The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-05-05
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Il
get the opportunity.
In an apartment in the cellars oi
this house lived Little Make-Believa
and Surname h 10
There were two apartments in tht
cellar, that next 10 Little Make BE
lieye's being occupied by cobbler.
This gentleman it was, who popping
his head out OF his door at the sound
Of footsters on the rickety stairs, as
tonisbed Thomas Dexter by selling
him suddenly by the collar OF his coat
and pulling him into the room. p.
Thomas Dexter was about 10 rernon-
strate energetically against this vio-
ience. when the cobbler clapped his
hand upon the curiosity dealers mouth.
"Hushw he said, in a sepuIchral tone.
Don't raise yer yoice.iJ Speak in n
whisper. Well, if' this 'ere amt n
game! why, everybody believed yer
dead, and dead yer ought 10 be out o
respect 10 public opinion. The little
cusses! Don't yer ear 'emF
nv motion Of his hand he directed
Thomas Dexters attention 10 the wall
| which separated his apartment from
| little Make. Relieves, and Thomas
Dexter. placing his ear TO IT, In imlta.
ton OF the action OF the cobbler, heard
n sound OF chidren's voices. one OF
| which. more distinct than the others,
was reclting parody on the burial
service for the dead.
The significance Of the words,
strange and extrayagant as they were;
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 q whisper.
"Thats Jest what the little cusses
are a-doln' on. They're a.buryin' Of
you"
"Of mer' -H
"Keep still. Yer shalI see for yer
self; but the warmnts mustn't know
that anybOdy's lookin' at 'em. Lord,
Lord, Lord! The games I've seen en-
at night arter night. It's as good as
play. Don't move ..
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'yery
. small holes in the wall, through each
Of which. by placing the eye very close
90 it. q view of the proceedings In the
adjoining apartment could be obtained.
Little Make Believes room was IL
Eliminated Ivy three ends of candles.
which the cobber in n @sepnlchral
whisper. Informed Thomas Dexter
were generally contributed by one aud
another Of the little cusses' when any
game was on.
There was quite dozen children as
sembled there, standing around an im-
aginary grave. into which the inag-
mary body of Thomas Dexter had just
been lowered, and only the concluding
words of the service reached Thomas
Dexter's ears. e,t. ff - l. .
IL was Dot-and-carry- one who ,ofiic-
lated as minister, and he il was who,
in mock solemn voice, in which
lurked a frightful malice. exclaimed;
Ashes to ,ashes--dust't TO dust, u I.
IL Gawd don't take hum the devil must
Thomas Dexter shivereds 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 10 shov-
el the earth over kim. and this being
done 20 a chorus OF uncomplimentary
Ialluslons TO himself Thomas e Dexter
took observation OF certain matters
which up to this time, had escaped his
notice. . H'r 20 .HUao.
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 qul-
cscent part in the ceremony. d" alE
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. Hauf
"Is it real. or plcter?'. '.n..Hl
Thomas Dexter believed that these
words had simply found, expression in
his mind. but he had really spoken
them under his breath. The cohbler
answered him.
THAT is Saranne. Little Make. Be
lieve's sister. She'll grow up O beau
ty-if she grows MP at all eN
"Why shouldn't she grow up?" asked
Thomas Dexter. .H
Because said the cobbler. "she's
got about as much strength as I've got
in my little finger. It's TO he hoped.
for Little Make Believes sake. as moth
ing II 'appen TO her. Ito break the
little 'un's cart" aa.taW !
The contemplation OF this exquisite
figure had drawn Thomns Dexter's at
tcnton from the other children for n
few moments. and when. presently. he
turned toward them be saw them seat
ed in n row on n bench. and saw also.
TO his amazement. that their faces
were blackened.
They're playing niger minsrcls.
exclaimed the cobbler. Its n favor
ite game with the little -cusses" ,.s
The band was complete in all It's de-
taiis-bcnes, banjos. the imaginary in
struments being illustrated with amaz-
ing yigor by the performers-tenora and
falsetto voices. annlniedle man.
The songs were for the nnoSt Arsctninis.