Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-01-11

ent season Of pantomue was nearly at an
end, How was she 90 exist in the mean
time For il did not seem desirable to jim
to 20 back 20 her thieving ways There
was something better in the world than
living 10y dishonest practices. Still. if she
could tide over a few pantomimc seasons. a
career Of respectahility might open before
her
"I'll do better next year, SIR" she said.
glancing up with quick, bright eyes 81
won't he new to the business yer scc "
Oh, no, jim, this business viii know YOU
no more
The last night had come, and jim with a
heavy sigh had put on her dewdrop frock
and glttering crown for the last time. A
cold tremor seized her when she thought
of all the evenings henceforth to be spent
IN Prides Lane instead Of in fairy palaces,
realms of light aud beauty Yet never
had she tripped so gracefully across the
stage, or demeaned herself with such pret.
ty dignity. Her shrll voice had peculiar
pathos when she pronounced the doom of
the dewdrups before the rising sun The end
of the transformation scene came and the
curtain fell. Amidst tumultuou, applause
1t rose again and the little stage queen led
her little court forward. There were tears
in Jins bright eyes
When all was over, there was to be a
supper for the children, and so many of
them fingered till after the harlequiuade
jim begged to be allowed to wear her dress
II don make much matter now if it
gets dirty She said, with sigh "therH
be nobody To look at 1t tomorrow. Ard
so the supper was eaten and sleepy chill
dren were bidden to depart Many of
them had elders, reputed sisters or aunts,
seldom mother, to fetch them. But no
body came for jim.
Now hurry up, said old Brown, seeing
her still lettering about the passages in her
larry robes. II want to he locking up.
The carpenters had gone. the dressers
had gone, clown, pantaloon and harlequin
had all hurried eastwards or westwards
Brown, as a final ceremony, betook him
| sell TO a whiskey bottle in the managers
| room, and there after a couple of doses fell
INTO deep sleep.
jim, unable to tear herself away from
the scene OF so much happiness, wandered
into one of the property rooms. She knew
there was long mirror here, for she had
often practiced before it. She turned up
the gas and figured for space in front Of
II.
lis the last time, She muttered more
than once. "Oh, | do love play actin ~
with heavy sigh.
Then huge chest, carved and massive,
attracted her notice. She did not remem-
Der to have seen it before.
why, its like the other Ginifer's. do
declare can pay-act Ginifer e. And all
the time Brown slept on, giving vent to
regular sonorous sounds.
the heavy lid Of the chest.
And I've got a white gownd and a
crown like the Ginifer in the shop winder.
She laughed gaily and stepped into the
chest, looking at her own image all the
time. jim Oh, jim can you not see the
grey shadow with upllfted scythe above
your crown OF dewdrops Laugh on, hap
py one GU have had your day, poor
wayslde weed, that might ON other soil
have hlossomedinto some beauteous flower
Think no more of the dread morrow. and
the long stretch of dull and toilsome days
reaching ON to next winter. Uncertainty
will never be yours any more Your little
triumph has made bright ripple on the
dead monotony of misery to which you
were born. Happier than some in this
90 to rest, Ginifer, with smile on yoLr
face, and with your poor little laurels
seeing, allwi Guide Is leading your steps
perchance to cleaner ways. Goodnight,
jim goodnight
The child smiles radiantly at herself in
the long mirror in which the glitter of tim
sci and bright dewdrops are reflected. Sud
denly her trall arm, weakened by the long
strain, relaXes its hold of the ponderOus
lid. With dull, heavy thud it falls, and
the lock snaps tiercely.