"'Oh! nursey, dear, look at my new shoes!'
"I played at Chute's Theatre in Bristol in many child's parts. When my father went to the wall over the Lincoln Circuit, Mr. Chute engaged him as an actor, and I went with him. I remember in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'--I was _Mustard Seed_, I think, or _Peas Blossom_; at any rate, some small character that required very prettily dressing, and plenty of flowers on my little costume. I am as fond of flowers to-day as I was then. Well, when once I got on the stage in my pretty dress--of which I was particularly proud--before I would leave it, I had to be bought off with apples and oranges! There they would stand at the wings, and the price would go up--up--up--two oranges, three oranges, three oranges and two apples--until I inwardly murmured a childish equivalent for 'sold,' and toddled off.
"I acted _Eva_ in 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' when I was eight. I think I was always a sad child--I looked forty when I was fifteen. After little _Eva_ I used to play anything."
And they were hard times for little Madge--she worked like the brave little woman she was. Her childish thoughts were constantly with her parents--how best could she add to the weekly income. And this is what the same little Madge would do. Night after night, after playing in a serious piece, she would appear in burlesque, sing, dance, and crack her small jokes with the best of them. It was hard work that made her a woman--it was dearly-bought experience that gave birth to the sympathetic heart she has to-day.
[Illustration: MRS. KENDAL. _From a Photo. by Bassano._]
So at fourteen she was a woman grown--and at fifteen at Hull played _Lady Macbeth_ to Phelps's _Macbeth_!
"I was dressed in my mother's clothes," Mrs. Kendal said, "and I fear I must have looked a fearful guy!"
At rehearsal Phelps looked upon the young woman.
"And who--who is this child?" asked the great actor.
"Madge Robertson," the manager answered; "a rare favourite here. It was a choice between her and a very old woman, Mr. Phelps."
"Then let the young woman play, by all means," Phelps said.
What a night it was! At the end of the play they wanted her on again, but Phelps was obdurate. A party of men came round, and threatened to throw Phelps into the Humber! Phelps remained firm.