‘ CONDITION.”
Drill Sergeant (to Recruit). “Throw out tour Chest and keep in your Stomach ! A Soldier should always have a Full Chest and an Empty Stomach !! ”
A CHRISTMAS STORY A LA MODE.
(Written up to the Pictures of any Illustrated Paper.)
Mahy and Algernon stood under the mistletoe in the quaint old hall with its burning logs and stained glass windows, mixing the Christmas pudding (see Illustration). They were supremely happy. As their faces almost met, each had a day-dream. Mary was thinking of the wedding at which she had recently assisted, with its pompous clergyman, aged bridegroom and lovely bride. She saw once again the ten bridesmaids in their blue and pink dresses, the beadle at the porch, and the carriages driving up to the entrance of St. George’s Tlanover Square. It was a stirring scene (see Illustration).
Algernon’s day-dream was very different. As he stood under the holly he was irresistibly reminded by the red berries of the colour of the British Ensign
as it had floated over the deck of the Nancy Lee as that good ship, with its deck crowded with merry mummers, had passed over the line (see Illustration).
“ Miss Mary—nay, let me call you Mary—you must have guessed my secret,” he said earnestly.
She was about to answer him coquettishly, when suddenly she started. She turned quite pale and hurried to the window. Opening it, and holding a candle
in one hand which flickered in the night wind, while with the other she pointed to a shadowy form, which seemingly was floating oyer the snow through the leafless trees, she exclaimed, “ The Ghost! ” (see Illustration).
He reassured her. He explained that he had frequently seen the spectre himself, and therefore was aocustomed to its weird presence. He gently closed the casement, and to amuse her, gave her a description of the Meet held that morning at Squire Hazelton’s. She laughed heartily at his account of the pack breaking into the cucumber-frames, the alarm of the Parson, the merri
ment of the red-coated sportsmen, and the pretty hut pretended terror of Jenny Hazelton, the daughter of the house (see Illustration).
When Mary was herself again, Algernon continued the conversation which the sudden appearance of the spectre had interrupted.
“Mary, you will he mine ! ” he cried passionately. “ You know how I love you—surely my love is returned ? ”
“ And so this is a declaration! ” thought Mary. “ Ah! it is very different to tho mode adopted hy dear Grand-papa! Grand-mamma has told me a score of times that he chose the Pump Room at Bath, during a ball at the commence
ment of the present century, for the scene of his appeal (see Illustration). Poor Algy ! What shall I say to him ? ”
Then he pleaded his cause. He briefly sketched his life, ne told her how, as a hoy, he had been to Eton.
How he had engaged in many a game of football (see Illustration), and had often played at cricket. He laughed at the recollection of his many mishaps, but grew graver as he pictured the gathering of the scholars in the chapel on Sundays (see Illustration).
Then he told her how he had entered at Oxford, how fond he had been of walking in Christ Church Meadows during Commemoration (see Illustration), and how he had managed each term to get a few days in town, by entering at an Inn of Court, and eating his dinners at Lincoln’s Inn (see Illustration). When he left Oxford he told her he had taken a trip abroad. The passage between Dover and Calais had been rough (see Illustra
tion). But he soon forgot the terrors of the vasty deep, when he found himself seated at an al fresco café chantant in the Champs Elysées (see Illustration). Then he told her of his trip to India. He explained to her how fond he had been of “ big game.” He had once, he said, been nearly killed hy a tiger (see Illustration). Finally he declared that he had loved her from the moment he had first seen her standing apart from the giddy throng on Ramsgate Sands (see Illustration), and again asked her to become his wife, with an earnestness that caused him to tremble in every limb with emotion.
“ Before I answer you,” she replied blushingly, “ I think we should exchange confidences.” Then she told him how she had, as a little girl, been to a juvenile party in fancy dress (see Illustration). This had per
haps given her a taste for dancing, which had lasted all her life. As she said this, she remembered the delightful valse she had enjoyed with Lieutenant Yavasseur, of the -----Hussars, at the Court Ball (see Illustration). She
told him how she had never gone to school, but had been educated at home by governesses, how fond she had been of Lawn Tennis in the summer (see Illustration), and how she had always decorated the village church with evergreens, with the assistance of the youngest of the Vicar’s Curates before Christmas (see Illustration). Then she confessed that she had lived a very useless life, and burst out crying. At this moment the old squire, wearing top-boots and an old-fashioned costume, entered the room (see Illustration).
“Algernon, my boy,” he exclaimed, “I was prepared for this. I am glad of it. I believe you will both be happy. But before I give my consent, come here.”
He led the way into the picture-gallery, and pointed at the portraits of his ancestors (see Illustration).
“From Baron Percy, who fought at Hastings (see Illustration), to Sir Charles, who was a constant habitué at Almack’s (see Illustration), not one of these men has been dishonoured.”
Algernon bowed his head respectfully.
“ If I give you my daughter,” continued the old Squire, “will you be as good a husband to your wife, as they were to theirs ? ”
Algernon seized the hand of the good old man, and promised he would.
“Then take her, my lad, take her! (See Illustration.) And now that matter’s settled, let us enjoy ourselves.”
And putting his arm affectionately on the shoulder of his future son-in-law, he entered the hall of Haughton House, and kept Christmas right merrily in the hearty English old-fashioned manner (see series of Illustrations, and extra cut).
The Crown Jewels. Paris.
(Air from “ Les Diamants de la Couronne. )
Gambetta (sings)— To sell the jew’ls
We should be mules, Or worse than fools
To part with them ! A few we ’ll pop,
The rest may stop
Until I want a diadem.
(Dances to quick movement, and—exit.
“ None of the county gentlemen speak to him now,” said our Mrs. Ramsbotham, “because lie’s a Velocipede.” “ A what?” we asked. “A Velocipede,” replied the Lady, “a person who goes about shooting Foxes, you know.”
Drill Sergeant (to Recruit). “Throw out tour Chest and keep in your Stomach ! A Soldier should always have a Full Chest and an Empty Stomach !! ”
A CHRISTMAS STORY A LA MODE.
(Written up to the Pictures of any Illustrated Paper.)
Mahy and Algernon stood under the mistletoe in the quaint old hall with its burning logs and stained glass windows, mixing the Christmas pudding (see Illustration). They were supremely happy. As their faces almost met, each had a day-dream. Mary was thinking of the wedding at which she had recently assisted, with its pompous clergyman, aged bridegroom and lovely bride. She saw once again the ten bridesmaids in their blue and pink dresses, the beadle at the porch, and the carriages driving up to the entrance of St. George’s Tlanover Square. It was a stirring scene (see Illustration).
Algernon’s day-dream was very different. As he stood under the holly he was irresistibly reminded by the red berries of the colour of the British Ensign
as it had floated over the deck of the Nancy Lee as that good ship, with its deck crowded with merry mummers, had passed over the line (see Illustration).
“ Miss Mary—nay, let me call you Mary—you must have guessed my secret,” he said earnestly.
She was about to answer him coquettishly, when suddenly she started. She turned quite pale and hurried to the window. Opening it, and holding a candle
in one hand which flickered in the night wind, while with the other she pointed to a shadowy form, which seemingly was floating oyer the snow through the leafless trees, she exclaimed, “ The Ghost! ” (see Illustration).
He reassured her. He explained that he had frequently seen the spectre himself, and therefore was aocustomed to its weird presence. He gently closed the casement, and to amuse her, gave her a description of the Meet held that morning at Squire Hazelton’s. She laughed heartily at his account of the pack breaking into the cucumber-frames, the alarm of the Parson, the merri
ment of the red-coated sportsmen, and the pretty hut pretended terror of Jenny Hazelton, the daughter of the house (see Illustration).
When Mary was herself again, Algernon continued the conversation which the sudden appearance of the spectre had interrupted.
“Mary, you will he mine ! ” he cried passionately. “ You know how I love you—surely my love is returned ? ”
“ And so this is a declaration! ” thought Mary. “ Ah! it is very different to tho mode adopted hy dear Grand-papa! Grand-mamma has told me a score of times that he chose the Pump Room at Bath, during a ball at the commence
ment of the present century, for the scene of his appeal (see Illustration). Poor Algy ! What shall I say to him ? ”
Then he pleaded his cause. He briefly sketched his life, ne told her how, as a hoy, he had been to Eton.
How he had engaged in many a game of football (see Illustration), and had often played at cricket. He laughed at the recollection of his many mishaps, but grew graver as he pictured the gathering of the scholars in the chapel on Sundays (see Illustration).
Then he told her how he had entered at Oxford, how fond he had been of walking in Christ Church Meadows during Commemoration (see Illustration), and how he had managed each term to get a few days in town, by entering at an Inn of Court, and eating his dinners at Lincoln’s Inn (see Illustration). When he left Oxford he told her he had taken a trip abroad. The passage between Dover and Calais had been rough (see Illustra
tion). But he soon forgot the terrors of the vasty deep, when he found himself seated at an al fresco café chantant in the Champs Elysées (see Illustration). Then he told her of his trip to India. He explained to her how fond he had been of “ big game.” He had once, he said, been nearly killed hy a tiger (see Illustration). Finally he declared that he had loved her from the moment he had first seen her standing apart from the giddy throng on Ramsgate Sands (see Illustration), and again asked her to become his wife, with an earnestness that caused him to tremble in every limb with emotion.
“ Before I answer you,” she replied blushingly, “ I think we should exchange confidences.” Then she told him how she had, as a little girl, been to a juvenile party in fancy dress (see Illustration). This had per
haps given her a taste for dancing, which had lasted all her life. As she said this, she remembered the delightful valse she had enjoyed with Lieutenant Yavasseur, of the -----Hussars, at the Court Ball (see Illustration). She
told him how she had never gone to school, but had been educated at home by governesses, how fond she had been of Lawn Tennis in the summer (see Illustration), and how she had always decorated the village church with evergreens, with the assistance of the youngest of the Vicar’s Curates before Christmas (see Illustration). Then she confessed that she had lived a very useless life, and burst out crying. At this moment the old squire, wearing top-boots and an old-fashioned costume, entered the room (see Illustration).
“Algernon, my boy,” he exclaimed, “I was prepared for this. I am glad of it. I believe you will both be happy. But before I give my consent, come here.”
He led the way into the picture-gallery, and pointed at the portraits of his ancestors (see Illustration).
“From Baron Percy, who fought at Hastings (see Illustration), to Sir Charles, who was a constant habitué at Almack’s (see Illustration), not one of these men has been dishonoured.”
Algernon bowed his head respectfully.
“ If I give you my daughter,” continued the old Squire, “will you be as good a husband to your wife, as they were to theirs ? ”
Algernon seized the hand of the good old man, and promised he would.
“Then take her, my lad, take her! (See Illustration.) And now that matter’s settled, let us enjoy ourselves.”
And putting his arm affectionately on the shoulder of his future son-in-law, he entered the hall of Haughton House, and kept Christmas right merrily in the hearty English old-fashioned manner (see series of Illustrations, and extra cut).
The Crown Jewels. Paris.
(Air from “ Les Diamants de la Couronne. )
Gambetta (sings)— To sell the jew’ls
We should be mules, Or worse than fools
To part with them ! A few we ’ll pop,
The rest may stop
Until I want a diadem.
(Dances to quick movement, and—exit.
“ None of the county gentlemen speak to him now,” said our Mrs. Ramsbotham, “because lie’s a Velocipede.” “ A what?” we asked. “A Velocipede,” replied the Lady, “a person who goes about shooting Foxes, you know.”