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A Peep Behind the Scenes by Mrs O. F. Walton
page 57 of 249 (22%)
But people don't consider; they know nothing about it; they have to be
behind the scenes to know what it is like.'

Nothing further happened until the theatre party reached the place where
the fair was to be held. It was a large open square in the middle of the
town, which was generally used as a market-place. Although it was only
Saturday morning, and the fair was not to begin until Monday, many of the
shows had already arrived. The marionettes and the wild-beast show had
completed their arrangements, and one of the whirligigs was already in
action, and from time to time its proprietor rang a large bell, to call
together a fresh company of riders.

The children had a holiday, as it was Saturday, and they rushed home and
clamoured for pennies, that they might spend them in sitting on a wooden
horse, or elephant, or camel, or in one of the small omnibuses or open
carriages, and then being taken round by means of steam at a tremendous
pace, till their breath was nearly gone; and when they alighted once more
on the ground, they hardly knew where they were, or whether they were
standing on their heads or on their feet. And for long after many of these
children were dizzy and sick, and felt as if they were walking on ground
which gave way beneath them as they trod on it.

As soon as Augustus arrived at the place where his theatre was to be
erected, he and his men began their work. For the next few hours there was
nothing to be heard on all sides but rapping and hammering, every one
working with all his might to get everything finished before sunset. Each
half hour fresh shows arrived, had their ground measured out for them by
the market-keeper, and began to unload and fasten up immediately.

Rosalie stood at the door and looked out; but she had seen it all so often
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