Alma mater ; or, The Georgetown centennial, and other dramas

Foreword

THESE unpretentious little Dramas were written for "occasions," almost, I might say, on the spur of the moment. Alma Mater grew out of the solemn commemoration of the Centenary of the Georgetown Convent of the Visitation, a function held in May, 1899. Hermine came into being to celebrate the Second Centenary of Blessed Margaret Mary, the seraphic nun of the Visitation to whom Jesus Christ revealed His Sacred Heart. Hearts of Gold — True and Tried was composed at the request of certain young Convent Seniors who wished to honor George Washington's Birthday with a histrionic performance. The Church's Triumph was prepared for an Ecclesiastical Reception, His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons and His Excellency, the Apostolic Delegate, being present. The Angels' Feast commemorated the Golden Jubilee of a saintly Visitation Nun, and was performed within the precincts of the Cloister. The Star of Bethlehem tells its own story as a preparation for the beautiful Feast of the Epiphany. The Angels' Meeting made a portion of the programme of the first Maryland Day, proclaimed by His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons. A Georgetown Reunion and What Came of It formed a part of an entertainment given to His Excellency, the present Apostolic Delegate.

As St. Francis de Sales in giving to the world his sublime " Treatise on the Love of God" did not disdain to say, after having charitably remonstrated with his critics : " Therefore, my dear reader, I conjure you to be gracious and good to me in reading this Treatise/' so I too may ask for indulgence, considering the morsels of leisure which have been pressed into literary service amid many academic duties, in order to give an evening's entertainment to young and gentle hearts.

Go, little book, and speak thy word Of comfort, love — of truth and hope;

Blessed if thou by one be heard

And help one climber o'er life's slope.

M. S. PINE May, 1913 (S. M. P.)

Contents

* * *

Alma Mater or The Georgetown Centennial : a Drama inThree Acts 11

Hermine: a Drama in Three Acts 61

Act II

Council of Vices. Ignorance discovered alone. Enter Folly, Vanity and others: they conspire against Alma Mater, who approaches from right, accompanied by Fear, Temptation and Discouragement. She refuses to give up her project of founding the Visitation, and the Vices unite in persecuting her. Enter Angel of Justice, who disperses them. Enter Church and Virtues. Magnificat.

Act III: 1899

Alma Mater is discovered on throne. Enter Liberty and Columbia, who greet her on the occasion of her Centenary. The Houses of the Visitation, accompanied by their respective States, appear bearing offerings to Alma Mater. Four generations present congratulations in the name of the Alumnae and Pupils. Enter Church, who crowns Alma Mater. Coronation Chorus.

•f 1 i

Act I

Scene. — A beautiful grove. Liberty is discovered.

Liberty. I am the daughter of God, Liberty ! Freedom is birthright of mankind, all holy When childlike His high counsels it obeys, More free, more beautiful, more glad, because His gladness, beauty infinite it shares. This land, His garden, He hath given to me. At His feet I have waited, gazing down While ages rolled, and earth's foundations heaved Majestic mountains, and the snow- fed springs Rushed down and formed my noble river streams. I've watched the generations come and go And lay them down 'neath their stupendous

mounds : I've watched the human sacrifices hung Around the pillars of false temples ; here The tomahawk hath ruled ; and then Oppression Followed the feet of homeless wanderers Seeking a refuge from the knife and fire. God's eye looked down, and oft His angels came To nerve these free-born men to valor. Aye, And women in the dead of night heard voices Bidding them urge their sons and husbands on Through heart-blood, through their own souls'

woe, to win The gift next to God's own dear love and faith — Gift of His own right hand to noble men And valiant women, Liberty! They heard: And lo! the "Women of the Revolution" Stand on the broadest pedestal of fame,

Honored of God and men as Judith was,

Or that great mother of the Machabees,

Albeit she for God's law bade them die —

They for God's children and their unborn heirs,

Crushed, broken 'neath the iron heel of Wrong,

To generations in the far-off time

Gave blood and pain and anguish : — such high cost

Must buy all precious things for fallen man.

Enter from right and left, keeping time to Minuet, the Thirteen Original States — Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia — the right led by the District of Columbia. All congee to Liberty, seated on a rustic throne in center.

Liberty. Daughters of peace, so varied in your beauty, E pluribus unum, this shall be your motto ; For one and many ye shall truly be — A glorious sisterhood in love compact While cycling Time's triumphal car shall drive O'er prostrate thrones and bleeding nations' dust.

Maryland. O Liberty, our mother, be our guide! Fair Unity hath twined our hearts in one And still attends us as an angel ; lo ! Where now she hastes adown the mountain side With three new Sisters in her pure embrace.

Enter Unity, right, with Kentucky, Vermont and Tennessee: all congee to Liberty.

Liberty. Welcome, fair Daughters, to our brave Thirteen!

Forever joined let nothing sever ye From Unity, the angel of your land ; Witnessed and ratified by her, each act Shall call a blessing from the bending Heavens, And never cloud shall dark the clear horizon O'er which I gaze today. 'Tis near the birth Of a new century : the bell hath tolled For ninety-nine; and while with prophet-eyes I see a Sorrow winging fast his flight, And a white Death behind him, who shall smite Your glorious chief and lay in mourning low His new-born nation, [All shudder and express emotion by look and gesture^ yet I feel a thrill As of a heavenly portent near.

Maryland. Methinks

The robe of prophecy is on me. Lo !

Far off I see a maiden dreamlike veiled

Approaching in a shower of roses, led

By June, the fairest of the summer nymphs :

And o'er her seems to hover that same train

Of visitants celestial, chanting low,

I saw in years gone by above the prow

Of my dear Ark and Dove, that came to bring

Unnumbered blessings to my waiting shores.

Liberty. Lord Baltimore ! He knew me in the light Of God and prayer, and brought the dawn ere yet My sun arose within the circling heavens.

Maryland. He brought the Cross, the Church of ages, to me: And now a fair Cathedral sends its shaft,

The sacred symbol, toward the summer skies ; And thou, Columbia, hast received its mission.

Columbia. Yea, 'mong my hills with flowers and foliage crowned, And watered by Potomac's sun-touched stream, Your Carroll hath his hall of learning reared, Where Truth and Virtue point our sons the way To honor bright, and true nobility.

Virginia. And George's Town another yet shall boast. The prophet's mantle on my shoulder falls: — This crowned Spouse, the daughter of the King, Shall here abide. O after her shall run Young maidens to the odor of her ointments ; And to my Mountains Blue and Alleghanies They shall in the clear future bear the grace And beauty of the Hand divine that formed her.

Pennsylvania. And shall not we thy glory share, my Sister ?

Virginia. I may not tell : the vision is for me.

Maryland. Her virgin flock shall feed among my pastures, Near running waters of my Chesapeake: — Amid my mountains, scenes of fairy beauty I hold for these dear followers of the Lamb.

Liberty. But thou, Columbia, thou shalt see her first. Embrace her, guard her, shelter her from harm, For she shall be a beacon light to thee. Our children's children in the century's wane Shall still be taught of her, when this broad land Shall lie beneath my golden sceptre.

[Harp music heard in the distance.]

Columbia. [Right.] List !

There is a sound of far-off music. All stand in attitudes of expectancy. Alma Mater, robed in white, with golden scarf and veiled, a lily in her hand, appears, followed by a train of maidens, — Faith, Hope, Charity, Prayer, Chastity, Humility, Learning and Song.

Lo!

The herald of our joy, the expected one! Liberty. [Boiving and extending sceptre.] All hail, O Virgin Spouse of Him who bore The Cross! Thrice welcome to our wooded shores !

Columbia. [Embracing her.] Upon my soil thy hallowed foot doth rest, Each step a benediction to my people, Whose greetings shall be echoed o'er the land. States in semi-circle to left; Liberty, Alma Mater, Columbia in center; Virtues to right. Alma Mater. I come from o'er the sea, where white-winged Faith My steps hath guided long, oft whispering dreams Of regions beautiful, where Liberty Should share her golden sceptre with me. Here This vision of all beauty I descry : Hands stretched in welcome; but [Looking around half mournfully.] one voice I long for Whose word shall seal my mission evermore. A form clad in Bishop's robes steps out from background. Maryland advances reverently and waves the banner of the Church, while Columbia raises the Stars and Stripes so that the two flags meet above his head. Alma Mater clasps her hands in joy and kneels at his feet.

Church. Welcome, my daughter, from thy land afar! The triumph of God's kingdpm was unrolled To me in visions of the night, and there Wonders I may not utter were revealed. God's seraphim sped on their wings of light From the great lakes where Jogues and Marquette

died To Mexic Gulf, and then from sea to sea, Their anthems filling all the universe. "This is the kingdom of our God on earth," They sang; "let incense rise from every vale And plain and hill — the Lamb's great sacrifice." And then I saw a train of Virgins led By one whose holy features thou dost bear, Who scattered seeds that sprang to flower and

fruit, The while a white-plumed angel by a fount Poured life-refreshing waters all around, And ever and anon, in voice more sweet Than harpers, harping on their harps celestial, He chanted clear : "Pax super Israel!" 1

Alma Mater. And I, unworthy one, have been foreshown To thee, O light and guardian of my life?

Church. Yea, for thou hast a glorious mission here: Behold how Liberty hath clasped thy hand ; And her fair Daughters wait with Unity, Wrapped in their Stars and Stripes — alas! dearbought —

To do thee homage ; wait with smile and song

Upon their lips.

Liberty. [Solo.] Lovely maiden, hail, all hail!

Purity pearls thy brow,

Gleams in the lily within thy hand,

In thy vesture and veil of snow.

Beautiful, beautiful is thy train,

Bringing back Heaven to earth again;

Here shall thy home thro' the ages be —

Liberty's Daughters sing welcome to thee,

[Chorus.] Sing welcome to thee, Sing welcome to thee,

Liberty's Daughters sing welcome to thee ! Liberty. [Solo.] Floating o'er thy White and Gold,

Symbol of joy to be,

Hold we the sheltering Stars and Stripes,

Our beautiful Flag of the Free.

Fashion our daughters to lofty things,

Beauty must wither and gold hath wings ;

Higher the model in Heaven is thine,

Mary, the Queen of the New World's shrine.

[Chorus.] The New World's shrine, The New World's shrine,

Mary, the Queen of the New World's shrine. [The first verse is repeated as a chorus, during which

six little children, led by an elder one, enter left,

keeping time to music; they remain near the

States.] Alma Mater. I thank ye for this trancing melody

Of welcome, breathing soul in every note:

Words fail before it, but the heart grows rich In love and high resolve to meet your wishes. The virgin soil I tread shall spring with flowers Of God's sweet grace, and ye shall bless the day Ye oped your arms unto His wanderer. There is a glory far above all else On earth, above the luminous worlds on high, — The human soul, the image of God's glory;

[The children listen fascinated, and one by one move to right, mingling with the Virtues.] The azure sky's broad tent was spread for it — These sylvan pillared halls for its brief tread, Nature at hand to lavish all her treasures Of beauty and of use for its sweet tendance. But in the service of its great Creator It finds true joy, its widest liberty, — Nor earth, nor Heaven hath gladness without

Him.

Charity. [Advances bearing Heart in right hand, her left around a little child. ,] Love is the soul of service — its reward The joy unchanging which is perfect peace. The budding love of these sweet innocents

[Looks toward Alma Mater.] She shall entwine around the Sacred Heart Of Him who bade the little children come And cluster at His feet ; or on His knees, With wise eyes listening to His easy lessons ; Or oft, their dimpled arms about His neck,

He smiled the while they smothered Him with

kisses.

And this new love shall ope new faculties, Shall rule the little world of human loves, Shall be a rod to Passion and to Folly. Maryland. We welcome thee and thy fair followers As earth doth welcome Spring, with all her train Of soft-hued flowers and warbling birds and Zephyrs.

[One of the children, slowly emerging from background, gazes upon the lily in Alma Mater s hand, and, approaching her, smells

it.]

See ! from our sides our little ones have gone, And there entangled 'mid your soft caresses Have found new spirit-mothers, and are bound To ye already with a hoop of gold.

Massachusetts. I fear me — for that lily beautiful Is passing sweet of fragrance ; lo ! my child Is captured by its golden-hearted perfume.

Chastity. [Crowned with lilies and bearing one.] Nay, fear ye not, my Sister ; 'tis a gift A queen might envy and an empress share. I am the lily-bearer from Heaven's garden ; None but the chosen few receive it, they Who follow evermore the Lamb with songs And win the name He knows, above all price.

Columbia. [Approaching Alma Mater.] I feel its heavenly odor : many daughters Shall fly from me to nestle 'neath your wing.

Virginia. And many of my noblest hearts shall bear

That lily's sweetness to the world. Pennsylvania. And I —

My maidens pure shall hear the silver chime Of lily-bells struck by no mortal fingers, And haste to crown them with the snowy music. New York. Yea, from the Pine to Palm our groves shall yield A crop of virgin lilies ; we the richer For their full life and unblenched majesty — O'er Solomon in all his glory clad. First Child. [Looking upon the Virtues.] And these shall be our teachers? O what joy!

[Clapping hands.] I never, never shall be naughty. Second Child. [Bearing books.] No,

Nor I ; I shall not pout, nor throw my books Upon the floor in anger ; you shall see I'll be as quiet as a little lamb. Third Child. [Bearing large alphabet card.] Not one of you [Looking around.] will be as good as me — I haven't learned a thing but A — B — [Hesitates.]

C; Now, with such sweet-faced teachers, I can learn Those dreadful letters in a week, I'm sure. Fourth Child. [To Learning.] And wilt thou teach us, gentle lady? How I long to learn ! I would learn everything That books contain ; I'm greedy of all knowledge. Learning. [Caressing her.] Thou art an apt and cherished pupil. I

Shall lead thee through the paths of human knowledge, All beautiful ; yet study has some thorns. I'll teach thee of the wondrous lights above, Each faithful to its orbit ; and below, The unsounded deeps that evermore obey With punctual ebb and flow their Lady Moon. Strange countries, manners, languages shalt learn ; And oft to yon oak-tented solitude We shall repair for sweet repose and play, And Nature's self shall be our queen and mistress. First Child. How lovely that will be ! I long for it. Fifth Child. [To Humility.] What lovely violets crown your head! And see Your robe! Why, you are clad in these sweet flowers !

Where 'mid our mountains did ye gather them? Humility. [Caressing her.] Not in the mountains, but in shaded vales They grow, and hold a virtue in their fragrance. There is a spirit abroad whose very breath Hath power to sully thy bright innocence. Gay Vanity shall haunt thy every step, And Folly flaunts her colors everywhere; Temptation hovers like a bird of prey, And holiest souls are sometimes caught within Her talons ; Learning, too, so beautiful, Who has a train of glorious followers, May multiply thy dangers ; she herself Is safe, but when with us she bides. Wilt thou Then walk with me as Alma Mater's child ?

[Song plays soft music on her lyre.]

Fifth Child. O yes, with joy ; and let us go to the vales

And wreathe a crown of violets for my head.

[Exit with Humility: returns later crowned. Sixth Child. [Approaching Song.] What soft, delicious music! Wilt thou sing For us, and teach our hands to play ? Song. Yea, child,

Thy willing guide I'll be in harmonies Of instrument and voice. The harp and lyre Shall yield their sweetest strains unto thy touch. The organ shall pour forth majestic chords That strike their echoes up the angelic choirs. Full oft I'll sing to thee, and thou shalt learn The sweetest melodies of earth and Heaven.

Sixth Child. O let us hear the music of thy voice In holy chant ! 'Twill echo through our lives !

[Song plays and sings a sacred piece while the children listen enchanted; at its close Alma Mater leads Faith and Hope forward.]

Alma Mater. Behold, dear children, Faith and Hope, twin-born ; Twine hands with them and love them.

[The children stand in graceful poses, looking upon them with admiration.]

Fifth Child. Beautiful

Ye are and winning. Say, have ye the power

To give to us such loveliness as yours?

Can ye such treasures ope as Learning promised?

Faith. Yea, more and greater. To the courts of Heaven I lead you, 'mid the gleaming radiance Of thousand thousand spirits, morn and eve ; And then I cast a light by day and night That shows a princely spirit ever near, Whose love is more than tenderest mother-love, Who lightens with one hand the Cross, and in The other bears your Crown.

Hope. For such as thou,

Fair child, I hold my anchor [Extending it.] garlanded With flowers ; but thou shalt lean on it in peace Amid the tempests; in the weeping heavens My rainbow thou shalt see, and learn to trust Unwavering, God's gentle Providence.

Fifth Child. A language new thou speakest to my heart : I have known naught but ignorance and folly ; But now a universe of loveliness Dazzles my eyes. I choose ye for my guides.

[Clasps the left hand of Faith and the right hand of Hope.]

Alma Mater. And ye have chosen well, for they hold all God's secrets. Lovely shall your footsteps be O'er meadows green, beside still waters, till They lead you o'er the starry threshold. Oh, My children all, now mine by gift of greatness, Your choice as happy be! Light-hearted mirth, The dimpling cheeks of innocence, and feet

Bounding as doth the deer among your mountains, Shall well become you — and thro' distant days, As banded down the vale of time ye go, Ye still shall be my glory and my crown. Liberty. This is a day that Fame shall trumpet far — A day of golden record in time's annals.

glorious portent to our new-born Nation ! Unity. [Looking toward Prayer.} But who is this fair

vision veiled, with front Serene and lofty brow that seems to seek Communion with the skies?

Church. 'Tis holy Prayer,

The loved associate of this virgin pure.

For not alone she comes to guard your flock ;

A sweet Sulamitess, the mystic rites

Of contemplation give her higher power —

Power o'er the Heart of God for you and yours.

Prayer. To me she comes when the sweet breath of morn Unlocks the sleeping flowers and wakens all The singing birds ; and we together go

[Takes the hand of Alma Mater. ,] To the hill of frankincense and offer praise. When Day's bright eye looks from the zenith,

1 shoot Love's golden beams into her heart ; And when gray-hooded Twilight o'er the dew Trips noiselessly, we seek the snowy rills

Of grace, that wash all stains of earth away. Unity. These rills shall permeate the land. One heart In all, I see, ye gracious Presences! One aim, one impulse shall work miracles;

And lo ! your mission crowned of God and men. Church. [Advancing.] And what, my daughter, dost thou pledge these friends Unparalleled ?

Alma Mater. I pledge ye tireless service ;

Here is my ark of rest — so gentle Heaven Hath willed. These breathing lilies of your vales, These tender plants, I'll save from baneful winds, From noisome vapors of the chill night air, And nurse them into strength and loveliness That shall befit them for the heavenly clime, When earth has drunk their fragrance to her fill. [Soft harp music to end of tableau. Alma Mater kneels with hands uplifted.] So here before high Heaven, begirt with spirits Angelic, saints and martyrs looking down, I make my vow to this all-glorious mission. [Clasps hands.] O Mary Mother, register this

vow In Jesus' Heart unto eternity!

Church. [With hands extended in benediction over Alma Mater.] The Triune Father, Son and Holy Ghost Descend upon thee and remain forever! Be faithful and thou shalt be Alma Mater To many a white-souled generation here.

Tableau — Curtain.

Act II. — Same Scene

Council of Vices. — A table under the trees spread with fruits, wines, etc.; seated near are Envy, Prejudice, Calumny, and Persecution. Folly and Vanity peep from background. Ignorance, hooded and cloaked, walks the foreground in a state of excitement.

Ignorance. Fine doings these! the broad domain I've held For centuries, again invaded, now Not by the nobler sex to lay foundations Of broad far-reaching universities;

[Folly and Vanity enter slowly.] 'Tis but a puny woman, yet not less The peril to myself and you, my friends ; Already, shameless, haughty, she assumes The name of Alma Mater — cherishing Mother — Mother of minds, that she must needs develop And fill with bits of learning, smatterings Of science, and odd things old fogies thought And fools have acted. You, quick-witted Folly, Can you not circumvent her schemes?

Folly. [Laughing.] I've tried

My best, but can't get past the door as yet ; She teaches principles whose very breath Would blow my cap and bells away. I fear You'll have to seek a stronger hand than mine To unlock that gate. [Drinks a glass of wine.]

Ignorance. Well, Vanity, what luck?

Vanity. [Eating an apple and fanning herself.] O none at all! They dress in black and white, Poor homespun things, and this same beauteous toilet

Adorns their youthful simpletons; for them No powder, puffs, nor ruffs, no silken tissues ; Nor flaunting colors draw their glance, for when I peeped above the fence they ran away.

Envy. [Laughing maliciously.] Indeed, I cannot wonder ; it did credit To their superior taste.

Vanity. O blear-eyed Envy,

You are all acid, head and heart; your mouth An everflowing fount of vinegar : Who heeds you?

Calumny. Nay, 'tis not the time to quarrel:

We must concert some means to drive her hence,

Ere full-grown mischiefs follow in her wake.

You, Persecution, with your heavy hand,

Must crush her, break her, mind and body; yea,

I marvel ye could to these triflers trust

So arduous a charge, which rather calls

For our combined efforts. I have done

My part to take her down, and strewn reports

As false as hell or hatred, that infect

The public ear with poison.

Prejudice. [Angrily.] None of you

Have toiled as I since first she came among us.

You, Calumny, can little boast, for I

First led the way and you sneaked after. Ha!

No nation and no family but knows

What Prejudice can do to turn the tide

In the affairs of men. 'Tis not alone

The ear I gain, for I remould the heart

Calumny. True,

And when the judgment's turned awry, the ear

Sucks falsehood as the bee sucks honey. Ignorance. [Striking with gavel on table.] Friends,

We're wasting time, while she grows strong in power

And menaces our every separate realm.

I move that Persecution take the floor. Envy. And I the motion second.

Prejudice. And I, too ;

I know we're all agreed.

Others. Agreed — agreed.

Persecution. I rise, my honorable peers, with pleasure.

Than my profession, none, I dare affirm,

More noble — ancient as the human race ;

From petty arts and stings of friend to friend

That 'tis delight to foster, I pass on

To thrusts of Hatred and Oppression's sword

Envenomed, in the hearts of loyal subjects.

I know no touch of mercy: I exult

In torture, wringing hearts and racking bodies.

I'm perfect in all modes of crushing souls — Envy. [Interrupting.] You think you are, but sometimes you are foiled :

They rise from their own native energy ;

And they or higher powers hurl you prostrate

Biting the dust ; I've seen you so. Persecution. [With scorn.] You, Envy,

Are skilled as I ; but you [Slow prone gesture.] stab in the dark.

And now, dear friends, to show I've kept my compact, Already this fair Virgin is beset By troubles like a swarm of wasps : Temptation, Then Fear, I pushed in by a postern gate ; Discouragement, I think, climbed o'er the fence, — But there she is: and those three play the cards So well, there's little left for us to do. Her chanting choirs and praying girls will soon Disbanded be, and she an exile. Prejudice. Hail

That happy day! But let us not grow languid. Use every engine that may haste the time That wreaks her ruin, for my very soul In torture is till she hath left the land. Folly. [Shaking her bells.] And so the Council's over.

— May we go?

Vanity. We have important duties waiting us —

But — if you need — our presence — Prejudice. [With sarcasm.'] O your help

We can dispense with — and not suffer loss !

[Vanity and Folly meet from opposite sides, and joining hands dance off, looking backward with smiles. Calumny and Envy follow hand in hand.] Ignorance. [To Persecution, with satirical laugh.] Lo! she comes, attended — This would-be Queen — by your three satellites. Prejudice. 'Twere better we should hide. These friendly trees Will shelter us the while we list their converse.

[Prejudice, Persecution and Ignorance hide.

Alma Mater approaches from right, led by

Fear and accompanied by Temptation and

Discouragement; she leans on the latter.]

Fear. [Tremblingly.] You see, dear lady, all your

prospects fail.

I tremble for your future and am full Of sad forebodings for your happiness: I know not what you've done, but friends fall off. You have slack shelter from the winter's cold, You who were reared in luxury: hard couch Is yours; and Famine soon must haunt your side, For bread, even now, is doled in scanty measure. Temptation. [In dulcet tones, approaching Alma

Mater.] You've done your part with honor:

hope and love Have winged your steps, but now they've fled

away Ne'er to return. Believe, this life is all Mistake and blunder: 'twas your choice, not

God's: You are not fitted for this life austere ; Hide not your beauty 'neath a sombre veil ; Come back to our bright world, its ornament And joy — Alma Mater. [Waving her away.] Flee from me, thou

low-thoughted spirit!

How darest thou tempt me thus, God's chosen?

He My Love forever is. Though He should cast Me forth an exile in the wilderness —

Without a star upon the unpathed waters,

I'll trust Him unto death; for He hath laid

A charge upon me, and in this fair land

I plant the garden of the Visitation. Fear. Pardon, fair lady, but thou art fool-hardy:

If thou wilt be religious, yet not here;

Riches, fine buildings, wait thee otherwhere,

And friends and pupils who will do thee credit.

Prudence is virtue.

Discouragement. Change your plan and leave

These futile hopes. The Visitation ne'er

Shall flourish in this barren clime. No use

To fight 'gainst Fate. Go, join Saint Ursula's daughters,

And Want and Trial wing their flight, and thou'rt

Embraced by Peace and Plenty.

Temptation. [Aside to Discouragement.] Well

thou play'st

Thy role : thou art my ablest champion ;

To change her plan is good as giving up

Her high-glossed mission. Keep thou near her side.

Alma Mater. [Seated, leaning on Fear.] Alas, who shall my fainting spirit uplift

In this dark moment? Where are those sweet Powers

That led my footsteps hither.?

Discouragement. See — they've fled!

But we in pity of thy gentle youth

And misery, flew to thy aid.

[Vanity and Folly enter left.]

Alma Mater. [Starts, lifts up Cross.] Begone!

I know ye all : the light this image casts Reveals ye. Hence! Tho' clouds are round me

pent, They soon shall break and I shall see the sun. Folly. [Bowing tauntingly.] I think ye are my sister, as light-headed And giddy in your hopes as I. You see You're in our power.