Douglas.’Tis false.
Jarius.It’s the truth, for I saw the act. I didn’t tell on it, for I wanted a p’int agin Douglas. To-morrow I shall make a charge of assault with intent to kill. It’s hung two years, but I guess it’s strong enough to do some execution.
Douglas.You have no witnesses. Your charge will fall to the ground, Mr. Jarius Jordan. You have outwitted me, but you must confess I have plotted safely. There’s not a point you’ve found to convict me of crime. You are rather keen. Try it. If I have failed in my attempt to ruin the family of the renowned shoemaker, John Nutter, I have still the satisfaction of retiring from the field with a very handsome profit in the shape of your check for a thousand dollars, which I shall expect to receive before night. Good day, all. Nutter, I leave you to join the hands of your daughter and her accomplished lover. Give them your blessing, and send me a card. (At door.) Ha, ha, farewell to Cobbler’s Paradise! (Exit,C.)
Sally.(Runs up to door.) Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Jarius.Sally, Sally, don’t do that. (Runs after her, and brings her downC.)
Sally.Jarius Jerden, if there’s a Yankee angel, you’re the critter.
Jarius.Sally, I want to ask you—that is—I’m going to—Consarn it! Sally, will you marry me? Phew! it’s out at last!
Sally.Of course I will. I would five years ago, if you’d only had the spunk to ask me.
Jarius.Jes’ so. I’ve been a donkey. But them words did stick in my wizzen awful.
Hannah.(Rising.) Law sakes, Mary, don’t try to keep me on this sofa. I ain’t a bit sick. I’m just as well as you are; and if I don’t dance at your weddin’, it’ll be because I hain’t got a partner.
Will.You shall not want for partners, mother. I claim the privilege of opening the ball with you.
Hannah.And you shall, Will. Law, my! how handsome you have grown!
John.Hasn’t he, mother! This is a proud day for us.
Hannah.Yes, indeed; for Will’s a man to-day.
Will.And, if I am, I owe it all to one who, in the dark hour, took me by the hand and led me into the light. Ah, many a poor boy who has been led into temptation might be saved from a miserable life if a friendly hand were stretched forth, and a warning word kindly given, as they were to me by Jarius Jordan—Heaven bless him!
Hannah.Ay, Heaven bless you, Jarius. You have made a mother’s heart happy in the gift of her boy, reclaimed from sin. May all you seek be yours.
Jarius.Jes’ so—which is Sally. I’ve got her. As there’s likely to be a matrimonial convention in this house pretty soon, I appint myself a delegate.
Sally.Second the motion.
John.Ned, I withdraw all objections to your proposal regarding Mary.
Ned.Thank you, Mr. Nutter.—Mary, are you going to make me happy?
Mary.I’m going to try, Ned. And where there’s a will there’s a way, you know.
Will.Mother, you don’t know how happy I feel to be with you again, to see the old home, everything about the room so familiar; even the little brown jug has a familiar look. It was my first temptation.
Jarius.Yes, boy, it was a family temptation. I knowed it would work trouble. Ah, if the liquid poison that slays was never allowed to show itself in the home, there would be fewer desolate hearthstones, fewer blighted lives.
John.You’re right, Jarius. When that boy fell, it opened my eyes, and not a drop of liquor shall ever enter my doors.
Jarius.Jes’ so. Stick to it, John Nutter. It was a bad speck. It turned your boy adrift; but, thanks to a mother’s love, he fought and conquered.
Will.(Comes up and takesJarius’shand.) Thanks to you, thanks to you!
Jarius.Wal, I dunno—
Hannah.(Comes and takesJarius’sother hand.) Jes’ so, Jarius, jes’ so.
Jarius,C.Willclasping his right hand,Mrs. Nutterhis left.John NutterandSally,R.NedandMary,L., arm-in-arm.
Jarius,C.Willclasping his right hand,Mrs. Nutterhis left.John NutterandSally,R.NedandMary,L., arm-in-arm.
SPENCER’S UNIVERSAL STAGE.
A Collection of COMEDIES, DRAMAS, and FARCES, adapted to either Public or Private Performance. Containing a full description of all the necessary Stage Business.
PRICE, 15 CENTS EACH. 🖙 No Plays exchanged.
1.Lost in London.A Drama in Three Acts. 6 Male, 4 Female characters.
2.Nicholas Flam.A Comedy in Two Acts. By J. B. Buckstone. 5 Male, 3 Female characters.
3.The Welsh Girl.A Comedy in One Act. By Mrs. Planche. 3 Male, 2 Female characters.
4.John Wopps.A Farce in One Act. By W. E. Suter. 4 Male, 2 Female characters.
5.The Turkish Bath.A Farce in One Act. By Montague Williams and F. C. Burnand. 6 Male, 1 Female character.
6.The Two Puddifoots.A Farce in One Act. By J. M. Morton. 3 Male, 3 Female characters.
7.Old Honesty.A Comic Drama in Two Acts. By J. M. Morton. 5 Male, 2 Female characters.
8.Two Gentlemen in a Fix.A Farce in One Act. By W. E. Suter. 2 Male characters.
9.Smashington Goit.A Farce in One Act. By T. J. Williams. 5 Male, 3 Female characters.
10.Two Heads Better than One.A Farce in One Act. By Lenox Horne. 4 Male, 1 Female character.
11.John Dobbs.A Farce in One Act. By J. M. Morton. 5 Male, 2 Female characters.
12.The Daughter of the Regiment.A Drama in Two Acts. By Edward Fitzball. 6 Male, 2 Female characters.
13.Aunt Charlotte’s Maid.A Farce in One Act. By J. M. Morton. 3 Male, 3 Female characters.
14.Brother Bill and Me.A Farce in One Act. By W. E. Suter. 4 Male, 3 Female characters.
15.Done on Both Sides.A Farce in One Act. By J. M. Morton. 3 Male, 2 Female characters.
16.Dunducketty’s Picnic.A Farce in One Act. By T. J. Williams. 6 Male, 3 Female characters.
17.I’ve written to Browne.A Farce in One Act. By T. J. Williams. 4 Male, 3 Female characters.
18.Lending a Hand.A Farce in One Act. By G. A. A’Becket. 3 Male, 2 Female characters.
19.My Precious Betsy.A Farce in One Act. By J. M. Morton. 4 Male, 4 Female characters.
20.My Turn Next.A Farce in One Act. By T. J. Williams. 4 Male, 3 Female characters.
21.Nine Points of the Law.A Comedy in One Act. By Tom Taylor. 4 Male, 3 Female characters.
22.The Phantom Breakfast.A Farce in One Act. By Charles Selby. 3 Male, 2 Female characters.
23.Dandelions Dodges.A Farce in One Act. By T. J. Williams. 4 Male, 2 Female characters.
24.A Slice of Luck.A Farce in One Act. By J. M. Morton. 4 Male, 2 Female characters.
25.Always Intended.A Comedy in One Act. By Horace Wigan. 3 Male, 3 Female characters.
26.A Bull in a China Shop.A Comedy in Two Acts. By Charles Matthews. 6 Male, 4 Female characters.
27.Another Glass.A Drama in One Act. By Thomas Morton. 6 Male, 3 Female characters.
28.Bowled Out.A Farce in One Act. By H. T. Craven. 4 Male, 3 Female characters.
29.Cousin Tom.A Commedietta in One Act. By George Roberts. 3 Male, 2 Female characters.
30.Sarah’s Young Man.A Farce in One Act. By W. E. Suter. 3 Male, 3 Female characters.
31.Hit Him, He has No Friends.A Farce in One Act. By E. Yates and N. H. Harrington. 7 Male, 3 Female characters.
32.The Christening.A Farce in One Act. By J. B. Buckstone. 5 Male, 6 Female characters.
33.A Race for a Widow.A Farce in One Act. By Thomas J. Williams. 5 Male, 4 Female characters.
34.Your Life’s in Danger.A Farce in One Act. By J. M. Morton. 3 Male, 3 Female characters.
35.True unto Death.A Drama in Two Acts. By J. Sheridan Knowles. 6 Male, 2 Female characters.
36.Diamond cut Diamond.An Interlude in One Act. By W. H. Murray. 10 Male, 1 Female character.
37.Look after Brown.A Farce in One Act. By George A. Stuart, M. D. 6 Male, 1 Female character.
38.Monseigneur.A Drama in Three Acts. By Thomas Archer. 15 Male, 3 Female characters.
39.A very pleasant Evening.A Farce in One Act. By W. E. Suter. 3 Male characters.
40.Brother Ben.A Farce in One Act. By J. M. Morton. 3 Male, 3 Female characters.
41.Only a Clod.A Comic Drama in One Act. By J. P. Simpson. 4 Male, 1 Female character.
42.Gaspardo the Gondolier.A Drama in Three Acts. By George Almar. 10 Male, 2 Female characters.
43.Sunshine through the Clouds.A Drama in One Act. By Slingsby Lawrence. 3 Male, 3 Female characters.
44.Don’t Judge by Appearances.A Farce in One Act. By J. M. Morton. 3 Male, 2 Female characters.
45.Nursey Chickweed.A Farce in One Act. By T. J. Williams. 4 Male, 2 Female characters.
46.Mary Moo; or, Which shall I Marry?A Farce in One Act. By W. E. Suter. 2 Male, 1 Female character.
47.East Lynne.A Drama in Five Acts. 8 Male, 7 Female characters.
48.The Hidden Hand.A Drama in Five Acts. By Robert Jones. 16 Male, 7 Female characters.
49.Silverstone’s Wager.A Commedietta in One Act. By R. R. Andrews. 4 Male, 3 Female characters.
50.Dora.A Pastoral Drama in Three Acts. By Charles Reade. 5 Male, 2 Female characters.
51.Blanks and Prizes.A Farce in One Act. By Dexter Smith. 5 Male, 2 Female characters.
52.Old Gooseberry.A Farce in One Act. By T. J. Williams. 4 Male, 2 Female characters.
53.Who’s Who.A Farce in One Act. By T. J. Williams. 3 Male, 2 Female characters.
54.Bouquet.A Farce in One Act. 2 Male, 3 Female characters.
55.The Wife’s Secret.A Play in Five Acts. By George W. Lovell. 10 Male, 2 Female characters.
56.The Babes in the Wood.A Comedy in Three Acts. By Tom Taylor. 10 Male, 3 Female characters.
57.Putkins: Heir to Castles in the Air.A Comic Drama in One Act. By W. R. Emerson. 2 Male, 2 Female characters.
58.An Ugly Customer.A Farce in One Act. By Thomas J. Williams. 3 Male, 2 Female characters.
59.Blue and Cherry.A Comedy in One Act. 3 Male, 2 Female characters.
60.A Doubtful Victory.A Comedy in One Act. 3 Male, 2 Female characters.
61.The Scarlet Letter.A Drama in Three Acts. 8 Male, 7 Female characters.
62.Which will have Him?A Vaudeville. 1 Male, 2 Female characters.
63.Madam is Abed.A Vaudeville in One Act. 2 Male, 2 Female characters.
64.The Anonymous Kiss.A Vaudeville. 2 Male, 2 Female characters.
65.The Cleft Stick.A Comedy in Three Acts. 5 Male, 3 Female characters.
66.A Soldier, a Sailor, a Tinker, and a Tailor.A Farce in One Act. 4 Male, 2 Female characters.
67.Give a Dog a Bad Name.A Farce. 2 Male, 2 Female Characters.
68.Damon and Pythias.A Farce. 6 Male, 4 Female characters.
69.A Husband to Order.A Serio-Comic Drama in Two Acts. 5 Male, 3 Female characters.
70.Payable on Demand.A Domestic Drama in Two Acts. 7 Male, 1 Female character.
Price, 15 cents each. Descriptive Catalogue mailed free on application to
GEO. M. BAKER A. CO.,149 Washington St., Boston.
Plays for Amateur Theatricals
By GEORGE M. Baker.
Author of “Amateur Dramas,” “The Mimic Stage,” “The Social Stage,” “The Drawing-room Stage,” “A Baker’s Dozen,” &c.
Titles in this Type are New Plays.
Transcriber’s NoteAdverts from the front of the book have been moved to the end of the book. Obvious printing errors were corrected, and the format of stage directions standardized.
Transcriber’s Note
Adverts from the front of the book have been moved to the end of the book. Obvious printing errors were corrected, and the format of stage directions standardized.