Harry. You can rely upon my silence.
Mrs. S. Marcy sakes, Silas, it ain’t much to boast on!
Sally. It shall be a family legend.
Pat. Be jabers, I wouldn’t blab till I was deaf and dumb!
Bias. Dis yer pusson can hold his hush.
Silas. Thank you. And you (to audience), can I depend upon you? The old man begins late, but he is bound to reform; and, if you but give your approbation, there is no fear of his backsliding.
Johnny. I say, dad, hadn’t you better put a postscript to that?
Silas. Well, what is— (Johnny whispers to him.) Exactly. There is no fear of his backsliding, unless, at your request, he should some time set out for the purpose of “Seeing the Elephant.”
Note. The Elephant. For this trick a well-known comical diversion can be introduced. Bias and Pat personate the elephant; one represents the fore, the other the hind legs. The two characters bend over, placing themselves one behind the other, as represented in the engraving. A blanket, doubled three or four times, is placed on their backs, with the addition of long cushions, if handy; these serve to form the back of the elephant. Two blankets or shawls are placed over this, the end of one twisted to represent his trunk, the end of the other twisted to represent his tail. Two paper cones enact the tusks, and the elephant is complete.