——"We are such Stuff As Dreams are made of——"
Tempest.
EVENINGS FROM HOME.
The next place of Amusement to which Mr. Barlow took his two young pupils was the Strand Theatre. Here they saw Arion, or the Story of a Lyre, and were highly diverted with the two Showmen, played by Messrs. Paulton and Terry, whose duet of "Walk Up and See my Show," they so vehemently applauded as to draw forth a reproof from their worthy preceptor, who, however, on observing that these comedians seemed to be possessed of an inexhaustible stock of fresh verses applicable to the circumstances of the times, was induced to join Tommy and Harry in the commendations which were most liberally bestowed by the audience upon this portion of the performance. On returning to their lodgings both Tommy and Harry, neither of whom had up to this time ever evinced any musical capacity, attempted to recall the pleasing airs they had heard at the Strand Theatre, and only ceased from their praiseworthy endeavours on receiving Mr. Barlow's promise that he would take them again to witness the same piece, if Tommy (whose father, being a very wealthy man, had recently bestowed upon his son a handsome Christmas gratuity) would pay for three stalls, or at least three places, in the Dress Circle.
On the following night they went to the Princess's, to see Mr. Watts Phillips's play of On the Jury, followed by a Pantomime called Little Dicky Dilver.
At the entrance to the Stalls a civil person relieved them of their overcoats and hats; and Tommy, upon whom his tutor's example, on the occasion of their visit to Drury Lane, had not been lost, expressed his gratitude to the honest stranger in the most affectionate manner.
Tommy now discovered a further opportunity of making himself acquainted with the science of Astronomy, which he had already set himself diligently to learn.