News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1894-05-10

the kings portrait from a pistol
that will conclude the entertain
ment."
Now, firing the kings portraitfrOm
pistol smacked so much of the won
derful that Jarvis opened his eyes in
astonishment. He believed, however,
that Monsieur Parbleau could do
almost anything in magic, and when
he talked of bis last trick Jarvis took
it for granted that it would be done.
81 don't like this royal business"
said the boy to himself, when he went
to bed that night. 81 think it would
be neat thing to spring n little sur
prise on both Monsieur Parbleau and
his audience, just to show them that
all the people who attend his show
are not for King George. / wish /
could surprise them with something.
The young major would laugh, l am
sure, for last night he sent up to the
stage to inquire the name of the
young gentleman who assists mon
sieur; and the gold guinea that came
to me in a letter this morning must
have come from his purse"
The next day Jarvis and the ma
gician prepared for the last trick of
the evening. They went to the hall
in the afternoon, and monsieur
showed the boy how he had hung a
portrait of the king over the stage,
but in a place where it could not be
seen by the audience; and how, at
the report of the pistol, which he was
to fire at a star, it was suddenly to
appear where the star had been.
All this was very simple when it
had been explained to the boy. The
smoke of the pistol would hide the
star for a moment, during which time
Jarvis, secreted behind the scenes,
was to pull a cord which would let
the portrait of the king drop into
its place.
After the rehearsal Jarvis was given
several hours, and the project fer sur
prising both Monsieur Parbleau and
his audience came back to his mind
with added force.
When he reached home he found
that his aunt had gone out for the
purpose of discussing with some
friends on another street certain ru-
mors which had come from the pa
triot army.
In his aunt's bedroom hung a por-
trait of General Washington, which
no loyal person had been permitted
to see. Little Jarvis though of this,
and brilliant idea entered his head.
81 wonder If / could place it where
we hung the portrait of the king?'
thought the boy. 81 am sure | could
fix it there, if l could but get it into
the theatre, for it seems to be the
same size as the kings picture"
With Jarvis to think was to act. In
a brief time, therefore, the portrait of
General Washington had been lifted
from it's peg on the wall, and Jarvis
had carefully wrapped it in paper for
transmission to the hall. As the ma
gician had given him a key to the
stage entrance, he had no difficulty
in getting into the house, and then
with the greatest care he changed the
portraits, hiding the kings picture
in dark, unused room.
81 don't know what the great of
ficers will say, but lam sure the hand
some young major will laugh heart
lily over the trick-and if they should
attempt to punish me he will come
to the rescue" thought Jarvis, as he
waited for night in the rooms of the
magician. When they went to the
theatre to prepare for the evenings
entertainment, however, he couldnot
repress feeling of anxiety as to the
success of his trick.
Never before had monsieur been con-
fronted with such a brilliant COM
pany. All over the house and in the
boxes were scarlet uniforms, and
Jarvis, peeping through little rent
in the curtain, singled out the we'll
known officers he had seen at the
head of the kings regiments and in
the theatre on former occasions.
Overhead, but where no one could
see it, all the while hung the portrait
of General Washinton in continental
uniform.
When the curtain rose Monsieur
Parbleau came forward and made his
obeisance to the people. The little
magician looked his best as he stood
before the footlights bowling with his
hand on his bosom to the assembly.
His moustache had been carefully
waxed, and was as neat and trim as
a new pin.
For an hour the magician amused
the officers and their ladies with mar
velous tricks, for his fingers were
swifter than their glances, and he had
a way of pleasing them wonderfully.
Jarvis went through with the parts
assigned him by Monsieur Parbleau
much to the little mans satisfaction.
The boy saw that Major Andre was
in his seat, dressed in the brilliant
regimentals of his rank, and he notice
ed how keenly the young officer was
enjoying the juggler's performances.
Half alarmed lest his trick should
be discovered at the last moment,
little Jarvis grew impatient for the
closing scene. More than once, when
he was not noticed by his master, he
glanced up among the rigging
overhead and saw that the picture