The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-12-27
CECIL OF WOODS"
4 Snowbonnd Nightingale
Sings by Wire.
BY EDGAR WHITE.

the undulaung earth. AS twilight
caxne on the little train, in spite OF
the tremendous putting OF It's engine.
settled down to walk. Men OF the
crew rushed backward and forward
through the aisles, looking anxious.
The country seemed a wilderness;
deep ravines. dense forests, frowning
cliffs and rugged mountains.
The lamps were lighted and The
Faust Opera" troupers in the rear
coach began to sing All day their
spirits had fallen with the snow. A
failure TO reach the junction meant
Christmas Day In the wilds, most
distressing thing after the eagerly
looked-for reunion with the folks at
home. So they tried to sing the blues
away. But 1t was no use. The songs
died mournfully Suddenly the en-
CINE stopped A brakeman, lantern In
hand, entered from the rear.
Where are we?" asked the tall thin
manager of the show company
Frog Island Crossing" said the
brakeman tersely. The roads
blocked"
Idly they watched the brakeman
and another man working outside
with line to connect the telephone
wire with an instrument in the car
This meant they we're going to call up
the nearest telegraph office so the
man there might notify the superin-
tendent to send the snow plow and
men: relief was far away.
It was ascerta1ned that the nearest
help was seventy miles down the line,
and that the snow-plows could hardly
hope to reach the train before morn
Ing. AS 1t was still showing heavily
even this calculation might be overly
optimistic.
The conductor found farm house,
and returned with baskets OF deli.
cious turkey, chicken, light bread and
preserves. There were tankards OF
coffee, and cans OF real cream. How
the old world troubles fell under the
gracious influence OF that homely
country fare foraged out of the storm.
And how the actors ate! II was re-
past unsurpassed along the length
and breadth of the Great White Way.
Song birds chatted and laughed with
farmers and country merchants
They swapped yarns, cracked Jokes
aud became jolly good fellows all
Finally, their hunger appeared, Me
phisto and Marguerite arose and
started a song.
'If you people don't mind my but
tin in, would you list wait minute ?"
The unexpected remark came from
the farmer who had come In with the
food, and was waiting to take the
empty baskets back over the white
hills. He had been standing at The
end OF the car. deferentially waiting
for his guests to get through The
travellers instantly OWNED or
thought they did, what he 'wantCd
and began reaching into their poch
ats The farmer shook his head.
'Tain't that" he said; you're wei
come to the grub; glad you liked Il
But | was thinking being as you pee
pie sing, maybe you wouldn't min
givin' some folks out in the country /
bit of a treat Thar's people connecf
ed with this telephone in the car her
what never saw real show in al
heir liyes-there's sick people OF
that line that"
Nough said, my friend" said Me
phistO. his eyes lighting up With The
dea: you get busy now calling III
everybody on that line This is
Christmas Eve-maybe there's trees
at some of the school houses-call
en- up if they have phones-don i
leave anybody out" Then turning to
the actors: "All you sweet singers OF
ls-er- Michigan walk up to the end
of the car. Now ladies and gentle.
men our good farmer friend has made
connections with our country cousins;
the curtain may risel"
When the actors arose to obey, a
!aGy with chestnut curls and blue
evcs. who took the rather inconse-
aucntial part of Bessy, started 10 join
them Marguerite of the sun-kissed
A.i observed Bessy, and said, sweet
y:
/ He didn't call for the maids-in-
waiting.
The gentle Bessy, wounded to the
quick. stepped back, the stately Mar
suerite sweeping by. 1t was mostly
before the footlights that Margue
rites injured innocence and meekness
elowed
After a brief discussion OF the Sc.
lections TO be given the performers
removed the lid from their melody. As
one finished he would step from the
phone and the following would take
bis place 1t was fine performance.
Us all were old, experienced singers.
and each did his level best
When the singers had finished as
much of the piece as 1t was practical
to give over the wire there came a
"Ting-a-ling gling-lng!
singer stepped TO the phone.