clearinghouse, CLOSE
by, and the little boy made quite q COM
Portable meal, although the food was
not so nice as that to which ne nau
been accustomed at home. linen Mrs.
Brown took George to the theater, ana
told him that he might go to sleep IN
one of the little rooms she salo was
hers, while she took walk. The LIKE
boy was quite tired, SO he thanked the
woman and looked around to see
where was the bed on which ne should
sleep. There was none in the room
(Which was hardly larger than good..
sized closet), so George threw hlmsct!
on pile of clothing in one corner ana
was soon fast asleep. How long he
was in dreamland he did not know,
hut he suddenly awoke to find the
dressing-room lighted up. and queer
lady dressed in scarlet and blue, stand
ing in front of q little looking-glass,
putting something on her cheeks. AS
George uttered frightened cry the
woman turned and the boy saw she
was Mrs. Brown.
"Now, be quick George" 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
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
J cupids when the stage manager should
J motion them to do 50.
u While all this was happening, Mr..
and Mrs. Howard were very much
frightened because they did not know
! what had become of George. After
the pantomine was over Mrs. Howard
sat by the window, watching for her
little boy But he did not come, and
his mother felt sorry because he had
disobeyed his father again. She did
not feel anxious about him until Mr..
Howard came home from his Office
: and found that George had not re-
turned. Then they sent one Of the
servants to inquire about him at the
; houses of the 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
J food, the former hurried out in search
! of his son. He inquired concerning
: him Of the policeman he met, and
went to the station-house, leaving q
description of George, so that in half
an hour all the policemen in the great
city of Chicago knew he was lost, and
were hunting for him.
Mr.. Howard continued the search;
: and at few minutes after six o'clock
: thought to 90 to the theater and ask
if any one had seen which way his SON
went when he left the building in the
afternoon. The evening performance
had begun when Mr.. Howard asked
the man who sold tickets in the box
Office about his boy. The ticket-seller
wanted to know what he looked like,
: and, after Mr.. Howard had described
, George, the man said that he was in
. the building, and speaking through .
: rubber tube, such as the orchestra
? leader had used in the afternoon, told
the stage manager not to let George
90 on the stage, as his father had
come for him. 1t was Just at this
point that the little boy would have
appeared. but the stage manager sent
= super around to tell him not to go
on the stage. SO that only three cupids,
!, instead of four, acted that evening.
The man who sold tickets asked an
2 usher to 90 around back of the scenes
with Mr.. Howard, who in very few
moments was in horse-car with
> George, bound for home. Mr.. and
Mrs. Howard were SO glad to see their
= little boy again that they did not
punish him as they should have done,
; and, as his mother carried him up
, stairs to bed, George sleepily said: .
n Il guess l don't want to be an
actor. I'll stay at home after this. ~
II W. B. Arnold IN ~ Y Tribune