On a level spot of grass at the foot of the guide-post appeared an object which , though locomotive on a different principle , reminded me of Gulliver 's portable mansion among the Brobdignags . It was a huge covered wagon -- or , more properly , a small house on wheels -- with a door on one side and a window shaded by green blinds on the other . Two horses munching provender out of the baskets which muzzled them were fastened near the vehicle . A delectable sound of music proceeded from the interior , and I immediately conjectured that this was some itinerant show halting at the confluence of the roads to intercept such idle travellers as myself . A shower had long been climbing up the western sky , and now hung so blackly over my onward path that it was a point of wisdom to seek shelter here . `` Halloo ! Who stands guard here ? Is the doorkeeper asleep ? '' cried I , approaching a ladder of two or three steps which was let down from the wagon . The music ceased at my summons , and there appeared at the door , not the sort of figure that I had mentally assigned to the wandering showman , but a most respectable old personage whom I was sorry to have addressed in so free a style . He wore a snuff-colored coat and small-clothes , with white top-boots , and exhibited the mild dignity of aspect and manner which may often be noticed in aged schoolmasters , and sometimes in deacons , selectmen or other potentates of that kind . A small piece of silver was my passport within his premises , where I found only one other person , hereafter to be described . `` This is a dull day for business , '' said the old gentleman as he ushered me in ; `` but I merely tarry here to refresh the cattle , being bound for the camp-meeting at Stamford . '' Perhaps the movable scene of this narrative is still peregrinating New England , and may enable the reader to test the accuracy of my description . The spectacle -- for I will not use the unworthy term of `` puppet-show '' -- consisted of a multitude of little people assembled on a miniature stage . Among them were artisans of every kind in the attitudes of their toil , and a group of fair ladies and gay gentlemen standing ready for the dance ; a company of foot-soldiers formed a line across the stage , looking stern , grim and terrible enough to make it a pleasant consideration that they were but three inches high ; and conspicuous above the whole was seen a Merry Andrew in the pointed cap and motley coat of his profession . All the inhabitants of this mimic world were motionless , like the figures in a picture , or like that people who one moment were alive in the midst of their business and delights and the next were transformed to statues , preserving an eternal semblance of labor that was ended and pleasure that could be felt no more . Anon , however , the old gentleman turned the handle of a barrel-organ , the first note of which produced a most enlivening effect upon the figures and awoke them all to their proper occupations and amusements . By the selfsame impulse the tailor plied his needle , the blacksmith 's hammer descended upon the anvil and the dancers whirled away on feathery tiptoes ; the company of soldiers broke into platoons , retreated from the stage , and were succeeded by a troop of horse , who came prancing onward with such a sound of trumpets and trampling of hoofs as might have startled Don Quixote himself ; while an old toper of inveterate ill-habits uplifted his black bottle and took off a hearty swig . Meantime , the Merry Andrew began to caper and turn somersets , shaking his sides , nodding his head and winking his eyes in as lifelike a manner as if he were ridiculing the nonsense of all human affairs and making fun of the whole multitude beneath him .
At length the old magician -LRB- for I compared the showman to Prospero entertaining his guests XXXXX a masque of shadows -RRB- paused that I might give utterance to my wonder .
Among On as by for in like of with within