It must not be supposed that when Mr. Gilbert and his friend Arthur Sullivan have finished their opera, and placed it in the theatre manager's hands, their work is done. If you were to call at Mr. Gilbert's house while an opera is in preparation at the theatre, you might find him in his library, with two or three other persons, having a private performance on their own account.
These are actors who have proved themselves so dull in learning the business of their parts that, rather than have the performance injured by poor acting, the author is giving them private instruction. For besides being the inventor and author of _Pinafore_, the _Pirates_, and _Patience_, Mr. Gilbert designs all the costumes and scenery, drills the actors, and is as particular about everything on the stage being ship-shape as if he were really the captain of a man-of-war.
In addition to the operas named above, Mr. Gilbert has written _The Sorcerer_, and _Trial by Jury_, several plays, and _The Bab Ballads_, a book of most delightful nonsense. It may seem an easy thing to make people laugh, but the author of _Pinafore_ really works very hard. It is pleasant to think, however, that hard work agrees with him, for it certainly does not spoil his good-humor.
We have a little fairy, Who flits about the house, As gleeful as a cricket, As quiet as a mouse. She brings papa his slippers, She runs up stairs and down, The dearest little fairy In all the busy town.
[1] Begun in No. 101, HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE.
There had been a very good reason why neither Steve Harrison nor Murray came back with the Lipan braves who were sent to bring home the game. They had been preparing to do so, when they were summoned into the presence of To-la-go-to-de.
"No Tongue is a great hunter," said the dark-browed leader as they came forward. "Cougar, big-horn, deer all good. Apache heap better."
"Go find them. Eat a heap. Take Yellow Head. Go all night."
"No. Maybe Apache dog see you. See pale-faces, and not think of Lipans. Dress Yellow Head. Wash off paint."
It was a genuine stroke of Indian war cunning. The two pale-faces were to act as scouts in the advance. If the Apaches should happen to see them, their presence would not suggest the dangerous nearness of a band of hostile Indians.