The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1913-01-28
CECIL OF WOODS"
sncwbonnd Nightingale
sings by l.ira.
BY EDGAR WHITE.

se undulGting earth. AS twilight
.ame on the little train, In spite OF
Ae tremendous putting OF its engine,
settled down to a walk. Men of the
crew rushed backward and forward
through the aisles, looking anxious.
the country seemed a wilderness:
deep ravines, dense forests, fsownins
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
loohed-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-
gine 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 terssly "rhe 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 were 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.
1t WAS ascertained 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 forased out OF the storm.
And how the actors ate! 1t was Q 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
and became jolly good fellows all
Finally their hunger appeared, Me-
phisto and Marguerite arose and
started song.
If you people don't mind my but
tin In, would you list wait minute?''
The unexpected remark came from
food. and was waiting to take the
empty baskets back over the white
hills. He had been standing at tht
end OF the car, deferentially waiting
for his guests 10 get through. The
travellers instantly OWNED, or
thought they did. what he wanted,
and began reaching into their pock-
cts. The farmer shook his head.
'Taint that" he said; you're wei
come to the grub; glad you liked It,
But was thinking being as you peo
pie sing. maybe you weuldnt mind
givin some folks out in the. country a
bit of Il treat, Thar's people connect
cd with this telephone in the car here
what never saw real show, In all
their lives there's sickpf people on
that line that---4-''a.' .,~.- .4..
Npugh said, my friend, said Me
phisto, his eyes lighting up with the
idea; you get busy now calling up
everybody ON that line This is
Christmas Eye-maybe there's trees
at sofne of the school houses--call
'em up if they have phones-don
leave anybody out" Then turning to
the actors: All you sweet singers OF
Is 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 rise"
When the actors. arose to obey,
thuy Will NASPthQt wi 10 sllld bluV
eyes, who took the rather inconse-
quential part OF Bessy, started to Join
them Marguerite of the sun.kissed
hair observed 3essy and said, sweet
ly:
He didn't call for the maids-in.
The gentle Bessy, wounded TO the
quick, stepped back, the stately Mar
guerite sweeping by. 1t was mostly
before the footllghts that Margue
rites injured innocence and meekness
glowed
After 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
his place. 1t was a fine performance,
as 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
"Ting-a.ling-ling-ling!"
A singer stepped to the phone,
''Is this the train where the sweet
F.. off