Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-02-01

"'Well, father, low are you''
81 did not answer; sat down and cried.
He tried hard 10 keep from it, but he
couldn't he came and kell down in front
Of me, covered his face with his hands, and
cried like child. Ills mother, poor soul,
clung round his neck and kissed him, aud
cried till was beside myself. lie told his
story. He had made mistake. He
thought himself great actor. Managers
did not the public backed the managers,
and were right, too. lie could not stand
the disappointment; had no wife, as his
father had, to console him, he took to the
actors curse--drink. lie sank lower and
lower, became i'll, could do nothing. and just
c, ,awled home TO die.
"One night, l had just come off, when |
was told some one wanted me at the stage
door. went, and found the girl of the
house where we lodged. She wanted me
to come home directly; l was wanted at
once. Mr.. Alfred was very i'll. Our man.
ager had his benefit that night, and we had
one of the first rate London men down rs
Hamlet. | was dressed as the Ghost
foI got all about my dress then, and rushed
home, it was too late--poor Alfred was
gone! He lay his head on his mothers
arms she was dressed as the Queen, and
was weeping hot, silent tears, that fell on
my boys face, one by one. His sister sunk
on her knees by the bedside as | entered,
and the people of the house were standing
looking on. / shall never forget it-never.
81 was reused by touch on the shoulder.
A message from the theatre.
Manager says he should be glad if you
could come back
"' Look here, Jennings, do you think |
can p
"'Not to do anything, sir; but you might
see him; perhaps it would be better
Il left them, and went back, saw the man
ager and told him and though it was his
benefit night, he said he would read both
parts himself.
"I am sorry for you very sorry; if can
do anything for you, let me know
"We buried the poor boy, and then went
on as before. His mother never recovered
the blow, and gradually sunk, and about six
months after his death could no longer take
her parts so Alice and | had to do our
| Il hat Gal 4
been rather attentive to her, and was not
surprised when he took me aside one night,
and told me he wanted to make her his wife.
He was just such another as | had been
myself when at his age. / thought it bet
ter to see her the wife of a respectable act
or than remain single behind the scenes, for
she was good girl. Well, they married
and remained in the company. ] was get
ting old, you see, then, and it was some
comfort to see her with some one TO take
care of her. Soon after she married, ber
. mother died, and l laid in the grave, beside
her son, one of the best women that ever
lived. l was alone now, and old, for the
t wear and tear of an actors life, and the late
hours, tell on the strongest constitution. II
, was something awful, the change from the
light and glare and noise of the theatre to
J the silence and quiet of my own poor room
J Just then, too the company was broken up +;
, and at the age was then, it was a serious
thing for me- We all three tried to keep
: together, but it was no use. Those who
wanted an old man did not want a second
E lady or third gentleman, and SO we were
e divided. went on circuit as an old man
with very poor pay-as much as | was
6 worth, though, dare say, for | was getting
a feeble, and Speak up. old 'un ? was the
! salute had from the galleris directly op
: ened my mouth.
: 81 heard from Alice every week, ant
n saved her letters for Sundays, for the day
!, was long and dull to me. could not maxi
f new friends. The young piied me, and
!. was proud then, and loved not pity ) SO
e was lonely man.
''Allce 5 nuSbduu uieu. uout fehcn
d Der now how it was, but he died, and sht
e told me it was just after this litle one wa:
r born. quite longed to see her, but sh
It could not come, and ] could not go; so w
o only wrote to each other. / have all he
b letters now, poor girl. She came to see m
i once afterward, and was looking i'll and fac
!, ged and soon after that visit our compan
i was broken up again.
IF 81 tried hard to get new engagement
travelled from place to place, spent all tn
little / had saved, and then was laid up at
Is place some fifty miles from here. The
d took me from the inn TO the Union when tn
Is money was gone; and after deal of wait
e ing and grumbing they brought me here.
d little thought, when, as boy, 1 used to &c
.e the nests out of this tree, that l should en-
j, my days here, an old wornout paupsr. Yo
know where it says, There's Providene
that shapes our ends, rough hew them q
W we may I've often said that on the stag
is feel it now" And the old man mrsed j
NJ silence.