Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-12-25
SATURDAY, DEC. %, 1897.
lContinued from Third Page)

idays The letter had contained re-
mark that "when things seem bad
there's all the more reason for making
the best OF them" which was perhaps
sensible. 1t also contained postal orders
for So, which was certainly lavish.
Tommy had naturally contented dis
position. He had also an inventive j
MUD. and for days past he had been de-
vising occupations for his solitude IN |
the holidays
After tea Tommy went of TO the day
room 1t was a large room, furnished
with two long tables, four long benches,
a set Of lockers and one chair-all IN
pine wood 1t also contained piano,
in walnut, but out Of tune, for the ben
eft of those boys who took music The
room was warmed by hot water pipes
1t looked out ON the back wall of Mr.
Bunby's stable. and it was not parhcu-
larly cheerful
1t was lit by gas jets without globes,
two as a general rule The servants had
by Mr. Bunby's directions-only lit
ono Of them that night. 1t had been
clear TO Mr. Bunby's economical mind
that where there was only one boy lux
DRY itself could not demand more than
one gas Jet Tommy, not having an eco
notaical mind. struck match, got on a
cssSir and increased the quarterly gas
bill Then he took from his locker
COPY of Hymns Ancient and Modern,
witt tunes, and three sticks Of plain
chocolate He opened the piano, drew
the chair up to it and put the three
sticks of chocolate on the lowest octave.
because it would be handy there and
that octave would not be required for
the purposes for which its bad German
maker had originally intended it Then
he rat down, found the tune that he
was anxious to learn before Christmas
day arrived and set to work. 1t was on
" recently that Tommy had taken
music" but he had already found out
some important facts in connection
with it He knew, for instance, that II
was really the right hand which Die
most of the work; the right hand die
the actual tune, and If that went wrong
&c wac Of very little use for the lef
hand TO be perfectly correct, whereas
If the right hand knew its work anC
made enough noise with it, the lef
hand might come in gently where /
would and as il could So he began
now 20 learn the right hand part first
He put the soft pedal down and strucl
the notes as gently as possible. becaus
he did not want Mr. Elton in the mas
ters' room overhead to hear the tune
It was to be a surprise on Christina
eve-supposing that it could be got IN
to good going order by that time. AS
matter Of fact the precaution was need
less; the tune in it's embryo state Nigh
safely have been audible, as it woul
certainly not have been recognizable.
At O'Clock there was supper. and
rs Mr.. Bunby frequently pointed on
all the best doctors are agreed that TN
meal. If taken at all. should be as ligf
as possible After supper Elton rea
prayers emitting two somewh;
lengthy petitions for "a steady an
conscientious application TO our studies
and for "such pleasant and friendly il
tercourse with our comrades as ms
best tend 10 promote" etc. The
were. he considered, only applicable
Germ time Mr. Bunby had copeposs
these prs vers himself, and it is great
90 be feared that Tommy regarded Lie
abbreviation as one more or the relax
tions that the holidays had broUgl
with them
Then Tommy went of TO his be
room. read Treasure island for ha
an hour by the light of one surreptitio
candle. and finally dropped of to slee
Elton, IN the masters room, sat befO
the Ere, pondered and pitied himself.
1t was going TO be terribly lonely (
him. In consideration of his board N
lodging and fraction under shillii
and pence per diem he had sentenc
himself TO absolute solitude There W
Tommy. of course. but Tommy did Il
count or rather Tommy made thin
worse All through the term there we
many Tommi s. The chief point of {
holidays was that they brought Wi
them a complete absence of boys I'll
point was lost, for be would certain
have 20 suffer Tommy's presence
mealtimes, and ne would also be {
pected to exercise some sort of slight {
pervision of his movements during t
day. That was what a man of intel
gence and education and taste was CO
PEELED to endure in order to secure
himself the paltry privilege of being
lowed TO live Was it worth while? L
phatically not He would have pref
red to die. bus being a victim to
primary instinct he went to sleep
stead He also read in bed, bat his be
was the English translation of Schop,
hauer, and it was on the floor in
minutes
"What are you going to do with 20
self?'' he asked Tommy ON the folio
ing morning.
'My old stampbook's come to bit:
replied Tommy, land I've got a bet
one that was a present. So I'm goi
to float OF all the stamps out of the
one and put them
Eyes. yes see"
1.-THE chaps being away, can get
the lavatory basins at once for float
the pages in. and that keeps the star
from getting mixed l can have all
basins, can't I?''
eyes Don't make any mess. thou
and don't go out until return
Then Elton sauntered down into
towE. sruoking openly the cigarette t
In term time was prohibited He exs
ined the shops. with their Christi
cards, Christmas toys. Christmas (
keys, and as he did so a very great
came to him. He would occupy his
sure during the holidays by the CON
sition Of a long, satirical poem, Il
called Christmas Reviewed" By
audacity of its manner of dealing v
q sacred subject. by its fierce and {
centrated bitterness. by its marvel
melancholy and by its exquisite fiji
1t should attract attention and appre
ton Such things would be worth
to man without illusions but he
prepared to work hard to secure tn
lie went into the best statiOner's S
Rt once
''Have you. he inquired. ANY be
made writing paper, with the TO
edge, you know? Letter size? 1t mi
be scribbling or letter-but not folde
letter"
The stationer reflected, touched