Sketches New and Old


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to get the idea of the subject, and warm them up like a camp-meeting  
revival. That sort of thing would corral their sympathies, the showman  
said.  
"
There was a big audience that night-mostly middle-aged and old people  
who belong to the church, and took a strong interest in Bible matters,  
and the balance were pretty much young bucks and heifers--they always  
come out strong on panoramas, you know, because it gives them a chance to  
taste one another's complexions in the dark.  
"
Well, the showman began to swell himself up for his lecture, and the old  
mud-Jobber tackled the piano and ran his fingers up and down once or  
twice to see that she was all right, and the fellows behind the curtain  
commenced to grind out the panorama. The showman balanced his weight on  
his right foot, and propped his hands over his hips, and flung his eyes  
over his shoulder at the scenery, and said:  
"
'Ladies and gentlemen, the painting now before you illustrates the  
beautiful and touching parable of the Prodigal Son. Observe the happy  
expression just breaking over the features of the poor, suffering youth  
--so worn and weary with his long march; note also the ecstasy beaming  
from the uplifted countenance of the aged father, and the joy that  
sparkles in the eyes of the excited group of youths and maidens, and  
seems ready to burst into the welcoming chorus from their lips. The  
lesson, my friends, is as solemn and instructive as the story is tender  
370  


Page
368 369 370 371 372

Quick Jump
1 101 201 302 402