The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1907-12-22

81. $ here folIo~sd 1 h.lryine ID.
nearhg <axes ana 49, 81 ehe:'
big theqtsr Wis left asrk A1d al1ent.
whese enly ! few nomenn previous
ha1 resoauded the yotess of chorus. ~
shn0hg and pettet o fs6k ana the
shouts 6 - excited Aksttee. Amer
awhile, one By ene and q pairs ana
more, ths company began - assem-
BILE again. Th1re VIZ st1n sood
half hour. ard the boys ana g1ris
of the chorus accepted The opportunity
to chat and gossip - they mt On
boxes. bundles Of carpet Or even squat
ted on tho f1oor Of the stage, their talk
causing hum 10 resound throughout
the big an<litorIum.
And stiH the child slept on.
Suddenly there was IN oIninous hush
as Manages Hardcraft STROBE upon the
stage, shaking snow from his fur lined
coat and shining SILK hat His ksen
eyes pierced the darkness toward the
boxes. probably IN an effort 10 detect
any of the company who might be
stealing some comfort IN the box seats,
a privilege strictly forbidden. He
roughly demanded 10 know who the
kid was asleep Ia one Of his forty
dollar chairs, Calling old Pete from
hts post at the hack. he wanted to
know who let her IN, anyway. Going
TO the little sleeper Fete deftfy took
the envelope fam the little hand which
stilI clasped II, however loosely. The
great man impatiently tore open the
note, gave It a swift glance. crunched
it and, throwing it among the foot
lights. gave a pull at his cigar and
strobe hurriediy 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 IIardcraft- ESQ. Manager the Riaito
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 as soon as my husband II able TO
work again. have used all the money
ne has saved for the doctors bill and to
purchase medicine and our necessities.
We have not had cent IN the house for
two days now. and not only arc we-7fny
little daughter and myself-in need OF
food but fear that IL cannot renew the
prescriptions for the medicine the doc
tor has ordered Mr.. Granger viii have
a relapse. / dislike very much to ask
this favor OF you, but our condition fs 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
it. 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 tiniSling of dimes, quarters and
halves as they dropped into the hat of
the fat and rosy little comedian. The
collection was tied up in a handker-
chief and noiselessly placed into the
lap OF the sleeping child.
But that was not ALL AZ happy
thought came to the comedian, now as
serious as a Hamlet. From roll of
money he whipped twenty dollar bill.
In very few minutes the property
man and his assistant had placed on
the stage in front of the sleeping girl
a nice green Christmas tree, purchased
without much ado from the vender on
the corner Others had hurriedly
brought little red, white and blue can
dies, strings OF popcorn, tinsei and
candy hearts, which We're quickly at
tached to the bonghs Of the cedar.
While this was going on Tony was CIV
ing orders In rapid succession, as fol.
lows:
"Quick, there, Jennie: bring that bic
| 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 flied
the place. It was dark save ~here the
| twinkling lights of the Christmas tree
| illuminated the figure of the merry
Santa Claus standing alongside. with
his kindly face turned toward the
| slowly awakening child. She opened
her eyes, blinked 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
| YOU see that Santa Claus has come t.
| take care OF your
Eyes. I know, dear Santa, but I an
| crying because am afraid I'll wake
4 IN and find it isn't real" And tn,
| trembling child huddled closer.
"But 1t is real, and YOU are not asleep
See this handkerchief filed with mon
/ ey for your dear sick papa Now take
i 1t home, and tonight be sure to hang III
/ your stocking, both of them, for WheI
every little boy and girl Is asleep an
going to make my rounds, and l an
not going to forget you" Atlanta Con
stitution.
1 Only Changing the Tune. s4e
i ~The man escaped us" said the de
tectiye He had invented new dodge
u - q -.