beyed, even if some of the rules were broken, and
Ben and Paul were ordered by the author, who had taken upon himself
the position of sole manager, to raise the curtain. Then Nelly came
out and sang a melody that all were familiar with, being assisted by
the audience in the chorus, until Mrs. Green was obliged to cover her
ears with her hands, lest the great volume of music should give her a
headache.

This portion of the entertainment was greeted with the wildest
applause; and when Master Dowd, after Nelly had left the stage,
attempted to appear in all the gorgeousness of his costume, he was
plainly told to go back and let Nelly sing again--a command which he
obeyed at once, lest some of his audience should take it into their
heads to force compliance.

After Nelly had sung the second time the applause died away, as if
the audience were willing that the regular business of the evening
should proceed. All the actors were standing where they could go on to
the stage at a moment's notice, save Dickey, who was leaning against
the wall, holding his sword straight out, at the imminent peril of
hitting some one of his partners as they passed.

"Now be all ready, Dickey," said Mopsey, warningly, as he prepared to
go on the stage.

"See here," whispered Johnny, "be kinder careful when you an' I fight,
'cause there's lots of pins in these pants."

Mopsey nodded his head, as much as to say that he would look out for
such things, and in another instant he was before the foot-lights,
receiving a storm of applause, although he was at a loss to know
whether it was directed to him personally, or to the costume he wore.
So great was the enthusiasm manifested by his presence that it was
some moments before he could speak, and during that time the few lines
he knew of the part of Richard the Third had entirely escaped his
memory. It was a trying moment both to him and his brother actors, who
were watching him, as he stood there with drawn sword, first on one
foot and then on the other, waving his hand and then the weapon, as if
he were about to speak, and yet making no sound.

"Go on, Mopsey--say something," whispered Ben in a hoarse voice; and
the audience hearing him, suggested kindly,

"Yes, give us somethin', old man."

Thus urged, Mopsey made one mighty effort, and shouted in his loudest
tones, as he waved the sword still more frantically than ever,

"I've lost my hoss! I've lost my hoss, an' I want some one to tie up
my