Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-22
GREAT J0NES'S DRUM.
4 Wonderful Christmas for The Lille
Waif.
AND HIS DEEP LAID PLof'
v,,t IN wa,fay santa Claus in
the Five Points House of Industry
, s,e,, THAT prum-His Confess
zion.
AND HIS DEEP LAID PLOT.



.cor Great ZONES. you must go to
bedr
.eDon,t want TO go TO bed. Want 10
wait up an see sany Claus.
santa Claus won't come TO bad NIUE
bovs and girls who don't say their pray
ers and go 90 bed
Great Jones was at first inclined u
weep, but he thought better OF H. anu
allowed himself to be led captive u
the big chidrens nursery. he was
tiny waif lodged under the she'1eflns
wing of the Five-Points House OF 81"
dustry, and his odd. pet name OF Drea'
1ones, had been given to him by the
poor family with whom he had ioobeu
before his removal to that kindly ehari-
~. His foster-father. laborinS man.
had picked the child up in Great JONES
street. near where that rather sriinS
thoroughfore enters the Bowery. NO IN
ouiries could elicit the little wanderer
name so he had been temporarily called
Great Jones after the street OF MS hilu-
ing ,...,-..,.. -
Now, Great Jones was distinctly REQ
haired. and as obstinate as he was red
haired. Somebody had tod MN that
Santa Claus-graciOus giVer OF eoOu
things-Was coming during the sun
watches of the night 10 the Five-Points
House of Industry and its nursery, just
as he came to the young people with
wealthy parents in the grand homes up
town.
Goodies" who was a cripple, and had
already spent a Christmas in the nursery.
had described the gorgeous array OF
presents which the good saint left by
the chldrens bedsides the year before.
Great Jones at first proved incredulous'
but one day finding the matron DIS
engaged. he questioned her on TINS I'M
portant question.
Eyes. Great Jones'" answered the ma
tron. santa Claus is sent here every
Christmas-Eve by the kind ladies' and
gentlemen with presents for the babes
of the NURSERY All sorts Of nice things
he brings, too-cardy and toys. and pop
guns
"And drums?' eagerly asked Great
Jones. Does ne bring drums?'
When the matrOn admitted that santa
Claus had been known 70 bring drum
Great Jones smiled happily. The cnioi am
bition OF his small soul was 10 own Il
drum-a real drum, such as he had seen
in the Peter =. MuiCahy Association
parade one night last summer. IL was
determined at all hazards to capture the
drum which santa Claus brought.
But how? Suppose the saint took IL into
his head TO give the drum to some other
Of the nursery chiidren-to 'Ioodl IS Ior
instance. or to Betsey Ann?
Kelsey Ann was such a remarkably
good little girl that Santa Claus might
well feel like giving her what seemed
TO Great Jones TO be the choicest prizs
OF all. His heart was troubled over the
prospect He moped in corners thinking
over plans to win the drum, and ashamed
10 conhde his sorTOws 10 the matron Vi
any one else.
Five Points House of Industry and us
nursery. In the very heart OF what was
once the wickedest spot in all New Yori
city stands the plain brick structure
which shields from the cruel streets 50
many small men and women. Some
them are orphans some are the chllurei
of parents so poor as TO be themselve
objects Of charity Some-llke Grea
Jones-are waits and strays on the grea
tide OF metropolitan life. Bur all ar
happy as care and comfort can max
them.
ANYTHING BUT HAPPY.
Just now, however, Great Jones. GU
happy. The long d-for drum and IN
sickening fear OF losing 1t oppresse
him. He had formed a desperate plot l
hide in the hallway outside the children
dormitory, and waylay Santa Claus whe
he arrived on Christmas-Eye, with hl
wonderful budget OF good things.
You must pardon Great Jones for ID
coyetousness. You see, he had not bee
long in the House of Industry, and tn
genial teachings of the ladies In chare
OF the charity had not yet eradicated IN
bitter lessons of the sidewalk.
That drum-that amazing drum-wnlc
he had seen and heard out Of the charity
window as the Peter Z. Muicahy parac
went by, still filed him with its gior.
lie felt that he should surely die q
he not secure drum OF MS own. Aft'
all. what could "Toodles,' who was
cripple want with such a toy? And Bets
Anna girl-what fun could she extra
from its jocund "rub-a-dub."
So when Chrlstmas-Eve came aroun
Great Jones carried into execution b
desperate scheme. The fifty or six
little ones in his dormitory had all be
washed and dressed for the night
their quaint little white linen gown
Prayers would be said in minute, a