The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-12-25

read nearly half a column over again
before he could find it and collect his
thoughts.
Now the next thing to be consider
ed was whom they should ask TO take
part in the tableaux. for on reflection,
the Parkinses' circle of intimate ac-
quaintance was found to be limited, |
and especially in the number of young |
gentlemen it included. There were
the two Brown girls; they were ami
able and not ugly, aud besides, were |
not unused to exhibitions of this |
kind. Their services must be eugag-
ed, of course. There was Miss Fuller,
who was tall and stately, and would
make a good Queen Elizabeth or a
nun, or something of that sort-per-
haps she would come, and there was
her brother, who was always smokin3;
perhaps he might be induced to take
a character or two, but that indeed
was very doubtful. There was young
Screed, the lawyer, but after mature
delberation 1t was decided that they
did not know him we'll enough to ask
him to act, although OF course he
would come to the party And
then after a few other names
had been proposed, and fgura
lively speaking, blackballed, the
little club came to a stand-stIll.
Then Miss Pamela Parkins sug
gested John Townsend and Mr.. Fox.
Miss Emma objected that they were
papa's statesmen. and it was hardly
the thing to ask them. And besides,
Mr.. Fox would be sure to wear that
horrid velvet waistcoat and that great
watch chain, which could not by any
means be gold. although to be sure IL
looked like it by night Miss Emily
would admit that John Townsend was
we'll enough in his way. She supposed
| both of them must be asked to the
party, but as to having them In the
tableaux, that indeed was quite an
other matter.
Then Miss Fanny Parkins respond
ed that papa himself was salesman
once
But he is MT now" said Miss
Emily.
At this point the wise Pamela sud-
| denly gave a new turn to the cOntro-
versy. by propounding after the man
ner of a conundrum the following
question: If you don't have these
young men to act, whom will you
have?"
Miss Emily and Miss Fanny labored
for a considerable time to discover the
answer to this, but with such little
success that they finally lad to give
it up.
SO the point was yielded, and the
invitation was conveyed verbally and
by letter to the actors, who, strange
to say, all consented, even to the
! cloud-eompelling Mr.. Fuller, although
what induced him to join In such a
scheme has been ever since, a most
profound mystery to all his friends,
and indeed to Mr. Fuller himself.
Then under the direction of Miss
Pamela, the large upper room 10 the
Parkins mansion was swept aud gar
nished, and generally made to present
an inviting appearance, and Michael,
the man servant, erected little stage
at one end, and with Miss Pamela's aid
rugged a curtain.
It may be hardly necessary to re-
mark that Michael was an Irishman.
He Was commonly spoken of by MIR.
Farkins as Mike" by Mrs. Parkins,
as Michael" by Miss Parkins. as
our man." and BY Miss Emily and
Miss Fanny, as :" the gardener" In
addition to taking care OF The small
plot of ground surrounding the house.
saving wood, brushing the boots of
Parkins and performing othE light
work of diversified nature, it was
also the duty of Michael to groom the
family horse, a steed which resembled
| Rosinate far more than Dexter, and
which had q spawn on his nigh fore
leg, and a tail that was neither useful
nor ornamental Michael might have
been called by the young ladies an
ostle," with at least equal propriety.
These facts, it is true, have very little
to do with the Parkinses' party.
1t is with pain thatI pass hurriedly
over the rehearsals which preceded
the final exhibition I think all who
have acted in private theatricals-
except. perhaps, certain very vain
people-will agree that the planning
and the making ready, with the curl
Gus blunders and the impromptu
jokes which come as matter of
course, aud make every one merry
and good humored, are far more Jolly
than the long expected performance,
when everybody Is nervous and for.
gets his part, and everything goes
wrong, as if the very mischief were
in it, should like to tell how young
Townsend, who had a mOustache,
was not Unlocking. and moreover
had a certain air, gradually obliterat-
ed the image OF Captain Hawksley
from the memory of Miss Fanny. [
should be glad to relate the process
by which Miss Emily came to look
with no uufavorahle eye upon Mr..
Fuller, who obstinately shut his eye
to her maidenly Establishments and
gave himself up more than ever to
the coloring of his last meerschaum.
This is not a novel it is only very
simple story about the party which
the Parkinses gave last Christmas
Eve.
At last the eventful night came, as
the reader, who has doubtless been
annoyed by all this preliminary tuning
of fiddles will be glad to hear. It was
arranged that there should be first
dancing, then the supper, then the
tableaux viVants, and then more
dancing for those who chose to stay
late. The rooms we're decked with
evergreens and beautifully lighted.
Parkins was arrayed in his best black
suit, somewhat loose, but not i'll
ftti6g, with his face wreathed in
smiles, as became host. Mrs. Par
kins was Respondent in a dress of
many colors and a cap of rainbow
tiats. Miss Parkins was dressed in a
style of severe but tasteful simplicity
The fashion of Miss EmiIy's attire
was equally tasteful. but less severe,
and that of Miss Fanny was very
charming, but not severe at all. Were
I jenkins, [ might write many para
graphs about their costumes.
The Dobbses came first. They were
pleasant people, but could not conceal