The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-08-09
A TALE rOR TnE DEsPONDI.C.

theatre oil Munich, might have remarked one
among the actors whose department was
any thing but in unison with his words He
TILED The anomalous part of Il comic person
age. whose business IL was, whatever might
he the state of lis own feeling, by d.nt Of
butiOonry and burlesque gestures 10 elicit
fresh bursts OF laughter at every Phrase
The poor actor, however, possessed none OF
The physique so necessary 10 such employ
ment. His features pronounced him TO be
about fifteen years of age; and on his long
weakey. bent body was perched n little,
pale head, which he balanced slowly. now
on one shoulder and then on the other, some
what resembling sta k Of withered aspara-
aguS in !; vase; his eyes were dull blue and
melancholy, looking as to his mouth, when
he essayed to laugh, ho ouly succeeded in
eXtorting grim, nervous contraction.
The piece WAS Kissed down from the COM
mencement; the young actor came in for IA
full share OF the disapprobaion and after
the Tall oil the curtain he was still engaged in
changing his costume, when the secretary Of
The theatre appeared 1T the door OF his room
saying:
monster SneIelder the director wishes 10
see you"
'Certaiuly,'' said Alois. coming out and
following the secretary into the cabinet of
the director.
'Monsjer Sheielder,," said the latter gen
ieman Oh the actors entrance, ''do YOU know
that am the author OF that piece played to-
night e.
Yes sir" said Alois, at the same time
anxiousy seeking to divine from The grim.
menacing face OF the director TO what this
question was a prelude.
y on also know that the piece is Missed
down."
Sir" ialtered Alois, II have done III that
To bring it down, and you have succeed
ed admirably" growled out the author
Here is what owe you. Pick it up, sir
and begone.'
So stunned was Alois that he seemed
changed iuto marble statute He had no
strength TO take the money, TO refuse it, or
get out.
However. the secretary having gathered up
he small sum and put II into the hands oil
A!ols, the contact with the gold coins seemed
to recall him 10 himself: for with shudder
and clasping Of his hands, he fell OH his |
knees aud burst into flood of tears.
"Oh. do not send me away-do rot send
me away ~ was his first exclamation.
Il want an ACTOR. and not a weeper," was !
the gruf reply of the drector-author, whose |
cars were stll ringing with the misses which
had drowned his p ece. "Instead Of laugh |
ing You weep"
'Sir, my father has been dead for two
days aud have not raised as much as will |
serve TO inter his beloved remains" said Alois |
in chodked voice. My mother, my two
young brothers, aud three little sisters, are |
all depending on me for bread Have pity. |
then, Monsieur Spacmon, pray you, aud
don't dismiss me-"
Il am sorry Can do no more for YOU" said |
the director, taking up his hat and prepdr-
ing to go; however, on seeing Aos, who re- |
manned oil his knees mute and immovable. |
more like a corpse than a living body, the |
author relaxed IA little into the man, and |
turning round to his secretary he said, dou
bic the sum Mr. Fritz, and let his father be |
buried"
Fritz took some CROWDS from his little |
drawer in his whiting table. and having thrust
them iuto The hand oi Alois he assisted the |
poor weakly youth out OF the theatre. On
Their way TO the dwelling of the widow Snef-
elder they PASSED a carpenters shop.
Fritz waited only so long as necessary to
order d coili, and pay for it. and then lett AL |
ois to pursue his way.
Alols proceeded so slowly. absorbed in the
one crushing idea OF his entire dismissal from
that situation which had hitherto been the
source OF provision for the family that the
undertaken had preceded him by some min
utes; so, when he entered the house his
ears were saluted by the double sound oi the
mailing OF the coffin aud the weeping OF his
brothers and sSt RS. A fresh and deeper
gloom WAS cast around the heart of the mis-
cradle youth. What heart sickeuing scene |
WAS before him Here Was the bier contain
,ng his father, at the head of which lay his |
mother plunged in tears and sobbnc loudly. |
and close by was the undertaken careiessly |
plying his work; and there. crouched all in |
corner. were the five children. OF whom the |
eldest was but {, n and the youngest scarce
~ three years OF age.
The ehger look with which they saluted |
their brothers. entrance, toe plainly beto-
kened that hunger and fatigue had been
preying deeply upon them, and that only the |
lear Of wounding still more The feelings OF
their widowed mother bad sept them silent
on this point.
When Alois entered, .Nsrianne, the eldest,
ran towards him. and whispered, ''haye you |
brought supper brot.ier2"
There" said Alois, drawing out all his
money.
$50 much us shat 20 said his sister; how
well pleased they mdst be with you that they
give you nearly twice your usual wages"
so pleased that they have discharged
me-" answered the ex-actor, in low, hollow
voice."
'.You are not going to be an actor any
more, then, are you % said little boy who
had followed afir arianne, so much the
better; it's bad trade, the curate says"
Alois answered not. The undertaken had
finished his work and departed; the poor
youth went and knelt by his fathers coffin
TO pray. What his thoughts were during
that long night of grief, we shall no. attempt
to describe.
The next day the coffin was conveyed Ia