Dramatic stories for home and school entertainment

Preface

This book is presented to the young, irrespective of the years they have lived, with the hope that it may afford them many an evening's pleasant entertainment.

L. H. P.

Contents

PAGE.

i. The Mantle of Charity 13

6. Shenstone Society . 89

Scene Second

Joshua Earle walking the stage, with hands behind him, and a half-satisfied air.

Joshua.

" This world is all a fleeting show, For man's illusion given."

So says the poet, and I believe he speaks truly. I doubt if there is any reality in life. All the world envies me, and yet I am restless. A fortune has just rained into my hands, and what is it? I feel nothing; and yet it has brought about me a wonderful change. I am now surrounded with a host of admiring friends. Sometimes they tire me. I have a large mansion of a house, all elegantly furnished ; but it 's dreadful lonely there. Young ladies, with their managing ma's, call on me ; they bring me flowers, and, I suppose, they expect I shall sigh over them ; but I leave them to wither on the table. And they bring me honeyed words too. I understand them ; they want to take possession of my hive. What a world of honey-bees flit about me ! I am not a fool ; I know some of them would sting me, if they caught me. There is only one sweet bee that I could tolerate here, and she flits from me. Her ambitious papa says " Yes," in his blandest manner, and I know why ; but she, fairy, angel, or whatever you may call her, is not caught by gilded trappings.

[Enter Fordyce Dewey.] For. I have come, my good old friend, to congratulate you. There is no end to the blessings a fortune brings. And while I congratulate you, I have to condole with many of the fair sex, who had indulged a hope.

Josh. My fortune does n't add to my happiness. I may get used to it by-and-by. When I was a salesman in Derby's store, I had a purpose in life. Friends were few then, but real ; and life was earnest and active. I took hold of things, and they seemed substantial.

For. I should think you had enough now to feel some substance. Your fortune has gained you the prettiest girl in Kedron. Is not she substantial ?

Josh. The least of all ; I cannot reach her. She is too etherial for my coarse hand. To be sure, her father has given her to me; but what of that? She isn't mine. She is n't one of those honey-bees that seeks a fine hive. But I like her mighty well; her shyness pleases me. When I try to say nice things to her, 1 get confused, she changes so fast ; sometimes her cheeks are like red roses, and I take courage ; sometimes she turns white like a winding-sheet, then, man as I am, I tremble.

For. Why do n't you marry her at once, if you have the old man's consent ?

Josh. When I named it to her, all the color left her cheeks. I saw her shiver; one tear fell; then she whispered, " Not yet ; }~ou and pa have made the bargain ; you must wait a while for me. I do n't know myself. I must try to do as pa wishes me to." Something like this she said, and I tell you my face was n t very white. I felt the blood keep rising under my hair. I guess we did n't either feel very easy in ourselves.

She did n't move at all. I hitched round a good deal, trying to find some words to say back to her ; hut when I found I was choking, I gathered my boots together, and said, "Good night, Miss Lane."' I haven't seen her since.

For. You are a fool, Josh. Earle, with all your money. If I were in your place, and wanted the girl, I would marry her before the next new moon.

Josh. And I think you would have a sorrowful honey-moon. No, Ford., I will not marry thai pretty girl against her will. I would n't mind taking her against her father's will, if she liked me. The liking is what makes the marrying. I will wait for her awhile. then gather up my boots once more, and listen to her gentle whisper. I like her mighty well : and this likingdoes me good ; it 's a kind of feeling I encourage.

For. 1 should think it was rather dangerous business for you. You may find this feeling troublesome, if your fluttering bird continues to say, " wait."

Josh. But it is a good feeling, Ford. ; it is the only hope I have in life. The fortune that has rained so unexpectedly into my pocket doesn't amount to anything. I was Josh. Earle before I had it, and I am Josh. Earle now. Some people call me Esquire Earle : but that calling amounts to just nothing. This feeling that I was speaking of is something — it 's part of myself — and, as I said, 1 like to cherish it.

For. What will become of this feeling if .Miss Lane should never like you ?

Josh. I am prepared for that emergency, and 1 (In n't much expect she ever will like me : but, as 1 said,

I like her mighty well — well enough to marry her. Yet it takes two likings to make a real marriage, and I detest shams — more especially since I have had a glimpse of fashionable life. Ford., I tell you the world is heartless, and them honey-bees that buzz round a handsome hive are the most heartless of all.

For. In the beginning of this sensible speech, you said you were prepared for an emergency. I am interested to know in what way, for the knowledge may prove of use to your poor friend sometime, who does not stand much chance of ever being blessed with the two likings you speak of.

Josh. Well, this is it : There is Betsey Lee — you 've never seen her, Ford. Now, I know in our early days, when we both went barefoot, and ate dry bread for our supper, and a cold potato for our breakfast, she had a liking for me, and I had a liking for her, too. We drank water out of the same bucket, at the old well. She called me Josh., and I called her Bets. ; and we always looked after each other's comfort. When I broke my leg trying to ride her grand'ther's old cow, she came in and read iEsop's Fables to me. Them was substantial times, Ford.

Ford. This country Betsey of yours would n't know how to manage a splendid mansion, Josh.

Josh. Neither do I; but we would manage it in our own way. Betsey has got a feeble ma, that would grow strong in that large, airy south room. Then her blind grand'ther could take the room back of it ; this one is n't very pleasant, but, as long as he is blind, 't would n't make any difference to him. Her two brothers could have one of the upper rooms. Then

we "(1 find a nice room for her Aunt Sally. You t Ford., if I get all them folks into my house, "t would begin to seem like a home ; and 't would make them so comfortable too.

For. Well, Josh., you are becoming a philanthropist - Isn't there a room in your house somewhere for me? I am poor.

Josh. If I get Betsey there, we will fit up one expressly for you. Now, I am beginning to get hold of something. Life seems coming back; and I should n'i wonder if Betsey was better for me than that pretty bird I have been trying to catch. She is too much like a sunbeam. Sometimes her light dazzles you ; and then. without knowing why, you feel a blindness coming over you. The last time I was there, I began choking. She always calls me Mr. Earle; and she bows very genteelly to me. Now, if I should go to see Betsey, she would grab my hand between both of hers, and exclaim. " Josh., I am so glad to see you." Well, if I was clear of this last affair, I would start to-morrow night for Betsey's home; 'tis only two days' ride from here. Wouldn't she be glad to see me, though ?

For. You need n't travel so far as that to find a girl that's glad to see you.

JOSH. Fie on all the girls here! There isn'1 one of them cares a fig. for Josh. Earle; 'tis his hive they want. There is two of them follow me everywhere 1 go. I 11 be blinded if I can guess how they track me.

n a do 1 '' wa\

Ever yon hear of gals scenting a fellow i

FOR. I think some of them scent you since you had yroilT fortune ?

Josh. That they do. They bore me to death with their rna's bouquets. I '11 never accept another one from any of bhem. I'm for Betsey now; there's two likings there, and a marriage, may be. Farewell, my pretty, trembling bird. You can't like me ; 't is n't your fault. I 'm rather coarse — just right for Betsey. Ford., what color paper do they w T rite notes on to genteel ladies ?

For. Pink, to be sure.

Josh. I '11 write Miss Lane a note this evening. I can never put courage enough into my boots again to speak to her. Then to-morrow I am off for Betsey ; won't she be glad to see me ? and the old folks too ? I tell you, Ford., my hand will be squeezed enough down there in Tarrytown. We '11 fix up a room for you — Bets, and I will.

Foe. Josh., how is the feeling now that you like to cherish ?

Josh. 'T is as warm as the sun itself. Now, Ford., let me caution you in this matter. If you have a real, live, true feeling in your heart, cherish it. 'T is a God gift, and better than all the fortunes in creation. [Enter Kate North and Hannah Hugh.]

Hannah. Esquire Earle, ma sent you a bunch of her preserved grapes, with her compliments, and would deem it an honor if you would spend the evening with us. We are expecting a few friends in, and hope to be able to make it pleasant for you.

Josh. Miss Hugh, you will please excuse me from accepting your grapes, as I am out of tune this evening.

For. I think he has got the heart disease. He has all the symptoms of it : a rush of blood to the head, and a confused feeling there, attended sometimes with a choking sensation.

Hannah. Shall I tell ma she may expect to see you this evening at our house ?

Josh. I must be excused, as to-morrow I start on a long journey, and shall need this evening for preparations.

Hannah. It 's too bad. Come and see us when you get back. I hope your journey may improve your health.

Kate. Esquire Earle, will you accept these simple flowers from my mother. You cannot have the sunc objection to them that you had to the grapes. Flow lis are a very appropriate offering to an invalid.

Josh. Please, Miss North, favor our poor friend .Mr. Dewey with your ma's bouquet. He is so languishingly fond of flowers, and I am, unfortunately, blind to their beauty. I like cowslip blossoms, in the early spring, for greens, and dandelions too, if they are not old.

Kate. Excuse us. Good evening.

Hannah. I trust we haven't intruded. Good evening. \l£zeun&*

For. Esquire Earle ! The millionaire ! And treat young ladies rudely.

Josh. Rudely! These simpering, buzzing bees saw no rudeness in my words. If I don't hurry out of town, they will be after me again with their poesies. I shall bring Betsey back with me — the liking is the marrying ; but then, there is a good old minister down in Tarrytown that will tie the knot for us. I'll be a man when I 've Bets, in the house, calling, in her own strong way, " Josh., Josh." Come, go home with me, and write the pink-paper note ; you are skilled in such things, and I am a perfect blockhead.

Foe. I will write the pink-paper note with pleasure ; but first answer me one question. I am deeply interested in that nice feeling that you recommend me to cherish. Now, you have loved two ladies passionately within the last half hour is the love for both equal ? Have you no choice ?

Josh. Friend Ford., you have put to me a mighty nice question. The thing is just like this : I look up into the clear sky; I see beautiful lights and shades playing there ; I try to reach them, but I find there is altogether too much of earth about me to rise so high. I see a glorious star, I call it mine, but its brightness dazzles my eyes. An angel is given to me ; I fancy I am in heaven, gather up my heavy boots, and timidly sit by her side. She speaks ; I am choking; I find her atmosphere altogether too etherial for me. I am like a fish out of water, and flounder in the same way until I reach a stratum of air I can breathe freely in. Do you understand me? If you do, write my pink-paper note, then I 'm my own man again, and can lock arms with Betsey Ann.

Fob. Come, then, let 's hurry off before any more of the fair ones scent your track. [Exeunt.