Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-11-08
Chr family Circle.
NoIasses, Soft Soap and cider.

\ lady recently told me the following
story, as being days adventures of her
nine-year-old son
Harry is always engaged in some mis-
chief; and his pranks are so laughable
that can seldom keep on a sober face
long enough to punish him. Nearly a
year ago there came a strolling theatrical
troop to town. They played tragedy and
comedy, performed pantomImes and did
the negro-minstrel business to perfection !;
so the boys thought But what my son
Harry most admired was the play Of food
les. This he determined 10 reproduce in
his own theatre with new and unheard-of-
effects.
There was new scenery painted on an
old sheet, with straws from new broom.
by Bunkey Burnett intricate stage me-
chanism whitfield out with a lack knife. by
Blousey Shaw; old costumes made to look
as good as new, by Tommy Bonnerbump.
/ assisted by his sister-in-law, Sally Thread
needle new appointments by Tim Penny
feather; new and original music, to be
performed on new and very original inStru-
ments by the orchestra, under the direction
OF Pat GoXanni. an Italian from Ireland,
the whole play to be produced under the
supervision Of Harry Bateman, stage man
ager.
The above stupendous bill wound up
with the following
Tickets purchased If Specul4torS on
the Sideicalk uiH be refused ar The d95r ?
The stage was erected in the wood she'd.
and repOsed on four saw-horseS. The floor
consisted of two old barn doors spiiced to-
gether The drop curtain was a second
hand horse-banket The parquet ana
dress circle were HE'D with large sticks of
wood, too tough to split. SCI up on end.
These were called chairs. What the man
agement called galleries were two window
sIIIs. These were usually occupied by
small boys at quarter price One private
box this theater had for the use Of the
aristocracy, Ii consisted of secondhand
cupboard or wardrobe and was mounted
on wheels Purchasers Of this private box
were allowed the privilege OF having /,
placed ii any position they wished.
Two horrid big boys" once demanded
/ that the private boz should be placed in
exactly the middle OF the stage TO this
/ the whole management objected The two
horrid big boys twittcd them OF going
back on their wore" and triumphantly
helG up the arrangements own bill and
programme, which read in huge letters
PRIVATE BOX PUT N ANY POSITION DESIRED
/ The management had to succumb. The
whole company male and female. were or
dered out to move it. After great diff
Guilty and several mishaps it was hoisted
,,.-r+T1v NKI,r, - v.1-
the company found that il Obstructed the
stage so much that there was not room
for them all to perform at one time. -
part of the actors had 10 get down and
play in the parquet. This made the at
taches Of the theatcr very much vexed
but the audience were hugely pleased, anc
during the performance were convu.sec
with laughter Imagine for instance tn,
same thing in Boston at the Globe, or il
New Nork at Nlblos.
The play was Toodles, and was received
with great applause. When that was Owe
the company did the niger minstrel
business. Harrys face, neck, and hand
p we're made as black as black could be
with burnt cork.
Meanwhile Harry conhded to the bones
man and the baujoist the plan he ha,
formed to get square with the two oc
cupants Of the private box They willing
ly promised to assist him The momen
: the performance was over Harry and hi
2 partners rushed for the private box. vic
( Iently shut the door, fastened it with
! broom handle, and then kicked the Who'll
= concern over As it fell, the two aristC
! Gratis inside gave yell Of rage, an
threatened to lick the whole company Xix
+ blazes.' When you catch Us the boy
: shouted Then they beat a retreat, eac
t one going in different direction.
Ny Harry ran into the cellar, tastene
the door, and then couched down in a CO..
= ner.
/ In few moments the late occupants
n the private box arrived at the cellar doc
a vowing vengeance. But the door was Il
e stout to be easily broken. They gave u
i all hopes Of wheedling him out on preten,
: Of friendship. and at last with hammer AT
! nails they fastened him in. On goir
!, away they babe him good-by' " hoped
.e would have a good time" and furthermo
i they invited him in very sarcastic ma
d ner to call up and take dinner with the
d at four O'Clock, that Is, if he could 9
ID out
There was no escape for poor lit
Harry, as they very well knew, until
r should get home at six o'clock and relea
- him by opening the inside door which cor
n municated with the pantry. The wlndoy
' to the cellar were those called bulls eye
;, and they were 50 small that Harry, sic
J. der as he was. could not squirm throu.
Q them. He found that it was impossible
o. get out without help. This was not to
had as all the family were away, and '
lived az the end Of long avenue-too f
from any neighbors for him to make
70 voice heard. The dear little fellow reali
.. ed the situation, and accepted it without
" bit of whining. He lay down on the t.
er of two soap boxes and went to sleep.
as In about two hours he awoke very mu
% refreshed but, as he told me, very hungr
= There was plenty of food of various kin
n in the cellar on a swinging shelf, but 1t "
ID too high for him to reach. So be jump
At up and stood on the edge OF soft-so'
er barrel. He leaned forward and grasp
81 an apple pie. IS he was leaning back
u slipped, and went souse into the soft so;
q up to the neck Then, in fiounderil
ID round, and trying to get out, ne tiPp
So himself and the soft soap over.
i Tney both can sPra" n out mr
= tAueously. Ia Struggling 70 get up ire