St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-08-07
WANTED TO ACT.

1t Ended.
George Howard was little boy
seven years old, who lived in the great
city of Chicago.
One afternoon Mr.. Howard pur-
chased ticket of admission so that
George might 60 to the pantomime;
but he told the little boy to come home
Immediately after the performance,
and not want to talk to any one.
Georgie promised to do as he was told.
and away he went to the theater with
his father. who left him at the door. re-
minding him to come directly home
afterward.
The theasr was crowded with peo-
pie, and although it was the afternoon
performance the entire building was
lighted by gas. When the grand trans
formation took place George was per-
fectly delighted, and thought he had
never seen any thing so pretty. He
wondered who the little boys and girls
were who took the part of fairies and
cupids, and thought what nice time
they must have. all dressed in bright
ribbons and gauze dresses. smiling and
dancing on the stage, while the crowds
in the theater laughed with delight and
clapped their hands.
Little George Howard suddenly
wondered why he could not act on that
very stage, and wear bright ribbons.
and laugh while the people applauded
him, besides making money all the
time. During the rest of the perform
ance he made up his mind that he
would try it. anyway. So. after the
curtain rolled down for the last time,
and the people were going out. of the
theater, George made his way down to
the front of the house near the stage.
where the men sit who play violins
and cornets and other musical instru-
ments. One of these men sat on a
chair raised higher than the rest, and
waved baton to keep the other mnsi-
clans in time when they played. This
man was the only one remaningin the
place, so George walked up to him.
and said:
please. sir, want to act"
want to act, do youe" answered
the man in q great bass voice, and
| then he sat down on his chair and
laughed very hard. Then he contin-
ued: .What on earth put it into your
| head that you wanted to act? My ad-
vice is for you to go home and stay
there"
"But I don't want to- want to
act" replied George.
do you really mean it." asked the
man. George nodded his head in re-
| ply, and the orchestra leader leaned
| forward in his chair and lifted a little
| rubber tube, on the end of which was
bright, shining mouth-piece. He
whistled through this, and was an
swered by somebody. Then he spoke
through the tube, saying:
HAS the stage manager gone home
yet?"
Somebody evidently said that he had
not, for the man spoke again:
..Tell him there's well-dressed kid
| down here who wants to tread the
histrionic boards and gain the world 5
applause"
Then he put down the tube, and.
turning to George, said:
The stage-manager will be here
soon."
George did not know who the stage
| manager was, DuL ne Waiteu IoT mo-
ment, and sharp-looking little man
stepped through door and appeared
from beneath the stage. The small
man was full of business, and after one
rapid glance at George Howard,
turned to the orchestra leader and
said:
"Where'd you pick him up?'
| "Nowhere; came himself" replied
the musician.
Then the stage manager spoke t.
George:
Ever been in front of the lights?-
No, you never acted" he continued
seeing that the little boy did not under
stand. "Well, we need one NOR
cupid, and you can come with me-"
Then he took George through tn
little door underneath the stage, wher
there were so many ropes, and puliies
and benches, chains, and other thing
of that kind that the little boy woul'
have become lost, but, following tn
stage-manager. he suddenly walked u
half dozen steps and was behind th
; scenes of the great theater. Men an
women were hurrying to and fro. Q
standing talking one with another
Some Of the men were in their shir'
sleeves pushing about great boxes an
pieces Of scenery. or sweeping th
stage and turning down ths hghs.