Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-01-12
full and to mind what he was about, as the

leader was n - ~
Soon after the friends left the Albion
and proceeded on tl1eir several ways his
friend and companion already more than
half repenting his rashness in embarRing
in the undertaking.
The sombrc shades of twilight were
enwrapping, as with shroud, the streets
of London, when, carrying Mr.. OLeary's
trombone in his hand, Mr.. Whililes might
have. been observed wofully picking his
way through the purlieus of Drury Lane
endeavoring to find the stage entrance
of the Royal Dash Theatre. Two or three
sallow- faced gentlemen were smoking
short pipes in front of the entrance, and
occasionally a lady or gentleman passed
hurriedly in, evidently under the impress
sion that they were behind their time; but
glance at the clock in the hall appeared
to reassure them, as they made their way
more leisurely towards their respective
dressing-rooms Upon reference to his
watch, Mr.. Whiflles found that the doors
had only just been opened, and he there
fore had some leisure to look about him.
He loitered at the door for some time,
wondering, as the various members of the
company made their appearance, who
this was and who that could possibly be-
until small, but uncommonly sharp, boy
plucked him by the sleeve, and said
"You'd better make haste they're a
gon' to ring i'm
Mr. Whiffles then became aware that
he was almost alone. Without having
the faintest idea of the meaning of "ring
ing in," he mechanically followed
the small boy down gloomy
passage, tumbled down a flew steps, picked
himself up and found himself upon the
stage. He had hardly time to cast a hur
ried glance upon the novel, not to say
dreary, objects by which he was sur
rounded, when an elderly individual in a
white beard, and whose shirt-front SEEM
ed to be plentifully besprinkled with
snuff, beckoned the boy.
tom, " said he, ego into the music
room and ask Mr.. Loveioy for my copy
of Old King Cole"
The boy at once complied. Rightly
coniecturing that the music-room was the
place wherein the musicians assembled
previous to making their appearance in
the orchestra, Mr.. Whites followed the
boy down a score or so of ricketty stairs,
to the great detriment of his shins, into
a scantily furnished apartment, situated
Immediately beneath the stage, wherein
he found several gentlemen composedly
tuning their instruments. Upon hearing
Mr.. Lovejoy, the leader, addressed by
name, Mr.. Whifiles nervously introduced
himself as Mr. OLeary's substitute.
"Very good,' said Mr.. Loveioy; "he's
told you everything, supposeg'
Mr.. Whiffles bowed assentingly, and
darted piercing glance into every corner
of the apartment in search of the other
trombone. Horror! He ,casR't Here' The
man upon whom he solely depended, alb
sent! What was to be done? Retreat was
out of the question; as, while he was
contemplating fight, small bell sound
ed, and the musicians proceeded to take
their places in the orchestra. Mr.. Whit
fles, still bearing the fatal trombone, des-
pairingly followed, and, ere long, found
himself in the presence of the British
public. The novelty of his situation so
confused him that he for a moment seated
himself in the chair belonging to Mr..
Loveioy, and was received with a pro-
digious outburst of enthusiasm, the audi
ence supposing him to be the talented
leader himself This mistake was soon
rectified by the appearance of the verita-
BILE leader, who muttered something
under his breath by no means cOmpli-
mentary to our hero, and motioned him
angrily to the seat occupied by Mr.
OLcary. The audience, perceiving the
mistake, expressed their opinion of Mr..
Whiflles in candid and unmistakable
terms, as he ruefully made his way to the
spot indicated by the irate conductor.
After trying to reduce to something like
order the sheets of music upon the
stand before him, Mr. Whites
regained sufficient courage to look
around him. The house was packed
from floor to ceiling; everybody
was on the tiptOe of expectation, and
sundry anxious voices appertaining to
impatient gods implored the musicians
to strike up at once and appease heir anx-
iety.
Again the small bell tinkled. Mr.. Love
Joy tapped his desk-raised his baton
looked on each side of him, and-stopped
He whispered the First Fiddle, then left
his seat and the orchestra. Mr.. Whitfies
asked his next neighbor what this might
portend; and was informed, in reply, that
Puffler, the other trombone, hadn't as yet
put in an appearance.
Couldn't they do without him?" asked
Mr.. Enthusiastically hoping in his
heart of hearts they couldn't.
Certainly not" was the reply.
Wouldn't the big drum do as well?"
inquired Mr.. Whiffles.
His neighbor regarded him with some
surprise, smiled and continued
" Do without him! how can they? Don't
you know that you and he begin, the mo-
ment the curtain rises, to bring on old
Russell, the heavy man? He couldn't come
on without his music, you know; as he
appears at the back at first, then crosses
the mountains from left to right, then
from right to left, and finally comes down
left upon the stage, where he expresses a
variety of emotions in pantomime, and
all to yOUr music
At these words Mr.. Whiffles resigned
all hope, and was mentally calculating
the dangers to which he would be exposed
if he leaped into the stalls, from thence
into the pit, and fought his way out of
the theatre, when the leader returned an
ominous frown upon his brow, followed
by short, fat, pale-faced gentleman, APP
parently of foreign extraction, who car
ried trombone under his left arm. Joy
Mr. Whifiles felt man again. This,
then, was Putiler Mr. Whiffles remem-
bered his Instructions, and watched the
newcomer attentively who, upon his
part, appeared to regard him with the ut
termost concern. Mr.. Whiffles had occa-
sion to shift his trombone Puffler did
likewise. Mr.. Whitfles felt for his hand
kerchief Mr.. Putfler followed his exam
Pile All this seemed very mysterious,
and Mr.. Whiiiles was lost in wonderment
when the overture commenced. Luckily,
the trombones were not wanted until the
commencement of the drama. The over
ture ceased.
''Now, look out" observed Mr., Whit
fes' neighbor; 'it's you now"
Mr.. Whifiies mechanically raised the
instrument to his lips, keeping "a steadfast
gaze the while upon the proceedings OF
Mr. Putiler, who did his best to stare Mr.
Whiffles out of countenance. Mr.. Love,
Joy looked round, and seeing the from
bones perfectly ready, awaited the rising
of the curtain. 1t was an agonizing mo,
ment The silence was positively pain.
full One might have heard pin drop.
The small bell was heard again. Mr.
Loyejoy tapped his desk, and the curtain
slowly rose--t1 solemn saeRee!' Mr.. Love.
iov 6epan heating time SLOWLY and had