ACT II.
Cabin of the Creole Bride, a Mississippi steamboat cosily furnished. DoorsR.andL.Table and cradleC.Pictures. Four books on a little shelf. A parasol and handkerchief lie on the table.Mary,theCaptain’swife, sits by the cradle sewing.
Cabin of the Creole Bride, a Mississippi steamboat cosily furnished. DoorsR.andL.Table and cradleC.Pictures. Four books on a little shelf. A parasol and handkerchief lie on the table.Mary,theCaptain’swife, sits by the cradle sewing.
Mary(sings).
“By low baby,By low baby,By low baby,By low by.”
“By low baby,By low baby,By low baby,By low by.”
“By low baby,By low baby,By low baby,By low by.”
“By low baby,
By low baby,
By low baby,
By low by.”
(Rises.)
There! he’s asleep at last. He keeps awake just as long as he can, I do believe. (Takes a book from the shelf.) I don’t know what I should do this stormy weather, I am sure, if it weren’t for these books. Away up here, on this river, where we don’t get a newspaper but once in two weeks!(Turns over the books.) I am tired of “Baxter’s Saint’s Rest,” and I know “Alonzo and Melissa” by heart. I suppose I ought to read my Bible more, but here’s this book on navigation. (Reads.) “Thoms’ Navigator,” by Janet Thorms, a Yankee schoolmarm, they say, up near Boston. It seems fresh all the time. I like to study it, too, when I am rocking the cradle. (Sits and reads.) Somehow, it seems to come natural to me to know all about a boat, and I love any kind of a one. How they skip round the bend of the river, and over the sea, at home! I wonder why they call a vesselshe! Father says they ought to call steamboatshe, because they smoke so. Dear father! how I should like to see him, and hear him sing!
(EnterPhus,R.)
Phus(in a loud voice). Mis’, de cap’n say—
Mary.Sh! you’ll wake the baby.
Phus(in a loud whisper). Mis’, de cap’n dun tole me he not feel well, an’ you come to de weel-house. Phus tote de baby.
Mary(rising hastily). Take good care of him. (ExitR.)
Phus.Take good care obhim. (Imitates her voice, and tip-toes round the room.) How golly fine it am to be de cap’n’s mis’, a-sittin’ down har all fix’ up, and den walkin’ on deck wid de par-sol, totin’ de baby. Oh, Lor! (Sings softly.)
Min’ de pick’niny,Min’ de pick’niny,Take good care obhim.
Min’ de pick’niny,Min’ de pick’niny,Take good care obhim.
Min’ de pick’niny,Min’ de pick’niny,Take good care obhim.
Min’ de pick’niny,
Min’ de pick’niny,
Take good care obhim.
Wot’s dem books? I dunno, caze I can’t read ’em all yit. But the cap’n’s mis’, she try larn me. Lemme see. (Takes up a book and reads.) “Meel-iss-see-felt-a-cold-han’-on-her-fore-head-an’-she-scream-ded-scream-ded.” Wot’s dat? Golly! I can’t do dat. (Shuts up the book.) Sh! sh! de baby’s wokem up. He’ll holler ef he see me.I’ll make him tink I’m de cap’n’s mis’. (He takes the parasol and opens it, spreads the handkerchief over his face, and sits down by the cradle. EnterCaptain Miller,R.,leaning onMary’sshoulder.)
Mary.Tell me, dear, just how you feel. (SeesPhus.) Oh, Phus! you’ll scare the baby.
Phus.Mis’, de baby was a gwine to wokem up, and I specks he’d tink ’twas you.
Capt. M.Phus, take off that rig, and go on deck, you lubber! (ExitPhus,R.) Oh, I don’t know. I feel just as I did once when I was a boy, before I had the typhoid fever,—tired all over. (Sits.) My head is as light as a feather, and my feet are heavy as lead. I don’t feel as if I could step a step.
Mary.Lie down a little while, and perhaps you’ll feel better. How much farther do we go up river?
Capt. M.About two hundred miles. We shall reach the last station in a few days. (Takes off his jacket and shoes wearily, as he talks.) Patsy is at the wheel, and you can bring me word if he wants anything.
Mary(aside). Oh, dear! I know he is going to be sick. (To him) Where is the chart of the river?
Capt. M.On deck, in the wheel-house.
Mary.And all the things you use?
Capt. M.Yes. Why?
Mary.Because I want to know, so that you can have a good long nap.
Capt. M.Our course is all marked out, and what to steer by; but I shall feel better, I hope, after I have had some sleep. You’d better go on deck, once in a while, see how things are going on, and let me know. (ExitL.,holding by the doorway.)
Mary(sitting). What shall I do! away up here, a hundred miles from a doctor. I am afraid William has the river fever, the same as Phus had last year. Oh! mother! mother! If I could only have you with me! If I could only get word to you! (Leans her head on the table.)
(EnterPhus,R.)
Phus.Whar de cap’n? Pats say he want know which way ter go, and de cap’n must tell him.
Mary.Phus, do you remember how sick you were last year?
Phus.An’! wouldn’t ’a’ libed ef you hadn’t ’a’ nussed me.
Mary.Do you want to pay me for it?
Phus.I ain’t got no money, mis’; but I prays ebery night: Lor’ bress de cap’n’s wife. She nuss me; make me well.
Mary.I don’t want any money, Phus. You can pay me in a better way.
Phus.An’ I sings in de cook-house w’en de pork’s a-fizzlin’, an’ Hank he likes it. (Sings mournfully.)
I’se poor Jo-Phus,—’Lijah cum down.Sick in de ’teamboat,—’Lijah cum down.Cap’n’s mis’ nuss me,—’Lijah cum down.(Livelier.) An’ den I gits well,—’Lijah cum down.Swing low de goolden charyot,Rock de baby, car’ long de cap’n’s mis’.’Lijah cum down.
I’se poor Jo-Phus,—’Lijah cum down.Sick in de ’teamboat,—’Lijah cum down.Cap’n’s mis’ nuss me,—’Lijah cum down.(Livelier.) An’ den I gits well,—’Lijah cum down.Swing low de goolden charyot,Rock de baby, car’ long de cap’n’s mis’.’Lijah cum down.
I’se poor Jo-Phus,—’Lijah cum down.Sick in de ’teamboat,—’Lijah cum down.Cap’n’s mis’ nuss me,—’Lijah cum down.(Livelier.) An’ den I gits well,—’Lijah cum down.Swing low de goolden charyot,Rock de baby, car’ long de cap’n’s mis’.’Lijah cum down.
I’se poor Jo-Phus,—’Lijah cum down.
Sick in de ’teamboat,—’Lijah cum down.
Cap’n’s mis’ nuss me,—’Lijah cum down.
(Livelier.) An’ den I gits well,—’Lijah cum down.
Swing low de goolden charyot,
Rock de baby, car’ long de cap’n’s mis’.
’Lijah cum down.
(Marydoes not listen.)
Mary.Phus, listen to me. The captain is very sick, and you can help me if you will; and more than pay me for anything I have done for you.
Phus.I’ll do ebryting. You so good to poor Phus—make me well, an’ larn me to read—see here. (Reads.) “Mee-liss-see-felt-a-scream-ded,” no, dat ain’t de place; “col’—col’—han’—” (cold hand.)
Mary.Never mind reading now, Phus. I want you to stay here while I go on deck, and listen to the captain. If he wakes up and wants anything, you must go in and tell him I will come right down; then you come and call me. (ExitR.)
Phus.Yaas, mis’! (Applies ear to keyhole of door,L.)
Curtain.