The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-06-20
H-Zsssk.--sS <--sy*E.--

| get the opportunity
In an apartment in the cellars Of
this house lived Little Make-Believe
and Surname.
There were two apartments in the
cellar, that next to Little MakeBe-
lieve's being occupied by cobbler.
This gentleman it was, who popping
his head out Of his door at the sound
Of footsteps on the rickety stairs, as
\ tonished Thomas Dexter by selling
him suddenly by the collar Of his coat
and pulling him into the room.
Thomas Dexter was about to remon-
strate energetically against this vio-
lence. when the cobbler clapped his
hand upon the curiosity dealers mouth.
"Hushr' he said, in sepulchral tone.
Don't raise yer voice. Speak in a
whisper. Well, if this ere amt a
game! Why, everybody believed yer
dead, and dead yer ought to be out O.
respect to public opinion. The little
cusses! Don't yer 'ear 'em?"
By motion Of his hand he directed
Thomas Dexter's attention to the wall
which separated his apartment from
Little Make-Belieye's, and Thomas
Dexter, placing his ear to it, in imita-
ton of the action of the cobbler, heard
sound of children's voices. one Of
which, more distinct than the others.
was reciting parody on the burial
service for the dead.
The significance of the words,
strange and extrayagant as they We're;
the dismal appearance Of the miserable
apartment which was lit by one thin
tallow candle; the unearthly feeling
which stole upon him, were appalling.
"Are they burying anybody" he
asked, in a whisper.
"That's jest what the little cusses
are a-doin' on. They're a-buryin' Of
you"
"Of me!''
keep still. Yer shall see for yer
self; but the warmints mustn't know
that anybody's lookin' at 'em. Lord,
Lord, Lord! The games I've seen 'em
at night arter night. It's as good as
play. Don't move"
Splitting on the forefnger and thumb
of his right hand, the cobbler seized
with these forceps the snuff of the can
die and extinguished the light.
Being now in the dark, and safe
from observation, he removed two
very small wooden pegs from two very
small holes in the wall, through each
Of which, by placing the eye very close
to it, view of the proceedings in the
adjoining apartment could be obtained.
Little Make Believes room was IL
Illuminated by three ends of candles,
which the cobbler, in sepulchral
whisper, informed Thomas Dexter
were generally contributed by one and
another of the "little cusses" when any
game was on.
There was quite dozen children as
sembled there, standing around an I'M
aginary grave, into which the mag
mary body of Thomas Dexter had just
been lowered, and only the concluding
words of the service reached Thomas
Dexter's ears.
1t was Dot-and-carry- who offic-
lated as minister, and he it was who,
in a mock solemn voice, in which
lurked frightful malice, exclaimed:
"Ashes to ashes-dust to dust,
If Gawd don't take him. the devil must'~
Thomas Dexter shivered. The phan-
tom of the figure in his dream rose be-
fore him with its icy heart upon which
was inscribed "Old Dexter's Charity"
Then the children pretended to shov-
Ell the earth over him. and this being
done to a chorus OF uncomplimentary
illusions to himself Thomas Dexter
took observation of certain matters
which, up to this tine, had escaped his
notice.
The first was the form Of an exceed
ingly beautiful child, who, lying on the
ground with her chin resting in the
palms of her hands, had played Qui-
escent part in the ceremony.
Her face was like rose, her eyes
as blue as the lovelIest cloud, her limbs
might have been nodded in wax, so
perfect were they, and her fair hair
hung round her beautiful head and
rested on her white shoulders. one of
which WAS bare.
SIS it real or picter?"
Thomas Dexter believed that these
words had simply found expression>in
his mind, but he had really spoken
them under his breath. The cobbler
answered him.
"That is Saranne, Little Make-Be-
Iieve's sister. She'll grow up beau
ty--if she grows up at all"
why shouldn't she grow up?" asked
| Thomas Dexter
Because" said the cobbler, "she's
got about as much strength as I've got
in my little finger. It's to be hoped,
for Little Make-Believe's sake, as moth
ing II 'appen to her. It'd break the
little 'un's cart"
The contemplation of this exquisite
| figure had drawn Thomas Dexter's at
tention from the other children for a
few moments and when, presently, be
turned toward them be saw them seat
ed In a row on bench, and saw also,
to his amazement, that their faces
were blackened.
They're playing niger Ministries, =
exclaimed the cobhler. "It's a favor
lite game with the little cusses"
TIE band was complete in all its de-
tails-bones, banjos. the imaginary in
struments being illustrated with amaz-
ing vigor by the performers-tenor and
| falsetto voices. and middle man.