The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-20

segsr into the stove. ~ meant win yon sweat"
Again Nathan looked puzzled.
continued Tom With an oath, perceiving that he
Drink, OF course ycu Win The added Is the w.lssr
handed him mug q fcaniDg zip. "Try swallow
emie!"
Nathan would have declined. ''Pshaw!n said Tom,
"what bsbyi It's only beer!"
The beer which Nat had imbibed during the day,
far from quenching his thint, had made him quite
dry, and he thought that something smelling 50
good as the Zip, must make him feel better; 20 he
crank little from the mug, and handed it back to
his companion.
"BM kum!" replied Nat.
"You DIDN'T drink enough TO drown fly In" said
Tom, handing back the mug, when he had imbibed
. large portion Of the contents himself; "smi'e
Nathan drank again, after which Tom slapped
bin on T bscf and told him that be was "a dew
Nathan was very much elated at the idea Of stand
ing 70 high in the good opinion Of one whose &C.
quaintance with the world was evidently extensive.
There IVES something, too, in his new friends man.
ner that TO young Nudge wss very taking. Boys
and followed. in spite Of Edwin Fairbanks wAxn-
ing, Nat already began to admire Tom Braxton.
"Come, Smudge,n said Nathan's companion 70
him, when they bad left the oyster chop, Eve shall
have time 70 drop in moment on the Forrestians,
"Whos he?" inquired Nat.
"Hs! ha! how green!'' said Braxton. leone
along, ana III show y0u."
.Bat We .baIl be late home" said the other.
mot bit Of it. ltaright on our way, and we
won't stay more than five minutes. So come along,
my darling" said Tom, and putting his arm through
Na,hans, he pulled him with jocuiar violence into
| run down Hanover street.
"Tnis is it, sajs Braxton, a. he guided his COM
paIioD NJ several flights of dapidated stairs at the
| top Of which, by the smoky light Of very spare,
1 <aIo ia AZ hoo0 oroA fn
ceiye tickets "Pass him In, said Ton with con-
| fdential air, to the doorkeeper
1.-The wc,s,' said the heavy4aoed man.
| :, 'Nough said. Pass in"
As the two apprentices entered the door through
which the doorkeeper passed" them, their ofacto
ries were sauted with great stencil Of paint, lamp
| smoke, and bad breaths. ut Is Thespian thea
| ,re,' whispered Tom to his companion, as he ell
bowed bis way through 2 crowd Of boys around the
! door, "I'm member"
Down in front!' Down in 'front.'" "Hsads
OFF, shouted number Of waspsh, treble voices
tho persons Of the new Corners interviewed between
| them and the stage. Halt bewIdered, Nathan
looked behind, and by the glare OF three smoking
lights, say about dozen tiers Of heads. male and
one nearly reached the ceiling Of the low, narrow
room, in witch ttey were crowded. The feet Of most
Of the tawary dressed young ladies, rested upon
calculating to Natban's mind why his companion
called the eight consumptive candles, which fared
directly behind it, foot lights. Taking position 80
as not to incommode the audience, which, until ne
| did so continued to shout "down In 'front.'" with
increasing irascibiity our young friend turned his
regards to the other side Of the bo0d, which was
the sole division between the spectators and the
performance. It was humble, very humble imi
| tatien Of the stage Of . regular theatre. On
either side was stage door, about Eve feet high
and eighteen inches wi de, composed principally of
hath ., reodiDg and Merimac sheeing. The articles
lest named. Indeed, seemed TO be the three great
components Of the essabfshment Lathe sufficed
equally well for scene frames, fences and dangerous
weapons redding served IS well for painting
checks and castle, as for "human gore'-and Mer
Iinack cotton was literally . synonome for drop
curtains scenery, banners, togas, and coats fmai
The present scene appeared, to Nathan's unso-
phistcated eye, to be number Of pieces Of cotton
cloth, covered with waves Of green paint, and ex-
tending from the floor to the ceiling, either sde
candles and burntcork coun enances, and female
with blanket shawl, and book in her hand,
might be seen pecpiDg. In the background was
house about four feet high, with black wiudows and
an unusual number OF chimneys This scene, Tom
whispe. ed TO his friend, represented wood and
castle. In front Of the "caste, in faded red uni
form coat between which and his pantsloons there
. considerable hiatus and on his little head
bellcrown leather cap, out Of which rose perpen-
dicular rd and white plume, there was mar ching
young man, 30 slim in person that like his spear,
ual had silently traversed his confined promenade
until the audience began to shout rather invidious-
", Go it, Iegs!' voice behind the scenes exclan
ed impatiently, "stage waits!" and momsat after
another young gentleman came on, evidently in Q
hurry. He wore NeuimaC shirt, trimmed with
yellow ribbon, beneath faded camlet cloak, and
upon his legs and face several cents worth Of the
great staple color Of the Establishment.
"1bis play is Pizarro," whispered Tom to his
companion. "Ihat Teller in the cloak 10 Roila;
t'other is the old Castilian."
"Wbo is the woman with the turban on, and the
book in her hsndS" inquired Nathan.
ahN senfkA sn1 T,o 6kA ID
| prompter, Sam Smile. He plays Evira to might.
We will not attempt to describe the acting. LIN
guage would fail to do It justice, and we can only
say that it was equal to the splendid appointments
Nathan NUDGE who knew nothing before Of theatre
cal entertainments except by description, was 30
well pleased with the performance, that il was not
until Rolla (who was neither more nor less than
Bob ChiseD bad died in his own gore-or, rather
convusive struggles, Gas 1t would have done upon
himself, If he had not dodged), that he was remind
| ed how late it was.
Before he would accompany him home, Tom
Braxton must needs strut to the stage door aud
squeeze through, thereby exciting the envy Of the
spectators at bis superior privileges. After o
lopse OF two or three minutes, witch seemed an age
T. the impatint Nathan, who feared the dspleasure
! j ired by Brsxton, and together they proceeded
tpidly home. On their way they ascertained that
| was nearly half past ten.
| Natl an expressed fears, at which his companion
| laughed. When they reached the house, they saw
| through the parlor window Edwin Fairbanks read
! ing, and Giles Goodwin sitting by the fire.
"Hc is sittin' up for us" said Nat in whisper,
| as they peered into the window.
"We1l Flip into the door, and up stairs If we cam
without bis hearing MS" said Tom, treading lightly
| over the walk.
| wouldn't" said Nat, "it looks sneaky.f'
| "Psbaw!n exclaimed Tom, peevishly, "come
| along, it's a good joke. What frsidcst!'
As usual, Nathan yielded, and the two boys crept
cautiously through the door, and up stairs In two
| Hardly was this the case, when they heard the
voice Of their master issuing from the entry.
as 1t possible that those boys have not come?
| Are you sure, Edwin, that they are not in bedi"
"fbey may be, sir said Edwin, who wished tha.
| Il might be the case but feared lest he should be
| sent TO See
| "NAthan" said old Giles; with his hand on the
] baluster, and bis face tnrDsd in the boys room.
There vas no answer. He called again, and louder