Page:Notable Irishwomen.djvu/41

was too fond of imbibing strong potations. It was said that once, while he was on the stage, he was so drunk that when he had to say the words, "Thus I tear this letter!" his hand was too unsteady to suit the action to the word; he could only throw the letter from him, and say, "Thus I throw this letter from me." He soon got tired of being ordered about, and took the management of a company into his own hands. A pretty story is told, that on Christmas Eve, 1769, the Farren Company made their entrance into Salisbury, with drums beating, and all the other accompaniments. The Mayor of the town, much annoyed at the obstruction that was created, summoned the manager to appear before him and to produce his licence. The licence not being forthcoming, Mr. Farren was promptly conveyed to Salisbury Jail. But now comes in the cream of the story. Little Lizzie, who was, no doubt, a pretty and interesting child, wanted to give her father a Christmas breakfast, and though the snow was thick on the ground, she carried a bowl of bread and milk to the prison. But here a new difficulty presented itself. She was not tall enough to reach the window and to pass in the bowl, but a boy, a few years older than herself, had seen her pass his father's shop, and had followed her to the prison. He came to the rescue, lifted her up to the window, and she fulfilled her kindly errand.