UC-NRLF 
 
 P S 
 
 2591 
 
 P25 
 
 B733 
 
 1887 
 
 MAIN 
 
Of 
 
IHHH 
 
 \ 
 
BRAG; THE POOR HOUSE GIRL 
 A DRAMA 
 
 TO WHICH IS ADDED 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF THE COSTUMES-CAST OF THE CHARACTERS- 
 ENTRANCES AND EXITS-RELATIVE POSITIONS OF THE 
 PERFORMERS ON THE STAGE, AND THE WHOLE 
 OF THE STAGE BUSINESS. 
 
 FRINTED FEOM THE AUTHOR S OIUGlSALMAXUSCKIFT. 
 
 year 1887, by 
 
 ding to act of Co>iff 
 
 A. D. AMES, 
 m the offire of the Librarian of Congress at Washi 
 
 CLYI F, OH/O: 
 
 A. D. AMES, PUBLISHER. 
 
BRAG; THE POOR HOUSE GIRL. 
 
 A CTERS RE PR E SENT ED. 
 
 Brae ; A poor house girl adopted by Clarissa. 
 
 Bob Wilder A summer boarder of Avoca farm. 
 
 Frank Karl / search of Brae. 
 
 John Perkins Overseer <>f Karl and Southen s business 
 
 Ransom Sage... ..4 lawyer in search of an heir to Southen v property. 
 
 Clarissa A very.; r A country milliner. 
 
 Dorcas Jones. >^. A country dressmaker. 
 
 Anna Blake. . .y I n Perkin s power. 
 
 COSTUMES. 
 
 BRAC. Act 1 Plain pingham frock. Act 2 Dress of the same. 
 ActS Dress of fashionable young lady. 
 
 BOB. Act 1 Bicycle suit. Act 2 and 3 Street dress. 
 
 FRANK KARL. Act 1 and 2 Street dress. Act 3 Full dress. 
 
 JOHN PERKINS (A heavy cloak for the murder) Full dross. 
 
 RANSOM SAGE. Street dress. 
 
 CLARISSA AVERT. Old fashioned silk dress. 
 
 DORCAS JONES. Act 1 Comm on woolen dress. Act, 2 Old style 
 Bilk. 
 
 ANNA BLAKE. Act # Street costume. Act 3 Stylish silk suit. 
 
 x 
 
 TIME OF PERFORMANCE TWO HOURS. 
 
 STA GE DIRECTIONS. 
 
 ., means Right; L., Left; R. H., Right Hand; L. H., Left Hand; o., Centre; s. w,; 
 [2d E.,] Second Entrance; u. E., Upper Entrance; M. D., Middle Door; F., the Flal 
 D. K., Door in Flat; E. c., Right of Centre; L.C., Left of Centre. 
 
 ft. R. 0. 0. L. 0. U 
 
 ** The reader is supposed to be upon the stage facing the audience. 
 
 Any one desiring io produce this play is at liberty to 
 do so free of charge. 
 
$7113. l%$7, MAIN 
 
 BRAC; THE POOR HOUSE GIRL 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 SCENE Set house L. 1 B., with front removed from the helghth of the 
 bottom of the window, so that what transpires within the room* can 
 le seenfrm the audience. Eoom furnished to represent a parlor 
 millinery establishment. In front and to the R. side of the set 
 house is a vacant space, representing a garden which is surrounded 
 by a neat garden fence; gate c. The front of the stage, from about 
 the second wings, is vacant. Above the vacant side of the room is 
 a sign "Miss CLARISSA AVERV, Fashionable Milliner. At the 
 rise of the curtain Miss AVERT is discovered seated at C. of the 
 room trimming a green plush hat. 
 
 Clarissa, (after pinning on a couple of sun flowers) What next, I 
 wonder ! to think of these homely flowers beiu the rage ! I recollect, 
 ma wouldn t have one of em growin in the front yard, even rnqng 
 the genteel flowers, hut had em out by the woodshed, cos they 
 were called good for fever and ager. Now they tell me they use em 
 at fust-class parties, and decorate grand rooms with em. Well, it s 
 live and learn 1 (holds hat at arm s length) There now, Miss Pris- 
 cilla Primrose, your bunnet s done! and I must say that it does my 
 arteestic bility great credit in showin so much style, (looks at t lie 
 clock) Lor sakes I It s nine o clock and I haven t made my toilet 
 yet. What if any one had called ! I must go at once. 
 
 (exit at side door 
 
 Enter BRAG into garden in front of the house from the back part of 
 the stage; comes with a run and jump. 
 
 Brae. Well, here I is, right side up again ! I just failed down 
 and hurt myself like fun. How good it is of Miss Avery to give me 
 a home. I wish she d give me more to e;it; let me see. Yesterday 
 I had some cold potatoes for breakfast, and for dinner I had what 
 did I have? Oh, I know ! I had nothin , for she made me go with 
 out, to punish me for shearin hei pet cat. Hal ha! ha! he did 
 look awful comic though, and she called me an imp ! I don t know 
 what that is, but she says that they can t go to heaven. Well, I 
 can t help it. I m just as I grovved; but I think she 11 have a fight 
 
 ~* T wish I was rich like 
 
 to get through the golden gate. Oh, dear! I wish I was rich li 
 Bob; then all the girls in "town wouldn t make faces and call n 
 names. I don t care, I don t like to be made fun of just bec us I l 
 
 n the sea 
 
 664 
 
4 BE A C ; THE POOR HO USE GIRL. 
 
 Enter BOB from L. 1 E. 
 
 Bob. (discovers BRAG crying) Why, hallo, Brae I What s the 
 trouble? What are you crying for? Come, don t mind it; now 
 you just see what I ve brought you (takes bananas from his pocket) 
 there 1 
 
 Brae. What s them? 
 
 Bob. Those are bananas. 
 
 Brae. Bandanas ? 
 
 Bob. No, not bandanas but bananas, and now I want you to eat 
 everyone of them. 
 
 Brae. What I all of them? 
 
 Bob. Yes, all of them. 
 
 Brae. At once? 
 
 Bob. No, not at once, but one at a time. 
 
 Brae. My stars I what a picnic! 
 
 Bob. Now go ahead and eat, and I ll watch and see that dear 
 Clarissa don t see you. 
 
 Retires a little; BRAG is very slow about eating at first, as though 
 afraid, but finally eats ravenously. 
 
 Bob. Heavens I she must be awful hungry I I thought she looked 
 as though she was starved. Just see her eat, will you? 
 
 Brac^ Oh, ain t these just licious I 
 
 Bob. Delicious, you mean, Brae. 
 
 Brae. Yes, I s pose I do. (aside) I can never get the big words 
 In right, somehow. 
 
 Bob. (sitting by her side) I say, Brae, I ve a good mind to give 
 your mistress a good sound bit of advice. 
 
 Brae. You d better not, unless you re gohr" to vise her how to 
 regain the bloom of youth, and then she ain t the worst guard. 
 
 Bob. What makes you persist in calling her guard? 
 
 Brae. Bec us she s been lookiu out of the door every mornin 
 and under the bed every night for fifty years, to find a husband; 
 and if she ain t on guard then all right! 
 
 Bob. That s rather strong proof, I must say. But, Brae, do you 
 know the reason she never puts her purse in her pocket? 
 
 Brae. No, unless she s like me and ain t got any pocket. But 
 that ain t it, for 1 sce d her take a pep mint out the other day, and 
 she didn t give me one ne ther. Tell me what s the reason, quick! 
 
 Bob. Because it is so light she is afraid that it will jump out. 
 
 Brae. Why, Bob, 1 didn t think you would make fun like that. 
 But say I Miss A very says that she never had a man kiss her. 
 
 Bob. I don t believe tliat. 
 
 Brae. But I do! 
 
 Bob. Why, Brae! what makes you believe that a lady could have 
 grown up and not have been kissed ? 
 
 Brae. Cause the men are all afraid of powder. 
 
 Bob. Well, Brae, I m not! (kisses her 
 
 Brae. Oh! he he kissed me! (aside) and I ain t washed my 
 face this week. 
 
 Bob. Well, Brae, there s going to be a party down to Avoca 
 farm, and the gentlemen are all obliged to take ladies, so I wish to 
 have you <ro with me. 
 
 Brae. Oh, Bob, I d like to go so much I But I can t, be be- 
 
BfiAC; THE POOR HOUSE GIRL. 6 
 
 c use I m only Miss Avery s slavey and ain t wanted where all them 
 tine folks are. 
 
 Bob. You can go with me if you will, and I should like to see 
 any one say anything again-t you when I am around. 
 
 Brae, i thank you Bob, for your invite, but I can t go, no how, 
 and I I must go in now, so good bye. 
 
 Bob. Forgive me, Brae, I did not mean to make you unhappy! 
 Good bye! I ll go and have a good long ride now; for, after you, 
 my bicycle is my best friend. 
 
 Brae. Bob! don t you look so serious or I m afraid you ll take a 
 header from your bicycle. 
 
 Bob. I ll be careful good bye! (exit BOB, L. 1 E. 
 
 Brae. Oh, why can t I dress and go like other girls? Here I 
 have to stay day and night and work for my food and she manages 
 to make my diesses out of her old ones. I only -wish that she d 
 make me more than one at a time, so s I could kinder dress up and 
 look a little bit prime when Bob comes. I do try and not be stupid 
 when he s here, but I get so awful hungry that I don t care for 
 nothin or nobody. Lor, sakes! want them bandanas immense 
 though? Now Tin goin to take my books away before old guarcly 
 gets her eye on me. 
 
 (takes a book from under the seat and runs off at the right 
 
 Enter CLARISSA into room from side door, dressed for the day. 
 
 C. There now, I m ready! I owe it to my profession to make a 
 good appearance, else how could the public trust my taste in bun- 
 nets, i got the latest style for doing up my hair from the best place 
 in town, and had my dress bought in New York, so as to give it 
 tone. And now I ll just look out I always do every morning so s 
 to see if he s comin . (looks out of the door, slims it to, and comes 
 back) Oh, dear! I didn t see him anywhere! but he must come 
 sometime I know, for I have a sort of presentiment. Now if I was 
 to pick out a wedding outfit I d have a pale pink brocade silk dress, 
 with light green satin piping and black pass-a-commentry fringe, 
 and for a hat I d have the faintest, lovliest, creamiest plush 
 
 BRAG bursts into the house from the door, and CLARISSA starts vio 
 lently. 
 
 Brae. Oh, mum, the boys have been and went and gone and done 
 it this time, they have! 
 
 C. Lor sakes, Brae! what do vou come a bustm into a room like 
 a turnado in that ere way for? Don t you know what sensibilities 
 and high strung nervous organizations is? 
 
 Brae, (anxiously) No, mum ! Is it good to eat, mum? 
 
 C. (vexed) Good to eat! gracious goodness, girl! you ll drive 
 f.u; mad with your stupidity 1 What has them imps of Satan been 
 to now? 
 
 Brae. They ve been alter! n the sign, mum. 
 C. Alterins: my sign ! Well, I never! That 
 
 , my sign l well, i never: i nai comes of bein* a 
 
 lone" woman with no protector. Oh, why did I scorn all the suitors 
 for my hand? I might have had my choice of them, (brings in tht 
 sitin, holds it up and reads it, and sets it beside the other; it read*: 
 "Miss CLARISSA A-very cuss of a Fashionable Milliner." Stands off 
 and looks at the sign) For the landsake! my best sign distrovcdi 
 
6 BRAG; THE POOH HOUSE QIEL. 
 
 and I ll be obliged to use the old one. Brae, come here ! Do you 
 know done this ? No, of course you don t ! How can I expect you 
 to know anything? still it s a good time to learn you one thiii^-, 
 and that is, that the imp wno did this job will git his deserts bye 
 and bye, for the Good Book says that "the wages of sin is death." 
 
 Brae. When are you goin to draw your salary, mum? 
 
 C. What s that? You ungrateful wretch ! Didn t I give you 
 some cold griddles for your breakfast this morning? but it s no use; 
 the more I do for you, the sasier you git. Where have you hid 
 yourself to all the morning? 
 
 Brae. Me hide myself ha! ha! ha! I was out in the garden. 
 and oh, almost everywhere. 
 
 C. I spected as much. You ll be a fust class tramp if you don t 
 stop. Can t I teach you that k< a rollin stone gathers no moss !" 
 
 Brae. What s that? What do you mean by a rollin stone? 
 
 G. Why, any pirson what s always movin about from one place 
 to another and from one business to another. 
 
 Brae. Then a fellow what stays still all the time the moss grows 
 to. 
 
 G. That s the idea! That s what I ve been teaching you. 
 
 Brae. You must be all covered over, for people say that you have 
 been here for fifty years, mum. 
 
 C. Well, I d clarl (sharply) you just march yourself about 
 your work and don t you ever come to me with your impertinence 
 again, you sasy brat, or I ll send you back to the poor farm. 
 
 Brae, (aside) Oh, ain t she just jolly mad, though ? 
 
 Bursts out laughing and rushes out of the room at the door, leaving it 
 
 open. 
 
 C. I don t see for the life of me what makes that child so stupid! 
 comes in and closes the door behind her. 
 
 Brae. Lor, mum ! There s a real man at the door, and he wants 
 to see you all a lone. 
 
 C. Good gracious, he s come at last ! Now see that you are look 
 ing your best, Clarissa. (primps before the glass 
 
 Brae, (suddenly j There s a hole in your dress, mum. 
 
 G. Good heavens! where? Where is it? 
 
 Brae, (getting out of reach) At the bottom, mum. 
 
 G. Oh, you imp ! I almost fainted with shame. 
 
 Brae. Say, shall I ask him in, mum ? 
 
 C. Well, I never! Of course you ll ask him in, stupid ! 
 
 Brae, (yells) Come in, "stupid !" 
 
 G. Gracious heavens, girl, you are the biggest natural born fool I 
 ever saw. 
 
 Exit BEAC and returns with MR. SAGE. 
 Brae. Here he is, mum. Mr. Stupid. 
 BRAC gets behind SAGE and goes through motions of the introduction. 
 
 Sage. Allow me ! (presents his card 
 
 C. (aside) Mr. Sa^e ! Well, that s not a bad name, though it 
 does remind one of catnip and peneroyal. 
 
BE AC; TEE POOR HOUSE Q1EL. 1 
 
 Brae, (suddenly") Fire I Fire!! 
 C. (alarmed) Good gracious, child! where? 
 Boat Where? where? (advances and puts hand on BRAC s arm 
 Brae No where, sir. I only see d her commence to spark, and 
 thought I d give the alarm before she blazed. (SAGE torn* aside 
 C. (angrily) Oh, you child I Go out of the house this minute. 
 
 BRAC starts for the door but stops, jumps up and screams. 
 
 Brae. Lor, mum! there s a mouse under your dress; he just 
 runned there. 
 CLARISSA screams, and jumping up into a chair, holds her dress up t9 
 
 the top of her boots. SAGE advances hastily, looking for the mouse. 
 
 BRAC strikes an attitude and says: 
 
 Brae. There, she blazes! 
 
 Sage, (laughs) Well, you are enough to make anything blaze. 
 (assists C. to the floor) Pray calm yourself, my dear madam, there 
 s nothing to be feared from such a small animal, and he has gone 
 lono- ere this. (helps himself to chair near rear door 
 
 C. Why don t you leave the room as I told you, and don t you 
 dare to come in here again unless you are called; do you hear? 
 (noes to BRAC; aside) You shall go to bed without your supper for 
 p layin that joke on me. You didn t see a mouse at all, you wretch I 
 
 BRAC has edged up behind MR. SAGE S chair, and pulling his hair and 
 answering CLARISSA at same time. 
 
 Brae. Small loss, mum. (rushes out of door at back 
 
 Sage, (jumps up and exclaims) Thunder I I don t know but it 
 was a small loss, but a few of them would leave me bald-headed. 
 
 (rubbing his head 
 
 C. (advancing and speaking softly) Oh, what is the trouble, sir ? 
 Does your head ache? 
 
 Sage. No, it s nothing, only cr She s a remarkably lively 
 
 little girl, though. 
 
 <7. Yes, she s altogether too lively. I just took her out of the 
 poor farm, and am trying to make a pleasant home for her. (aside) 
 I think that she lives too high. 
 
 Sage. Yes, I think that she is a^little lively ; but let me return to 
 business. I I m from India. SAGE takes chair up to table 
 
 C. Sho ! (drawing a chair up to tablt also 
 
 Sage. A lawyer; this is my card. 
 
 (pointing at the one he had given her 
 
 C. I want to know? 
 
 Sage. Yes, of course you want to know; well, I m hunting for 
 heirs. 
 
 C. Du tell ? 
 
 Sage. Or heiresses! 
 
 C. For the land s sake ! 
 
 Sage. Did you ever hear of a Luke Southen, who was rather & 
 wild youth and went off to India? 
 
 C. Lor , yes he was my second cousin on my mother s side; 
 her name was Mandrake before (SAGE interrupts her and continues 
 
 Sage. Yes yes, I know all about that. But Luke, poor fellow, 
 has left this world forever. 
 
t BE AC; THE POOS HOUSE QIBL. 
 
 C. Goodness me ! You don t mean it ! 
 
 Sage. He turned over a new leaf when he got to India, and sayed 
 money. 
 
 C. lie saved money! Du tell? 
 
 Sage. Yes, I will, if you will give me time. Well, he left about 
 half a million to his next of kin. Now we found no will, and in 
 looking up his family, we find that they have all passed away with 
 the exceptions of a cousin by the same name you bear, though she is 
 so far distant that it will be quite a task to get the property but it 
 will in time naturally come to that person. Now if you are the same 
 Clarissa, and it can be proved that you are the last and nearest 
 
 C. (hurriedly) I am I am ! Ilia folks are all gone long ago. 
 God bless them ! and I am the 
 
 Sage. Exactly. I ve been looking for you for a long time, (rises) 
 Allow me to congratulate you on being (offers his hand 
 
 C. (rises and takes his hand and holds it) As the poet says 
 
 "The last ungathered rose 
 Upon the parent stem." 
 
 Sage, (puts his other hand on her arm they still holding Jiands) 
 Ah! certainly that is your fault, madam, or else there must be a 
 singular insensibility in this community. You are out of your 
 sphere here, madam. In the great metropolis, amid congenial 
 minds, you should shine 
 
 C. (dropping his hand and walking back and jorth with clasped 
 hands) I know it, sir. I have always felt that I was born for bet 
 ter things, (stops suddenly in front, O/SAGE) Bat how soon can I 
 draw ? 
 
 Sage. Draw ? 
 
 C. Yes, draw checks to be sure ! 
 
 Sage. Oh ahem! Well, you know the law is very slow in its 
 processes; you understand delays, lots of red tape, and all that 
 sort of thing. (resumes his seat 
 
 C. And what sort of thing? 
 
 Sage. Why, delays and red tape, of course. 
 
 C. Shol (sits opposite SAGE) Ked tape! well, that s curious! 
 But I don t want any tape. I can buy that any time; all I want is 
 to draw checks. 
 
 Sage. But don t you understand ? that instead of getting money 
 at once, you ll have to pay out something; a mere trifle compared 
 to the prize. You ll have lofee a lawyer to prove that you are your 
 self that you are the last of the race. 
 
 C. Oh, if that s all, that s easy enough. Any one about here can 
 give you my history. I suppose you will undertake the case? 
 
 Sage. With pleasure I may say since I have seen you, with in 
 finite pleasure, madam. 
 
 (7. You do me a great favor in the interest you show in ray be 
 half; and now you must remain with me no excuses taken. So 
 you can make yourself at home here, while I see about the dinner. 
 (goes to door and calls) Brae! Brae, I say I 
 
 BRAC rushes into door. 
 
 Brae. Here I is ! 
 
 C. You go to the hotel at once and get a chicken 
 
 Brae. A what? 
 
B RA t TEE POOR HO USE GIRL. 9 
 
 C. A chicken, stupid! 
 
 Rrac. A chicken stupid I what s that? 
 
 C. Oh, you you ll drive me mad I You go and do as I tell you ; 
 get the chicken; tell Bunker I don t want any old fossil, but the 
 finest he s got, and some early peas and salad 
 
 Brae. Oh, my 1 she s crazy, sure 1 
 
 C. Shut up, will you ? and then order some ice cream from 
 Crown s; mind, no dippin into it! Now be a good girl and let me 
 know the moment they come, and you shall have a nice dinner. 
 
 (exit C. into room with SAGE, and BRAC out oj street door 
 
 Enter KARL in front, R. 1 E. 
 
 Karl. So this is the place where the little one lives. I wonder 
 how she s treated. They say up town that the old woman ain t 
 very liberal. Let me see; it s nine months since poor Luke died; 
 before he died we gave John, our overseer, the place and sufficient 
 capital to carry it on, as he had always been honest as far as we 
 knew; and then Luke gave me his will, and all the information 
 that he possessed about his child, and told me to find her and see 
 that she had her rights, which I promised to do. After we buried 
 him I started at once as I didn t like the place after my partner s 
 death. And John, well he drew his money and came by the same 
 boat as I, and he was going to get his wife and mother, he said ; but 
 I guess that he thought he would settle up all of our property in 
 his own way, the night he stabbed me in the back and threw me 
 overboard; but the time hadn t come for old Karl to pass in his 
 chips. So here I am and I m bound to see the girl righted. Hallo ! 
 here comes some one down the road. I ll step aside, as I don t wish 
 to be seen here ! (steps back in the shadow and as JOHN passes ex 
 claims, aside) What! Jack Perkins here! This means mischief ! 
 I must find out his object and plans. 
 
 JOHN enters L. E., looking all about the place. 
 
 John. Ah ! here I am ! (looks in window) What I no one at home, 
 not even the old lady; that s rather funny ! I thought that she was 
 always in. Well, this will give me a chance to think and to lay my 
 plans. I ve already made the acquaintance of Brae, though she don t 
 seem to fancy me. Now I have all the proofs with the exception of 
 the key to that confounded locket and his will. I don t see how I 
 missed finding them on Karl that night. I thought I felt in every 
 pocket before I threw him over. (KARL moves his position) ^ What s 
 that! Somehow every time I think of that act I start as if I had 
 been shot. 1 must be getting nervous, for every time I see a stran 
 ger, a kind of fear takes possession of me. Supposing Karl had 
 escaped? .No, that was impossible ; and he carried the key and 
 will down to the bottom of the sea with him. I was sorry to harm 
 
 he h:ul to go. 
 when I 
 will 
 
 give me a cool million. BuUo settle this first; now I must try and 
 marry this Brae and so get control of her money; or if failing to 
 win her, she must disappear, and I will then be master of the situa 
 tion. But the old woman is a relation of his, and if some one 
 nearer is not found, she will get the prize. I hear that old Sage is 
 
10 BRA : THE POOR HOUSE GIRL. 
 
 over here trying to discover the heirs. I have it now! If I fall 
 with the girl, srie s seen no more; and then I will make Anna come 
 and take her place, (looking o stage, right] Hallo 1 Here comes 
 Brae now 1 
 
 Enter BRAG, R. 1 E. 
 
 John. Why, hallo, my little beauty ! (advancing to BRAG 
 
 Brae, (surprised) Good morning, Mr. Perkins. 
 
 John. You are as bright as a dollar and as pretty as a picture. 
 
 (chucks her under the chin 
 
 Brae, (angrily} Say! where d you get em? (steps aside 
 
 John. Where did I get what, Brae? 
 
 Brae. The spoons! 
 
 John. Brae, you re a prize for some man who wants a nice, 
 smart, handsome little wife. 
 
 Brae, (angrily) Do you know what you are? 
 
 John. No. What am I ? 
 
 Brae, (spitefully) You re an old gas bag. 
 
 John. Brae, why is it that you always avoid meeting me, and are 
 always so formal to one who takes a great interest in you ? 
 
 Brae. You take a great interest in me ! Why, the sight of you 
 makes me ugly. You don t have any interest in me there is some 
 other reason for your attentions. 
 
 John, (aside) Confound her tongue! I shall have to be careful 
 how I act for she mistrusts me already, (aloud) I m very sorry that 
 you have this feeling towards me and if it is possible for me to do 
 anything tha t w r ill lead you to change your opinion, I beg of you to 
 command me, for I have a greater regard for you than any other 
 person I ever saw, and you know that I m always lonesome when 
 I m away from you. 
 
 Puts his arm around her waist; she jumps aside and stands with fin 
 gers spread apart, ready to scratch. 
 
 Brae. Oh! what s era wlin on you? (JoiiN takes a step forward) 
 Don t you come near me or I ll scratch your eyes out. 
 
 John. Come now, Brae, don t get mad, for it spoils the beauty of 
 your face. 
 
 Brae. I won t, if you promise not to do that again. 
 
 John. I ll give you my word of honor. 
 
 Brae. That s not bang up scurity, but I ll risk it. 
 
 John. Brae, you re an angel ! 
 
 Brae, (looks up into his face, and says sarcastically) Say, you 
 ought to be in a sausage factory. 
 
 John. Why, what makes you think so, pet? 
 
 Brae. Cause you could furnish the stuffin for nothing. 
 
 John. Brae, you are very rude to one who wants to be your best 
 friend. 
 
 Brae, (aside) You may have it out in wanting for all I care. 
 (aloud) Mr. Perkins, if I ve said anything .that I ought to be sorry 
 for I m glad of it ! 
 
 John. I ll stop that tongue of yours when you are once in my 
 hands, young lady. (cxiL L. 1 E. 
 
 Brae. Now I ll get the things. I didn t like to bring them while 
 he was here. Oh, how 1 hate that man I (exit R. 1 K. 
 
SB A ; THE POOH HO USE GIKL. 11 
 
 Karl, (comes forward} -So that s your game, friend John ! Well, 
 we ll see who wins in the long run. And so my little girl hates 
 him, and that s as I could wish it. Ah, here she comes; I want to 
 have a good look at her, so I ll stop her. What! She sees me and 
 has gone across the garden. Well, I shall have to wait until some 
 other time. (exit L. 1 E. 
 
 Enter BRAG tnts the house through the street door. Takes things from 
 basket and places them on a waiter , calling them by name. 
 
 Brae. What ever s come over her? I never see d such a spread, 
 and don t it make my mouth water? Lor , wouldn t it be prime if 
 she d give me a lick of the gravy. Just look at that ice cream I 
 Ain t it just scrumptous, though? (yells} Here they is, mum ! 
 
 Enter C., takes waiter and looks at contents. 
 
 C. (turning around) Brae, you can go out for a while and when 
 we get through I ll call you and give you your dinner. 
 
 (exit through door 
 
 BRAG goes into front yard. 
 
 Brae. Oh, dear ! I wish Bob would come now. Somehow I 
 always kinder forget how hungry I is, and and we do have such 
 nice times together, singin and dancin , (enter KARL and stands 
 listening) and talkin and walkin and all that; but I wonder if I ll 
 ever go to balls and parties and picnics, the same as he does; but I 
 don t suppose I can, for he s ever so much more shined up than 1 
 am, and it always makes me feel kinder shamed of myself. Then 
 he don t like to have me climb trees, nor fence*; and oh, I scared 
 him so t other day ! I told him I was goin swimmin with Tom and 
 Charlie Mack. Ha! ha! ha! just as if I didn t know no better. 
 And he won t let me ride his bicycle, but I will some day when he 
 don t know it! No, I won t neither, for if he should find it out he d 
 get mad, and and I I don t want him to get mad at me, for he s 
 the bestest friend I ve got. I just wish I had lots of friends like 
 he s got. 
 
 Karl, (coming forward) Won t you let me be a friend of yours, 
 my little lady? 
 
 Brae, (aside) My ! he he called me a lady ! (aloud) But I I 
 don t know you. 
 
 Karl. Come, give me your hand and say that you ll let old Karl 
 be your friend, won t you? 
 
 BRAG goes up and places her hand in his with a slap. 
 Brae. Yes, sir! you may be my bestest friend, number two. 
 KARL stoops and kisses her forehead. 
 
 Karl. Bless you, my child ! and to repay you for your trust, I ll 
 be a father to you. 
 
 Brae. You ll be my father; oh, sir, don t make fun of me, for 
 I I never had a father, and and I didn t think by your face, 
 (looking up into his face) for you look so kind, that you would 
 make fun of me. 
 
t BRAG ; THE POOH HOUSE GIRL. 
 
 Karl. Forgive me, little one; I did not intend to make sport of 
 you. And as for your father, I knew him well, and he was one of 
 the truest friends that I ever had. 
 
 Brae. Oh, sir, you know who my father is, and will you take me 
 to him? But 
 
 Enter JOHN, R. 1 a. 
 
 Karl. But what, my child? 
 
 Brae. What did you mean by sayin that you d be my father? 
 (anxiously) Are you him? 
 
 John, (aside] " A Li, there she is! Who s that with her? I must 
 find out what he wants. 
 
 Karl. No, child, I m sorry to say I m not. But I knew him 
 well; and since he s gone to join your mother, I ll take his place, if 
 you ll only let me? 
 
 Brae. Gone my father and mother both dead. Oh, sir! have 
 I always got to be alone and live here? I shall die if I do. 
 
 (weeping 
 
 John, (aside) So you know about this affair ! (shakes his fist at 
 KARL) and you will be her father, will you? Well, we ll see about 
 that; but I think that vou ll be of about as much service to her as 
 the one in India, af er to-night. (exit L. 1 B. 
 
 Karl. Come, come, little one, don t cry any more; Bob and I 
 will be your friends, and we ll see what we can do for you; so cheer 
 up. 
 
 Enter C. to room, followed by SAGE, and goes to door. 
 
 C. (calling) Brae ! B-r-a-c, I say ! Brae I 
 
 Karl. Some one coming? I must not be seen. (retire* 
 
 Brae. Comin , mum ! 
 
 Karl. Brae, meet me here again as soon as you can, will you? 
 
 Brae. Yes, sir. Good bye ! 
 
 BRAC goes to the house and enters just as SAGE is coming out, runs 
 against and almost upsets him. 
 
 Sage. Good gracious, my corns! (hastily) I mean foot. 
 
 C. Oh, you imp! What do you mean by runnin against folks, 
 like you was a steam locomotion? 
 
 Brae. Oh, sir, I I dUn t mean nothin I 
 
 Sage. That s all right, my dear ! never mind about it. And now 
 Clarissa 
 
 BRAC drops dish she has. in her hands and looks astonished. 
 
 Brae, (aside) Why, he called her by her front name ! 
 
 Sage. I ve the honor of wishing you a very good morning. Let 
 me say that we ll commence the case just as soon as you feel so 
 disposed. 
 
 C. You are too kind, Ransom, and I can never repay you for the 
 obligations that you heap upon me. I will attend to the matter at 
 once. 
 
 Sage. Good morning, madam (exit off R 
 
 C. Good mornin , sir. 
 
BRAG; THE POOE HOUSE GIML. 19 
 
 C. turns and sees BRAG standing over tray. 
 
 G. You just march yourself away from there, do you hear? 
 (takes tray and puts it in next room and brings back the back bone of a 
 fish and gives to BRAG) There, now! you ve been a good girl, and 
 I don t mind rewardin ye. Don t go a gorgin yourself and gettin 
 sick; there s nothin so disgustin as greediness. 
 
 Brae. Du tell ? (BRAG eats what little there is left 
 
 C. Yes, I was goin to; I m goin to live in the best hotel in the 
 place. 
 
 Brae. Lor* mum I (on the bone of the fish 
 
 C. And you shall go and live with me and be my little maid. 
 
 Brae. Made of what, mum ? 
 
 C. Lady s .maid, child I to dress me and do up my hair. 
 
 Brae. Do your hair? I thought they stayed done when you 
 bought em, tnum ? 
 
 C. What are you talkin about? What do you know about my 
 hair? 
 
 Brae. I know it always do look beautiful and just the same, 
 whether it s on your head or hangin on the back of the chair. 
 
 C. You saucy brat! but you shall wait on me and run my 
 errands, if you are not too stupid. 
 
 Brae. Sho 1 
 
 G. And now I m goin over to call on Miss Dorcas Jones and see 
 if I can get her to buy my stock and business. 
 
 (putting on bonnet and shawl 
 
 Brae. For the land s sake ! 
 
 G. So you pick up the things and have everything in good order, 
 for I m going to try and bring her to terms. (exit off R. 
 
 Brae. Well, I never I 
 
 (BRAG comes out front of stage, and KARL joins her 
 
 Karl. Brae, is that your aunt? 
 
 Brae. Her? No, she s my guard. But how did you find out 
 my name ? I never told you. 
 
 Karl. Why, didn t I hear her call you just now ? 
 
 Brae. She did holler for me, didn t she? But what s your name? 
 
 Karl. Didn t I ask you to let old Karl be your friend ? 
 
 Brae. Oh, yes ! and I m to call you Mr. Karl Mr. Karl and Bob, 
 and Bob and Mr. Karl. 
 
 Karl. Who is this Bob you have so much to say about? 
 
 Brae. Oh, he s he s he s real nice and kind and and just like 
 you, only he don t ask questions like you. 
 
 Karl. Well! well! I won t ask any more questions that will 
 bother you, if you will agree to introduce me to him. 
 
 Brae. Lor* sakes! I ll do that in a minute, and I know you ll 
 like each other, for he s so good and clean and and you can t help 
 liking him. 
 
 Karl. No, I suppose not. But, Brae, I must be going; but I 
 have something to tell you of great value to you arid you must not 
 forget anything that I say. Have you a silver chain around your 
 neck, fastened by a little locket? 
 
 Brae. Yes, sir! 
 
 Karl. Let me see it. 
 (the *how chain; he produces key and unlocks the locket and relocks it 
 
14 BE A C; THE P OK HO USE GIRL. 
 
 again) It is the one and we are safe; now, don t you ever show 
 that to any one else, or say that you have such a chain, if any one 
 should ask, will you ? 
 
 Brae. No, sir, but 
 
 Karl. Don t ask any questions, but listen, for 1 have not got 
 time to explain it all to you now. I may not see you again for some 
 time, but promise me that you will hold no conversation whatever 
 with any one in private. 
 
 Brae, (confused) What! not even Bob? 
 
 Karl. Yes, you may talk with Bob all you like, but no one else; 
 and don t ever go away from the house" with any one else except 
 Bob or myself, unless some one brings you this key; and when any 
 one shows you this, and asks you to go with them, be sure and go; 
 and now, one thing more don t ever stay in the house alone, do you 
 promise? 
 
 Brae. Yes, sir, but but why? 
 
 Karl. If you wish to find out about your father and mother 
 don t forget what I have told you ; and now, as I see your aunt 
 coming, you had better go in ; so good bye, little one ! 
 
 (exit B. 1 E. 
 
 Brae. Good bye, Mr. Karl. 
 
 (exit through gate c. and around the house 
 
 Enter C. and DORCAS into room. 
 
 C. There, I told you it wasn t goin to rain, you see its all clear- 
 in up! 
 
 Dorcas. Yes, and I suppose thai the business that you want to 
 sell me wants clearin up, too? 
 
 C. Yes, mum! You ll find even thing in fust class shape, and 
 oh, Dorcas, his voice haunts me still ! 
 
 Dorcas. I dare say it does. If a fellow had come to tell me about 
 half a million, his voice wonld haunt me for a long time. 
 
 C. But I mean there seems to be a something a sympathetic 
 chord what do you call it? a vibration in the heart. 
 
 Dorcas. Oh, I suppose like that funny bone in the elbow; I ve 
 had more experience in such matters, and I tell you, it s love. 
 
 C. Yes, I suppose so. (sighs) I m a woman and it must come 
 sometime. 
 
 Dorcas. Well, it s taken plenty of time to come. But, good 
 gracious! there s half-million to comfort you. 
 
 C. Yes, that s so! But as I was sayin , I thought that you 
 might like to join the business dressmakin and millinery goes to 
 gether so well, you know. I ll sell out cheap, for I want the money 
 to carry on my case. 
 
 Dorcas. Oh, he isn t goin to do it for love, then? 
 
 C. I couldn t scarcely ask that on so short acquaintance. So, if 
 you like to take the business out and out, we won t haggle about 
 the terms, and you can get a milliner from the city to help 3^011. 
 The people will miss the character and poetry I put into my bun- 
 nets, but I must carry my talents to another sphere. I think of 
 buying an old ancestral place that s been handed down, you know. 
 I can see myself treadin the marble halls 
 
 Dorcas. Look out for rhumatiz ! You re sure it s all right, or 
 vou wouldn t want to sell. Well, I ve been wantin to enlarge my 
 business and as I ve got a few hundred saved up of course you lj 
 ligd papers not to open again. 
 
BRA C ; THE POOR HOUSE GIRL. 15 
 
 C. Open 1 Dorcas Jones, why should the lucky possessor of half 
 a million wish to open a millinery shop? 
 
 Dorcas. Oh, I don t know. Riches take wing, you know. 
 
 C. Yes, but I shall take wings with my riches. What do you 
 say to five hundred dollars for my business. 
 
 Dorcas. Five hundred 1 Hum, I ll give you one-fifty for it. 
 
 C. I ll take it, Dorcas! and I ll agree to buy my bunnets of you 
 in the bargin. 
 
 Dorcas. Well, then, snpposiu we go over to Square Smart s and 
 have everything fixed up. 
 
 C. That s the ideal Dorcas, I always told people that you hal a 
 wonderfully level head about business; but, Lor me, how dark its 
 grown. My sakes, if we ain t goin to have a turnado then I ain t a 
 foot high I (thunders 
 
 Dorcas. Gracious me, how I wish I was home. Clarissa, have 
 you got any feathers? if so, do let me get between them or I know 
 I shall be killed. (thunders and lightens 
 
 C. Oh, Lord! Come quick, Dorcas ! Oh, my sensibilities ! Oh, 
 Dorcas, if we don t get on the bed before another flash, I shall be 
 come flustrated right here on the floor. (exit in haste at side door 
 
 SCENE II Roadside or street. Enter JOHN, R. 1 E., with cloak and 
 wide hat. Heavy storm stage dark. 
 
 John. This shower is coming along just in time. I must silence 
 this intruder. I wonder who he can be? What I Some one com 
 ing! (steps aside 
 
 Enter KARL R. 1 E. JOHN advances and hits KARL with butt of revol 
 ver and as he falls stabs him; this is followed by a vivid flash of 
 lightning and very heavy crash of thunder. JOHN starts as if 
 * truck, and trembles violently; takes bottle from pocket and drinks. 
 
 John. My God ! What a crash that was ! I thought the whole 
 forest was crashing down about my head. I must get away from 
 here, but I wonder if he has any papers that I might want. I ll 
 see (looks around and then searches him; a bicycle whistle is heard] 
 Confound it I am I to be driven off" before (whistle again) Curse 
 their bicycles ! (exit in haste R. 1 E. 
 
 Enter BOB on bicycle R. 1 E., whistles as he comes on; sees KARL and 
 
 dismounts. 
 
 Sob. Here s some poor fellow that has been struck down by the 
 storm. Hallo! he s he s been murdered ! (discovers he still lives 
 and tries to wake him) Why Thank God ! he still lives. 
 
 Produces flask and turns some down KARL S throat; KARL groans and 
 turns: BOB gives more brandy and KARL opens his eyes, rises up 
 and looks about, then sinks back. 
 
 Karl. Who are you ? Where am 1 ? What has happened ? Oh, 
 I remember; John struck me again. I saw his face by a flash of 
 lightning. 
 
 Sob. There, there, sir ! be quiet ami I ll run and get help and 
 take you home. 
 
16 Bit AC; THE POOH HOUSE GIEL. 
 
 Karl. No no wait a minute and I ll go along with you. But 
 you haven t told me who you are? 
 
 Bob. I am Robert Wilder, commonly colled Bob. f was riding 
 home on my bicycle and saw you and thought that you had been 
 hurt by the storm, and BO dismounted to see if I could be of any 
 assistance; I never dreamed of its being a case of attempted murder. 
 
 Karl. Bob Bob I remember now; do you know Brae? 
 
 Bob. Know Brae ! Well, I should say that I did ; why, she is such 
 an innocent little thing that any one can get acquainted with her; 
 and then, she s as smart as a steel trap, and is so ambitious to learn. 
 It s a pity that she can t be sent to school ; and she don t get half 
 enough to eat. I ju>t wish that I was of age and I d take her away 
 fronAhat keeper of hers and send her to school. I tell you what it 
 is I think more of Brae than I do of my bicycle. But 1 forgot you, 
 sir. Can I do anything for you ? 
 
 Karl. Yes, you can help me get upon my feet, and then I 11 go to 
 the nearest house. 
 
 Bob. I m afraid you will hurt yourself, sir. 
 
 Karl. "Not at all, my friend Bob, I m all right now. Come 
 along, sir. This is not the end of this matter. 
 
 End of Act First. 
 
 CURTAIN. 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 SCENE The lou-n in front of Avoca Farm, containing trees, rustic 
 seats, etc., etc. Enter John, R. 1 K. 
 
 John So old Sage has taken up the cae for the ancient relative, 
 and he seems to be quite interested in the personal affairs of hia 
 rlient Now it I let him go on until he is so far in his own trap 
 that he ll have to marry this Clarissa of his, I shall at least have 
 done one good deed, and he is rich enough to make her comfortable 
 even after I take away Luke s fortune, and so Til keep the case 
 standing, while I must try and win Brae s love, or else ah, here 
 she comes now ! 
 
 Enter BRAC, L. 1 B., sees JOHN and turns to go back. 
 
 John. Ah, Brae, you are just in time. I ve been trying ever 
 since you came here, to see you. 
 
 Brae You ve seen me three times a day for the last three weeks. 
 
 John. Yes, I know, but I wanted to see you alone. Do you know 
 you ve* improved wonderfully since you came here? 
 
 Brae, (aside) More taffy 1 (aloud ) And do you know you grow 
 more like a bumble-bee every day ? 
 
 John. You say that because I m always flying after you ? 
 
 Brae. $ o, but because you are a hum-bug. 
 
 John. Brae, what can I say or do that will make you think more 
 
 f Brae. I guess that you d have to stand in front of me all the time 
 and then I d forget. 
 
BE AC; THE POOH HOUSE GIRL. 17 
 
 John. An\ I never forget you. If you only knew of all the 
 anxious hours I pass when away from your society, if you knew of 
 the depth of my regard for you, you would at least pity and spare 
 me from being the o^j^ct of your ridicule. 
 
 Brae, (aside) lie was his muzzer s own boy, so he was. (aloud) 
 I m awful sorry for yon, but I ll tell you what to do! 
 
 John. Well, what is it, pet? (advances toward her 
 
 Brae. Oo and take some paregoric. 
 
 John. But you don t understand me 
 
 Brae, (aside) No. nor I don t mean to, either ! 
 
 John. I do not suffer from any physical illness 
 
 Brae, (aside) I should judge not by the way you eat. 
 
 John. Mine is a mental sickness. 
 
 Brae. My ! what a surprise that must be to your head. 
 
 John. I am afraid your love of fun will lose YOU many friends if 
 you don t look out, for you are very rude at times. But, Brae I 
 want to ask your advice about a very import matter. 
 
 Brae. It s very important thnt you should have my advice too I 
 suppose? 
 
 John. Yes, decidedly so ! 
 
 Brae. Well, you shall have it, only don t get mad if I happen to 
 speak too plain. 
 
 Enter BOB, R., sees them, stops ond listens, 
 
 John. Now, Brae, I m in love 
 
 Brae. Oh, sho! that s nothing new to you ! 
 
 John. Yes it is, though, frr I m really in love this time, with the 
 best little woman in the world. She is very poor and as proud as 
 she is poor, while she knows that I am rich and can give her 
 everything that would make a fine lady of her, yet I would gladlv 
 giveaway my wealih and work for her, if she would only try and 
 le.irn to love me. This is my story, Brae; what would you advise 
 me to do? I don t know just how to tell her, for she is so shy and 
 proud that it is with great difficulty thnt I ever see her at all and 
 then she always puts a stop to my conversation whenever I com 
 mence to speak of her. Now, how shall I manage to tell her? 
 
 Brae. And that s why you never srni e or look happy now I m 
 real ashamed of the way I have treated you, but I I thought that 
 you was awful cross and and you always looked at me so strange 
 like, that you made me afraid of you, but I m awful sorry now. 
 
 John. Thank you, Brae, I knew that you had a kind and honest 
 heart; but you are not afraid of me now, are you? 
 
 (comrs up and takes her hand; she draws it away and steps back 
 
 Brae. I I don t know; but my advice I must give you that 
 (speaks very alow) Well, Mr. Perkins, if I was in your place the 
 very next time that I saw her I would tell her that t loved her and 
 then ask her No, I wouldn t! I d tell her the story just as you ve 
 told me and then ask her for advice and then 
 
 John. And then what, Brae? 
 
 Brae. But you haven t told me what she looks like, yet? 
 
 JoJ* 1 ** A nrl T* r r\?il/I TT^MI 1 i IT-/* 4-f\ K>-.^-.w^O 
 
 Br 
 fore. 
 
 John. And would you likjs to know? 
 
 Brae. Oh, ever so much ! for I never heard a real love story be- 
 
18 BUAC; THE POOH HOUSE Q1EL. 
 
 John. Well, then, listen I (gives description of BRAC 
 
 Brae. Why, that s almost me ! 
 
 John. Yes, Brae, it is you 1 and I want you to be mine, will you, 
 darling ? 
 
 Puts his arm around her and sloops to kiss her. She jumps away and 
 slaps his face. 
 
 Brae. Sir, if I am poor, I know what s honorable, and I d sooner 
 etarve than live with you. 
 
 John. Beware, young lady, or you may have a chance to do as 
 you say, for if something should be missed from the house and found 
 on you, you would lose your place, and then who would have a thief 
 in their house; mind I don t say that this will happen, nor do I 
 mean to reflect on your honesty. 
 
 Brae. My honesty has as yet never been questioned ; and as for 
 your threats 1 don t care that for them (snaps her fingers) or you 
 either. 
 
 John. Have a care I you are getting too high ; you ll fall before 
 long. 
 
 Brae. Tou ll never be trcubled that way, for you are so low that 
 you can t fall. 
 
 Exit JOHN, L., in a rage. BOB comes forward. 
 
 Bob. You had him that time, Brae. 
 
 Brae. Oh, Bob I did you herr him? 
 
 Bob. Yes, Brae, I heard all, for you know that I promised Mr. 
 Karl not to lose sight of you while he was away. 
 
 Br&c. And I promised* not to talk to any one but you and and I 
 forgot all about it. Oh, what will he think? 
 
 Bob. You promised not to talk in private, and you did not for I 
 was here and heard all that was said, and I came very near knock 
 ing that man down before he got through. Brae, I m so glad that 
 you you refused him. 
 
 BRAC sits on rustic, bench; BOB sits beside her. 
 Brae. And so be I, and ain t you getting too near? 
 
 BOB moves up and puts his arm around her. 
 
 Bob. Brae, do you know I m I I wonder where Mr. Karl is? 
 
 Brae. I don t know, but say, ain t you afraid of of 
 
 Bob. Of thatrerkins? No, I m not. 
 
 Brae. No, I mean ain t you afraid of haven t you grown 
 afraid of of powder? 
 
 Bob. (aside) My stars, that s a straight one! (kisses her; aloud) 
 Do you think that 1 have? 
 
 Brae. A little 1 
 
 Bob. Well, I won t be again. But, Brae, did you know that I 
 was going away ? 
 
 Brae* You going away? Why, what for? 
 
 Bob. I must go back to school lor another year, and I want you 
 to be sure and remember me, won t you? 
 
 Brae. Oh, why must you go away so soon? First Mr. Karl goes 
 away without even e:iy ing good bve, tlx-n I have to lose you. 
 
 Bob. Do you think tliut you will miss me very much, Brae? 
 
BE AC; TEE POOR HOUSE GIRL. & 
 
 Brae. Yes, lots ; and I shall be awful lonesome when you are 
 
 g JEfo&. I shall miss you very much for I ve been learning to love 
 you more and more ever since I first saw you. 
 
 Brae. In love with me 1 you ? 
 
 Bob. Yes, in love with you, Brae. But I can t offer you a for 
 tune, for I am not wealthy. 
 
 Brae. You love me ! sure ? no joking ? 
 
 Bob. Yes, I m sure, and no joking. 
 
 Brae. Well, then, you can have me, for I I love you! (draws 
 herself slowly away from him) But, Bob, this can never be!. You 
 are to far above me for you to think of ever making me your wife, 
 for I am not educated enough to go with the same people that you 
 do, and and I couldn t bear to see you ashamed of me. 
 
 Bob. But I ll send you some books so you can learn; and you 
 must write and let me know how you are getting along, mil you? 
 
 Brae. Yes. 
 
 Bob. Now, good bye. (they embrace 
 
 Enter C. and SAGE, R. 
 C. What what does this mean ? 
 
 BRAC and! BOB go to opposite sides of stage. 
 
 Brae. I I don t know, mum. 
 
 Bob. It means that that I was was only showing Brae how to 
 teach a dog arithmetic. 
 
 C. (aside) I wish Ransom would be my teacher. 
 
 Sage. Ha! ha! ha! Well, that s good ! And how do you do it? 
 
 Bob. Why, you just tie up one of his paws, and he ll put down 
 three and carry one, every time. 
 
 C. Lor sakes I 
 
 Sage. Young man, you ve got quite a start in the world, but 
 don t try to go too fast; take it easy and you ll come out all right in 
 time. Just look at me, now I m a self-made man. 
 
 Brae. If I had done the job I d have put more hair on your head. 
 
 C. Stop your noise, you imp ! Don t you have any respect for 
 no one? (BRAG and BOB walk to and fro at rear of stage) Dear 
 Ransom, you must not mind them; they are young and foolish, 
 and must have their jokes. 
 
 Sage. My dear Clarissa, I don t mind them in the least, and if I 
 did, how could I so far forget your charming presence. Believe me, 
 this is the happiest moment of my life. 
 
 C. Oh, and the cruelty of the fates to have kept us apart for so 
 many years, when we w r as born for each other; as the poet says : 
 
 "Two soul? with but a single thought, 
 Two hearts that beat as one." 
 
 Sage. But I reem to have known you all my life, and after we 
 get this law buino?s settled, I know where to find a very appro 
 priate companion to journey through the walks of life with me. 
 
 C. (aside) That s just like poetry I He s so poetical ! (albud) 
 And how is the case coming out? I wish that it was all settled 
 now. 
 
 Sage. Well, you know that I had the thing almost settled day 
 before yesterday, when in comes another lawyer with a dispatch 
 
*0 BE A C ; THE POOH HO USE OIEL. 
 
 from India, saying that there had been some important facts dis 
 covered in regard to the case, and so he got it laid over until he 
 could go to India and collect his proofs and so on; and as the case 
 cannot be called without him, we shall have to let it hang for a 
 time. So I thought that I d run down and inform yon of the facts, 
 and also enjoy the pleasure of your charming companionship. 
 
 C. You are very, very thoughtful of me. But you must be 
 quite famished, for you liave not had any dinner yet. Brae, what 
 time is it? 
 
 Lob. It s just twelve, madam. 
 
 C. Only twelve 1 why, I thought it must be more than that. 
 
 Brae. It s never more, mum, it just begins at one again. 
 
 C. For the land sake ! You are gettiu so smart of late, that 
 there s no tellin where you ll stop. 
 
 Sage. Never mind, my dear; you know the old saying that 
 "boys will be boys," and why should not "girls be girls." 
 
 SAGE and C. exit L., talking. 
 
 Brae. That makes twice to-day that she has almost complimented 
 me. 
 
 Bob. Why, how was that? 
 
 Brae. She just said that I was "so smart," and this morning she 
 almost called me honey. 
 
 Bob. Almost? 
 
 Brae. Yes, she said, "come, now, beeswax, fly around." 
 
 Bob. Bather doubtful compliments, I should think. But 1 be 
 lieve that you told me that she had taken up painting. How does it 
 agree with her? 
 
 Brae. I don t think it is very healthy, for it makes her awful red 
 In the face. (bell rings 
 
 Bob. Hallo! there s the dinner bell, and we must start or weM 
 be late. (exit both to house 
 
 Enter JOHN, n. 
 
 John. No one here ! good ! I must have that Brace disgraced, 
 branded as a thief and. sent away, for lean never make her think 
 that I love her; then after she leaves, I ll find her and persuade her 
 to enter a convent. Once there I need have no more fear of her; 
 but in case she should refuse to enter that haven of rest, I know a 
 Biire way to stop her tongue. I was extremely fortunate in finding 
 her asleep the other day, and with the aid of a little ether, I obtained 
 an impression of that locket and chain which has been a draw-back 
 for so long. I never dared ask her for it, and she never wore it in 
 sight; but I have it at last, and now for a chance to hide my ring in 
 her room and then, the crime once fastened on her, she can t escape 
 me. (exit L. 
 
 Enter BRAC from house. 
 
 Brae. A letter for me! I wonder who it s from? Oh, it s from 
 Mr. Karl, and he says: "Dear Brae, (thal s me) I shall come to 
 Avoca Farm to-night and want to see you alone. Don t let any one 
 see this letter and don t tell any one that you are coming to see me, 
 not even Bob. I send J T OU the key go that you may know that this 
 comes from me. Now don t fail to be on the lawn in front of th 
 
BRAG; TEE POOH HOUSE GIRL. tl 
 
 house at ten o clock, sharp, to-night, as I must see you at once. 
 Remember, at ten to-night. Yours truly, FRANK KARL." What 
 a funny man he is ! I don t know as its proper for me to come out 
 to see a man so late, but I m comin and I ll take that revolver gun 
 Bob gave me and if it s any one else but Mr. Karl, 1 11 
 
 Enter BOB from house. 
 
 Bob. Who s that you are going to shoot, Brae? 
 
 Brae. No one I I was only saying a piece that I learned. 
 
 Bob. Why, Brae, where did you get that letter? 
 
 Brae. I I had it sent to me by 
 
 Bob. By who? by that clodhopper of a farmei ? 
 
 Brae, No, not by him ; it was sent by oh, Bob, I can t tell you 
 now; you must wait until tomorrow. 
 
 Bob. No, I can t! I won t wait! let me see who it s from. 
 
 Brae Bob you have no right to speak to me like tnat, if you are 
 my friend. ( exit into house 
 
 Bob. Brae, I I didn t mean it ! Oh, what a fool I ve been. 
 
 Enter JOHN, R. 
 John. And always will be as long as you let that girl control 
 
 Bob. Sir I I don t know what right you have to interfere with 
 my affairs; and as for that young lady, I won t hear a word against 
 her from you or any one else. 
 
 John. Oh, as you please I Only don t be surprised to see your 
 idol fall to the ground some day. 
 
 Bob. What do you mean? Have a care, sir, or I shall be tempted 
 to thrash you, you sneak I 
 
 John. What I you thrash me? Hal ha! ha! Well, thai/ s good I 
 But let me advise you to beware how you call names, or I may do 
 what you threaten. 
 
 Bob. I should like to have you attempt it, sir ! I m not afraid of 
 you, and as for names, I say to your face that you are a coward. 
 (Good day, sir ! (bows and walks off slowly, L. 
 
 John. Curse his impudence! Ah, here comes Anna! How 
 lucky he left in just the nick of time ; now to give her some informa 
 tion as to the part that she must take. 
 
 It grows dark as night is approaching. Enter ANNA, R. 
 
 John. You are on time, I see, Anna. (looks at watch 
 
 Anna. That s more than I can ever say of you. 
 
 John. We have no time to talk over old stories, so if you ll listen 
 I ll tell you why I sent for you. 
 
 Anna. Very well ! 
 
 John. You seem highly interested and if you display as much 
 zeal in the pursuit of this object, we will undoubtedly have excellent 
 success. But the reason I sent for you is this. There was a large 
 fortune left by a friend of mine in India, to his wife and child in 
 this country, and as they are both dead, I propose to get possession 
 of this property. 
 
 Anna. And what has all this to do with me? 
 
 John. Everything, if you wish to become independently rich, 
 
PR AC; THE POOE HOUSE GIRL. 
 
 and will do as I wish ; now I want you to b j this girl and to claim 
 this fortune. 
 
 Anna. Anil hofr am I to accomplish this? 
 
 John. Why, you were left an orphan and was adopted and edu 
 cated by some kind people who have lately defied, and it was shortly 
 after their death that I discovered you and brought you here, and 
 put your claims in the courts for you. 
 
 Anna . And why go to court about it if I am the only heir? 
 
 John. I am glad to see you display so much interest at last. 
 (gives her a letter and package) Here is a letter that will explain all, 
 besides giving you what instructions you may require; and as re 
 gards the key to the chain, that, of course, must be returned to me. 
 
 Anna. What am I to receive for all the trouble and risk I run ? 
 
 John. One-half the fortune, and the love of your humble servant. 
 
 Anna. Bah I (snaps her fingers) that for your iove 1 I ve tried 
 it too often to have any faith in it. 
 
 John. Come, now, Anna, you must not quarrel with your dear 
 old Jack 
 
 Anna. That s enough of that! I ll agree to do this if you are 
 sure that the rightful heirs are dead, not from any love for you, but 
 because it promises to give me wealth; and if one-half of this for 
 tune is not left entirely with me Til destroy it wholly, as far as 
 you are concerned do you hear ? 
 
 John. Have a care, woman, I m not to be crossed in this -matter ! 
 
 Anna. John Perkins, you are not dealing with the little innocent 
 girl you betrayed four years ago, but with one who knows you, and 
 how to take care of herself, and does not fear you in the leasr, 
 coward that you are. Now, if you have anything further to say iu 
 regard to the plans, I will hear you. 
 
 John. Nothing, except that you must let me know where to find 
 you at any moment. 
 
 Anna. And yo u must keep me informed as to the progress of the 
 aft air, and we ll get this fortune, if you have told me the truth about 
 the matter; for I shall have it looked up and if you have lied, it will 
 be a sorry day s work for you when you took me into your secret. 
 
 John. Can you. doubt me? 
 
 Anna. Have I ever had any reason to believe you, you traitor? 
 
 (exit ANNA, R. 
 
 John. Curse her! what a tiger she s got to be; I ll tame her, be 
 fore I get through with her and now for Brae, she must go at once. 
 (looks at watch) Why, it s most ten o clock and as I ve put in quite 
 a good day s work, I ll retire to the house, there to arrange for get 
 ting rid of Brae the last of these obstacles. J did not know it was 
 S9 late or I would have accompanied Anna to her destination. 
 
 (exit into house 
 Enter KARL, R. 
 
 Karl. 1 wonder who that woman was th.-it I surprised watching 
 the house and muttering to herself; all that I could hear was, "Will 
 youl we ll see who ll do the taming." Well, it was some poor 
 domestic that has been discharged probably . It must be most ten 
 by this time. I wonder if Brae has faith enough in mo to keep the 
 appointment; if she don t, I shall have to take Bob into ray con 
 fidence, (clock strikes ten) There s the hour, and no ah, hero she 
 comes. This way, Brae. 
 
BRAC; THE POOR HOUSE GIRL. 23 
 
 Bmc. Oh, Mr. Karl I I m so glad to see you I But why didn t 
 you. come earlier? 
 
 Karl. Because I could not; and now I must tell you why lam 
 here. There is an enemy of yours in this house and he is about to 
 do you a^great injury, and the only way that you will escape it is to 
 leave here. 
 
 Brae. An enemy to me ! "Why, I never did any one any wrong 
 that would make them hate me, and I can t leave here for I have no 
 place to go and no friends. I shall starve (falls on seat 
 
 Karl. Brae, I will he your friend. I want you to leave here and 
 go with me. I have already made arrangements at a boarding 
 school for your education, and as I have money enough and have no 
 one to look out for, I am going to take you in charge for a while. 
 Now, if you want to go school and have everything that you want, 
 all you linve got to do is to go in and get your hat and come along. 
 
 Brae. Oh, how kind of you ; but you must ask my guard. 
 
 Karl. No, Brae, for I have not got the time, and besides she 
 has no right to be consulted about this. Now hurry up, for my 
 team is waiting for us. 
 
 Brae. Well, I ll run in and say good bye, and 
 
 Karl. No, you must not let a sonl know that you are going, nor 
 must you let them know where you are. 
 
 Brdc. Not not even Bob? 
 
 Karl No, not Bob yes, you may wri^e Bob after you have been 
 away for two weeks, but he must not tell any one else where you 
 are; now take this ((jives letter] and go to your room and copy it, 
 and then take your hat and come out; go as quietly and quickly as 
 possible, while I go and get the team. (exit R. 
 
 Brae, (going to house and turns at door) I won ler if I m doing 
 right; but he s so honest that I know he won t harm me, and then 
 it ll be such a suprise to my enemy and my guard, to wake up and 
 lina me gome; and then I m to go to school and have all the dresses 
 and money I want, and I ll study ever so hard go s to be like Bob. 
 Yes, I ll go ! (exit BRAC into house 
 
 Enter KARL, R. 
 
 Karl. So far, so good ! I had an easier time getting her to go 
 than I expected, but I think that I should have taken he.i anyway, 
 for I am getting afraid of that John ; it s about time he tried some 
 thing else besides love to get that money. Hallo, here she is now ! 
 Are you all ready, little one? 
 
 Brae. Yes, sir. (KARL leads her off; she turns} Good bye, Bob ! 
 Good bye, everybody ! (exit both, to the right 
 
 Scene changes to early morning. Enter SAGE from left. 
 
 Sage. What a lovely morning! Oh, what a vast difference one 
 finds between the mornings in a city and in a place like this, where 
 all the beauties of nature are temptingly displayed to the eye. If I 
 were hn artist that I would transfer the scene to canvas. 
 
 C. rushes from house with letter in her hand. 
 
 C. Oh, Ransom, catch me, I I faint! (falls in his arms 
 
 Sage. Oh, tliou fairest of all flowers! it is with extreme joy that 
 I embrace thee again. She grows heavy! (places her on a seat) 
 
A0 BRA C : THE POOS HOUSE GIRL. 
 
 Now let the gentle zephyrs and the pearly dews restore thee to thine 
 own animated self again. ( ll Q his c ^ ar 
 
 C. Oh, Ransom I what shall I do? 
 
 Sage. Whatever you do, my variegated pink, don t faint this way 
 
 ag in * Oh my sensibilities and high strung nervous organization are 
 completely earthquakcd. Read this (gives letter) and know 1 
 cause of my commotion. 
 
 Saae. (aside) I d rather not if it s contagions, (reads letter aloud) 
 "Dear Guard : You will be Pin-prised not to find me this morning, 
 but I am tired of this kind of life, and am going away. I thank you 
 for all you have done for me, and hope some day to see you again 
 and to thank you myself. Say goodbye to all, for me, your 
 slavey, BRAC." Well, if that isn t spunk, then I m a fool ! 
 
 SAGE lays the letter beside C. 
 
 C. The ungrateful little thing, to leave me in this way ! I dare 
 say she has run away with some young chap. 
 
 Saae. Well, my dear, it s no use crying or scolding, for either 
 one wont bring her back ; if you want to find her, the best way is tc 
 tell the people and have her searched for. 
 
 Enter BOB and JOHN, R. 
 
 r I m not going searching for her ; all there is, if she didn t 
 like mv ways and has runned away, let hr$ like as not she ll bring 
 up in the poor house, where I took her from. I m sure if she s lost, 
 it s not my fault. 
 
 Bob. Who s lost? 
 
 Sage. Why, that poor little Brae has taken it into her head to run 
 
 Are von sure? (turns to C.) Which way did she go? > 
 
 C You don t suppose I know, do you? I don t set up all night 
 and* watch my maid, to see that she don t run away. 
 
 Bob But didn t she leave any word or anything? 
 
 C. *Yes, there s the letter! (pushing it towards hm 
 
 Bob. Good heavens a letter ! 
 
 C Yes a letter and you are welcome to all the information tnat 
 yon can <ret from it; I suppose that you ll try to find her? 
 
 Bob I shall do all that I can. (Bos takes the letter 
 
 Saae. That s right, young man, and if I was not oblige;! to re 
 turn to the city this morning, I d help you in your search, but when 
 von find her let me know, and we ll see what can be done for her. 
 I think some folks might be more interested I oiSSUm 1 
 
 T Oh he s o-oin" asvay without saying anything. Oh, Ransom ! 
 
 (exit after SAGE 
 
 John. Mr. Wilder, let me offer you my assistance in finding the 
 
 Y B^b. a Ex cuse me, but I prefer to act alone in this matter. 
 
 John. As you please; but will you allow me to read that letter? 
 
 Bob. Why, certainly ! ( gives letter which JOHN reads ; BOB walk* 
 nde and stands alone at L. ; cwfcfe) And tin . i the letter Br.c would 
 aot let me road vcstenlj.y. Perhaps if I had not been such a too 
 annd so hasty, she might have told me where she was ;_;oing; but I 
 shall find her! 
 
BRA ; THE POOR HO USE GIRL. S6 
 
 John. Thank you, sir! and let me say that if you are the first to 
 to discover her whereabouts for I am going to do what I can to 
 discover her if you will accept of a favor, 1 can place her in a very 
 fine family. 
 
 Bob. Very kind, I a.i sure ! but once she is found, I also know of 
 a home she can have without any trouble. (JOHN bows and exit L.) 
 How I dislike that man ! and still he appears to be a gentleman, 
 and only for that little quarrel the other day, we might have been 
 friends. Bat now to find Brae I (exit L. 
 
 Enter C. from R. 
 
 C. Oh, the cruelty of these men ! I never thought that Ransom 
 could get provoked at his little pussy willsy woolsy. Oh, I shall 
 prespire; I know I shall I (takes seat and covers face with hands 
 
 Enter DOKCAS from L. 
 
 Dorcas. Why, Clarissa, what on earths a troubling you ? I heard 
 down town as how Brae had gone. 
 
 C. Yes, she run away after I d been to all the expense of fixin 
 her up so as she d look kinder decent, for my maid. 
 
 Dorcas. Well, I wouldn t worry myself about it, though folks do 
 say as how you was too hard on the girl; but I tell em that she was 
 a regular scamp and couldn t be kept nowhere. 
 
 C. Thank you, Dorcas, you always did know me better than 
 an} T body else. She was an awful trial to me. 
 
 Dorcas. But how is your case coming out? It must be a costing 
 you a pile of money by this time? 
 
 C. Yes, it s gettin pretty expensive, but then it s nothin to the 
 prize. 
 
 Dorcas. No, I suppose not! and have you decided on the day 
 yet? 
 
 C. No, he don t seem to come to the point, my dear; and some 
 how I can t seem to get him up to it. lie shies every time. How ia 
 it done, Dorcas? You ought to know, betn older. 
 
 Dorcas, (aside} Older, ahem I (aloud) Well, mine didn t need 
 any managing, but you inignt say say something of goiu to Europe. 
 You are thinking of that, you know. 
 
 C. On a bridal tower 1 Oh, I thank you so much, Dorcas, and 
 now you must come into the parlor and have a cup of tea while f 
 show you dear Ransom s picture. (exiL both to house 
 
 Enter JOHN from L. p^^^^JLAA 
 
 John. And so she s found at last ! Here I ve been wiring the 
 country and had two detectives at work for the last two weeks, and 
 all to no purpose, for it . now turns out that she was murdered by 
 some one and left in the woods. It was almost impossible to recog 
 nize her, and the chain was gone, yet I am convinced that she will 
 not trouble again, and I am much obliged to the man who un 
 knowingly has placed this fortune in my hands. Now, if Anna is 
 all prepared, we will settle this business at the next session of the 
 court and then I ll say farewell to this country, for I don t like the 
 way things went about thnt stranger that promised to be Brae s 
 father; his body was never found anJ there was never a report of 
 
*6 BEAC ; THE POOS HOUSE GIRL. 
 
 any kind about the affair it looks ugly, for whoever he was he 
 called my name just as I struck him. I must be quick about this 
 and be off before it is too late. (exit n. 
 
 Enter BOB, L. 
 
 Bob. A letter for me and in a strange hand writing! I wonder 
 who its from. What, Brae! thank heaven, she s alive! "Dear 
 Bob: I must write you and let you know that I m alive and well. 
 Mr. Karl came after me that night and took me away and placed me 
 in this school, and I have such a nice time and all the money and 
 dresses and everything that I want. The girls and teachers are all 
 very kind, and I m studying real hard and trying to learn so that 
 you won t be ashamed of me when we meet again. Mr. Karl has 
 taken me in charge, and he says that I may write to you if you 
 won t tell any one that you know where I "am, for he don t want 
 anyone but you to know on any account; and now, good bye, 
 
 Yours as ever, BRAG. 
 
 P. S. Write soon and address, BRACELL SOUTHEN, 
 Bijou College. BROWNVILLE, New Jersey." 
 
 Bjb. Found at last! I knew that was not her, although every 
 body believed it to be her body. Well, now that I know she is safe 
 and in such excellent hands, I ll go back to sclicnl myself, for I am 
 now two weeks late- It s rather hard to say good bye to all of th^se 
 familiar scenes, but the best of friends have to part. (exit L. 
 
 End of Act Second. 
 
 CURTAIN. 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 SCENE Reception room of Avoca Farm, nicely furnished, with en 
 trance at back. SAGE discovered seated in chair, looking at hit 
 watch. 
 
 Sage. Eight o clock ! and in half an hour I shall be through with 
 this case, which has now been at a stand still for one and a half 
 years. I sent them all word that I would be ready to receive them 
 at half past eight. It is very lucky for me that I never made any 
 remark that Clarissa could make anything of; I have managed to 
 keep within bounds all the time, although I did think that she would 
 get me sometimes in spite of myself. 
 
 Enter CLARISSA, R. 
 
 C. I was so anxious I could not stay away. 
 
 Sage. I m afraid that you ve gained nothing by coming so soon. 
 The other party will not be here until half past eight. I mentioned 
 the half hour, I believe? 
 
 C. You did, but I had not seen you for so long, and I did so long 
 to hear your voice once more. 
 
 Sage. Yes, 1 know I but it is time they were here. 
 
 (looks at watch 
 
 C. Who were here? 
 
BRAC; THE POOR HOUSE GIRL. *7 
 
 Sage. Why, the other claimaintl An enterprising young fellow 
 has been at work, while I have been wasting my time on the wrong 
 
 C. Good gracious ! what do you mean ? and aint I aint you 
 the 
 
 Sage. No, you aint and I aint either, if you choose to put it that 
 way. The party has proofs that are all right. 
 
 C. Oh, my sensibilities ! I shall, faint ! (looks at SAGE 
 
 Sage. You had better find an easy place to fall on before you try. 
 
 C. How cruelly unkind you have grown. But who is the 
 
 Sage. Ah, here they are now t 
 
 Enter JOHN and ANNA, R. 
 
 C. Sakcsalivel if it aint Mr. Perkins and that air high ferluten 
 
 gal! 
 
 SAGE and JOHN bow C. courtesies to JOHN. JOHN introduces ANNA. 
 
 John. Allow me to introduce Miss Southen. 
 
 C. Miss Southen? 
 
 John. Yes, this young lady is the daughter of Luke Southen. 
 He was lawfully married to a poor girl years before he left for In lia 
 They became separated, and while the father was growing rich, the 
 mother died in the poorhouse, and left this child, who was adopted 
 by some kind people in Brewster, and given a home and education. 
 I have already shown Mr. Sage all the papers and other proofs, so 
 that there is no necessity of my going into detail. Believe rne, 
 madam, I am very sorry to have to be the instrument of taking this 
 -fortune from you, but my duty to my departed friend, and his dying 
 request, are sacred, and I felt obliged to do all in my power to dis- 
 covor poor Luke s daughter. 
 
 C. I don t believe it! Luke was never married. Oh, Ransom, 
 say that he is wrong, that I am still the 
 
 Sage. All that he says is only too true, madam. I have examined 
 everything, and there is no use in my disputing his proofs. 
 
 C. And Where s my good three thousand dollars gone? Oh, I m 
 a ruined woman I I shall end in the poorhouse myself 1 
 
 ANNA advances toward CLARISSA. 
 
 Anna. Madam, when I get possession of my rights, I will return 
 you all the money you have lost. You will at least accept this 
 email present from me? 
 
 Enter KARL unseen, L. 
 
 C. No, I won t! I don t want your money. You are both big 
 cheats and swindlers, I believe. 
 
 Karl. And so they are, madam ! cheats of the worst kind ! 
 
 John. What ! Who are you that interferes with other people s 
 affairs? 
 
 Anna, (aside) -We are lost ! Oh, why did I consent to this! 
 
 C. What did you say? Ransom, did you hear? 
 
 Sage. Sir, to whom am [ indebted for this ungentlemanly en 
 trance into my apartments, and interruption of my business trans 
 actions. 
 
18 BRAC; THE POOH HOUSE GIRL. 
 
 Karl. I will answer all questions in due time. As to your busi- 
 tran suctions, permit me to say that it is my business and not yours, 
 which you and this gentleman have been settling. And as for 
 the intru?ion, I believe that the court room is a public place, and as 
 you saw fit to make this one, I thought best to attend. And, madam, 
 I s:iy that these people are swindlers! 
 
 John. Have a care, sir ! 
 
 Karl. I ll take all the care of y.ou that you ll ever require, before 
 long. Now it is enough for you to know that I came from India to 
 settle up Luke Soutlien s properly; my name you will learn later. 
 
 John, (aside) Good heaven.?! can it be? It is the man I attacked 
 in the thunder storm. I ll get away before he recognizes me. 
 
 Sage. Well, sir, will you inform me what you know of this 
 property. 
 
 Karl. I will, sir! But as it is a long story, you had hotter be 
 seated, (all take seats; JOHN starts to leave, is stopped by KARL, who 
 says) You, sir, may be seated there, (points to a chair directly in 
 front of him ) and remain until I finish. Do you hear? 
 
 John. By what right do you command me? Sand aside and let 
 me pass, or 
 
 Karl. John Perkins, take that chair! 
 
 John, (starts and exclaims) My God! It is Frank Karl! 
 
 (sinks into choir 
 
 Karl. You all know that Luke Sou then left a large fo; tune. 
 Well, before he died, he made a will leaving all of his property to a 
 wife and child in this country. lie was married to a poor giTl in a 
 village not far from here, though the marriage was kept a secret 
 from his folks. Well, a daughter was born to them, and then afier 
 a while he left for India; but before he left he had a silver chain and 
 locket made, of unique design, and then fastened it on the child s 
 neck, he keeping the key and his wife agreeing not to remove It 
 under Any circumstance. After he had been in India about a year 
 he was taken prisoner by the natives, and held for over two years; 
 on being released he came home with all possible speed, only to find 
 that his wife and child had gone to some city, no one knew where. 
 He then began a search which lasted over three years, without his 
 finding the least trace of them; the idea then struck him that per 
 haps his wife had followed him to India, and with this thought he 
 visited that country a second time, only to be disappointed again. 
 He then gave up all hopes of finding them yet wandered hopelessly 
 about seeking thorn in vain. It was in this condition that I found 
 him one morning, more dead than alive, and after keeping him for a 
 time, he told me his story. From that time until his death we were 
 the firmest and best of frien Is; Inter he became my partner, and we 
 did a very prosperous business. He had at last found a clew to the 
 whereabouts of his wife and was ready to start to this country, 
 when he died. In making his will he made one clause and that w is: 
 "That I, Frank Karl, in case I did not succeed in finding his wif.j 
 and daughter, should either accept his fortune as a last gift from 
 him, or that 1 might dispose of it as I thought best." 
 
 Sage. And you have not discovered this heir? Allow me to 
 introduce his second cousin, who I (leads up CLAIUSSA 
 
 Karl. Yes, I know all about that. B;it before Luke died he g;ivo 
 into my tru-t the key to thi lo ket an 1 al--o the proofs of his mar 
 riage. There was b:it one pcr.-on who witnessed all this besides 
 
BE A C; THE POOH HOUSE GIEL. 99 
 
 myself, and that was our overseer, a man whom we trusted implicitly, 
 and to repay him for his honesty we settled a sum of money on him 
 find gave him the business. Well, after the funeral, I started lor 
 here with the purpose of finding the heirs; after we were well at 
 sea who should I find on board but this same overseer, this 
 
 John. Spare me, Frank, for the sake of my poor old mother, 
 whom this blow would kill 1 For God s sake let me go ! 
 
 (throws himself at KARL S feet 
 
 Karl. Get up, sir! Well, this man knew where to look for 
 everything just as well as I, and one dark night he stabbed me in 
 the back, and being interrupted before he had time to search me, 
 threw me overboard, thinking that he would get the fortune into his 
 own hands and in his search for the daughter 
 
 Anna. 1 cannot bear this any longer! Oh, sir, I am not the 
 daughter of Mr. Southen. I am only a tool of that wretch. Ibis 
 chain he had made that I might resemble the child as much as 
 possible; and now I hope you will find the true party, although he 
 declares she is dead. 
 
 Karl. But she still lives. 
 
 John. That s a lie ! I saw her bur 
 
 Karl. Silence, sir ! 
 
 Anna. And now that I have done all that I can, I will ask you 
 to forgive and excuse one in whose company I know you are 
 ashamed to be. (starts to go but is stopped by KARL 
 
 Karl. May God bless you for this act; it makes me your frien 1, 
 and I will see that no harm comes 10 you from him. Now, John 
 Perkins, for the sake of your poor mother, I am going to let you go, 
 but only on two conditions, and they are: First, that you leave this 
 town at once, and this country before twenty-four hours; for if you 
 are in America to-morrow at six o clock, I ll have you arrested for 
 attempted murder. The second is that you give me two checks for 
 fifty thousand dollars each, one for this young lady and the other 
 lor your poor old mother, who has to support herself. 
 
 John. But that that will beggar 
 
 Karl. Enough of that ! all you have to do is accept or I ll ring ! 
 
 (starts toward the bell cord 
 
 John. No, no! I ll sign! 
 
 Karl. Oblige me, Mr. Sage, by seeing that those checks are made 
 out in a correct manner. 
 
 JOHN makes out checks and SAGE hands them to KARL. 
 
 Karl. That is all right and now don t you dare to stop the pay 
 ment of these for if you do I ll hunt you down as I would a reptile. 
 Now, sir, leave the country and don t you ever dare show your face 
 here ao-ain, for I shall put a price on your capture. Now go ! 
 
 (exit JOHN, L. 
 
 Karl. As it is useless for me to say anything further, and as you 
 probably wish to examine the papers, there they are. 
 
 Lays papers on table; SAGE and CLARISSA examine them. KARL turns 
 to ANNA. 
 
 Karl. Young woman, you have acted nobly and I want you to 
 accept this (offers check) as a part atonement for whatever wrong 
 be may have done. 
 
SO BE AC; THE POOE ROUSE GIRL. 
 
 Anna. I cannot take it ! I do not deserve this kindness from you. 
 I was as much to blame as he. 
 
 Karl. Hush ! Let me hear no more ! You will accept it then aa 
 a present from me, as all he has was given him, for he never saved 
 a cent. Take it ! (offers it again) and may it bring you the happi 
 ness your face tells me you have never had, and which I am sure 
 you deserve. 
 
 KARL puts check into her hands; she takes his hand and raising it to 
 
 her lips. 
 
 Anna. This is too much for such as I ! (weeps bitterly 
 
 Karl. There, there, don t cry any more! You will find my car- 
 ria<>-e at the door, and it will carry you wherever you wish to go. 
 
 (exit ANNA, R. 
 
 Sage. I find everything satisfactory, with the exception that I 
 should like to see the daughter. 
 
 Karl. Your wish shall be gratified, (goes to door and calls BRAC) 
 Brae ! Come this way, please. 
 
 SAGE and CLARISSA jump up and stand staring at her in wonder when 
 she enters and bows to them. 
 
 Sage. What, Brae ? 
 
 C. For the land sakes ! I thought you was dead ! 
 Brae. No, I m not! But it s not Mr. Karl s fault, for he s been 
 trying to kill me with kindness for the past year, and now he s given 
 it up and promised to let me do as I like. 
 
 C. And so you are the heiress, and I m your aunt I Well, I 
 never ! 
 
 Brae. Heiress I I an heiress ? 
 
 Sage. Yes, Brae, you are the only daughter of Luke Southen 
 and he left half a million dollars. 
 
 Brae. How funny! Why, that s just the same amount as you 
 had left to you ! 
 C. No, it was never left to me, and all I ve left now is myself. 
 
 Brae. What do you mean ? Didn t you get any 
 
 C. Yes, I got the experience of spendin all my hard earned 
 savin s and of bein made a fool of! 
 
 Brae. Mr. Karl, is what they say true? Have I am I to have 
 all this money? 
 Karl. Yes, pet! 
 
 Brae. And can I do can I us3 some of it now, just as I please? 
 Karl. Why, certainly. 
 
 Brae. Then I want you to give my guard enough so that she 
 won t have to work any more. 
 
 Karl. You wish me to place enough to her credit so that she will 
 be provided for the rest of her days ; is that it, Brae ? 
 Brae. Yes, sir ! and you must take it out of my money. 
 C. You goin to do this for me, Brae? Why, child, I never did 
 anything for you to deserve it. 
 
 Brae. Then you will begin now by accepting my present and not 
 Baying anything more about it. 
 
 Sage. You are a remarkable young lady, and you deserve to be 
 happy for helping your old friend in such a magnificent manner ; 
 and now, Clarissa, supposing we take a walk, and leave them for a 
 
 
 
BKAC ; TEE POOR HOUSE GIRL. SI 
 
 C. (aside) Oh, he smiles on me again, (exit with SAGE 
 
 7>/-cc. The hook is baited once mare, and she ll make a catch this 
 time, sure. 
 
 Karl. Well, Brae, now that .yon are rich I suppose that I can 
 retire and not act the father over yon any more, as you will not 
 v. ant for anything now. 
 
 Urac. Except a good kind father to plague and torment. No, 
 sir! you can t go! You stole me once, and now you ve got to keep 
 me; and if you try to run away I ll I ll prosecute you, now you 
 soe ! 
 
 Karl. Ha! ha! ha! If you are going to try that, I think I ll 
 stay, for 1 have a mortal dread of the law. 
 
 Brae. Then, kidnapper, beware of my vengeance! But, Mr. 
 Karl, you never told me how you escaped after being thrown over 
 board that night. 
 
 Karl. Didn t I? Why, I was sure I told you everything. 
 
 Brae. So you did, except that, and that I was rich, you old fraud I 
 
 Karl. Hal ha! ha! Well, I wanted to surprise you a little, and 
 so kept it until I was sure of having it all settled. 
 
 Brae. Well, I ll forgive you this time; but your story? 
 
 Karl. Oh, it was simple enough; I was picked up by a man-of- 
 war bound for home, after floating upon a plank for several hours, 
 nnd was landed in Washington about one week after Jack landed in 
 New York, and followed him here. You already know the rest. 
 
 Brae. And you have done all of this for my sake I Oh, Mr. Karl, 
 I don t deserve to have such a friend. 
 
 Karl. Come, come, you must not talk to me like that any more; 
 you know that I have no one else to be kind to, and so you might let 
 me have my own way a little. 
 
 Brae. And so you shall ! only forgive me this time and I promise 
 that it shall not occur again. Oh, say ! did you find out about ? 
 
 Karl. Yes, the dog is alive and so are the chickens, though they 
 are two years old now, and 
 
 Brae. No, no I I don t mean them. I I mean 
 
 Karl. Dorcas Jones? Why, yes, she s alive and doing a smart 
 business, and 
 
 Brae. Oh, bother her business! I want to know if you heard 
 anything from 
 
 Karl. From that farmer chap? Yes, he s been married for Some 
 time and has one child a 
 
 Brae. I don t care if they are twins ! I don t mean him ; I mean 
 the other. 
 
 Karl. What other? 
 
 Brae. Why I Mr. Why! you know who I mean. 
 
 Karl. I don t know how I should? 
 
 Brae. But, you do! you know I mean Mr. Wilder. 
 
 Karl. Oh, hoi So he s the one all this fuss is about, is he? Well, 
 Brae, he has lost all of his property. 
 
 Brae. I don t care anything about his property; I want him. 
 
 Karl. But, Brae, he is a very wild boy, I am told. 
 
 Enter BOB, L., and stands at back. 
 
 Brae. Then I ll tame him I so now ! 
 
 Karl. Well, here he is, so you had better commence at once, or 
 (looks from one to tht other) Ha ! ha 1 ha I (exit KARL, flu 
 
 
 
S3 BEAC; THE POOH HOUSE GIRL. 
 
 Brie. Mean old thing; he knew he was coming ! I wonder if he 
 heard me ? 
 
 Bob. Eh ahem ah Brnc, don t 3-011 remember me? 
 Brae, (bows very haur/h till/) I beg pardon ! Mr. Wilder, I pre 
 sume, (aside) There, that s style ! 
 
 Bob. (aside) Whew! what a set back ! (aloud) Yes, M ! $s Souttien, 
 I have the honor of being that individual. Allow me to congratulate 
 you upon your return to the scenes of your childhood. 
 
 Brae. And allow me to thank you for all the favors and kind acts 
 you did me in those days. (a*ide] 1 guess he s forgotten them by 
 this time by the way he acts now ! 
 
 Bob. Miss Southen, owing to some changes that have happened 
 Brae, (aside) So he s got a girl, .too, has he ? 
 
 Bob. To me in this last year, I feel obliged to I I feel it 
 
 Brae, (aside) I wonder if it hurts him much 1 
 
 Bob. My duty to to inform you 
 
 Brae. Oh, I know all about them ! 
 Bob. You have heard of them, then? 
 Brae. No, nor they of me, either ! 
 
 Bob. I don t see how they could, for my financial 
 
 Brae. Oh, bother! all you men think of is money. There s dear 
 old Mr. Karl always wondering what he ll do with his. 
 
 Bob. Why did Mr. Karl go away without giving me a chance to 
 speak to him ? 
 
 Brae. Because he knew that he wasn t wanted ! (aside) There ! 
 Bob. Brae, do you mean it? 
 
 Brae. Bob, can you doubt it? (they embrace 
 
 Bob. I don t know whether to believe it or not; and, Brae, you 
 have not changed any? You are still my Brae? (kisses her 
 
 Brae. Oh, Bob! Haven t you grown afraid of powder yet? 
 Bob. No, nor never will \\hile I have you for my powder bearer. 
 
 (they sit 
 
 Brae. Don t you go to making fun of. me; if you do you ll be 
 sorry. 
 
 Bob. I heard you say when 1 came i .i, that you would tame me, 
 so I suppose the sooner I give in (enter KARL,R.) the tamer you will 
 make me. 
 
 Karl, (aside) I should say that she had you pretty well tamed 
 now. (aloud) Ahem ! (Bos and BIIAC both jump up 
 
 Brae. Why ! Mr. Karl ! 
 Bob. Glad" to see you back again, Mr. Karl. 
 
 (advances and shakes hands 
 
 Karl. Thank you, B>b! .you once saved my life, an 1 I nevei had 
 a chance to thank you for your noble conduct; and now all that I 
 can say is, that if there is ever anything that I can do f jr you, in 
 auy way, don t fail to ask me. 
 
 Bob. Mr. Karl, the service that I rendered you was no more than 
 any one else would have done, nnd I would prefer that it \v:is not 
 mentioned again. But, Mr. Karl, 1 have a great favor to a?k of you. 
 Karl. Well, what is it ? 
 
 Bob. I want you to give me Brae. I love her and 1 know that 
 she returns my affection. 1 do not ask for her now, for as you know 
 I am poor and have nothing but my hands to help me through life, 
 but with your promise and "her a and the best wishes or you both I 
 lhall have twice the strength and courage to fight and win life i 
 
BRAC; TIIE POOR HOUSE GIBL. S3 
 
 Brae, (goes to KARL and sans, aside) Say "yes;" I ve got money 
 enough for both. 
 
 Karl. Well, Brae ! What do you say to this? 
 
 Brae. I I like Bob and and I don t want to let him go away 
 from me, and you know I don t! 
 
 Karl. Whew! Well, sir ! you can have her, but let me tell you 
 that she is penniless, and after the wedding I will throw her over, 
 as I can t afford to be hanging around here any longer. 
 
 Bob. Sir, if she is as you say, and stands on an equal footing with 
 me, I will marry her at once, for it was only her money that made 
 me want to wait. 
 
 Brae. 1 arn not pen (KARL stops her 
 
 Karl. If that is your reason, you need not hesitate any longer, 
 for I assure you that she has no more property than you. 
 
 Bob. Oh, Brae! 
 
 Brae. Oh, Bob ! (they embrace 
 
 Karl. There, that makes me young again. 
 
 Enter SAGE and CLARISSA, L. 
 
 Sage. Mr. Karl, I am about to make Miss Clarissa my wife. 
 
 Brae. He s landed at last. 
 
 Sage. And as we have decided to go and have it done quietly we 
 would be greatly honored if you would all go over to the chapel 
 with us. 
 
 Karl. Of course we will ! but I insist on having a double wed 
 ding so yon two young folks hurry up and get ready. (KARL takes 
 BRAG aside and soys) Now not a word about your property until 
 after you are married, and then you may tell him and lay the blame 
 all on me; and as I want a private secretary, I. will take Bob. 
 
 Brae. Oh, you dear old humbug! (gives him a hug and kiss 
 
 Sage. Are we all ready ? 
 
 C. I am, dear Ransom. 
 
 Bob. All ready. 
 
 Brae. And waiting. 
 
 Karl. Then we will go at once to the chapel and have tlie cere 
 mony performed, and make these couples the happiest in the land. 
 
 (prepare to exit as the 
 
 CURTAIN FALLS. 
 
DUTCH JAKE ; or, True Blue . 
 
 A Drama in S Acts. JW 4 male ami 3 iViu;iie characters. 
 
 SYNOPSIS. 
 
 ACT I. Home of Major Fay in Virginia Iron mines Mrs. Fay 
 and the Major do not agree Maude Allen, the waif, finds a home 
 Harry Thurle and Ella Fay The proposal Henry Crinley, agent 
 for mining company Jake Schneider "a fresh arrival." The sale. 
 Five thousand dollars missing Jake accused "I tinks I peeii der 
 cock of der valk!" 
 
 ACT II. Jake and Ella Harry Thurle missing Jake, "I vill 
 finds him pooty quick now !" Crinley and Ella Jake protects 
 Ella The goose pond Maude tells Major Fay of Crinley s treach 
 eryPlan to abduct Ella, frustrated by Maude Jake Schneider s 
 dream and rescue of Harry Ella leaves home Crinley discovers 
 Maude, his wife Shows his hand Jake appears and prevents 
 murder "I peen not afraid of dot cowyard man!" Major Fay and 
 Crinley The insult Kettle of hot water Jake on deck. 
 
 ACT III. Crinley and Maior Fay The vigilance committee- 
 Harry and the pocker-book Maude Allen s story Storm A dark 
 night s work An attempt to murder Major Fay Crinley shoots 
 and wounds Harry Jake shoots Crinley His dying confession 
 Maude finds a brother in Harry Dutch Jake, and happy ending. 
 
 PENN HAPGOODT 
 
 A Drama in 3 Acts, for 1O male and 3 female characters. 
 
 SYNOPSIS. 
 
 ACT I. Scene 1st. School-house Penn and Carl The threat- 
 Foot-race between Carl, Dan and Jim Penn s defense l Hang 
 him. I hang him I" Carl to the rescue Tar and feathers. Scene 
 
 geese!" Gus Bythewood, his Southern sentiments Salina "I am 
 not a rebel! "Mrs. Sprow), the "lone widder," interviews Penn. 
 Mr. Villars threatened Virginia intercedes "We ll give the 
 Yankee three days to leave the country." Carl and Dan "They 
 mean to kill Penn" Escape of Penn. 
 
 ACT II. Scene 1st. Penn about to be hung "Death, rather 
 than a rebel!" Carl saves Penn, by enlisting Arrest of Mr. Vil 
 lars and Stackridge Virginia discovers Bythewood s treachery. 
 Scene 2nd. Prisoners in the guard-house The secret passage Carl 
 on guard Escape of prisoners with Carl. Scene 3d. Home of the 
 Villars Toby s opinion Virginia missing Lysander and Salina 
 "Terrible news" Toby as a bootjack "Toby shall not be whipped!" 
 "Fire! fire!" 
 
 ACT III. Scene 1st. Lysander and Silas A plan to compel 
 Mrs. Stackridge to reveal the cave where her husband is Scene 2nd. 
 Mrs. Sprowl, the "lone widder" visits Mrs. Stackridge s home^ 
 arrival of Dim and Jim, who mistake her for Mrs. Stackridge the 
 whipping Lysander arrives "Scoundrels, you have whipped my 
 mother!" Scene 3d. Carl and Toby prisoners Carl saves Toby a 
 whipping Carl leads the way to the cave. Scene Wi. Cave 
 Penn and Virginia Carl and Toby, with Lysander a prisoner Es 
 cape of Lysander, and attempt to capture party at cave Repulse 
 and victory Death of Bythewood and Lysander Passport to the 
 North. 
 
ESTABLISHED 187C - T^ZKTY-TYTO YE AE3 OF SUCCESS 1 
 
 500,000 PLAYB WANTED. 
 
 Do not retain your copies of Plays you do not de 
 sire to use, but take advantage of the 
 
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 will send one from Our Own List, which is headed : 
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 The books sent us must be clean and whole. 
 
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 AMES PUB G. CO., 
 
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Every Amateur wants a copy, and should 
 order at once. 
 
 HINTS TO AMATEURS, 
 
 ~" BY A. D. AMES. 
 
 A book of useful information for Amateurs and others, written ex 
 pressly for those who are giving public entertainments and 
 who wish to make their efforts successful containing 
 rnueh information never before given. Mr. Ames 
 has had many years experience, and in 
 this work gives many hints whicl 
 cannot fail to be of great 
 benefit to all. 
 
 Do you wish to know How to act ? 
 
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 Do you wish to know Many hints about the stage? 
 
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 Do you wish to know The best method for studying? 
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 Do you wish to know A short history of the drama? 
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 If you with to know the above, read Hints to Amateurs, it will be 
 ttp.t jou for 15 cent* pr copy. 
 
-NE w PL A YS. 
 
 Fifteen Cents Each Unless Otherwise .13 a r e<l. 
 
 PELEG 
 
 Around the Horn. 
 
 A. Farce-Comedy in 4 acts. 4 male, 2 female character!. 
 
 An ocean trip from San Francisco to New York 
 
 causes an immense amount of fun. 
 
 COST UXES MODERN. 
 
 TIME OF PLAYING TWO HOURS. 
 
 SYNOPSIS. 
 
 ACT L~.-?ne 1st. Cabin of the ocean steamer Mary Jane P^rne-or? coming or 
 board Peter and Peleg meet Isabel and Captain Peleg and his Billow a patent pin 
 cushionIsabel s trouble "Let s be gay and happy still" Peter gives his first ex 
 perience on board of a ship I never vas so sick in mine life" Kate, Isabel and 
 the Captain Pel eg and Kate Peleg kisses the cook how she accepted his advances 
 "Mine Got in Himmel, I finds me somedings in mino room" Hanibal. the darkej 
 a general ruption "Hi golly! see em." 
 
 ACT II. Scene 1st, Isabel and the Captain Pel eg afraid ha is in the way it 
 reminds him or the time he went sparking Sail Kate and Peleg Ilanibnl comes in 
 disgust of Peleg "dere nefer was a posey flower miroudt stickers"-Peleg and Peter aea 
 rick Hanibal interrupts love scene between Peleg and Kate. 
 
 ACT III. Scene 1st. Hanibal and Peter "Oh! father, you signed my death war 
 rant when you signed your will" Peter relate? his courting experience Peleg in love 
 Peter s ad vice to the Captain Peleg jealous of Peter. 
 
 ACT IV. Isabel tells the Captain the conditions of her father s will The Cap 
 tain s declaration I must obey my father!" The quarrel between Peter and Peleg 
 in which Hanibal appears Glory mit der stars und stripes and the American 
 eagle^-and de cullud population"-Kate and the Captain Kate tells a secret Captain s 
 despair Kate endeavors to make Peleg propose, in which she succeeds as Hanibal ap 
 pears Peter s opinion of muddcr-by-laws Isab lie tells the Captain she is to marry 
 Peter Polstine Peter "Dot vas me" the despair of Isabella when she discovers who 
 Peter is Peter refuses to many Isabel le, I or my wife s name will be Katrina mine 
 little Shermany gal Isabelle accepts the Captain Kate and Feleg matrimonv 
 double wedding when the Mary Jane reaches port. PRICE 25 CENTS. 
 
JUST PUBLISHED! 
 
 A SPARKLING COMEDY. 
 Adapted from the French for M lle 
 Marie Aiinoe, by Newton 
 Chisnell, an actor and 
 author well known 
 in tlie dramatic 
 profession. 
 
 OEDEE A COPY. 
 It has the original cast 
 of characters as produced 
 for the first time on any 
 stage, at San Francisco, Cal., un 
 der Mr. Chisnell s personal management. 
 
 OEDEE AND EEAD A COPYONLY 15c. 
 Time of Representation 2 hours. 
 
 SYNOPSIS. 
 
 ACT I. A French cafe "Cigars, beer, ham sandwiches !" The 
 man with the toothache Mis. Johnson, who has "smelled a mouse," 
 in search of her husband, who finds it difficult to love only one 
 woman Adonis Montague, the 14th street masher Mr. Johnson 
 flirts with the veiled lady Lifts the veil, "my wife !" The agree 
 ment, "a tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye." "If I catch you, 
 look out!" Mr. Johnson waiting for Kvelena, is discovered by Mrs. 
 Johnson "Caught !" "Remember the agreement I" Mr. Johnson s 
 horror of what his wife may do, as she is a French woman The 
 assistance of Montague, etc. 
 
 ACT II. Home of Mr. Johnson Return of Mrs. Johnson, a des 
 perate woman Mr. Johnson s arrival with peace offerings "Noth 
 ing but a full confession." His confession "She was only a 
 pock-marked music scholar," and swears they only got as far as "do, 
 re, me, fa, sol, la, si, dp, do, si, la, sol, fa, me, re, do." A cyclone 
 in the bedroom Adonis Montague arouses Mr. Johnson s jealousy 
 Medical students arrive "Mr. Johnson !" "Scoot, brother, scoot!" 
 Mr. Johnson locka his wife in the house, not aware of the students 
 being hid in the rooms, and departs for the ball, as he leads the 
 orchestra Mrs. Johnson and students escape through window and 
 start for the ball. 
 
 ACT III. Dr. Boliver s ball A mistake of Flip s, the usher. 
 Arrival of Mrs. Don t-bother-me, New York Clipper and the Water- 
 mellon brothers The dance Mr. Johnson recognizes Mrs. Don t- 
 bother-me as his wife "No more music unless she stops dancing!" 
 She does not know that "shabby fiddler" "Put him out, he is 
 drunk!" Out he gees Return of Mr. Johnson disguised as a 
 waiter The threat Mrs. Johnson angry and decides to run away 
 Mr. Johnson relates a funny story of a repentant lobster He at 
 tempts suicide He is forgiven Advice of a repentant lobster. 
 
 Ames Publishing Co., 
 
 Lock Box 102. CLYDE, OHIO. 
 
HAUNTED BY A SHADOW ; 
 
 OR,- 
 
 Hunted 
 
 A Drama in 4 Acts for 8 male and 2 female characters, 
 by Geo. B. Chase. Costumes modern, characters excel 
 lent ; and amateurs can easily produce it 
 SYNOPSIS. 
 
 ACT I. Scene 1st Home of Judge Dean Mrs. Warrea meeti her son, 
 Will Warren, (alias Frank Hayes) whom she ha not seen for years Nora 
 and her boy lover Interview between Ralph Monksly and Frank A plan 
 to get rid of Mrs. Warren The "shadow" Nora and Frank The "ghost." 
 Caesar Orangeblosaom Lost papers Felix Bolton, the detective, on the 
 trail. Scene 2nd. Caesar visits the offica of Ralph Monksly The drugged 
 wine "Caught in his own trap" The quarrel Dr. Radoliff The bargain 
 closed. 
 
 ACT II. Scene 1st Judge Dean and the dectectir* Bolton Frank s 
 villainy exposed to the Judge. Scene ZndThe lunatic asylum An answer 
 to the advertisement "H-a-n-k Hank F-i-n-n Finn Hank Finn Hank 
 and th dog Mrs. Warren, an inmate of the asylum The brutal doctor 
 Rescue of Mrs. Warren by Hank. 
 
 ACT III. Scene 1st The proposal Judge Dean s request of Nora Nora 
 refuses Frank His anger and threat Legal papers An English fortune 
 Mrs. Warren s decision Abduction of Nora The detective to the rescue. 
 Scene ncZ Nora in the asylum Escape of Nora Death of Dr. Radcliff 
 Papers found. 
 
 ACT IV. Scene 1st Barney O Toole in possession He discovers a plan 
 of robbery The detective as a Dutch peddler Frank and Ralph recognize 
 him, cnpture and confine him in trunk Barney releases him The robbery 
 Death of Ralph "1 have kept my oathl" Scene 2nd Frank s rillainy 
 exposed Barney, the rightful heir and son Shadowed The criminals to 
 justice Hnppy ending. 
 
 TwoAuntEmilys;or,Quits. 
 
 A Farce in 1 Act, by Martie E. Tibbets, for 8 female 
 
 characters. This is an excellent little farce, consisting of 
 
 light comedy, easy acting, racy dialogue and a good moral. 
 
 SYNOPSIS. 
 
 Quarrel between Dinah and Biddy. Aunt Emily, whose money the 
 girls are trying to get. Mrs. Morton and the telegram. Dismay of Helen 
 and Grace. Dinah lays down the law. Onions and cayenne pepper. 
 Arrival of Belle. Morton and her teacher, who is the rich Aunt Emily. 
 Belle s joke on Aunt Emily. The long unheard of sister found. Belle s 
 joke on the girls discovered. The poor Aunt Emily secures a homt. 
 Bjilt fets even and calls it "Quits." 
 
THE COMMERCIAL 
 
 DRUMMER, 
 
 A Drama in 3 Acts, by Thorn Melross, for 6 male ahd 
 2 female characters. This piece is immense. It is printed 
 from the author s original manuscript, and has been pro 
 duced with great success by the American Theatre Co. 
 
 SYNOPSIS. 
 
 ACT I. Home of the late Richard Marlow. interview between 
 Frank Ross and Lawyer Dudley. The pious deacon and Verda 
 JVliller. Heading the will. Joe s do^ collar. Richard Marlow, the 
 false heir. The child of the Dark Continent in trouble. Three 
 villains. "Ten thousand to silence my tongue!" Zadie, the de 
 serted wife of John Dudley. An attempted murder, Joe s little 
 barker" interferes. Deacon and Joe. Frank and Verda; his 
 resolve to become a "Commercial Drummer." Zadie giv*es Verda a 
 home. Mr. Dudley s proposal to Verda, and the misunderstanding. 
 Murder of Deacon Foote, and Frank accused. The struggle, "life 
 or death !" 
 
 ACTIE. Zadie, Verda, *n3 th tramp. "Painted benches." 
 "My kingdom for some Eoupl" Booth and Zadie. Attempted 
 murder of Zadie; Ashtor, the tramp interferes, anu makes Dudley 
 hand o^er a "William." Booth and the Indian. Too much beer. 
 The stolen will. Joe in the barrel. Target shooting. Verda s 
 refusal to marry Dudley. Abduction of Verda, and Joe knocked 
 down. 
 
 ACT ITT. Ahtor and Booth. Corn plasters; "There s millions 
 in them!" Olie, the Swede. Zadie, tbe Census taker. Two 
 "bummers!" Rescue of Verda by Zadie. Frank discovered by 
 Richard, as Booth. "He must die!" A job for Olie. "In the 
 soup!" Hot and cold boxes. Olie and Booth to the rescue of 
 Zadie. Explanations. A new version of McGinty. A love scene. 
 Capture of Verda. Supposed death of Booth. Fright and death of 
 Dudley. Capture of Richard. Frank and Verda secure the fortune 
 at last. Zadie avenged and the "Commercial Drummer" sells corn 
 plasters no more. 
 
 THE 
 
 Intelligence Office, 
 
 An original Ethiopian Sketch in 1 Scene for 3 male char 
 actersas produced at Tony Pastor s Opera House. 
 This sketch is extremely ludicrous costumes modern 
 time in representation 15 minutes.