The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-01-12
THE NEIGHBOR'S BARN.
NJ HENRY IRVING, ACTOR.

~ HENRY IRVING, ACTOR.
When. Il year ago, we produced at the Ly-
.ceunl, as q first piece, the old Scotch drama
of "CramOnd Brig" the various members of
the Company playing in the piece bad full
choice Of wherewithal to wash down their
s<leed and harrigles'- which, by the way,
over "A hundred were consumed during the
run-and the miller's supper became
nightly iOllity except, perhaps, to the
Scotch nobility and the Kings huntsmen,
who with waterY mouths and eager eyes,
crowded the wings, forbidden by the irony
of dramatic fate to enter upon the scene
until the supper had been cleared away.
This piece had reminded me of an incident
which come under my notice good many
wears ago. In the OF season of a large pro-
Vincial theater, in which / was stock actor,
took an engagement in q small town, then
known as one of the most thriving seaports
of the North. Thesalsry was little; the parts
were long, and there was not much OppOr-
tunity for gaining renown. However, it
was better than remaining idle, as at the
worst, the amount of debt to be accumulated
was minimised. The manager was not
bsd fellow, and having been good actor
In his time, was only too glad to be sur
rounded by class of actors whose services
he could only obtain by the opportunity
afforded by the bright summer-in those
oalmy days the darkest and wintriest season
20 the airy comedian or the thoroughly legi-
innate tragedaL.
Our opening bill consisted of "Cramond
Brig" Lord Darnley, "''Wallace the Hero of
Scotland" and ''Gilderoy, the Bonnie Boy"
IN all of which played, besides contributing
my share in the National Anthem" which
was right loyalty and fondly sung by the
entire strength the Company. After the
rehearsal of "Cramond Brig, our jolly msn-
aysr said:
'Now, boys, shall stand real supper
tonight; no pasteboard and parsley, but
real sleeps head and little drop Of real
Scotch" A tumult Of applause.
The manager was as good as his word for
at night there was a real head we'll equipped
with turnips and carrots, and the "drop of
real Scotch
The "aeighbor's BARN." an important
character in the scene came IN aud took her
seat as usual beside the miller's chair She
was a pretty, sad-eyed, intelligent child of
some nine years old. In the course of the
meal when Jock Howison was freely passing
the whisky she leaned over to him and
said:
PLEASE, will you give me little?"
He locked surprised. She was so earnest
in her request that whispered to her:
Tomorrow, perhaps, if you want it very
much, you shall have thimbleful."
Tomorrow night came, and, to my amuse-
ment she produced from the pocket of her
little plaid frock bright piece of brass, and
held IL out to me.
said, What's this?'
u thimble sir.'
But what am l to do with it,"
you said you would give me a thimble-
full OF whisky if l wanted it. and l do want
it
This was said so naturally That the
audience laughed and applauded. / looked
over 20 the miller and found him with the
butt end of his knife and fork on the table
and his eyes wide open gazing at US in
astOnishment. However, we were both ex-
perieneed enough to pass off this unrehearsed
effect part OF the piece.
L filed the thimble. and the child took 1T
to her little creepy" stool beside the miller.
L watched her and presently saw her turn
her back to the audience and pour it into
a little half-penny snuff box. She covered
the box with a bit of paper and screwed on
the lid, thus making the box pretty water
tight and put it in her pocket.
When the curtain TELL our manager came
forward and patted the child's head.
why, my little girl, said he, "you are
quite geniusl Your gag is about the best
thing in the piece. We must have it every
night But my child, you mustn't drink
the whisky. No, no, that would never
do"
ooh. sir, indeed l won't give you my
word, won'tI' she said, quite earnestly;
and ran to her dressing-room.
''Cranond Brig" had an unprecedented run
of SIX nights, and the little lady always got
her thimbleful of whisky and her round OF
An Il oh
corked up the former safely in the snuff box
was curious as to what she could possibly
want with the spirit, and who she was, and
where she came from. / asked her, but she
seemed so unwilling to tell and turned sc
red, that | did not press; but l found out
that 1t was the old story-no mother, and 6
drunken father.
Sill, 1t was strange What could she
want with the whisky "a child like
herr II could not be for the drunken father. ]
vas completely at fault. took a fancy to tn,
little thing, and wished to fathom her secret
for secret felt sure there was After thu
performance / saw my little lady come out
Poor little child there was no mother OF
brother to see her home. She hurried up th'
street, and turning into the poorest quarter
of the town, entered the common stair Off
1umble-down old house. / followed, feeling
Il
up. tiiI in the very top fat she entered
little room. A handful of fire in the graft
revealed a sickly boy, some two years he
junior, who crawled toward her from wher
he was lying before the fire.
~Cissy, I'm glad you're home" he said
81 thought you'd never come"
She put her arms around him, laid tn
poor little head on her shoulder, and tool
him over to the fire again, trying to comfor
him as she went
as the pain very bad tonight, vii
Iie7"
Yes A sadder "Yes," L never heard
willie, wish l could bear the pain 70
you"
"It's cruel of father to send me out in tn
wet; he knows how bad am"
-'HGshi Willie, hushl he might hea
you"
II don't care don't carel wish 20
sEo2'd kill me at once"