The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-12-09

from his bosom, counted down thirty |
guineas In the calmest manner possible. |
The bargain was now, Of course, fully !
concluded, but question remained to
be asked. What play would you like |
to have performed, sir 2 said the oh
sequious manager as he pockcted the
gold pieces with evident satisfaction.
Play said Jack, chuckling at the idea
of being sir'd d,-'Let me see. Ay, ay,
give us Falstaff-you have a fellow
that does that thing devilish well. Ay,
ay, SIR said the tar, with increasing
good humor, as he ran over his theat-
rical "reminiscences, Set me have the
| round forccastIe, built like Dutch lug
ger, and lurching like Spanish gal
leon in a heavy sea. D-n, give me
Sir John Falstah'l What "a prime
commander the old fellow would have
made had his worship lived in these
times. SILVER my timbcrsl but could
have sailed the 'varscl world with him,
and stood by him in wreck or fight,
d, TO the last plank.
Having pronounced this culogium on
the character of stout Sir John, the af-
fair was closed, and all the arrange
ments made to Jacks complete salts
faction. One clause in particular, was
most pointedly urged, that not single
soul was TO be in the house but himself.
Remember SAID Jack, mot a lubber
ofthem must be seen, either in the hold, g,
the shrouds, or the top, or, by the Di-
omede III have him keel-hauled by
the fiddlersr So saying, the tar de-
parted, nightly pleased with his bar
gain, himself and the whole world.
Night came, n few Of the orchestra took
their accustomed places; the house was
well lighted, and every thing in readi-
ness, when just at the hour, Jack burst
into the lower gallery, and running a
,cross the seats, much in the way he
would have run along the Jolly boat, ne
placed himself, with hat on one side,
and arms akimbo, in the centre of the
front bench. by way of overture, he
called for Jacks Delight, and the Sal
Ior's Hornpipe; and those being played
to his liking, he bawicd out, Now up
my lads, clew up your mainsaiI aud
pipe all hands, aboard = The curtain
Immediately drew up, and the play of
Henry Fourth, part first, commenced.
Jack sat out the first scene with good
deal Of patience, but when his favorte
appeared in the second scene, with the
prince,
"Three cheers our gallant seaman gave"
in tone which would have drowned
dozen Brahams. Sir John bowed low
to this token Of marked appreciation,
and the play proceeded, while Jack sat
with his whole soul in his eyes, enjoy
and inimitable Falstaff. He continued
in evident delight rs long rs Sir John
remained on the stage, but whenever
he made his exit, the play was perform
ed in dumb show and amid u torrent of
reproaches from the audience who
kept bawling at the top of has voice to
his grace of Northumberland and other
distinguished characters, 'Ayast, there.
sheer off, yc lubbers Belay your
jawing tackle, you there with the cary
ing knife Sheer off, sheer off! bring
Falstaif in and be Id to You =
Thus did Jack alternately applaud and
condemn during the whole perform
ancc. When it was finished and the
green 'mainsail had been once dropped
on deck, he rose and was preparing To
depart, when one of the players met
him at the door Of the gallery, and in
formed him that all was not over, for
chat the aiterpieco was yet to be per-
formed.
is Fals,af' To be in it 2 NO sir !
'Oh, then d----n the aftcrpiece! Good
night good night. And so saying, he |
walked out, perfectly satisfied with his |
thirty guincas worth.