Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-05-07
A LUDIcRoUs MISTAKE.

If they would confne themselves to
vauderille or petit comedie, it would
| form an agreeable feature in an eve
nings entertainment, and vary that
monotory which too frequently prevails
( in our salons. | once tried this exper-
iment at my own house, when it an
swered perfectly. Before the compa-
ny had time to get tired, the perform
ance was over, and fresh quadrills or
ganized. This is better than a bal
costume or tcbleau vivans, ia which
! the actors have all the trouble of dress
sing, with little or nothing to do
Sometimes single scene or recitation
may be introduced to advantage, as |
have seen done al Lady Greesley's and
other houses.
One night Major H, Col.
c., of c., with one or two 9th
ers, who were supping at the Bugle
Inn, at Newport, agreed to amuse
themselves in this manner. A scene
from "Othelo'' was fixed upon. o.
thel!o, bv the Colonel, who in order to
look the character, blackened his face
all over with burnt cork.
( The night was far spent, when La
dy c. s coachman, who waited to
drive the Colonel home, and who had
made several attempts to get the Colo
mel away, sent up word that 'he could
not keep his horses out any longer, land
if the Colonel didn't come immediate
( ly, he must drive direct to s. with
, out him." The latter not wishing to
compromise an cd and valued servant,
instantly complied, and dismissed the
carriage at the lodge, walked up to the
Ihouse, let himself in with a latch key,
and went straight to bed, quite forget
! ing that his face was blackened all o.
| yer.
In the morning Mrs. c. awoke,
and turning round, discovered a. black
man snoring by her side! Too much
frightened to scream, she jumped out
of bed. rang the bell furiously, and
wound herself in the bed curtains.
Inrushed the lady's maid and house
keeper.
ooh ma'am, what's the matter,
ma ann" cried both in one breath.
"Nothing happened to the Colonel,
/ hope, ma 'am?" said the butler at the
door. $3.50
Slope master amt took with a fit,
ma'am?'' pursued the foo:man, peering
i over the buffers shoulder.
/ ooh! take it away! take it awayn
cried Mrs. c., speaking with great
difficulty, and giving herself another
twist in the bed-curtains.
"What is it, ma'am9 what is it,"
said our femme de chom6re, frightened
out Of her wits.
"Is it in the bed, ma'am?" inquired
the housekeeper, waddiing up to it.
"Kna-a-aw!' snored the still slum-
bering OMello. 81
"Thieyes! murder!'' screamed the
woman, running out again.
"Thieves! murder!" echoed Mrs.
c., applying herself to the bell de
capo. r ac
I "Don't be alarmed, ma 'am,'' said
/ the butler, boiling in, followed by the
foo1man and groom, armed with what
weapons they could lay hands on,
"we'll soon secure the rascals. Lads,
mind your heads!" and with this he
CALAMITY Aourished the Colonel's sabre,
which he had appropriated; and sup
! ported by the. rest OF the party, ap-
preached the bed. u seas
"Halloo!" roared the Colonel, star
ting on his "head's antipodes," for be
had been awakened by the hubbnb.
cold Nick! by gumn' cried the
groom, overturning his compatriots in
his eagerness to escape.
"Help! murder!" voclfe rated Mrs.
c., stamping and jerking down
the bell pull. = =
tHelp! murder!" reiterated the foot
man, scrambling out ofthe room on all
fours, as if he were acting stag-hound
in some NEUROLOGICAL miracle.
nassHere, Tom! Dick! Come back,
YOU rascals. cried the bewildered Col
ohel. throwing his nigbtcap after them.
ssJohn! you old foo, get up! Where's
your mistress? IF you don't get up
this instant and tell me the meaning Of
all this, and who keeps screaming be-
hind the curtain there, l'l fling the boil
ster at you, viii, you old villain? Are
you all mad'' a' .
"Bless me! isityou, sir'" cried the
butler, rising, rubbing the small Of his
back. 5f s.sii+ Hs..
! ola! my dear! is it you?" cried Mrs.