But Agamemnon reminded him that none of the family were authors, and only authors had booths.Solomon John, indeed, had once started upon writing a book, but he was not able to think of anything to put in it, and nothing had occurred to him yet.
Mr.Peterkin urged him to make one more effort.If his book could come out before the carnival he could go as an author, and might have a booth of his own, and take his family.
But Agamemnon declared it would take years to become an author.You might indeed publish something, but you had to make sure that it would be read.Mrs.
Peterkin, on the other hand, was certain that libraries were filled with books that never were read, yet authors had written them.For herself, she had not read half the books in their own library.And she was glad there was to be a Carnival of Authors, that she might know who they were.
Mr.Peterkin did not understand why they called them a "Carnival"; but he supposed they should find out when they went to it.
Mrs.Peterkin still felt uncertain about costumes.She proposed looking over the old trunks in the garret.They would find some suitable dresses there, and these would suggest what characters they should take.Elizabeth Eliza was pleased with this thought.
She remembered an old turban of white mull muslin, in an old bandbox, and why should not her mother wear it?
Mrs.Peterkin supposed that she should then go as her own grandmother.
Agamemnon did not approve of this.Turbans are now worn in the East, and Mrs.
Peterkin could go in some Eastern character.Solomon John thought she might be Cleopatra, and this was determined on.
Among the treasures found were some old bonnets, of large size, with waving plumes.Elizabeth Eliza decided upon the largest of these.
She was tempted to appear as Mrs.Columbus, as Solomon John was to take the character of Christopher Columbus; but he was planning to enter upon the stage in a boat, and Elizabeth Eliza was a little afraid of sea-sickness, as he had arranged to be a great while finding the shore.
Solomon John had been led to take this character by discovering a coal-hod that would answer for a helmet; then, as Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, he could use the phrases in Italian he had lately learned of his teacher.
As the day approached the family had their costumes prepared.
Mr.Peterkin decided to be Peter the Great.It seemed to him a happy thought, for the few words of Russian he had learned would come in play, and he was quite sure that his own family name made him kin to that of the great Czar.He studied up the life in the Encyclop?dia, and decided to take the costume of a ship-builder.He visited the navy-yard and some of the docks; but none of them gave him the true idea of dress for ship-building in Holland or St.Petersburg.
But he found a picture of Peter the Great, representing him in a broad-brimmed hat.So he assumed one that he found at a costumer's, and with Elizabeth Eliza's black waterproof was satisfied with his own appearance.
Elizabeth Eliza wondered if she could not go with her father in some Russian character.She would have to lay aside her large bonnet, but she had seen pictures of Russian ladies, with fur muffs on their heads, and she might wear her own muff.
Mrs.Peterkin, as Cleopatra, wore the turban, with a little row of false curls in front, and a white embroidered muslin shawl crossed over her black silk dress.The little boys thought she looked much like the picture of their great-grandmother.But doubtless Cleopatra resembled this picture, as it was all so long ago, so the rest of the family decided.
Agamemnon determined to go as Noah.The costume, as represented in one of the little boys' arks, was simple.His father's red-lined dressing gown, turned inside out, permitted it easily.
Elizabeth Eliza was now anxious to be Mrs.Shem, and make a long dress of yellow flannel, and appear with Agamemnon and the little boys.For the little boys were to represent two doves and a raven.There were feather-dusters enough in the family for their costumes, which would be then complete with their india-rubber boots.
Solomon John carried out in detail his idea of Christopher Columbus.He had a number of eggs boiled hard to take in his pocket, proposing to repeat, through the evening, the scene of setting the egg on its end.He gave up the plan of a boat, as it must be difficult to carry one into town; so he contented himself by practising the motion of landing by stepping up on a chair.
But what scene could Elizabeth Eliza carry out? If they had an ark, as Mrs.Shem she might crawl in and out of the roof constantly, if it were not too high.But Mr.Peterkin thought it as difficult to take an ark into town as Solomon John's boat.
The evening came.But with all their preparations they got to the hall late.The entrance was filled with a crowd of people, and, as they stopped at the cloakroom, to leave their wraps, they found themselves entangled with a number of people in costume coming out from a dressing-room below.Mr.Peterkin was much encouraged.They were thus joining the performers.The band was playing the "Wedding March" as they went upstairs to a door of the hall which opened upon one side of the stage.Here a procession was marching up the steps of the stage, all in costume, and entering behind the scenes.
"We are just in the right time," whispered Mr.Peterkin to his family; "they are going upon the stage; we must fall into line."The little boys had their feather-dusters ready.Some words from one of the managers made Peterkin understand the situation.
"We are going to be introduced to Mr.Dickens," he said.
"I thought he was dead!" exclaimed Mrs.Peterkin trembling.
"Authors live forever!" said Agamemnon in her ear.
