THE DRAMATIC SOCIETY.
"Let us form a dramatic society," said Nat to his companions, one day. "Perhaps we can put an extra touch on 'Henry the Eighth' or 'The Merchant of Venice.'"
"I should laugh," answered Charlie, "to see us undertaking the drama. I guess it would be straining at a gnat (Nat) and swallowing a camel," attempting to perpetrate a pun, over which he, at whose expense it was said, laughed as heartily as any of them.
"Let Charlie laugh as much as he pleases," said Marcus, "I think we could do well in such an enterprise. We might not eclipse Booth, but we could get along without a bar and some other things as bad."
"You will find," continued Charlie, "that a play of Shakspeare will not go off very well without scenery."
"Of course it would not," replied Nat. "But we must have scenery of some kind."
"Where will you get it?"
"Make it," quickly responded Nat. "It will be an easy matter to paint such representations as will answer our purpose."
"So you will turn actor and artist all at once," said Charlie. "What will you try to do next, Nat?"
"As to that," answered Nat, "I will let you know when I have done this. 'One thing at a time,' was Dr. Franklin's rule. But say, now, will you all enlist for a dramatic society?"