The Hickman courier., 1872-04-06
NO. "A.


sble. Redeeoration was the order Of
the day, and every man who could han
die brush was taken on, painters being
scarce in the spring
Well, we went, and were soon busily
at work, painting arbors and arches, and
touching up orchestra and artificial sky
till the Gardens were opened, when the
manager, who was a very civil fellow,
gave Tom aud your humble servant a
ticket for the'opening day.
That was treat for us, for we were In
good spirits, having a few sbIllings in our
pockets. We saw the iheatricas heard
the music looked at this. looked at that,
and were thoroughly enjoying ourselves.
until we joined the circle about to wit
uess the performances of the Tantipal
pitt family, and there we stood for some
time, seeing them walk on their hands
tie them in knots, aud do few clumsy
somersauts. Then Tom looked at me
and looked at him, and we went away
l LAUGHING together at what we had seen.
why" said Tom at last, stopping
short and giving himself tremendous
slap on the thigh, "if | couldn't do that
fly over better than any one there I'd
eat my boots
Il was poor, wasn't it?" said I.
"Poor!' echoed Tom; it was shameful +"
We walked home that night in silence;
but no sooner were in our room than
Tom whips off his coat aud waistcoat,
kicks away his boots, and then goes
through half dozen Of our old tricks
rather stihiy, but better than anything
We had seen
Have a try, old boy" he said and
| had try and the next day we nearly
frightened our landlsdy to death, aud
sent her off searching for help to cut Tom
down, because be had hung himself from
hook in the ceiling. They got used to
our antics at last, and took no notice Of
Us, as Sc tried hard 10 get of that stiff
ness, for the same idea had struck US
both-that We had better take to tumb-
ling than paint, and starve.
1T strikes me, said Tom, "that if we
get rope or two aud some cross bars
fixed, we can rather astonish some of
them; anyhow, we'll see.
quite agreed with Tom; and a short
time after, as bold as brass, we applied
to the manager of the Gardens for an
engagement. OF course he wanted TO
see what we could do; so a couple Of
ropes were fitted up over the stage Of
the little hail, a bar was tied across like
a swing; and on it we set to turning over.
hanging by hands and toes and the backs
Of our heads, and playing such daring
pranks that we brought down the house
that is to say, the lessee and his
friends applauded loudly; and I believe
never felt so happy in my life as when
he engaged Us ou the spot a salary.
For the whole Of that season we were
as successful as could be; and through
constant practice. we got to be very
handy, aud did cur tricks In a way which
the newspapers called graceful; but as
matter Of course. there were soon a host
of imitators; and at the beginning of
the next season. people wanted some
thing new, and the manager asked US "
We couldn't Introduce something-"It
must be wonderfully exciting, you know"
he said cor else it won't take. You'd
think that was strong enough for them,
be continued, pointing to balloon; "but,
lor bless you, they don't care now for
balloons. Go and think it over. For
my part, l thought of proposing ira
peze on the TOP of the two highest scaf-
fold poles we can get"
| started q bit as he said that; and +
just then the balloon rose and went away
lightly over the trees, while I watched it /
thoughtfuIly, for l had got an idea in
my head
The next morning 1 talked it over
with Tom, who agreed to it in a minute
and we shook hands over it slowly, for
our minds were made up.
When the manager engaged Us first,
he said our names wouldn't do 4 bit.
The Tantipalpitis' name, he said, was by
| have said we went iu for French; so
the announcement of the Grand Fra
peze Act of Les Freres Proyencanx,"
was advertised all over London.
How we'll l remember that bright June
day, when going forward in our grand
dresses, all tights, satin, ruffies and span
giles, we were greeted with a roar of .ap
plause, aud saw that the Gardens were
crammed with people, in the middle Of
whom was the great balloon, ready filed
aud swimming as it tugged at its ropes.
How do you feel, Tom p l said, look
ing at him.
Brave as lion, my boy" he said
stoutly. ITS no more than doing it +
twenty feet high"
True" 1 said; "and it's as easy to be
drowned in sixty as in six hundred feet
Of water"
The next minute we were holding the
trapeze bars, close to the balloon, wait
ing the signal for it TO rise; for the first
time, l felt a sensation of fear. and I'll
tell you what gave it to me-the people,
instead of cheering US as soon as we
began to rise, kept perfectly silent, and
that seemed to go right through me, for
you must know that what we had been
advertised to do was to perform our robe
and bar tricks right under the balloon,
twenty feet below the car, and that with
out anything to save US if we should
make a slip.
There was no time for fear, though;
and the next minute we were doing 1t all
as coolly as could be, as we rose fifty,
a hundred. a thousand feet in the air;
and foated away out of sight.
don't recall that | was so very glad
to get up into the car, for the excitement
kept me from feeling afraid; 1 remember
thinking, though that Tom looked rather
pale. Then we wrapped up we'll, and
enioyed our first hours ride till we came
down right away in Kent.
We kept that on time after time, and
the people came to see us in mobs. The
manager said it was the greatest take he
had ever had; and l must say he behaved
to US very handsomely, what with raising
our wages and making US presents. But
l did not feel easy in my own mind, for
the idea was my own invention, and l
thought l ought not to have exposed
poor Tom to danger likewise; but all the
- l.-oJ -, GOV rvord for sc had