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Show Musy VIRGINIA" a "TP pTS By Marguerite Merrington.. ' I jf j 'he scene is laid in the attic of a Virginia mansion, jam where about the year 1160. The quotations, rules for bchaiior and the like are taken from diaries of the period. Jn presenting this monologue either real scenery and properties or vial.e-bilieea may be used.) me! we Deed salvation tvbeu wo die, Once we get none here, I hare ever hated setting stitches. I.nt I'd sooner bcu disbclouts all uiy lifo than wenr diamond rings ss Madam Throckruorlou! And my toys that I laid aide but yesterday; my battle-dore battle-dore and shuttlecock ! That's wbnt I om; a poor, helpless little shuttlecock! Will it be toy fnult if when I'm luKicd willy-nilly Bom one man's hand to toiler between them I fall into the mireV (I'irks up old book.) And my srhoollmoks ; my Accidence Acci-dence ! How I have muddled up my braius over you! Lin t all tin- p.iil'.T v'i have giveu mc 1 will pai no; ill &Hyf ill UcMmm ororurht. iei. T the No York IleraM Co, All rlcbii rerrc1 ) f 1H (jOVjrfr ' I 'S'il'M-'rQ W' "What Is This She Carries in Her Locket Night and Day?" VIRGINIA (enters o-ifA a ruA, as if pursued, tinting tint-ing and bolting the door; while doing so speaks to sonic person, or persons, outside). No. you shall not folltw me to rpy on me! What do you want with me? Am I not ready for the sacrifice? sacri-fice? Aye, sacrifice. I say! Oh, Colonel, think ou I do not guess why you are marrying me off to n man tt enough to be my great-grcat-great-grandfatber? Listens a moment, as if to those outside). Kb? Oh, so, (or my own good ! Because for her prelly foec the prosperous pros-perous old merchant will take the penniles3 maid without i dower! A foe tale, forsooth, Colonel, and rDc Hint will rend bravely in that dinry yon write so clerkly in yur scholar's band! But secrets will cut over the canary, and the very echoes are buzzing with the bargain you are driving! Aye. bargain; giving me, your ward, your old comrade's orphan "child, in payment of your lo?53 at th earning table! To pay .t debt of honor! Honor? Heaven save the mark! What honor can there be in breaking a young girl's heart? So now the rat is out o' the bag! Drum derisively on door while speaking) I know, and you know that I know, nd you may ns well leave mo this, my remaining hour of life, in pence. What do I hnr? Oh. fie. Colonel, what naughty lan-nage lan-nage ! Hut if 'till the coach is ready to take me to cborch jou do not leave me nlonc, as I am a Christian I swear I mil never go thronrh the ceremony ! I'll shame you! I'll lite. I'll scratch, I'll scream. I'll tear the bridegroom's wig 'from his bald pate and dash the proyerbook from the minster's min-ster's hand, and I will. I will, I will; so there! (Comes doicn and looks about with tender sadness.) b. dear old attic, dear old playroom, goodby! (Goes to indow.) Pear James River, bow many toy ships have I sent freighted with dreams on your waters out to sea! Iweet tpring, with your roues and lilies and flowering wi trees and mock-bird's song, goodby ! Oh, no doubt the world will roll on as wontedly when I am Madam Throckmorton; but. spring or snow, screech owl or mock-bird, mock-bird, 'twill he nll one to me! And that white monument ronder to Kvelyn Byrd! My oven are too swollen with reeping to rend its record, but do T not know it from lemory ! "Here in the Sleep of Peace Reposes the ody r.f Mistress Evelyn Byrd " Peace, forsooth! Lying pilaph! Thee old walls have often whispered mc how Evelyn sighed and pined because her cruel father for-lado for-lado her marrying the true love of her heart! Sleep. Joraooth! Those strange ereakings and groanings that lurse always told me were but the uneasy pains in the woodwork of the bouse, do not I know that it is the rlirk of Evelyn's little hicb heeled shoes, the rattle ot 'he sticks of her fan. as her npirit comes back to dance i ghoatly minuet ! Poor, restless spirit, in death re-icii)g re-icii)g the joyous hours when Mordaunt wooed her at King George's court! And of a dark, fearsome night, aben the branches toss wildly in the wind, have we out seen something white -lido by, inouning aud wail-"g: wail-"g: "O-o-o-o-o!" Ob. Evelyn. I wonder shall I. too, limer to be tweuty-ln tweuty-ln before I, too, decline into thj Awftjl Tomb! Oh, Kvelyn. di. you never long to put an end lo it by run-'ig run-'ig don the secret stairway to the river (indicating '( ,i woj or j,y leaping from the. casement into !he bottomless well to drown till you were dead? Jt 'y I had tbe courage! Hut, no; it looks fco cold, so '"uk. tc irtiii; jvc; tbot's it livo lo torment my jormrutors. a visen, a termagant, a sbrcw! Ob, some one shall rue this day. I vow! (Moves about, comet upon old playthings, die.) Ah, my little workbor. my tambour frame, my sampler with 'he device, I pricked my Ougers to spell out: "Virginia Shirley is my name; America my nation; Virginia in my dwelling place, and Christ is my slvation!'' Ifvi say, one meets nothing in the streets but Quakers ani weeping willows! (Crying.) The brido of a toothle.j old ape of seventy and vantage, of unsound intellectual, yet like to live furever! Oh, ob, oh, I cannot bear it I 1 canoot bear it! T.ut what to do? Which way to tur for help? Randolph away; Sally sick a-bed of a foTtr, witb cplit pigeorw at her feet, blisters on her sides and doctors to cup and leech her all tho timo! Oh, could X but run sway! But how? The cn?t passage leads but to the river! Th ri, that's it ! Better death than life with Granher Throckmorton Throck-morton ! Yet, my courage will surely ooze away. I might meet with a terrible monster, a water rat, or sum-mat! sum-mat! The well! That's it (running to window) ; tha bottomless well shall be my awful tomb! Oh, doHles, K;indlih, life, goodby! (About to jump from wio4otDj piuisfs.) What's yon? A barge upon tho river. Tb Carters' barge! And the flutter of a handkerchief among tho bushes! Handkerchiefs look much alike, bat there's Mi:m-thiiig about the flutter that bespeaks Randolph! Ill wave a rhnnrpy answer! (Waves handkerchief cut of irinJoie.) Aye, the answering flutter affirms my love, .Randolph ! What's this? (Catches something thrown up from beloic.) A not" tied about a stona! Uij band! Now, uh.it ay he ! (Reads nota.) Ob, joyful dajr ! H bos a minister wuitiug on tho opposite shore, and a Iic nse, and Sally for bridesmaid, SaJly, who wasn't Mt k at nil, but just shamming to connive this. God bleu you, Sally, and won't I do as much for yoa ! (irarcj awm from window.) Yes, yes yes, it Is all right; I'm coming! But first I must disguise myself! Here's this old cape coat and this calash. (Takes garments from rlnthctpress and puts th'm on while speaking.) My bores me ready for the Awful Tomb! Thre ! (Snov.i fAc picture in I At loikct to dolls) la he not the d''iirret. Iieautiful.-st! A perfect Ado Ado I cau't recall the name, but you know v hoin I moan. Randolph has met Virginia at routs, frolics ninl the like! Randolph is a poet; bo indites bis ladyclove nn ode! (7'l'.c J'i;nr from b'nom.) Trn the spelling i noi f.uilil's-i, but who cari-s when the morning Is so pleasant! pleas-ant! iRcidi.) "Come, then, and liitcn while I tell the beauticb of this charming belle!" Cbartuiug b'lle! That's ui, dollies; mc! "Ilor ryes o.i whiih 1 gaxc so oft .re bliio.' Truth compeN me to owu they're only n s.ort of prayer blue, but 1 like him to term them owlru'lit blue, and of course In favoring lighi they are blue a boost. "Are blue :nd hinguixhirgly oft.," Il-m! well, perchance over the ton of my hymn book, thus: you'll seel I'll conjugate the verb to tease in every me '. And my Book of Numbers; I'll warrant you I'll profit by your teaching! I'll turn the Golden Rule Into lb- Rule of Three! I'll add trouble, subtract joy, and be a uiulil-plication uiulil-plication table of vexation to my husband! Ami jou. what kay ye, my little volume ou Discreet Deportment for Young Females? "At table, after the blessing, n.xk for nothing; tarry 'till it be offered thee. Take ,iilt only with a clean knife. Gaze not fixedly at any oii who is eating. Sing not, bum not, wriggle not. Spit nowhere In the room but in the corners." (Throxes book aside.) I vow I will dip my f..rU with the tueat on it into the salt; I will stare at my spouse 'till the bite and sup choke bun; I'll hum. sing, wriggle, and, Heaven knows, I may e'en go so far fit to pit where-soo'er where-soo'er the fancy seizes me! Ob, they'll find they've au;bt a tartar in Misy Virginia! (Comes upon box of old dolls; lifts them one by one.) Oh, my dear doll children! Quashabct4, jou ole ulgg.ib. most ladies only Rive away locks of hair tor love tokens, but you have parted with your whole blessed wig! Belinda, Be-linda, you vnin piece, your dress was peagreen tafleiy, with fine pink trimmings, but you got caught in llm rain and Diccly soused, and jour hair a clod of powder pow-der and pomatum, while your line pan bat blew off into a pool of filthy water! I declare, Belirid.i, that shall be my revenge! I'll go walking in Iho rain when D;iddy Throckiuorton gives mc graudy new clothes. When be takes mc to tho new Sonthwurk Theatre to witness the rdifjing plays of Mr. Shakespeare, or Mr. Congrevo I'll shame him by my slovenliness; I'll bo n mouHlrous, shocking, dirty lout, I will! And you, Celeste, cherie, souvcnc.-voiiH de i.t-iiii.g games rjiio noiib avona plajcd si souveut together? "La main, hi main, jolie. potito. Pour Ihh smix. pour les ami! Merei nir-rri. nfs bons amis! I.e f runt, le front, le noble front, I 'our les xVcs et le frfrrcs! Mou eher papn! Me.s fro res cht'ris! I. ii joue. la joiie, hi rougPiinte joue. Pour les donees mi-res ot les soeiirs! I.h boiidie, hi liom.be, i ravisante, l'oiir les maris tn.ii' soiileinent pour les marls!" li. dear! oh. dear! as if I could ever kivs that old monster! Oh. dolly girls, lie thankful you are but china, wax and mwdnst, not human uVh and blood; for, dollies, your little mother's heart is breaking! Oh, my mother, I wonder do you know! I have u fecret pain here, right underneath my bravo breal knot I'll toil you about it. dolliex, but you promise not to betray me? Cross yonr heart and wish you may die? Good; then sit up and listen! Behold Virginia Shirley, orphan, aged seventeen. God made her human, but to her guardian ehe is of no more iie.-ouni thnn were she this (rt';r bolster from old four post bid), a thing of rags and smiling! She nuiHt wear thenc clumxy engines (takes old stays from clothespress) to render her shapely, nnd ibe.su contrivances (with old hooppkirt), like Mr. Dante's nine circles of infernal torture, tor-ture, that she may be modish ! This, lutestring dress from Paris is not a bod investment (rajtt'119 clothes from prtss and bundling them on boUter), and this foco mask will protect the bloom of her complexion from tho sun! A bonnet completes her charm. I dare swear bad Eve found a gold piece in Eden Mie'd have spent it on a hon-net! hon-net! Behold the result! Passable, eh? Has she a heart hvoi-ath her breiistknot, this Misny Virgiuia? Ah. nie ! flint's telling. What is this hhe carries In her locket niulu and day? (Shows locktt about her neck.) She bus h f.ioiife schoolmate S.illy Carter, nnd Sally has a '-i..il,rr Rnnil-dph! Rand..l.h ! A pretty Dame, me-think, me-think, and soft, like boney vn the tongue! Hi-; lnre: Ayr. they'll find It when they mU of wedding bravery are gone to Philadelphia, hut this nighlrail will Kerve for trousseau! (rirj nightrail from prti.) But I need two maids lo stand up with me; S illy's one, and yon, Jeruihy, love, shall serve for totber! I Seizes doll by leg.) Goodby, h.vcydiieks ! (Kissing hand to other dolls.) I'll come bark for you when thn knot u tied o light uo man eun ever it! (I'nns toward pnnel, pausing uf window to u urc oi'htiail from it.) Coming! All ready, dear love! Ah. t'doneI, nlaek nnd nclladay for nil your srhomes! I.oe lnu;!is at Iv:k-smilhs. Iv:k-smilhs. 1Ove nnd RandMlph! And at cruel cuurdtne-s. t'MithlckS bridegrooius, and what's th.it! (Stands ''.) A knivk at the door! They've come for roe! Gorl hnvh mercy on roe, body and soul! Thoy'e knocked deain' (Gois toward door, speaks to thot, without; pausing for replies.) Eh? The hour is come? Aye, the victim is ready for the executioner! Rut, firat, before she open to you. Colonel, bhe would ask one solemn question. Knowing that she hates, lontbes, despises the fate to which yon would doom her; Jearnis-g, inoreovft. that nbo love's another and a 1-etter man, do you still persist? You do! Good! Then go seek your victim at the bottom of the bottouiled well! (Throws bulster from tcindow and runs off by panel, laughing.) CURTAIN. "Heavens! with what grace she swims along, The envy of the virgin thpjng! You'll swear, so graceful is her motion, Another Venus from the ocean!' Veniw! Venus! The Idea of comparing me to a oilux that goes in bathing that way! A lack of punctilio, 1 feHr, in (but! However, what comes next? "Her lips, where all the graces sfrsy. Where all the loves delight to p'.iy. Oh, how they p my soul lu bliss With the ambrosia of their" Guess what rhymes with blis3! (Kisses paper, replaces it.) There, dollies, is not that a lovely ode? True, Mr. Pope may havo turned bis verses better aud Mi. Homer was more of a scholar, since be wrote in Greek; bnt no ono could have put more heart Into words or extracted prettier sentiment from an inkhorn, I vow! But what avails it! Young Randolph is but lightly blessed with this world's goods, so they've sent hiru off for a long journey, while bis poor Missy Virginia is weighed, like so many hogsheads of tobacco, for the marriage market! Aye, they're sending her away to a strange, place called Philadelphia, where, so travellers |