Litchfield enquirer., 1860-05-31

pocket, went that morning with tie inte, tion' reading As You Like t, in a spot q fair and lonely as even the Forest of Arder
 l used then to be somewhat of natural ist, as you are all well aware. I was easil led away by fern, or flower, or any frae ment of quartz or crystal that chanced f fall in my path and this day, happening t. get interested in a peculiar variety of th Iichen race, which seemed here to abound, so loitered by the way, that it was almos noon before l arrived at the point of reu dezvous.
 But my surprise was great when foun,
 it already occupied, and apparently for very singular and amusing purpose. Tn, party in possession consisted of some sixtee1 or eighteen ladies and gentlemen, and abou half dozen servants ill gray and silver Ii very. All of them were young and we'll dressed. The gentlemen wore kind o hunting costume and the ladies looked char ming ia their light summer garments. Tn, servants were busily occupied in erecting temporary theatre, formed of canvass ane painted woodwork {; g pile of cushions an( cloaks were laid in front upon the sward, fol the accommodation of the spectators anc everything was being prepared for a dra matc performance in the open air. Some thing seemed, however, to have gone wrong in their arrangements for they had al gathered together round one young man o commanding height and agreeable aspect with whom they were consulting in hurried and anxious tones, and who, by the troubled expression of his counteuance, seemed nc less puzzled and disconcertcd than them. selves.
 All at once every eye was turned upon me, as stood in silent wonder just at the open. ing point among the trees There was a joyful cry-a clapping of fair hands-a burst of merry laughter; and to my immense con- fusion, ] was in a moment surrounded by the little company, and questioned by dozen voices together.
 "Can you act!"
 Do you know the comedy of Die Burg omeistre?"
 Will you take Herman for us?"
 Can't you contrive to read the part?"
 "Auyhow will do, if you would but con- sent to oLl;gc us!!'
 Startled and bewildered, looked from one tQ another, not knowing how to reply or whom to answer first, when the young man whom l had before observed advanced towards me- and said with much poteness and good breeding:
 This is q strange reception, sir, that my friends have given you Allow me to ex- plain cur position. We are party of anna teur players, dcghtng in tragedy, or bur etta, and performing French, German, and : Italian with fIn npa ntnct day we have met here for the purpose of rendering Die Burgomsisire, but pufortu- nately have lost the services of our chief ac- tor'' (here he pointed to gentleman whom had not before observed, and who was Iy- i ing upon some cushions in the shade of a lime trec). Our friend, who insisted upon walking apart of the way, has sprained his ankle, and is of course utterly incapacitatcd for his theatrical duties. We lave no other who can take hls place, and if you would fa- yer us by undertaking the character of Her man at so short a notice, we should all be most heartily obliged by your kindness
 There was something very winning in this gcntleman'S ad'lress-something very new and vivacious in the situation- some very pretty bright eyed girls aniong the company; so entered heart and soul into their little enterprise, and was received with acclama- 1 tions as a newly enrolled member of their so- ciety.
 It happened, fortunately, that l knew little of the comedy in question. 1 had seen it twice or thrice upon the stage at Frank fort, and had read it more than Once while staying at a dreary village where there were scarcely any books to be got-therefore I did not feel quite so nervous as I otherwise might. And it was we'll that 1 needed no great preparation, for in very few moments after my arrival the audience was marshal led in front; the actors were assembled at the back of the theatre; the signal was given; and the play began.
 need not now stop to tell you what the piece was like, or whether the plot was sparkling. moving or profound. It is enough if l say that our spectators wept and smiled alternately; that our performers were all cor dialy in earnest; and that your humble ser want acquitted himself very creditaby con- sidering that it was his first appearance up- on any stage, and that he had to act with the book in his hand the whole time. The gentlemen to whom the theatre seemed to belong; fair and dignfed lady, whom conjectured to be his wife; plain but intel ligent-looking woman with dark eyes; and the disabled performer lying still upon cushions, occupied the front places upon the turf. Be- hind them sat the rest of the party, and the servants stood or leaned against the trees at the back.
 noticed, by the way, that our heroine, a lovely young woman, with the sweetest voice l ever remember to have heard, seemed par ticularly concerned for the invalid; that her eyes were certain to stray towards him at every pause in the dialogue; that gesture of applause from his hand sent the quick col or flying to her cheeks; and that in all her love speeches and soliloquies-especially in the former, where she should have addressed herself exclusively to me-her attention was sure to wander in that highly inappropriate direction.
 At length the curtain fell; we joined the rest of the party upon the grass; the ser wants busied themselves in spreading cold collation. on shady bank under the iindens; and we fell into lively and general conver- sation. We were very merry. We tested; we laughed; we chinked our glasses togeth- , CT; and the slender necked Rhine-bottles } went swiftly round.
 The invalid nicknamed me his deputy, and , challenged mo to take wine with him. ! "Your health, Herr Deputy" said he | | N.s al S. Il