Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-01-29


enable her to dress petiy aud that she might not sne
for any thing So applied for and told them
could not live with what had. But, alas they answer
ed that my request could not be complied with; ihe'
said they would retain me, paying what was recei
ving or that might 60, for although avorl'e,
was growing weak and old, and many younger one was
waiting for the chance and station then had.
~ demuned, but i, was of no avail pleaded poverty
but that help, and was turning to lea ve wheI
the manager spoke to me;
"'lf you poor and wanting, as you say, can name
a way in which you can gain money
"'Name it, eagerly cried !.
Yvsr d aughIer-she is young and handsome-sht
".What do you mean by the words = shouted !, as
stood painting before him.
"'Why not train her for the arena =
"ForbIe idea Train my little Mary for the arena
No, no could not think of such thing. could mol
find it in my heart bring that dear one, pure she
--un,nuched-unsued yet by sin-into the midst oil
the many low and vile hanging around such
place. No, no; the thought was agony.
$50 toilrd on harder and harder than ever. Little
did those who laughed loudly long and heartily think
the heart Of him who caused them 10 do, was sady
beating while he sang the merry song, or danced and
capeTrd telling his curious jokes, aud laughing out SO
loudly TO hulsrlf-ah, no! At length nature could sup-
port it no longer grew sick and scarcely able 10
go through with my performances and the words Of the
manager ecnrrrd lo again-thpre no alternative,
and was forced to bring her to the house.
"And that hour when she stepped therein curse
az, curse it from my hear, !"
And here the poor maniac, after talking nationally
and for such length Of time, covered his face with his
hands and swayng his body 10 and fro, uttered loud cur
ses and crrs Upon this feared that the remainder Of
his story was lost and waited long for his paroxysm TO
cease BY degrees his voice subsidized, and he
ced--
'She mumused not-she said she was glad that she
could be earning s0etng to assist me in my poverty,
and she would do her beet 10 learn and please Poor
CHILD. p"ur Mary!
~ eeks, We, ks-and many, too, we practised--every
day hours aud she wonlI not Say she red--no
complaint. mol one-anl she learned, too, rapidly
tlow watched her by her all day, all night,
not a moarnl could my eyes be from her, After hours
and hours Of training and TOLL she was prepared for the
debut Tue day preceding the night was sad enough 10
me. We went together 10 h'r mun rs grave and SAT an
hour or two. Vid her thai she whs oon 10 come be-
fore the word-lhat she would be surrounded by sin,
misery and teupailubut ever to treasure the memory
OF that mother who. when living was Tree from alnl aud
peerless the driven She was young that size
did not unt+stand me Iully bu' sald-sw el chd-hat
she would go 10 heaven meet her there's and II she
would, shr must be goud to do
1.-The night neutrality-suspicious. nighl--ald with a
sadly beating heart, put my customary hablmenls.
Mary to appear III two priormances-ln the fist a'
lone, the second in conjunction with the best performer
in the ar-na-how sweetIy did she look when all attred
for her fstappeaAnce Never had she looked so beau
uul, with her IulIe spangled fock and tights, SO like
syph, so pure so innocent. Again and again kissed
her, AMI bade her fear not
The house, long before the advertised time Tor the
raising Of the curtain, denseIy packed, for the an
nouncemenl of the first appearance in public of the
daughter o., had been long underlined,a ,and been
heraded forth in glowing words for several days -
Yes, men to look upon the one whom poverty had
compeltd to appear; whom want had driven from her
peaceful home, and laugh the eSts sad-heaed
father
"And they would look in vain-for at rehearsal the
manager, struck with her beauty and daring courage,
with her skill on horseback made me liberal ofes for
her services which poverty Of course, made me accept
II is not often that managers appIau their helings.
"rler above l,r they rvsp-and when, with sh:ek
and mprry Here am jumped into the ring, dealtn-
ing plAudils made all echo again.
~ knuw no, how | ACTED, or what said-bu, from
time 10 time heard them shout. My thoughts were up
on INV child and when the moment came for her to ap-
pear led her by her little hand to make her bow eel
nss prld. mingled with my sadness, for 1t was Mary
my cild, for @hom they shouted, unto whom they ose
10 whom every eye was turned.
"Bu,. oh! What a moment for me! With the light
ness of air she vaullcd the saddle. crack trom the
masters hip and round went the noble steed like light
ninutOuud the arena so swiftly, il seemed TO me it were
moi half so long. Tnen how they applauled! My EYE
followed her she Went, my heart Knocked against my
bosoA at each beat and when She stopped ior resi-
could speak Ilwas well for me that ihey saw mol
they we're wavg handkerchiels, and sending howers
iIom every portion df the place.
1T was triumph. | was wild, frantic whJoy, feai
and weakness Sweey and with grace, she Smiled
and wav her tiny aud hacds as The oahing sleet
walking slowly around, TO let her breathe and give he
time 10 ST.
! "Of ag n performed more difficult eas than before
but with The dine ease and grace One cond no! nave
told, to have looked o she had not done the same
thing months aud months beiore easy, no eiof' sc
cuolly, no embarrassment 1t was ,hrcugh-l breallet
'' 'S
again.
"But, no she must come before them, and lea "e
out again. need not tell you how they shouted, VIVA
they did you'll say my brain was turned with love ~
my dear child and would not think told the tfulh'
"AaI now, one more performances, and the last III"
night. On SHE cae, borne by The best performer III wv
arena, iAvuTlle IN the place. With what ease sh
grace lie held her upon high How smany she looke'
away up tnere-alI usels and spangers, gllI'erns 81
finely the gasght, and he like Hercules beside hei
urging The seed onward 10 It's utmost powers.
''The most ntr p,d riders are carried the swiIes''
enable them sustain their balance and he was ianou
for swlitness in riding; sremed as II his steed ne"