The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-07-03

ances. He had wondered how the
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 a 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 a 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 a 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:
Il think you will do" Then he
called to Il 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?n
The woman nodded her head in re-
ply. and with Georgia hurried out of
the theater to an eating-house, close
by, and the little boy made quite a 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 thcater, and
told him that he might go to sleep in
one OF the little rooms 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 a good
sized clOset), so Georgia 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 queer
lady dressed in scarlet and blue, stand
ing in front of a little looking-glass,
putting something on her cheeks. As
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
nicely combed, some of the red pow
der delicately rubbed on his checks,
and the little boy stood at one of the
wings, ready to step out with the other
cupids when the stage manager should
motion them to do SO.
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 Georgia 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 little
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 a
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 a few minutes after six O'Clock
thought to 60 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 a
rubber tube, such as the orchestra
leader had used in the afternoon, told
the stage manager not to let George
go 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
a 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
usher to go around back of the scenes
with Mr.. Howard, who in Il very few
moments was in a 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:
Il guess l don't want to be an
actor. I'll stay at home after this. "