The Argosy — page 165: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

150 Our Amateur Concert. The next item was ‘‘The Thunderstorm — Galop di Bravura.” ‘ Here comes a treat,” said I, for I admired the duet greatly. The two young men ascended the platform. Fred having estab- lished himself a favourite, was greeted with quite a ‘ reception.” Sutton looked awfully jealous—indeed, downright savage. ‘They took their seats, and I saw that odious little Sutton squaring his elbows and taking up quite three-quarters of the key-board. There was an audible scuffling of feet too in the vicinity of the pedals, so fat battle was evidently being fought over afresh. Presently they started, after fierce whispers and glaring on the part of the bass performer. Fred had a perceptible smile playing about his face. ‘The Thunderstorm ” raged on furiously for several pages, and Fred was doing wonders in the treble in imitation of the lightning and hail, when the scuffling of feet began again worse than ever—and presently Sutton suddenly ceased playing, and, scarlet in the face, turned upon Fred. ‘‘TI tell you I wezd/ have the pedals when I want them!” he screamed; “* you shan’t bully me like this !” Fred, taken by surprise, left off playing too, and a loud laugh broke from the audience. I have not the least doubt that the little creature did this out of jealousy, to spoil the effect of the duet, in which Hardwicke was playing brilliantly. And he certainly suc- ceeded; forthe break marred the whole thing, and when they ad take it up again Fred’s playing was not so good as it had been. This ended the first part of the concert. ‘The second part, I re- joice to say, was decidedly better; for the performers, though still doing some queer things, were more at theirease. At eleven o’clock it was over, and the audience was set free. I heard one lady say to her friend as she went out, “‘ It’s been as good as the theatre. I’ve seen few comedies that have made me laugh so much!” And this, I believe, was the general opinion in the neighbourhood regarding Mrs. Smallwood’s concert. In one respect it succeeded. A good deal of money was made and handed over to Dr. rtp for the poor, resulting in blankets, coal and soup. Edward Sutton went back to town next day, with a carpet-bag in his hand, and a hideous scowl on his face. Hardwicke tells me that he has since been cut dead in London by the jealous little mortal. Ella Dean was ill with nervous headache for nearly a week after the terrible night. The Misses Markham managed to survive, with health and tempers unimpaired; but whenever I mention our amateur concert to them they are sure to look at each other with large, horri- fied eyes, and say, in a tone of deep feeling, ‘Oh! wasn’t it azw/faud /” Mrs. Smallwood has decided never to get up another amateur concert. ‘‘ After all,” she says, musingly, * professionals do that kind of thing best!” ECONNIE OOO KS.(EO