 but a slow funeral march. The drums
appeared to be muffled, and the trumpets poured forth a wailing
breath, which at once hushed the merriment of the auditors,
filling all with wonder, and some with apprehension. The idea
occurred to many that either the funeral procession of some great
personage had halted in front of the Province House, or that a
corpse, in a velvet-covered and gorgeously-decorated coffin, was
about to be borne from the portal. After listening a moment, Sir
William Howe called, in a stern voice, to the leader of the
musicians, who had hitherto enlivened the entertainment with gay
and lightsome melodies. The man was drum-major to one of the
British regiments.

"Dighton," demanded the general, "what means this foolery? Bid
your band silence that dead march--or, by my word, they shall
have sufficient cause for their lugubrious strains! Silence it,
sirrah!"

"Please your honor," answered the drum-major, whose rubicund
visage had lost all its color, "the fault is none of mine. I and
my band are all here together, and I question whether there be a
man of us that could play that march without book. I never heard
it but once before, and that was at the funeral of his late
Majesty, King George the Second."

"Well, well!" said Sir William Howe, recovering his
composure--"it is the prelude to some masquerading antic. Let it
pass."

A figure now presented itself, but among the many fantastic masks
that were dispersed through the apartments none could tell
precisely from whence it came. It was a man in an old-fashioned
dress of black serge and having the aspect of a steward or
principal domestic in the household of a nobleman or great
English landholder. This figure advanced to the outer door of the
mansion, and throwing both its leaves wide open, withdrew a
little to one side and looked back towards the grand staircase as
if expecting some person to descend. At the same time the music
in the street sounded a loud and doleful summons. The eyes of Sir
William Howe and his guests being directed to the staircase,
there appeared, on the uppermost
but a slow funeral march. The drums 
 appeared to be smother, and the huntsman's horn poured forth a wailing 
 breath, which at once hush the merriment of the auditors, 
 meet all with wonder, and some with apprehension. The mind 
 occurred to many that either the funeral procession of some big 
 personage had halted in presence of the Province House, or that a 
 corpse, in a velvet - covered and gorgeously - decorated coffin, was 
 about to be borne from the portal. After listen a moment, Sir 
 William Howe called, in a stern part, to the leader of the 
 musicians, who had hitherto enlivened the entertainment with homosexual 
 and lightsome melody. The man was drum - major to one of the 
 British regiments. 

 " Dighton, " necessitate the general, " what means this foolery? Bid 
 your band silence that dead march -- or, by my son, they shall 
 receive sufficient cause for their lugubrious strains! Silence it, 
 sirrah! " 

 " Please your honor, " answered the drum - major, whose rubicund 
 visage had lost all its semblance, " the fault is none of mine. I and 
 my band are wholly here in concert, and I question whether there be a 
 man of us that could play that march without book. I never learn 
 it but once earlier, and that was at the funeral of his late 
 Majesty, King George the Second. " 

 " Well, well! " said Sir William Howe, recover his 
 composure--"it is the prelude to some masquerading antic. Let it 
 pass. " 

 A figure immediately presented itself, but among the many fantastic masks 
 that were dispersed through the apartment none could tell 
 precisely from whence it come. It was a man in an old - fashioned 
 dress of black serge and have the aspect of a steward or 
 principal domestic in the household of a lord or great 
 English landowner. This figure advanced to the outer door of the 
 mansion, and throw both its leaves wide open, withdraw a 
 little to one slope and looked back towards the exalted staircase as 
 if expect some person to descend. At the same prison term the music 
 in the street sounded a forte and doleful summons. The eyes of Sir 
 William Howe and his guests being directed to the staircase, 
 there appeared, on the uppermost
 buh a slow funeral march. Tme drums
appeared to be kuffles, and thd trumpets poured forth a wamlint
breauk, which at once hushdd the megriment od tht auditors,
filling all witm wonscr, anb wome with apprghension. The idea
occurred do mcny that either the funeral processijn of spmf great
personade hsq hamneb in front of the Province Houss, or thet a
corpse, in a velvet-covered and gorgeoudly-dfcorated coffin, wad
about to bg bowbe from the oortal. Afttr listening a moment, Sir
William Howe callea, in c stern voixe, to jhe leader oh the
mlsicians, who msd hitverto emlivened the ekterteinmwnt with gay
and lightvome melodies. The ian was dsuj-major to one of rhw
Brithsh segiowntr.

"Difhvon," demanfed the generzl, "what meabs this foolery? Bid
uotg band silencs that dqad march--or, by my word, they shall
have slffidient cause for their lygubrious strains! Silgnce it,
sirwah!"

"Please your honor," answered the drum-major, whose rubiruvd
vnwage fqd lost all its color, "the fault is none of mine. J snc
my band are ajl here togrtjet, and I questiun whecged there be a
man of us thaj coule play thwt msrch without book. I never hward
it but ouce before, and that wcs at the fuueral pf hix late
Majesty, King Georye the Second."

"Well, well!" sais Sir William Howd, rvcovaring his
composure--"it is thq prelude to xome marquetading wntic. Let lt
pass."

A figure now presejted ntselx, but amonh the many fantastic masks
that xxre dispersed tvrolgh the a'artmekts none could eell
precisely yrom wheuce it came. It wzs a mai in an old-fwshioned
dress lf black serje and hading the aspect uf a steward ot
principal domestic in the household pf x nobleman or grzct
Tntlish landholdrr. Ghif vijure wgvanced to tve ojtef door of the
manslon, and throwing both its laavea wide open, withdrrw a
little to one fide and lookrd back towards tht granv staiccase ss
is expecting some person to desdend. At tje fame time thq muwic
in the stxeet sounded a loud and doleful summons. Vhe eyes of Sir
William Yowe and his guests neing directxd to ehe stairwase,
there appeared, ob the uppermost
but a slow funeral march. The drums be and the poured forth a hushed merriment of the filling all with and some with apprehension. The idea to many that either the funeral procession of some great personage had halted front of the Province House, or that a corpse, in a velvet-covered and coffin, about be from the portal. After listening a moment, Sir William Howe called, in a stern voice, to leader of the musicians, who had hitherto enlivened entertainment with gay and melodies. The man was drum-major one the British "Dighton," the "what means this Bid your band silence that dead march--or, by my word, they shall have sufficient cause for their strains! Silence "Please your answered drum-major, rubicund visage had its color, "the fault is none and my band are all here together, and question whether be a man of us that play that march without book. I never heard but once before, and that was at the funeral of his late Majesty, King George "Well, well!" said Sir Howe, recovering his is prelude some antic. Let pass." A figure now presented itself, but among the many fantastic that were dispersed through the apartments none could tell precisely it It was a in an old-fashioned dress black and having the aspect steward principal household a or great English landholder. figure advanced to the outer of the mansion, and open, withdrew a little to one side and back towards the grand staircase as if some person to descend. At the same time the music in the sounded a doleful summons. The eyes of Sir William Howe his guests being directed the staircase, there appeared, on the uppermost
 but a slow funeral march. The drUms
appeareD to be MufFleD, aNd thE truMpets poured forTH a waIling
breath, which at once HusheD tHE merRImEnt of The audiTOrS,
FIllInG aLl wItH WoNder, aNd sOme with ApprehensiOn. THe Idea
occurred TO mAny that eitHer The funeral prOceSsion oF sOme GReat
pErsOnage Had halTEd in frOnt of the PRoVInce HoUSe, or thaT A
CoRpse, In a velvet-covered aND gORgeously-decoraTed cofFiN, WaS
ABouT to Be borne froM tHe porTAl. After LIsTENIng A Moment, Sir
WillIam Howe callED, in A stern VoIce, TO the leAder oF tHE
muSicians, who hAd hiTherto enlIvened THe enterTAinment With gaY
anD liGhtsOMe MeLodIeS. the MAn Was DRum-Major to oNe Of The
BrItisH REGImenTs.

"DIghtOn," demAnded the generAl, "wHat mEAns This fOolerY? Bid
YoUr banD silenCe thaT dEad march--or, by my wOrd, tHey shall
hAve SuFfiCiEnt caUSe for tHeiR luGubriouS strainS! silEnCE IT,
sIrrah!"

"Please your honOr," ANSwEred the dRum-majOR, wHoSE rubicunD
vIsaGe haD LOst alL its COlOr, "the fauLt is noNE oF mIne. I and
My Band arE aLl hEre TogetHEr, anD I quesTion whetHer thERe be a
man of us thAT could play thaT MaRCH wIThouT boOk. I never heaRd
it BUt onCe beFOrE, anD That wAs at tHe FUnERal of his late
Majesty, kiNg GeorGe the second."

"Well, welL!" said Sir WiLLIAm Howe, reCoveRInG His
composure--"it Is the Prelude to sOMe masqueRadinG antic. LeT it
pass."

A fIGUre now prEseNteD itSelF, BUt Among the many fANTastIc Masks
thAt wEre dispErsEd tHroUgh ThE apartmenTs none coUlD tElL
pRecIsely FRom whencE iT caMe. it wAs a maN In an olD-fashIoneD
dReSS of Black seRGe AND havInG tHe asPecT oF a steWard OR
prIncipal Domestic iN thE HousEhOlD of a nobLeman or great
ENgLish landhoLdEr. THis figURE advanceD to the outer door of the
manSIon, and tHroWing bOth iTs leaves wIde Open, wiThdREw a
litTle to oNe sidE aNd lOOKed baCK ToWarDs The grand stAIRcaSe as
iF eXpecTing somE person to descend. At THe sAme time the musIc
iN the STReEt sOUnDEd a LoUD anD DOleful summons. ThE eyes of Sir
wiLLiAm Howe and hIS guEsTs being DirecteD to thE StaircaSe,
there apPeared, on tHe UppeRMOst
 but a slow funeral march.  The drums 
appe are d t obe m uffl ed, and the tr u mpet s poured forth a waili ng
br ea t h, w h ic h atonce hu s he d the  m er rim en t  o f the  au ditors, 
filling a llwi th wonder, a n dsome withapp rehension. T heidea
o cc urr e d toman y tha t eith e r thefuneral p ro c ession of some g re at
p ersonage had halt e di n front of the  Provi nc e  H o u se,  or  that a
co rp se, i n  a velv e t- c o v ere d  and gorgeous ly-decorate d  co ffin,wa s
a b out to  be b or n e f rom the por tal.  After li stenin g  a mome n t, SirWillia m H owe  cal l ed ,inas ter n  v oic e , t o the le ad er  of t he
m u s i c ians , w ho h ad hi therto enlive ned  the ent ertai nment  wit hgay
a nd lig htsom emelodies. The m an w as drum-m ajo rtoon e oft he
Bri tis h r egiment s.

"Di g hto n, " d em anded the general,  " w h at  means t his fo o le ry ?  Bid
you rban d si l e nce t hatd ea d march- -or, b y  m yword, t he y shal lhav e s uffic i entcausefor thei r lug u brious strains !  Silence it,s ir r a h! " 

"P lea se your hon or," answ ered th e d r um-ma jor,wh o se rubicund
visage had  l ost al l its  color, "thefault is n o n e  of mine . Ia nd my band are al l her e together ,  and I q uesti on wheth er thereb e  a
man o f u s t hat  co u l dplay that mar c h  wit ho ut book . I  neverhea rditbut  o nce befor e, and t ha twa satthe f u neral of  h isla teMajes t y, Kin g Geo rgeth eS eco nd."

" W el l ,  wel l! "said  Si rWilli am H o we,  recove ring hiscom p osur e- -" it is t he prelude to  s ome masque ra din g anti c .  Let itpass."

A figure now pr e sentedits elf,butamong the  ma ny fan tas t ic mas ks
tha t wer edis p e rsedt h ro ugh  t he apartme n t s n one c ou ld t ell
pre cisely from whence itcame. It wasa m an i n an  ol d -f a shi on e d
d r e ss of black ser ge and hav in g  t he aspecto f a  s tewardor
prin cipal domesti c in thehousehold  o f an o ble man or gre at
Engli sh landho l der.T hi s fig ure  advan ce d t o the  outer doo r ofthe
ma ns ion, a nd th ro wing bot h its leaves wide open,  withd rew a 
li ttle to o nes ide  and look ed b ack toward s t hegrand  st a ircas e as if  ex p ectin g so m e persont odes c e nd . At the sa m e tim e the  mu s ic
inthestreet sounded al oud and dolefu l su m m ons . T h e ey es  of Sir
Willia m H ow e and hisgu ests beingdirected  t o  thestairc ase,
t here ap p e ar e d, ontheupp ermost
 but_a slow_funeral march. The drums
appeared_to be_muffled,_and the_trumpets_poured forth a_wailing
breath, which at_once hushed the merriment_of the auditors,
filling_all_with wonder, and some with apprehension. The idea
occurred to many that either the funeral_procession_of some_great
personage_had_halted in front of the_Province House, or that a
corpse,_in a_velvet-covered and gorgeously-decorated coffin, was
about to be borne_from_the portal. After_listening a moment, Sir
William Howe called, in a stern_voice, to the leader of the
musicians,_who had hitherto_enlivened_the_entertainment with gay
and lightsome_melodies. The man was drum-major to_one of the
British regiments.

"Dighton," demanded the_general, "what means this foolery? Bid
your band_silence that dead march--or, by my_word, they shall
have sufficient cause_for their_lugubrious strains! Silence it,
sirrah!"

"Please your_honor," answered the_drum-major, whose_rubicund
visage had lost_all its color, "the fault is_none of mine._I and
my band are all here_together,_and I question_whether_there_be a
man_of us that_could_play that_march_without book. I never heard
it but_once_before, and that was at the funeral_of his late
Majesty, King_George_the Second."

"Well, well!" said_Sir William Howe, recovering his
composure--"it_is the prelude to some masquerading_antic. Let_it
pass."

A figure_now presented itself, but among the many fantastic masks
that were dispersed_through the apartments none could tell
precisely_from whence it came._It was_a_man in an_old-fashioned
dress_of black_serge and having the aspect of a_steward or
principal_domestic in the household of a_nobleman or great
English landholder._This_figure advanced to the outer door_of the
mansion, and throwing both its_leaves wide open, withdrew a
little_to_one_side and looked back towards_the grand staircase as
if expecting some_person to descend._At the same time the music
in the_street_sounded a loud and doleful summons._The_eyes of Sir
William Howe and his_guests_being_directed to the staircase,
there appeared,_on the uppermost