Mark Lemon

“ A ladder was at length procured, but such was the power of the flames that all hesitated to ascend and risk what seemed to be certain death. Fearful pause! When all hope appeared to be lost, a young man rushed from the crowd, removed his coat, which he threw to a bystander, and, with the agility of a bricklayer’s labourer, ascended the ladder. ”

“ The leading lady of the company was a remarkably handsome person, remarkably so.” Mr. Buffboot sighed, I remember, and then said, “Well! no matter! She loved ‘not wisely, but too well,’ and married a lawyer’s clerk. When the company to which she and Buskin were attached concluded their season at B——, they had to proceed to the next town on their circuit, some twenty miles distant. The majority of the people went by coach or waggon—there was no railroad at that time—but Buskin and Miss Bugles were allowed by the manager to have a post-chaise, and to travel in state. ”

“ My master, Sir T—Z—was a great patron of the stage, and always took benefit tickets of the actors when they came into our neighbourhood, and was also in the habit of asking some of the best to dinner, and insisting on our servants treating them with the same respect and attention as the highest family in the neighbourhood. ”

“ Need I say that the paragraph contained no word of truth so far as I was concerned, and that my amour propre was seriously wounded by the discovery?
“I guess at the actor,” said Buffboot, “and the manager I can swear to. He was a great oddity. He had his theatre newly painted once upon a time, and was particularly careful to keep it in good order. He was playing Hamlet, and had come to the soliloquy, when he saw a boy in the gallery hanging his dirty arms over the front, and playing with the gold mouldings. ”