The Newtown bee., 1879-08-20
THE STROLLING PLAYERS.

Can't you listen to reason for a minute?" asked MT. Miles Forester, as he compelled his handsome nephew, Ger aid, to sit down beside him on a rustic bench in the garden.
 "For one minute? Certainly, uncle, !" replied the young fellow. 'Time's up! The minutes expired. Let's talk non sense."
 "You are incorrigible, Gerald"
 "No, sir no, sir! Why don't you look on life with little of my philosophy ? Confess, my dear uncle, that you haven't been 50 very happy; that you are not very happy now, in spite of your wealth, your fine house, your real estate and California Investments"
 "Very true, Gerald. And if this world had been intended as great playground I should confess that had mistaken my career. Your father was wild dreamer like you; visionary, unstable. He had no steadiness, even in his profession"
 "He left some good pictures, though, :" $ aid Gerald.
 His subjects were so eccentric that he could not sell them. I was almost his only patron. My house is full of things that nobody else would buy"
 "The ordinary fate of genius" re- marked Gerald.
 But had he gone into trade as I did, his wife would not have died of priva- tion and broken heart"
 "Poor motherT
 Half of these wrinkles on my brow, :" pursued the old gentleman, ''were not traced by age, but by care. The care occasioned by your father and yourself. But truce to all this now. am amply rich to allow you, if I chose, to follow your fancy wherever it may lead you. But am man of principle, as rigidly welded to what I know to be right as you are to your proftless day dreams. If you will not do as 1 wish you I with draw my countenance and aid, and leave you to work out your OWE salvation. l have laid two propositions before you :; one to % into business in profitable house, to furnish the capital; and the other to accept the hand of Mrs. Rash ton, young, rich and pretty. I do not insist on your acceptance of both of these propositions, but you must take one or the other, or we part.n "The first, my dear uncle, 1 decidedly decline"
 But you'll marry the widow; she comes here, tomorrow, you know" s 'Thank you for the widow; I'll keep clear of her."
 "Incorrigible boy! What do you propose to do with yourselfp"
 "I haven't exactly decided, uncle. But the world offers wide field to a gentleman of my figure, taste, accom- plishments and education. I might be a strolling player, or a travelling DOT trait pal 1ter; or I have thought of re- viving the traditions of the older ages, and going about like Homer, singing my own verses to my own music"
 Then you are determined to leave me?'' said the old gentleman. rising. Poor, foolish, headstrong boy"
 " shall not trouble you long, my dear sir" said the young man. But at least say that we parted friends" he added, holding out his hand.
 '' Friends!" said the old man, with a tear in his eye. Hove you better than dHyGulng else n the WOrld. but my principles are adamantine"
 So are mine," said Gerald. '.Good- bye till we meet again.
 They shook hands in token of amity and went in different directions, Gerald strolling along through fine oak grove t He was reused from his abstraction " however, by the sound of meEy laugh. ter. Advancing cautiously, he soon ob tained view of an open glade in the wood and of group of persons who had taken possession of the spot And il was not long before he knew the grour to be party of travelling actors Amone them was long-faced, melancholy man in seedy black suit, seated beside : buxom, smiling damsel, and stout ruddy-cheeked gentleman, fashily at tired, who sat opposite a second trim built damsel. The whole party wer, busily engaged in tattling, laughing ant devouring miscellaneous feast, consist ing of ham, cold chicken, crackers ant bottled ale. In short, it was a littl picnic party.
 The breaking of dried branch ol which he had Intentionally rested re Vealed the presence of Gerald.