Harry. Yer honors, I 'eartily regret that I cannot this morning give a h'exhibition of my famous bareback riding h'exploits, h'owing to the fact of our 'orses being h'otherwise h'occupied—— [confidentially] a-h'eating their h'oats, ye know. But, h'anyway, I can make the h'attempt to show you 'ow it is done, with a h'imaginary 'orse. 'Ere, Mr. h'O'Brien, will you kindly h'assist me?
[Barney brings a chair without a back, and
Harry, after pretending to quiet a mettlesome
steed, mounts, and goes through all
the motions of dashing about the ring bareback.
He wears an intensely serious look,
fixing his eyes as it were upon the horse's
ears, cheering him on, leaping off and on,
standing lightly on one toe, etc. The
Ringmaster watches and cracks his whip,
the music plays a light and quick air, the
whole troupe rise and watch breathlessly,
bending in time to the music as if in time
to a galloping horse. Jerry comes forward
with a wand, and Harry leaps over
it. Then Barney brings a hoop, wound
in gay colors, or covered with tissue paper,
and Harry springs through it. This is
his culminating feat, and now the horse
apparently slows down and stops, Harry
leaping off and making a low bow toward
the seats of honor.
Bub [applauding wildly]. Why, I could almost see the horse!
[Harry retires to back of stage, and makes
a quick change in full view of the audience,
to a ballet skirt and a yellow wig.
The clowns assist him to dress, hooking
him up behind, and holding a mirror for
the proper adjustment of the wig, etc.
Peter. Gentlemen, having shown you his prowess as a bareback rider, Signor Marco will now be introduced to you in a new light. Our traveling arrangements being somewhat—ahem!—circumscribed, we have never been able to carry any of the fair sex with us upon our tours. Believe me, Gentlemen, such is the surpassing genius of Signor Marco that we have never felt the need of ladies, as I am sure you will agree. [Harry now comes forward with mincing steps and a coy smile.] Gentlemen, allow me to present to you the celebrated artist, the far-famed and charming Mademoiselle Zarah! [The troupe all bow with great enthusiasm to the transformed Harry, who courtesies and smiles with all professional airs and graces. The music strikes up, and Zarah dances. When the dance is ended, Zarah bows again, and goes through the motions of catching bouquets from the troupe or audience.]
Peter. Mademoiselle Zarah, assisted by the whole troupe, will now favor us with a song.
[Popular song, adapted to the occasion by the
use of Christmas words. The boys applaud
long and loudly; the troupe, after
making a general farewell bow, break ranks
and gather around them. Jerry and
Barney remove platform.
Sonny. I'd like to go to a circus every day.
Bub. Don't I wish I could! Well, it's a fine Christmas present, anyway.
Peter. Did you like it?