An Actor
Of all the farmers of our district William Twelvetree was the poorest
and most unlucky. He was a good fellow , but he worked without method, and
the strangest thing about him that puzzled his fellow men was that he lived
in dreams. His life was not easy as he had to keep a wife and four
daughters who were still young and could not help him.
William and his family were good ordinary people, but William had a
dream to play in a performance. Only his four children and his wife along
knew of that dream. Then, one autumn they came across an announcement
printed in the local journal that all those interested in drama were asked
to attend a meeting of a new dramatic society. All the members of William’s
family were anxious to see his act in a real performance and they made him
attend the meeting. William didn’t contradict. When William entered the
hall where the meeting was held he was surprised to see so many people. At
the same time he felt happy as he was really devoted to art. The people who
wished to take part in the performance were given a play to read and choose
a part. William read the play and decided that he should play the part of
the Duke. In a week it was announced to William’s great regret that he
would have the part of the monk. The information struck William as very
unpleasant ; he even hesitated whether to take the part or give it all up,
but when he told his wife and daughters that he would play the part of a
monk they thought that it was wonderful. So, he got down to learning his
role and very soon he knew it by heart. He was sure that audience would
appreciate his performance and would praise his talent.
At last the day of the first performance came. William asked his wife
not to come to the theatre, saying that he would be very nervous and that
might spoil everything. He arrived early at the theatre and when he was
dressed and made up , he looked like a real monk. In the first scene he was
to be on the stage along. Although he had been preparing for it for a long
time he got terribly frightened. He forgot his lines completely , his
manners were very funny. In fact he looked more like a clown than a monk
and was greeted with laughter. Whatever he said made no sense. The
situation was awful . Now he wished to get out of it , so he rushed from
the stage and hid himself in the dressing-room. There he changed his
clothes and went home . he was very much upset and didn’t know how to break
the news to his wife. There were lights on the farm . His wife was waiting
for him.
“ William ,” she cried , and embraced him joyfully.
Suddenly the four girls came downstairs and embraced him too. William
looked at than sorrowfully, without a world. Thinking that he was still
acting , they all cried out: “ Oh, you look like a monk. Oh , just like a
real monk!”
The four girls took hands with their mother and began to dance about
him. “ Good , old Daddy . Brave.” They shouted. Then they stopped dance and
began to applaud him. William was puzzled. He didn’t know what to do. He
felt tears on his face and he could not look at the children. Then,
suddenly, not knowing how else to cover his confusion , he began to bow,
smiling , as if he were a real actor.
( After
Ernest Bares)
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