several old acquaintances. I
introduced my travelling companion to the ladies and gentlemen of the
profession; and I do not think that any of them suspected her true sex.
We all dined together at the hotel; and a merry party we certainly were,
"within the limits of becoming mirth." Wit sparkled, conundrums puzzled,
bad puns checked, and rich jokes awoke the laughing echoes of the old
dining-hall. Happy people are those travelling actors--happy because
they are careless, and, in the enjoyment of to-day, think not of the
morrow. Are they not true philosophers?

"Oh, what's the use of sighing,
Since time is on the wing--
To-morrow we'll be dying,
So merrily, merrily sing--
Tra, la, la!"

After dining in company with Brother Pratt I seated myself upon the
piazza; and, while we smoked our cheroots, we recalled the past, dwelt
upon the present, and anticipated the future.

After a considerable amount of desultory conversation, the Brother
suddenly asked me--

"Who is that handsome little fellow with whom you are travelling?"

"Oh, he ran away from home in order to see something of the world, as
well as to avoid being apprenticed to a laborious trade," was my reply,
for I did not consider it at all necessary to let my friend into the
secret.

"He's a lad of spirit, and I like him," rejoined the Brother. "If he
went upon the stage, what a splendid court page he'd make! But where are
you going? Tell me all about it."

I told the Brother all that was necessary for him to know.

"And so," said he, reflectively, "you are entirely out of funds. That's
bad. We must raise you some cash, in some way or other. I will
immediately cause bills to be printed, announcing that 'the manager has
the pleasure of informing his numerous patrons that he has, at enormous
expense, succeeded in effecting a brief engagement with Mr. George
Thompson, the celebrated comedian from the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane,
London, who will make his first appearance in his celebrated character
of Robert Macaire, in the great drama of that name, as performed by him
upwards of two hundred nights before crowded and fashionable audiences
including the royalty, nobility and gentry of England, who greeted him
with the most terrific and enthusiastic yells of applause, and Her
Majesty the Queen was so delighted with the masterly and brilliant
representation, that she presented Mr. Thompson with a magnificent
diamond ring valued at five thousand pounds st