The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1907-12-12

Every one on the stage was too busy
to notice the mite as she rested there,
one foot curled under. her pretty race
snugiy pressed into the corner OF the
softly padded chair. Her red tam mad
slipped off, and her hair was loosely
massed in ringlets about her face and
neck In a few minutes the stage
manager abruptly stopped the evolu'
tons and singing to announce that an
hour would be given for something to
eat So there followed hurrying TO
nearby cafes and lunch places, and the
big theater was left dark and silent,
where only few moments previous
had resounded the voices Of chorus. the
shuffling and patter of feet and the
shouts of the excited director. After
awhile, one by one and in pairs and I
more, the company began to assem-
bic again. There was still good
half hour, and the boys and girls
of the chorus accepted the opportunity
to chat and gossip as they sat on
boxes bundles OF carpet or even squat /
ted on the floor of the stage, their talk !
causing hum to resound throughout
the big auditorium.
And still the child slept on.
Suddenly there was an ominous hush
as Manager Hardcraft strobe upon the
stage, shaking snow from his fur lined
coat and shining silk hat. His Keen
eyes pierced the darkness toward the
boxes, probably in an effort to detect
any of the company who might be
stealing some comfort In the box seats
privilege strictly forbidden. He
roughly demanded to know who the
'lkid" was asleep in one of his forty
dollar chairs. Calling old Pete from
: his post at the back, be. wanted to
: know who let her In. anyway. Going
s 10 the little. sleeper. Pete deftly took
the envelope from the little hand which
t. still clasped 1t, however loosely. The
/ great man impatiently tore open the
d note, gave it swift glance, crunched
6 it and, throwing 1t among the foot
1t lights, gave a pull at his cigar anu
IS strobe hurriedly into the street. The
l. company crowded forward to view the
n little intruder. Tony Thompson. the
3 comedian of the organization, picked
UP the note, Strengthened out its creases
ana ToaU GlOuu.
John Hardcraft, ESQ.,. Manager the Rialto
N Opera Company:
N Dear Sir--I beg indulgence for thus In
vi truding upon your time and patience. 1t
NJ .s with reluctance ] write to ask II you
III cannot send me few dollars to be PAID
III back as soon as my husband Is able TO
N work again. have used all the money
III he has saved for the Doctors bill and to
IN purchase medicine and our necessltles
III We have not had cent In the house for
III two DAYS now and not only are we-my
IN little daughter and myself-in need oi
III food but fear that II cannot renew the
IN prescriptions for the medicine the doc
HI tor has ordered Mr.. Granger Will have
XII a relapse. l dislike very much to ash
nj this favor of you. but our condition Is be
H coming desperate. You will be doing al
81 act of kindness we shall never forget Il
W you will send something to aid US In ou
predicament, and may God bless you fo
Al It Respectfully, HELEN GRANGER
VI Some one put his hand deep into hi
a pocket and brought up q piece
NJ money, and then without word ther
~ was a tinkling of dimes, quarters an
ri halves as they dropped into the hat Q
MA the fat and rosy little comedian. Th
Ml collection was tied up In a handkel
II chief and noiselessly placed into til
" lap of the sleeping child.
But that was not all. A happ
thought came to the comedian, now
serious as Hamlet. From roll
money he whipped twenty dollar bil
'HR In a very few minutes the propert
man and his assistant had placed
IL the stage in front Of the sleeping 81
Ind nice green Christmas tree, purchase
all without much ado from the vender
ere the corner. Others had hurried
ing brought little red, white and blue ca
trel dies, strings of popcorn, tinsel al
candy hearts, which were quickly
ing tachea to the boughs of the ceda
the While this was going on Tony was 81
the ing orders In rapid succession, as II
ing lows:
be "Qulck, there, Jennie; bring that b
ear, Cossack coat with the fur all aroul
ION the edges. Bill, run for those boo
icie Hurry, now. Somebody get me an
bed mans wig. long white hair, mind ye
and and beard. There, that's just t
top thing. Here, you all stand back in
; at shadow. Now, girls. sing softly t
and music that goes with the entrance
fe. the queens barge in the starlig
the That's it--just little softer"
ort- The sound of celestial music I'LL
con- the place. 1t was dark save where
eise twinkling lights Of the Christmas u
was Illuminated the figure of the mel
-ors, Santa Claus standing alongside, W
any his kindly face turned toward
had slowly awakening child. She opeI
the her eyes, blinked them again from
'ach light, sat straight, rubbed her e!
laVe with her tiny fists. stirred herself q
VOTE then, settling back in the big chi
ring sobbed aloud. Jumping down from
40 stage, the Santa Claus took her on
t'lne lap and tightly held her in his arms.
su.- whats the matter, little one? dc
" you see that Santa Claus has come
s. = take care Of your
Sano Eyes, know, dear Santa, but
:" 80 crying because l am afraid III WI
t,st,s up and find 1t isn't real" And
'rtoS trembling child huddled closer.
sha "But 1t is real. and you are not AISLE
nor Bee this handkerchief filed with m
btful ey for your dear sick papa. Now I
o,den It home, and tonight be sure to hans
o.