Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 2, Number 34, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 17 February 1872 — Page 6

THE GOLDEN NO W.

BY T. BUCHAHAH BUD.

The

sarth It load with discontentment* mattered Bjr foolish moathar-the selfish and the vain •nd yet a world of agony on ntt* red *Lles behind Hps that never tell their pain.

The voiceless dark ii loaded with repent-

Jn solemn courts of midnight, where, o'er cast .. With sorrow, Conscience looks its silent sentence

Against the culprit actions of the past. Aad countless eyes, aglaze with hot reflec-

i. Stare down the highway which their feet have known, Where stand afar the ghostly recollections,

Like frowning statues notto beo'erthrown.

Vhile fancy sees them rise in retributions, A spectre file along the future way, To bliglit the hopes and chill the resolutions

Which Night should marshall for the coming day.

Ob ye who cower a-trernble at the errors jjcUuklng Memory conjures where you wait, Rise, and against the past with all its terrors.

With hand indignant, swing the Iron gate!

illsc in the Golden Now. and ope its portal, h.ii door-way which to-morrow never 01 es Worthy your manhood and your houI imnrii iill.

Ou orward to the harvest of your hopes.

Nor let the future manile of December Become a coward's *uck-cloth, a-hcngiay, To doom your aged anguish to remember

The precious chauoea you refuse to-day.

What's done Is done—let errors past recalling, In guilty waters of oblivion drown: Ttie irel of retrospection, hot and galling,

Wilts to the root the llower ol courage down.

Until despair half makes the soul contented, To sit reluctant at lh« yet untried Perpetual brooding over what's repeated,

Is but the drug ol constant suicide.

flu -h sorrow Is a Winter owl, forbodlng Kor future wildernesses nights of caie, Wlnle eneeriul thoughts are happy songls, loading

With lyilme music all the summer air. Tile vhIii regrets we nurture In our bosoms Are dei'liy nightmares, which we feed with tears But nil the heart becomes abed of blossoms,

When heart is jocund and contentment cheers:

Hliake from yoiir feet the dust with wholesome seornliig Ag iliiM. ilmm^iy, ne'er-to-be undone Fro ii -Hi in cloudy darKno*-., like the

IIIOI'lllll^,

With glowing brow, go forth Into the sun.

And to duly nearest, most defiant, Willi Meadiasi courage lay your .shouldered strengi it. And co!iii ii i^ more than cities, like a gi.wil,

Arise master til yourself at length.

Prophetic hopes shall lead you to new plenses, Alor.u iheyluldlug pathway of the plough, To.»elloW harvests ami toorchard treasures,

I'lie tleid of action is the Uoiden Now.

And wiien the tranquil evening crowns your labor Willi sheaves, and fruits, and welcome household songs, At pi ace with heaven, your conscience, and your neighbor, -siu'ii your prayerful heart where It belongs.

KrJin the H.dgravla.]

Not

All Tinsel.

Tlio Idg clock at Westminster had just chimed hall-past eleven, when JoHcp Biimber, master of the supernumeraries at the Theatre Royal Nonpariol, emerged from the comfortable hostelry which served as houao-o:-call for the employes of that Thespian temple. As some exeuse for the lateness of the lipur, it will be well to inform the scrupulous reader thai the occasion is Christmas Eve. Not that Joseph Biimber was ever much earlier in his La bits at any period ol the year—still, as we have only to deal with that gen tleuian on this particular night, the excuse must serve lor this special time 4Uid no other.

Considering the temptations belonging to his profession, Joseph—or, to •peak more familiarly, and to adopt the name best known to himsell, Jo Bllmber was not at all a late individual. For instance, if he had to play in the last piece, he seldom called at the hostelry, but mado his way home asquickon the contrary, a

telry, out macio nis way mu ly us possible it. on the farco concluded the progr his services were not requu

Srainafterand

me,

__ red the «tartling denouement o? the sensation drama, (they were great on sensation pieces at the Nonpariel,) it must be admit.ed that bo did generally enter the Crown to enquire after the health of the hostess, and supplement that inquiry by a draught at the bar or in the parlor where he was almost certain to meet with some of his own fraternity. It is a question of much argument whether lor this an excuse might not also be found. It is not vory pleasant to have your throat parched with the fumes ol gunpowder and red fire and aa Joe number, from the responsibility and prominence of his position as "supeinaster," was always in the midst of the smoke of battle, and among the first to brave the haughty tyrant in his lair when he defied the hero to "come hon," some extenuation may be found for his predilection for the aforesaid draught on such occasons.

Joe had always been connected with the stage, and at one time had high aspirations. Perhaps bis ambition was of the kind that o'erleaps itself, and foils on t'other side perhaps he lacked opportunity perhaps he was to* rnoek and gentle a man to push his way ameng the crowd of competitors for histrionic houors. That Is nothing to do with the reader or the author. There was a tradition among his fellows—not subject ol conversation, but whisper ed rumor—that Jog bad one© played CjuwIo lu one of the large provincial theatres. Be this as it may he never played it at tho Nonpari*l, even in the dreariest of the many dreary period# th it had occasionally marked the annals ol that establishment. In London Joe had always been a "super," nothing more until he bjoamo "supe-mas-ter," and this advancement was actually owing to a lHck_y accident, certainly not uscrlbable to any self-assertion on his irU

W.ien he was a little boy, Joe used to come on in the pantomime rallies and "chivy" und unfortunate vendors who are generally so disgracefully maltreat©d In th? harlequinade portion then when he got too old for this sort ol thing, they put him In to play the sbopman but somehow, he never in his life got a good speaking part—-that is if the Casalo rumor was a rumor and nothing more.

There was no man in the establishment more contented with his position than Joe Bllmber. He worked hard, and threw his whole soul into his du"ttea, and this is My lug a great deal.

For Instance when they played "Macbeth" or "Richard III. (very seldom, by the way, for the Nonp rlel was too much in the tashion to give Shakspew ^frtKiuonilv.) J°«* w** always to be seen in the thickest of the fray in the battle aoencs, and generally obtained a round

of applause for the vigor with .which he tackled bis opponent. And In truth there were many of the "supers" who fought sby of Joe, for with him there was no crossing of swords and then meekly foiling down and dying. He did the regular one, two, three business it was something to hear the roar ot the gallery when they saw the sparks come from Joe's sword as he pressed his antagonist close and the roar did Joe's heart good, for it made him ieel one of the principal actors in the piece, The best ol the matter was that bis merits were recognized bv the manager for that autocrat had Leen known, even in the presence of his first tragedian—the Richard or Macbeth of the night—to clap Joe on the back after one of bis arduous combats, and in a tone of voice audible to those around, acquaint them that he was the fellow "to bring them down."

But if Joe Biimber was a greater man at any one period of the year than another, that period was Christmas lor though the S'onpariel's forte was sensation drama, hot and strong, yet they always made a feature ot the panto mime. And then ot course. Joe had his demons to train, to say nothing bringing iito good stage-working order ll extra hands he was deputed to engage for the "run" of the Christmas novelty. Then, indeed, was Joe in hi element.

From the foregoing it may, perhaps be imagined ill it Joe Blimber's heart was always in the theatre. Such con elusion would bd wrong. Joe Blimber's heart was in his home, and his daughter kept the key.

Ellen—at least it is to be presumed that this was the name she received at tliHJiaptismal ton*, though no one evpr heard Joe's daughtercalled by anything but Nelly—was also a professional. Though the manager, in his -pirit of utilitarianism, frequently made Nelly appear as ona of the group of joyful or horror-stricken maidens in his sensation productions, yet her "line" was Terpischorean. Indeed she had been instructed in her businessby M. Dutonr admittedly one of the best harlequins that ever did a lilt or jumped through a shop window. Like her father, Nell}" also took a pride in her work and as sue possessed a kind of yielding disposition, she had not many enemies among the young ladies of her department. Ol fours she had a few, as will not be doubted, when it is stated that she had recently been promoted to the front row ol the ballet, nd was currently whispered to be studying the part ol the iiiiue Feneila, in view of the manager's contemplated revival of "Masani cllo" next season. She was a lighthearted, happy little creature, the presiding genius of Joe's home for, uas, his wife had died when Nelly was a wee thing, and though it w.is dillieult at times lo perform the opera tion familiarly known as "making bo ends meet" at their sill dl lodging, and more especially during the summer season ot tho Noupariel,' when the treasury Was somewhat scanty, yet, Nelly was as good a little housewife as though she had been brought up to the work and to nothing else till her life. To crown all, Nelly was as innocent and guileless as she was cheerful and pretty. The compliments of the gay flatterers of the outside world, who planted themselves at tho wings (for the Noupariel did admit a few privileged puppies behind the scenes) and at the stage door, were unheeded by her, and she tripped home at the end of the week with her wages ol sixteen shillings in much happier mood than the premiers dansuese of the theatre, Mile. Fopar, "from tho Porte St. Martin," (envious people said Iroui Lambeth,) who was conveyed to her residence in a brougham. When his stage duties allowed him, of course Joe went home with his daughter but this was seldom, for Nelly liked to slip away before him and get his supper ready ere he arrived. Wet or dry, it made no difference to Nelly she never grumbled at having to walk to her humble lodging indeed, when it was a wet night, her spirits rose with the occasion, and it was quite a cheerful sight to see her lightly tripping over the pools of mud, and picking her way along the damp throughfare, humming the last new polka air, with the rain acting as a kind of obligate accompaniment on her umbrella.

On this particular Christmas eve there happened to be a rather unusual excitement at the Nonpariel. Of course it was all about the pantomime. The gentleman who wielded the baton in the orchestra had declared himself sat isfied with the manner the music "went everybody in the theatre was delighted with the transformation scene which those eminent artists, Messrs. Gilt and Olitteur.had prepared the scenery worked well the supernumeraries did their work satisfactorily (trust their chief, Joe Biimber,for that) the principal ladies—the Nonpariel pieces were always strong in female parts —declared themselves pleased with the respective characters assigned them and the splendor of the dresses and dec orations was universally admitted, from the prince, down to the boy who fetched the beer for the scene shifters, to far excel anything in that way the Nonpariel had yet done.

Notwithstanding all this, there was something wrong. The last rehearsal but one (tne final being fixed for Box lug day, 10 a. m., sharp), had taken place ou Christmas Eve, and every' thing went otT well, with one exception. Though at the first blush there was endless cause for congratulation, still nearly everybody shook their heads and hoped ft (the padtomime) would go well. Mile Fopar happened at the Fast rehearsal to be very late, Indeed, that the ballet scene In the opening— In which, of course, she had a pas seul —had to be gone through without her. When she arrived, a few words of remonstrance, polite but firm, had been addressed to her by the manager. She made no remark to hitn at the time, but did the columbine business in the harlequinade as though nothing had occurred to ruffle her temper. However she had been heard to murmur to Mrs. Grumpie (one of the dressers) that "that sort of thing" wouldn't suit her and as Mile. Foper was known to be as high spirited as the horses that nightly conveyed her home, the worst anticipations were formed of her words, which bad been duly retailed all over the establishment bv the person to whom they were Redressed. The rumor of the theatre found its way to the bouse of call before mentioned, and being duly debated in the parlor thereof, and the meaning Mile Fopar attached to her observations regarded from every possible point of view, considerable excitement was the conse*

quence. When Joe Biimber left his companions, of course his mind was filled with the prevailing excltettu nt, and whea he reached borne and sat by the cheery fire which Nelly had both laid and lighted, he found bis daughter ready to munmence the much-debated topic. Whether it was that the savory supper (tripe and onions prepared by Nelly as a surprise for her lather, and quite a succmsa,) or that the joybells announcing the advent of Christmas drove the matter out of their minds, it is iinpoe-

sibletosay but when Joe Nt^Wsplpe just before going to resi, be broach* topic far more interesting to him and his daughter than even Mdle. Fopar's capriciousness.

Their conversation was somewhat after this fashion: joc—When is the next mail due from— [Here a pause, perhaps huskiness through the effects of the colored fire in the last scene but Joe does not finish the sentence.]

Nelly [busily putting away the stopperthings, and makina an unnecessary clatter with the plates quite unusual for her, but serving on this occasion to divert attention from the blushes that cover her cheeks.] Next Weduesday, father.

Joe—You didii't hear last mail, did y«u Nelly? Nelly—No, father.

Joe—[voice a little tremulous, perhaps through the persistent "putIs he is making at his pipe, cut though it wouldn't draw.] Nor th« mail before?

Nelly—No, father but then, you see, perhaps Jem was up the Country, and couldn't get his letters posted or hi might have mistaken the day the mai went out. And you forget how hard he is at work. j0(—I hope so, my dear though think if he was working his lingers to the bone he ought not to neglect writing, nmre especially after what we did for him.

Nelly [kissing her father.]—You mean what you did :or him. Joe—No, dear, I consider the £75 we let him have was as much yours as uiine. Why, was it not put in the savings bank as soon as my old aunt left me the money, and there kept to serve you as a marriage portion when the time came that you should leave your father? Voiceveuy tremulous and very, very hard pulls at the pipe.] I should never have let Jem have the money to pay the debt for which he had become responsible if you had not consented.

Nelly—O, but, father, you knew I loved him. Joe—Well, my dear, 1 hope he will prove worthy of you.

Nelly—Can you doubt it my darling father When Jem made a little mo ney, and was about to send it over to us, and it was lost by the wreck of tb vessel, didn't he write to releasefrom my engagement if I wished, and send you additional securities for th money you had lent him? j„(—Well, my dear, I don't think he could do less.

Nellv—Dear father, you mustn't talk like that tor you know how much loves me, and you know how I lovt hi in. Although 1 haven't heard fron him for the 1 ist mail or two, yet I do not feel any em, for I know hi 'eart [Xelh/ dropped her h's at times in the most reckless manner] is true as stee If the next letter I received from hiu was another offer for withdrawal fron the engagement between us, I shouh answer as I did the last time, that I was faithful if he was. A loud peal Jf bell from the adjoining church put an end to a conversation regarding Jem's epistolary shortcomings which was not particularly pleasant to either father daughter. Joe ww naturally anxioto about Nelly's happiness,and his daugh ter didn't like her father to suspect he betrothed so the break'in the conversation, caused by the strenuous effort!: of the bell ringers, was not allowed be bridged^over, as Nelly wished her father good-night, and tripped off to bod.

If the reader has from the foregoinu taken it for granted that Nelly's heart was in tho possession of one of the op posite sex, (a young carpenter,) who had been a sufferer in his native coun try by becoming a surety for a friend that Joe Bliinbi had been the means of the mysterious Jem tiding over the difficulty and that Jein had gone to a foreign country with a view of retrieving his fallen fortunes, and had of late been somewhat neglectful in his correspondence with Nelly, the reader will iave arrived at a tolerably correct conclusion upon a subject tnat was causing Joe Biimber some little anxiety.

But as for Nelly, there wasn't the least doubt in her mind as to the fidelity of the absent Jein. Not a bit of it. It she had seen Jem laughing with the most attractive and insinuating of her companions in the "front row" she wouldn't have been a bit jealous.

The green-eyed monster is not able to find his way Into the heads of every one and, certainly, Nelly's simple, confiding nature could defy all his efforts. Though Nelly's thousrbts were full of Jein, yet she didn't doubt him. So on this Christmas eve, with the neighboring church bells chiming their joyous tones in her ears, she fell into an undisturbed sleep, her last thought and hope being of tnecoming Wednesday, and the letter from "dear toiling Jem" its arrival might herald.

Aloud knock at the door, and the shrill voice ol the landlady, not over pleased at having to leave the preparation of the goose to come up three stories, (for it is at that height Nelly's bedroom is situated,) rouses the maiden from her peaceful slumbers. "Please, miss, here's a bov from the theayter with a note. Perhaps you'll be as good as to answer him yourself, as I wants to go down to prepare my dinner."

The landlady—the trying nature of whose culinary preparations afforded an excuse, perhaps for her shortness of temper—does not wait for an answer, and the startled Nelly finds that the hour is half-past ten. The missive has been pushed through at the boitom of the door, and half in surprise, half in trepidation, Nelly opens the note written in the manager's own hand, to find the following

Dkar Miss Blimber: Late last night Mile. Fopar wrote me a letter throwing up her engagement. I can think of no substitute as a columbine but yourself Will you assist me? Rehearsal tomorrow at 10){. If you will oblige me by taking Fopar's pin

place, send word by

bov. and come to rehearsal to-morrow half an hour earlier than the call,' so that we can talk the matter over. I remain, dear Miss Biimber, yours very faithfully. H. NOEGO.

Nelly rubbed her eyes in fear, lest the note was not a reality and as surprise gave way to feelings of joy and pride that the manager should h«ve selected her above all others to assist bim in bis strait, the little maiden could not restrain a tear or two, that made their appearance in her eyes. With every feature in her pretty face beaming with brightness, she nurried down stairs to the lxy waiting in the passage and soon dispatched hi in with a satisfactory snswer to his master. Joe bad risen earlier than usual, and finding that Nelly was not awake, he resolved not to disturb ber, but to go for a walk before breakfast, so be strolled through the streets for a good bour, and previous to his arrival home was quite unaware of the important missive that had been received by Nelly.

When he did get home, and foand his daughter busily engaged in brushing up the stove, and with the tea-kettle on the fire singing to welcome his arrival, and bis breakfast p.epared for him then, when he saw the man an Nellj said she

Mile. Fopar's put even without any rehearsal at all, you wouldn't be surprtsed if foolish Joe Blimber's voice grew thicker and more tremulous than in the conversation of the night before and that he had to turn his head away from his daughter's face to conceal the few tears ot paternal pride and happiness that he tried to brush from nis eyes, and couldn't. Then after a time, the father and daughter sat down to breakfast—nice hot toast, prepared by Nelly's own little fingers—but neither of them could eat a bit. Wasn't Joe full of gratitude and appreciation of the manager who had recognized the abilities ot hfc Nelly and wasn't Nelly herself too busy with the thoughts of the distinction bestowed upon her to talk about anything else? Then they laughed about it, and thought somebody must be playing a joke—only they didn't mean it one bit, but said so just for the sake of varying the all-rtb-sorbing topic. They talked so much about the manager's condescension in writing to Nelly, that it was nearlv twelve o'clock before the breakfast things were cleared away and then Nelly had to prepare dinner. And such a dinner it was Joe had bought a nice piece of beef—sirloin, and no mistake about it—and Nelly had promised to try her hand at a plum-pudding, which had been in secret preparation for several days. Surely the worthy coi pie might have a good dinner just once in a way, and at Curistmas time too Joe offered his assistance in the cuiinary preparations but Nelly wasn't to be interfered with, more especially as Joe was rather a hindrance than otherwise. Sillv old Joe! he didn't know one bit about cooking, and he kept up such a torrent of laughter, and capered about the place to such a degree, as though he was going to play harlequin to his daughter's columbine that Nelly had to get rid of him, and so Joe put ou his hat and went out. Entering a church, he got just in time for the sermon and if any one was touched by the rector's homily, it was Joo. His heart was full of thankfulness for the blessings that had been showered upon him and the daughter of whom he was so proud. O, happy Joe Blim ber, may this day be but the first of many such occasions for the outflow of thy piaise and thanksgiving for the mercies bestowed upon thee by the Allseeing

At their lodging Nellv is as busy as possible the beef is getting on beautiully—hissing and and spluttering before the cheerful fire, as if it :'lso wished to give its congratulations to the fair young cook.

Halt past one was the time noted by the church clock within sightof Nelly's window when a knock was heard at the front door, and Nelly, who thought it must be her lather, could not help wishing that he hail adjourned his return just for about twenty minutes, when' the dinner would have been thoroughly ready, and placed upon the table. No, it was not her father for Joe knew his way up the stairs, and would never have stumbled against the mat oil side the first floor's door in that noisy fishion. It couldn't be the manager, or anybody from the theatre—at least Nelly'thought not. And then, as the sound" of the approaching footsteps grew more and more distinct, Nellv feels her he rt ginning to beat with singular rapidity, and as the handle ot the door is turned, suspicion becomes a certainty. Yes! there can't be the least doubt about it—in the doorway stands Jem Duckworth—Nelly's Jem Duckworth—Nelly's Jem

Did he kiss her, and take her in his arms I should rather think be did and what is more, held her there until the beef began to splutter and hiss so violently that it seemed as if it intended to tall off the hook into the fire out of sheer envy and pique at not being attended to. However, Jem at last let go of his Nelly, and she, blushing af red as fire, said Jem musn't be so silly —she didn't mean it, though—and that she must see to the dinner. So the beef was taken up just done to a turn, and a few minutes afterward Nellie heard her father's tatniliar footsteps on the landing. Joe expected to*be welcomed with his daughter's smile he expected to see her features Illumined with happiness and pride at the good fortune that had fallen on her through the defection from the Nonpariel of the bigh-spirited Fopar bHt he did not expect to see bis Nellie being assisted in the preparations for dinner by the neglectful Jem Duckworth

When Joe entered the room, there was his tuture son-in-law—supposed to be many miles away—helping Nellie dish up the potatoes. No wonder poor Joe looked amazed, and tried to stammer out a few words of welcome to the returned Jem, but failed in doing it. However, there was no doubting the evidence of flesh and blood, and in taking the hand proffered bim, it is certain Joe did give it a heartier shake than he would have done If he had previously been more thoroughly convinced that he was not under a delusion in fancying he saw his daughter's betrothed in their lodging. However, the confusion was soon over, and when Joe witnessed how delighted his Nelly was at the re appearance of ber lover bow she laughed at Jem's awkward movements as be assisted her in placing the dinner on the table and bow Jem's honest pride in bis future wife was kindled by the exhibition of her domesticity Joe felt, after all, that it was but natural that Nelly's young heart should have clung to such a frank young fellow as Jem Duckworth

And with regard to the meal of which the trio was about to partake, it was curious to note how anxious and perturbed Nelly was—so full of watchfulness, with regard to the placing upon the table of diahes and glasses free from flitw or crack so frequent in her aiology, that i! she had only known visitors were to be expected, she would bave taken greater pains and made other preparations and so startled when her rather ventured the opinion that the beet was "hard," an opinion afterward retracted, when it was discovered that the knife Joe was using was somewhat blnnt—that at last Jem had to declare that he wouldn't have any dinner at all if Nellv was so fidgety about the manner in which the beef and pudding would "turn out." Of course the dinner was a success Jem knew it would be. The beef was beautifully cooked, and as for the pudding, both iptntlemen declared it attains! the highest perfection of art.

I wonder, says the reader, If tbey were prejudiced? Well, perhaps they were just a little. But one thing is oer tain—none of the pudding remained after-tbe banquet was over. If it wa.not quite so super-excellent as Joe and Jem declared, tbey resolved that their opinion to its merits should not txoutsid oppor tunity" of judging so they sacrificed

fsputedas

ager's Ihim,

note and

came and kissed

by sllowing sny one outside

tbe happy little party to bave an oi

themselves to their opinion, vehemently protesting, while consuming the last morsel, that never previously bad sucb a pudding been placed before rqjoicing mankind.

A'ter dinner Jem told hia futun-fother-in-law how it was Nelly bad not received any letter from him for a

she could get through couple of mails past. Of course, Jeju

bid acquainted Nelly long before Joe had reached home, and equally of eourae, Nelly had forgtven him for hia apparent neglect. Heaven bless the little woman she had IbrgiTen him in her heart before the explanation had been made. How it happened was in this way. When the vessel waa lost in which Jem's savings had been embarked for dispatch to England, in order to repay the sum advanced by Joe he resolved to try his fortune at some diggings just discovered. .His letter acquainting Nelly of this determination missed one mail, so there was no hope tor it but to wait until the departure of the next. Ere that, Jem had made a lucky hit. One day he dug up a few nuggets, which he speedily converted into 500 ol Her Majesty's Most Gracious sovereigns, and resolving not to stay in a foreign country and risk losing the money he had acquired, as well as his sweetheart left in England, he took a passage on board the steamer which was to have conveyed the intended letter. Then, when he got near home, ho determined to give Nelly and her father a surprise—and this was all.

Jem then produced his money, and insisted on paying Joe the seventy-live pounds borrowed. Of" course both Nelly and her father demurred but Jein would hear of only one oilier arrangement, which was, that Nelly should become his wife in less than a month. Of course Nelly wouldn't hear of thai—O, certainly not so Joe was compelled to accept his money, and return Jem his securities.

Then, this little business over, a walk was proposed, and they set out Jem, as in duty bound, and as inclination dictated, escorting Nelly, while Joe, who pretended he could get along better by himself, judiciously walked a little way ahead, whereby the lovers were enabled to talk over several matters interesting only to themselves, and which it would therelore be impertinent to here reproduce. Nelly blushed, laughed, (it would have done your heart good to have heard Nelly Blimber's ringing laugh,) cried, was suddenly talkative, and as suddenly mute as poor Feneila but throughout the stroll Nelly didn't meet a person happier than*herself. And then Jem was such a pleasant companion, and had such plans for the future. As for Joe, he couldn't make up his mind as to whether Jem's return was an event for sorrow or rejoicing. He was glad to see his daughter so happy, and that Jem had turned out a true-hearted fellow, while, on the other hand, he could not but think of the rapidly-approaching time when Nelly's first care would be for her husband. The alterations of feeling accompanied the whole of his walk, so that lie felt no regret when they again arrived home. Then Nellv prepared tea, and during the discussion ol that cosy meal Jem stated the arrangements to which he had wrung an acqui escence from his betrothed. The young people were to be married in thespring, when the pintomime season was over, for Nellv wouldn't hear of "throwing over" the complaisant manager. In the meantime, Jem was to look about him for an advantageous business to open "on his own account then, when the nuptial knot was tied, Joe was to ciiino and live with them. Did that meet with Joe's approval? Didn't it!

O, never was such a happy Christmas! What with Nelly's advancement at the Nonpareil, and the approaching marriage, there was such a brisk conversation carried on that the evening passed away quite as rapidly as the afternoon had done and when Jem wished his sweetheart good irglit, he left the little maiden's heart in a perfect tumult of joy, pride and hope.

Joe was prouder of his daughter than ever, when, the morning after Boxingday, he saw Miss Blimber's giaceful dancing eulogized in some of the papers, and heard her publicly spoken of as the clever daughter "of the efficient utility actor, Mr. Bliinber." The pantomime was so successful, that ere its run was over Jem had got into a nice shop, and had commenced his trade of carpenter and builder ("estimates given for general repairs," Ac.,) with such success as to warrant expectations of a very satisfactory return of his investment, at the close of the year. But at last the wedding took place, and Noego, the manager, exceeding well pleased at the result of the winter season, and at tbe efficient aid he had received trom bis columbine, actually presented her on the eventful morning with a ten-pound note. Wasn't this au honor? 8o Nelly, the columbine, in the height ef her popularity, fades from tbe public view, and devotes her future lite te her husband. No more for her is the intoxicating applause of a crowded audience, and ambitious longing for a high

Cas

osition in the profession to which she been trained. She descends from the ideal to the real but in that new existence she has commenced a career of happiness which far transcends all her brilliant and glittering theatrical dreams. And are Nelly and ber husband prosperous as well as happy hope so. Don't you?

A QAMBLER'8 TRICK. A gambler, lu Ids confession, say6: "I once knew a Southern gentleman who, although not ostensibly a professional gambler, readily made short card a business. He was fond of a little game of draw, just to kill time, you know but the result was that he always got the best of it, and, mingling with moneyed men. his winnings were large. I got into a series of games with him, and as well as I understood cards myself, I invariably got the worst of it. I knewthere was something wrong and I resolved to discoyer it, if possible. I carefully examined the back of the cards, and. understanding how this sort of work is done, I very soon satisfied myself that the backs were all right. I watched bis deal. He threw them around with great rapidity. His shuffling was square.

One day 1 procured a powerful magnifying glass, and went carefully over a pack of cards that be bad won with tbe night before. A long and careful search revealed in the aces and tee cards a series of trifling concavities. The punches were so light as to be invisible to tbe naked eye, but in passing my finger over t£iein I could feel thein. A gambler's fingers are, or ought to be, soft as velvet. Subsequently, Investigation revealed his work. He had on tbe inside of bis finger ring a minute punch.

In the beginning of tbe game he would manage to turn the face of the aces and face cards one at a time, so as .o bring them against his punch, and .hen one indention, or two or three, in certain locality would designate the cards. So nice was his sense of touch tbat, when dealing, be woaid naturally pass tbe face of each card over his left middle fingers and no matter how rapidly he dealt them, he would know he position of all tbe fiu« cards iu the ^ack. Of course this gave him a heavy percentage, and tbe result was that he invariably won.

Josh BiLUJrossay: "1 don't recko«ct now ov ever hearln ov two dogs Jgbtin a lees there was a man or two around."

WAITING WISELY.

It to aa unpleasant foot that a ma* jority ot the young ladies in this country who condescend to sara a living by acting aa clerks in stores, telegraphic operators, Ac., deem it necessary to aa-! sume an extremely forbidding, embittered air of having seen inexpressibly better days, which air is so intimidating to the patrons ot their stores and tt legrapby tbat they are apt to experience sensations akin to those of guilt when obliged to deal with such" high and mighty young spirits of ungraciousness. This being the rule, any exception to it is, ot course, peculiarly gratelul to the surprised popular minu and the Milwaukee Wisconsin sites a' a recent instauce iu which such grateful surprise led to a result rouianticalIv compensatory. At the Newball: House, one of the finest hotels iu the above city, an excellent priest, named Doherty, has been an occasional guest! within the last year, when away uponf religious duly trom his charge in Kenosha. The popular hostelry in question still adheres to the system of teuiinine wailing at the table, and amongst its waiters was one very neat and au» utive young woman whose modest good| humor, patience, and good judge went iu her wailing 'attracted the beoovoleuti tiller's attention. Neither pert nor prim, always wearing and amiable expression ol countenance, and ever ready to fulfil the most captious eater's? directions, the girl was a "perlect treasure" in her way and seemed worthy a more enviable situation in lite. So greatly was Father Doherty pleased, indeed, with the appearauce and manner ot the humble maiden that he took the trouble to inquire her name and history and upon ascertaining that, ihe latter was wholly creditable, ex-| pressed the hope thai, lie might yet be able to assist her fortunes. That lie% meant more than a mere expression of good will by this was most unquestionably proved only a lew, da^s ago, when arriving at the Newhall Housef from Kenosha, in company with a| younger man, who registered his name as Desmond, he desired tho bolel clerk to summon Miss Fanny Carey from lie dining-room to an interview which lie hoped to make ot the greatest inieiestf to her. Answering the unusual call in some astonishment, the girl was yet more surprised when ihe good pre st informed her that he had brought her a husband! liisyoung Iriend Desmond,! the Father iniormed her, lui\iug m.alo« a Utile fortune of ()(R at Fox Like, and wishing lo obtain a worthy \\ife| without the perils and delays ol the ordinary social hunt ami tad cs, had besought his spiritual adviser to find forg him some good, sensible young woman iu humble life, who, upon his—tlie priest's—recomendation and advice, would consent to become Mrs. Desmond without formal courtship. Knowing that his young friend was an upright,^ honorable man, iu every way caleumt-i ed to be a kind nusband, the father had at once selected the polite and modest waiier-girl ol Milwaukee as tho wife exactly suited to such a husband, and now came to make duo proposal to her on Mr. Desmond's behalf. At tho conclusion of thin explanation Mi. Desmond introduced lo plead Ins own cause, which he did so effectively that Fanny could not refuse his prayer. At* 4 o'clock on the afternoon of the sume day the marriage ceremony was solom-j iii/,ed by the reverend father in one of: the parlors of the hotel anil soon thereafter the bride and groom departed for their home at Fox Lake, accomp mied by the good friend to whom both were so much indebted tor their happiness.^ It is not to be doubted that the young woman who could be polite and obliging to tbeguests of a hotel table, will be no discredit to a higher station at her husband's board. p.:-

STAGE INCIDENTS.

It is curious how many of the incidents aad details of representation es-i cape tbe notice of the audience. And I here we are referring less to merits than mischances. Good acting may not always obtain due recognition but thon bad acting and accidental deficiencies remain undetected! "We were all terribly out, but the audience did not see it," actors will often candidly admit. Although we in tront sometimes hear and see things we should not, some peculiarity of our position blinds andi deafens us too much. Our eyes are beguiled into accepting age for youth, shabbiness for finery, tinsel tor splendor. Garrick frankly owned tbat hes bad once appeared upon the stage, so inebriated as to be scarcely able to arliculale, but his friends tried to stifle or cover this trespass with loud applause, and tbe majority of tbe audience did not perceive tbat anything extraordinary was the matter. What happened to Garrick on that occasion has happened to others of his profession. And our ears do not catch much of what is uttered on the stage. Young, the actor, used to relate that on one occasion, when playing the hero of the "Gamester," to the "Mrs. Beverley" of Sarab Slddons, he was so overcome by the passion of ber acting as to be quite unaole to proceed with Ids part. 1 here was a long pause, during which tbe promptor spoke several times the words which "Beverly" should speak. then Mrs. Siddons, coming up to her fellow-actor, put the tips of ber fingers upon his shoulder and said iu a low voice, "Mr. Young, recollect yourself." Yet probably from the front ot the house nothing was seen or beard of tbis. In the same way players will sometimes prompt eacn other through whole scenes, interchange remarks as to tbe necessary adjustments of dress, or instructions as to "business" to be gouej through, without exciting tbe attention of the audience. Keau's pathetic whisper, "1 am dying, speak to them for! ine," when, playing for the last time, be sank into tbe arms of his son, was probably not heard across tbe orchesira.

A famous "Lady Macbeth," star-i ring in America, had accidentally been detained on her journey to a remote theater. She arrived in time to only change her dress rapidly, and hurry on tbe scene. Tbe performers were all strangers to ber. At the conclusion of her first soliloquy, a messenger should enter to announce the couiing ot "King Duncan." But what was her amazement to hear In answer to her demand, "What is your tidings?" not the usual: reply, "The king come here to-night but tbe whisper spoken from iroui bebind a Scotch bonnet, upheld to prevent tbe words Irom reaching the ears of the audience, "Hush I'm 'Macbeth!' We've cut the messenger out—go on please!"

Another dlsooncerted performer must bave been tbe provincial "Richard the Third" to whom the Rate litre of the theater—who ordinarily played harlequin, and could not enter without something ef that tripping and twirling gait peculiar to pantomimebrought tbe information, long before it was due, tbat "tbe Duke of Buckingham is taken!" "Notyet, you tool," whispered "Richard."- "Beg pardon. Thought he was," cried Harlequin Ratclilfe, as, carried away by bis feelings or the force of babit, he threw what tumblers call a "catharlue-wheel," and made a rapid exit.