Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-12-18

| Every one on the stage was too busy
| to notice the mite as she rested there
one foot curled under, her pretty face
J softly padded chair. Her red tam had
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-
lions 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 a few moments previous
had resounded the voices Of chorus. the
shutting and patter of feet and the
shouts of the excited director. After
awhile, one by one and In pairs and
more, the company began to assem-
| BILE 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
kid" was asleep in one of his forty
dollar chairs. Calling old Pete from
his post at the back, he wanted to
know who let her In. anyway. Going
to the little sleeper, Pete deftly took
the envelope from the little hand which
still clasped It. however loosely. The
great man impatiently tore open the
note. gave 1t swift glance. crunched
it and, throwing 1t among the foot
lights, gave a pull at his cigar and
strobe hurriedly into the street. The
company crowded forward TO view the
little intruder. Tony Thompson, the
comedian of the organization, picked
up the note, Strengthened out its creases
and read aloud:
John Hardcraft, Esq. Manager the Rialto
Opera Company:
Dear Sir-I beg indulgence for thus in
truding upon your time and patience. 1t
IS with reluctance / write to ask II you
cannot send me few dollars to be paid
back soon as my husband Is able to
work again. I have used all the money
he has saved for the doctors bill and to
purchase medicine and our necessities
We have not had a cent In the house for
two days now. and not only are we-my
little daughter and myself-in need OF
food, but fear that IL l cannot renew the
prescriptions for the medicine the doc
tor has ordered Mr.. Granger will have
q relapse. | dislike very much to ask
this favor OF you, but our condition is be-
coming desperate. You will be doing an
act of Kindness we shall never forget IL
you will send something to aid us in our
predicament. and may God bless YOU for
1t. Respectfully, HELEN GRANGER.
Some one put his hand deep into his
pocket and brought up piece of
money, and then without word there
was a tinkling of dimes. quarters and
halves as they dropped into the hat of
the fat and rosy little comedian. The
collection was tied up in handker-
chief and noiselessly placed into the
lap OF the sleeping child
But that was not all. A happy
thought came to the comedian, now al
serious as Hamlet. From roll Of
money he whipped a twenty dollar bill.
In very few minutes the property
man and his assistant had placed on
the stage in front of the sleeping girl
u nice green Christmas tree, purchased
without much ado from the vender on
the corner. Others had hurrfedly
brought little red, white and blue can
dies, strings Of popcorn, tinsel and
candy hearts, which We're quickly at
tached to the boughs Of the cedar.
While this was going on Tony was Civ
ing orders In rapid succession, as fol-
lows:
"Quick, there, Jennie; bring that big
Cossack coat with the fur all around
the edges. Bill, run for those boots.
Hurry, now. Somebody get me an old
mans wig, long white hair, mind you.
and a beard. There, that's just the
thing. Here, you all stand back in the
shadow Now. girls, sing softly the
music that goes with the entrance OF
the queens barge In the starlight.
That's it-just little SOFTER!
The sound of celestial music filled
the place. 1t was dark save where the
twinkling lights of the Christmas tire
illuminated the figure of the merry
Santa Claus standing alongside, with
his kindly face turned toward the
slowly awakening child. She opened
her eyes, blmked them again from the
light, sat, straight, rubbed her eyes
with her tiny fists, stirred herself and
then, settling back in the big chair,
sobbed aloud. Jumping down from the
stage, the Santa Claus took her on his
lap and tightly held her In his arms
whats the matter, little one? Don't
you see that Santa Claus has come to
take care of you?"
Yes, know, dear Santa, but l am
crying because | am afraid I'll wake
up and find it isn't real" And the
trembling child huddled closer.
"But IL Is real. and you are not asleep.