Toby Tyler makes his first appearance in any
ring, and we all of us believe that he will soon become a bright
and shining light in the profession which he is so soon to enter."
The speaker was here interrupted by loud applause from his wife, and
he profited by the opportunity to wipe a stray drop of perspiration
from his fleshless face. Then, as the fat lady ceased the exertion
of clapping her hands, he continued:
"Knowing that our friend Mr. Tyler was being instructed, preparatory
to dazzling the public with his talents, my wife and I began to
prepare for him some slight testimonial of our esteem; and, being
informed by Mr. Castle some days ago of the day on which he was
to make his first appearance before the public, we were enabled to
complete our little gift in time for the great and important event."
Here the skeleton paused to take a breath, and Toby began to grow
more uncomfortably red in the face. Such praise made him feel very
awkward.
"I hold in this bundle," continued Mr. Treat as he waved the package
on high, "a costume for our bold and worthy equestrian, and a sash
to match for his beautiful and accomplished companion. In presenting
these little tokens my wife (who has embroidered every inch of the
velvet herself) and I feel proud to know that, when the great and
auspicious occasion occurs tomorrow, the worthy Mr. Tyler will
step into the ring in a costume which we have prepared expressly
for him; and thus, when he does himself honor by his performance
and earns the applause of the multitude, he will be doing honor
and doing applause for the work of our hands -- my wife Lilly and
myself.
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