The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-05
THE PATAGONlAN BROTHERS.

ourselves tne L atagonlan bfothers, because II
looked well in the bills, and pleased the public.
we met by chance about six years since, on the
race-course at Doncsster, and so took sort of
mutual liking, and went partners in a tour
through the midland counties knew nothing
of his past life, nor he of mine, and | never
asked him . question on the subject. am
particular to have this all clear from the begin
nlng; for | am plain man, telling plain
story, and want no one to misunderstood a
word OF what | am about to relate
we made little money by our tour. 1t was
not much, but 1t was more than either of US
had been able to earn before; so we agreed to
stay together, and try our fortune in London.
This time we got an engagement at Astleys
Tor the winter, and, when the summer came,
loined travelling circus, and roamed about as
before.
The circus was a capital thing-a republic,
30 to say, in which all were equals. We had a
manager, to whom we paid fixed salary, and
the rest went shares in the profits. There were
times when we did not even clear our expenses
there were towns where we made ten and fifteen
pounds night; but the bad luck went along
with the good on the whole, We prospered.
We stayed with the company two years and
a nall In all, and played at every town between
ork and London. During that time, we had
iound leisure to improve. We knew each others
weight and strength now to a hair, and grew
oolder with experience; 30 that there Was
scarcely new feat brought out anywhere
which we did not learn, even to the "perche"
business, and the trick of walking, head down
WARD, on marble ceiling. The fact is, we
were admirably matched, which, in our profes-
SION, Is the most important point of all Our
helght was the same, to the sixteenth Of an
men, and we were not unlike in figure. IL
Ik41z
strength, was the msre active, and that off
ference was In our favor. l believed that, in
other respects, we suited each other equally
well and l know that, fer three years and a
halt, which we had spent together, Counting
from our hrst meeting at Doncaster down to
the time when We dissolved partnership with
the clrcas tolks,) we never had an angry word.
drlfhths was steady, saving, silent fellow
enough, with little gray eyes, and heavy black
brows. L remember thinking, once or twice,
that ne was not quite the sort of person would
like for an enemy; but that was in reference
to no act of his, and only a fancy of my own.
Fer myself, can live with any one who is dis
posed to live with me, and love peace and good
VIII better than anything in the world.
we had now grown so expert that we re-
solved 70 better ourselves, and return TO London,
which We did somewhere about the end of Feb
10y - s-0 OCSiuu VI IuhTCU, 1000. We
put up at little inn in the borough and,
before week was over, found ourselves en-
gagged by MIR. James Rice, of the Belvdere
tavern, at q salary of seven pounds a week
NOW, this was great advance upon all our
previous gains, and the tavern was by no means
q bad place for the founding of a theatrical
reputation.
Situated half way between the west end aud
the city, surrounded by a densely populated
neighborhood, and lying in the very path of
the omnibuses, this establishment was one of
the most prosperous of it's class. There was
tneatre, and concert.room, and a garden,
where dancing, and smoking and rifle shooting,
ana supper,eating, were going Oh from eight
til Twelve O'Clock every night all through the
summer, which made the place a special favor.
lite with the working Glasses.
Here, then, we were engaged, (Griffiths and
~ with promise that our salary should be
raised, II we proved attractive and raised it
soon was, tor we drew enormously. We
brought out the perche and the ceiling bust
ness came down in the midst Of fireworks,
from platform higher than the root of the
theatre and, in short, did everything that ever
yet was done In our hne-sy, and did it well,
TOO, though perhaps it is not my place to say
30. At all events, the great colored posters
were pasted up all over the town, ana our sal
AIRY was increased to fifteen pounds a week
and the gentleman who writes about the plays
in the Sunday Snu6 was pleased to observe
that there was no performance in London hal
30 wonderful as that of the Pstagonian Broth
ers, Tor which take this opportunity to thank
him kindly.
We lodged (of course together) in a quiet
street, on hill near Islington. The house was
kept by Mrs. Morrison, q respectable, industri-
ubnaa hua hup I'D haA hoe, =
ter at one OF the theatres, and who was now LETT
widow with one only daughter, Just nineteen
years OF age. She was very good, and very
pretty. She was christened Alice, but her
mother called her Ally, and We soon fell into
the same habit; for they were very simple,
friendly people, and we were soon az good
friends as if we had all been living together in
the same house for years.
am not good hand at telling story, as
dare say you have found out by this time-and,
indeed, never did sit down to write one out
before-so L may as well come to the point at
once, and confess that l loved her. | also
fsncied, before many months we're over, that
she did not altogether dislike me; for mans
wits are twice as sharp when he is in love, and
there is not blush, or glance, or q word,
that he does not contrive to build some hope
upon. So one day, when Grifiths was out,
went down stairs to the parlor, where she was
citing BY the window, sewing, and took chair
beside her.
"AlIy, my DEAR" said l, stopping her right
hand from working, and taking it up in both of
mine. ALLY, my dear, l want to speak to
you"
She blushed, and turned pale, and blushed
again, and felt the pulses in her little soft
hand throbbing like the heart of a frightened
bird, but she never answered syllable
Ally, my dear" said l, sm a plain man.
l am thirty-two years of age. l don't know
how to fatter like some folks, and have had
very little book learning to speak of. But, my
dear, l love you; and though l don't pretend
that you are the first girl l ever fancied, l can
truly say you are the 6rst ever cared to make
my wife. So, if you'll take me, such as l am,
I'll be true husband to you as long as live.
What answer she made, or whether she spoke
at all, is more than can undertake to tell, for
my ideas we're all confused, and l only remem.
Der that kissed her, and felt very happy, and
that when Mrs. Morrison came into the room,
she found me with my arm clasped round my
dsrling's waist. l scarcely know when it was
that i first noticed the change in John Grit.
6ths; but that it was somewhere about this
time, am tolerably certain. 1t is hard to put
looks into words, and to make account of tribes
tnat, ai'ot eh' S2e ma''eEs vi Ieelng more IMAM
matters of fact but others cav the change as
well as myself and no one could help observ.
ing that he grew to be more silent and unsoci.
abe than ever he kept away from home as
much as possible. he spent all Sunday out,
starting away the FIRST thing after breakfast,
and not coming back again till close upon mid.
night. He even put an end to our old friendly
custom of walking home together after our
nights work was over, and joined sort of tap
room club that was kept up by dozen or 80
of idle fellows, belonging to the theatre. Worse
than this, he scarcely exchanged word with