Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-04-23
CHILDREN'S
BENEFIT.

| BENEFIT.
Howard L. Thomas In Short Stories.
In the crude, half formed world in which
we live happiness must, to great extent
be comparative, and the same rule hold
good in regard to our creature comforts
We are never 90 comfortable, never 20 i'm
pregnated with coziness - when elements
are waging their noisy warfare without
and when we imagine how miserable NJ
would be were We forced to brave the storm
and endure the biting cold. This was th.
case with the semicircle Of men gathered
around the FIRE roaring in the great chimney
Every snowcloud driving against the rattlin5
windows increased their appreciation Of thu
warmth and comforts Of the room and
caused them to turn with keeper relish Il
the cheerful blaz.. Every shrieking gus
of wind lent to their minds Z more delicate
perception Of the jests that came from the
lips of the celebrated comedian, Henry
Leonard, who amused them, in varying
degree, by the repetition of scraps Of dia
logue culled from the many comedies he had
played during his recent tour.
Leonard's personality contained, in a
marked degree, that Undesirable magnetic
charm which enables every natural actor tc
control both the thoughts and emotions Of
his audience. And with this charm was
blended in happy proportion = fascinating
versatility. tragedy and comedy are neal
of kin all the world over; in Leonard they
dwelt in amicable union. Grave or gay. be
was big hing, he was king among play.
ers, and could call forth either tears 0,
laughter according to his will.
In the midst of the hilarious burst of ap.
Plau.e which greeted one of the actors
sailies, the door was pushed timidly open
and pair Of ragged, half-frozen children
and eyes sharpened by cautious fear, they
group and presently stood by Leonard's
side, rolling their frightened eyes about the
room.
"Won't somebody give us some money!
We have nothing to buy food with" The
his blue lips were 50 stiff he could hardly
frame his words; but he stood there before
the men and. grasping his sisters hand
tightly in his own, made his appeal with
wistful eagerness.
I'VE don't want it for ourselves--we can
starye-but father died last week and
mother" A sob cut his speech short; bu,
bravely fighting back the tears that sprane
to his eyes, he continued huskily: "Mothel
will die, too, if we can get her no food; she
Is starving"
Nervously lingering his cap he glanced
from face to face with eyes full of pathetic
entreaty. Then his lips began 20 iremble
and hot tears rose to his eyes, as he saw
nothing but GOODNESS in the faces about
him. Turning drearily away, he drew hi,
sister toward the door, attempting to con.
sole her grief with brave words, although
his own heart was almost breaking at the
thought of the sweet face all scanned with
care and hollow with hunger, 50 patiently
awaiting their return.
"Won't you give Us something, STRIP
he asked in choked voice, extending hi,
hand appealingly toward Leonard. 'sMothel
is dying, sir; dying for want of food. Oh
do give US something" The little fellow
half turned away and fell to sobbing 4,
though his heart would break.
Tenderly the actor caught the ragged
little figure in his arms and put it in {
chair. Then he turned and gazed 6xedl,
on the silent men around him.
Twenty years ago." he began abruptly,
''my father lost his fortune and we sank
almost in day from wealth to abject pow
erty. We scarcely had the accessories oi
life, and we were forced to see two deli
cately nurtured women, who had beer
brought mp in every luxury within the reach
OF wealth, two women who had beer
shielded by jealous love from every sorrow
and guarded from care, living out their livei
in foul and noisome tenement house. W.
were forced to drag them down with Us t
an existence more miserable than that Of I
beast. And these two women were my
mother and sister,
Leonard paused his face looked pinched
and drawn, his eyes glistened with unshed
tears and his voice shook with suppressed
emotion.
Il was IS" he continued, drsatily, sold
enough to appreciate their suffering, o!d
enough to perceive that death for my mother
at least must follow In the footsteps of pow
erty."
..Ah, how brave they were. In their At
tempts to force upon my father and myself
the belief that their lives were not the
martyrdoms we knew th.m to be, they re-
sorted to subterfuges that would have beer
pitiful had they not been beautiful glori6ed
By unsel6sh love. How often mother h..
met rs at the door ~ We returned from on,
work and told Us with loving words that she
haa CHANGED on some old time friends and
had dined elsewhere. She would smile .,
she told ~ that loving falsehood, aud, a.
though she had not tasted fool in God