A Peep Behind the Scenes

ite sorry to leave it, but there was no rest for these poor wanderers; they must move onwards towards the

re, that my brother Gerald might take possession of our old home. We were getting gr

he spent nearly all her time reading her Bible in a little attic chamber. I did not know why she went there, till one day I went upstairs to get

ste my time like that; and I ran downstairs, and tried to forget what I had seen; for I knew that my sister was right and I was w

saddest part of my story, and I had b

dull and monotonous; I wanted to see more of the world, and to have something romantic happen to me. Oh, Rosalie, I got so restless and discontented! I used to wake in the night, and wonder what my fortunes would be; and then I used to light the candle, and go on with th

riends of my mother. Miss Georgina and Miss Laura Roehunter were very fast, dashing girls. They took a great fancy to

enery, I admired the actors, I admired everything that I saw. I thought if I was only on the stage I should be perfectly happy. There was nothing in the world that I wanted so much

n which I wrote all that I did every da

wants variety. It is the

as possible, I would have

some private theatricals, and that I must come and help them. It wa

p us to do everything in the best possible manner. I had to go up to the Roehunters' again and again to learn my part

do it always, instead of leading my humdrum life at home. So he used to meet me in the street, and talk to me about it, and he told me that if I would only come with him, I

part, and some of the company had declared I should make a first-rate actress, and I thought to myself that they little knew how soon I was to become one. As I drove home, I felt in a perfect whirl of exci

ble was lying beside her, for she had been reading it the last thing before she went to sleep. Oh, Rosalie, I would have given anything to change places with Lucy then! But it was too late

d in two hours Augustus would come. So I scribbled a little note to my mother, telling her that when she received it I should be married, and that I would call and see her in a few days. Then I put out the light, lest it should wake my sister

iving it up; but I thought that he would laugh at me for being such a coward, and I tried to picture to m

from sight. I was so glad to see it beginning to get light, for I kn

at my sister Lucy. And, Rosalie darling, as I looked, I felt as if my tears would choke me. I wiped them hastily away, however, and crept downstairs. Every creaking board made me jump and tremble lest I should be discovered, and at every turning I

had thought it would be. I knew nothing then of the life behind the scenes. I

the theatre; but after a time I cared very little for it; and as for the acting itself, I became thoroughly sick of it. Oh, Rosalie dear, I have often and often fallen asleep, unable to undre

few days after I was married; but the servant shut the door in my face, saying that my mother never wished to see me again, or to hear my name mentioned. I used to walk up and down outside, trying to catch a glimpse

er lost his engagem

travelled from place to place, sometimes getting occasional jobs at small town theatres, sometimes stopping at

I wrote to my mother to tell her about it, and that baby was to be christened after my father; but she sent back my letter unread, and I never wrote to her again. And one day, when I took up a newspaper, I saw my mother's death in it; and I heard afterw

esents; but I was sorry for it afterwards, for your father kept writing to her for mo

utiful letters-to beg me to come to Jesus, and to remember what my father had said to us when he died. Sh

oney again and again. And at last came a letter from her husband, in which he said that he was very sorry to be obliged to tell us that his wif

ere they were living, and he lost all clue to them. And, Rosalie darling, I hope he will never

l. Your father has written to him from time to tim

as very kind to me. She used to come and see my little Arthur; he was very delicate, and at last he took a dreadful cold, and it settled on his chest, and my po

to keeping accounts, and we got them in a complete muddle. So I

em, by selling their furniture, and almost everything they possessed, they bought some scenery and a carava

. And in this caravan, my little girl, you were born. I was very ill a long time after that, and could not

present; perhaps some day I can give you more particulars;

e poor woman, 'no hope for this

osalie, stroking her hand very gen

mother; 'I've brought it all upon my se

ammie!' said

er bed for some time without speaking or moving. Rosalie s

Thy face a

l I come

Him early-oh, if I only had! Mind you do, Rosie; it's so much e

ne of the morning" means, in

ans when you're young and happy. Oh, de

ou come now,

re are other things, child, I have not told you about; and they are all coming back to

epherd is beginning

aw them all; some of them are things I did years and years ago, even when I was a little girl in tha

aravan, 'come into the next waggon. We've a new play on

was getting up. Over and over again she repeated them, till she was weary of their very sound, her father scolding her if she made a mistake, or failed to give each word its proper emphasis. And when she was released, it wa