We looked quietly on, and my friend gave it as his opinion, that it was a great pity that the gentlemen could not settle their quarrels in private, instead of bringing them before the public in such a disgraceful way. How it ended I know not, for the curtain rose before it could be adjusted, and the 'harmonists' retired; but we subsequently learnt, that our hero of the double bass was, from a boorish temper, much disliked in the orchestra, and that to his great annoyance tricks had been frequently played off upon him; hence his sudden and violent retaliation on his supposed tormentor.
Our friend the Playgoer having thus introduced us to one of the curiosities of music--a practiser of sweet sounds, who was anything but the harmonist he seemed--his story suggested the image of an equally contradictory humorist, whom we had recently encountered; and we therefore without ceremony presented
'Twas evening, and loud raged the autumn blast, As in an Author's darken'd room I stood. It was a sight to stir the pitying blood; His soul seemed struggling with some trouble vast; His thin hand held a pen--his eye, downcast, Traced its slow movement o'er the blotted sheet; His air was wild--his heart, I heard it beat! Lone, pale, he sat, a spectre of the past, Like Werner when the waters round him throng, Or like the Banish'd Lord. His heavy task Weighs on his brain--ah! when may it be done! "What write you, troubled spirit?" then I ask; In thrilling tones he said--"A Comic Song, 'Tis for the _Jolly Sandboy_, No. 1."
Here we stopped to take up another passenger, "his first appearance in our stage," though evidently an experienced literary traveller. We all welcomed the new arrival; and Mr. Quickly (for this was his name) pretty soon began to convince us of his qualifications for a pleasant companionship along the road of life. We pass by what he said of ourselves, with the bare remark, that like Falstaff's story, "it was worth the listening;" but still worthier of it was this, which he recounted to us under the title of
Such was the request addressed to his vis-à-vis in the Royal Mail by a small gentleman in a suit of black and a profuse perspiration; and such was the answer returned thereto by the person addressed, a highly nervous individual rejoicing apparently in about fifteen stone, certainly in a blue coat with gilt buttons, a sealskin cap, a red face, and nose to correspond.--