DRAMAS AND DIALOGUES.
THE GYPSIES.-A MAY-DAY DRAMA.
CHARACTERS.
Lady Caroline.Flora,little daughter ofLady Caroline.Margery,her maid, an elderly person.Elsie,a young girl in attendance uponFlora.Tramp,dressed as an old gypsy-man.Tramp’s Wife,dressed as an old gypsy-woman.Tramp’s Daughter Peg,dressed as a gypsy-girl.Tomkins,a showman.A Blind Fiddler,old and gray.GirlsandBoys,who dance the May-dance, and sing May-songs.
Scene I.—Lady C.reclining in arm-chair. EnterMargerywith vase of flowers.
Lady C.How beautiful, Margery! Did little Flora help you gather them?
Margery.Yes, my lady. Miss Flora—why, Miss Flora, she do frisk about so, pulls Elsie here, and then there,—“Now this flower, Elsie!” and “Now this nice one, Elsie!” That be a most wonderful child, my lady: she be playful like a kitten, and gentle, too, like a pet lamb.
Lady C.(anxiously). Ah! already I regret having given her permission to go with Elsie to the green. But she longed so to see the May-dances!
Margery.Oh, never fear, my lady! There isn’t anywhere a faithfuller little maid than Elsie: she will not let Miss Flora out of her sight. But nobody could wish Miss Flora out of sight, she is such a little angel. Indeed and in truth, my lady, in all the world can’t be found a child sweet-tempered like her.
Lady C.Oh, do not call her an angel, good Margery! call her a lamb or a kitten, if you will, or even a squirrel, but never an angel.
(Children’s voices outside. EnterFlora,singing and skipping.Elsiefollows quietly.)
Flora.O mamma! see her wreaths and garlands, and the white dress she has on for the May-day dances! Doesn’t she look lovely, mamma?—oh, just as lovely as—oh, I don’t know!
Lady C.(smiling). Indeed she does, my dear. Elsie, do all the lassies wear white?
Elsie.Yes, my lady, white, with right gay garlands.
Flora.Good-by, mamma: it is time to go now. (Goes to her mother.)
Lady C.O Elsie! will you take good care? She never went far from me before. I shall be very anxious!
Elsie.Yes, indeed, my lady, I will take great care.
Flora.And I will stay with Elsie, and be so good!—oh, just as good as—oh, you can’t think!
(A company of singers heard outside, as if passing at a distance.)
Flora(skipping, and clapping hands). Oh, hark, mamma! do hark to the May-songs! Come, Elsie, quick! Good-by, mamma!
Lady C.(embracing her). Good-by, darling! good-by!
[ExitF.andE.
Margery.I must see to their lunch-baskets.
[ExitMargery.Curtain falls.
Scene II.—Pretended gypsies seated in a tent, or on the ground.Old Womancounting over silver,Old Manlooking on. He is dressed in old, ill-fitting clothes.Womanhas a black handkerchief wound about her head, shabby dress, blue stockings, and something bright around her neck.
Man.Wal, old Beauty Spot, how many d’ye count?
Woman.Eight spoons, six forks, five thimbles, one cup.
Man.Is that all we’ve took on this beat?
Woman.Not by somethin’! Look ye here, dad! (Holds up a ladle.)
Man(delighted). Now you be the beater! (Rubs his hands.) Let’s take a look. (Examines it.) Real, is’t? But where’s Peg?
Woman.Off on her tramps about the grand house yonder. Owner’s away: nobody left but my lady and servants. Never a better time, daddy.
Man.Nor a better day. Tompkins will set up his show tent. Everybody stirring. Pockets to pick, fortunes to tell!
Woman(rubbing her hands). Lads and lassies dancing on the green, old uns looking on, nobody taking care of the spoons’n the house.
Man(slapping her on the shoulder). We’re in luck, old woman,—in luck! (EnterPeg,dressed in red bodice, black skirt, red stockings, light blue handkerchief onher head, pinned under her chin.) Here comes Peg, now. Wal, my Nimble Fingers, any game to-day?
Peg(takes a few articles from her pocket). Not much now, dad, but some a-coming, if you an’ her (points toWoman) be up to it.
Man(earnestly). What’s that?
Peg.Oh! a nice little job.
ManandWoman(earnestly). Speak out, gal.
Peg.Wal, you see I walked in through the park, and along by the hedge-row, and into the kitchen-garden, thinkin’ to go boldly in at the back-door, as you told me, to ask for cold bits.
Both(bending eagerly forward). Yes.
Peg.But jest when I got my mouth open to say, “Charity for my poor sick mother”—
Both.Wal?
Peg.Why, a servant ordered me off.
Man.An’ what then?
Peg.Why, then I turned to come away. But next I sees—
Woman.Sees what?
Peg.Somethin’ in our line.
Both(impatiently). Tell away, can’t yer?
Peg.Sees my lady’s child a-walkin’ out with her maid.
Woman.Wal, what o’ that?
Peg.You keep quiet, an’ I’ll tell; jest you keep on a-interruptin’, an’ I’m mum’s a fish.
Man(toWoman). Hush up, now, can’t yer? (ToPeg.) Sees what?
Peg.I seed as how little miss was a-dressed out in all her finery,—her velvet, an’ her silks, an’ gold beads an’bracelets. (Clasps throat and wrists.) Very good things to have. (Old couple nod approvingly at each other.)
Man.Mebby they be (holding up old bag); but how be they a-goin’ to jump in this ’ere?
Peg.There ye go agin a-interruptin’.
Woman(toMan). Hush up, dad! Let the gal speak, can’t yer?
Peg.Then I watches to find out where wud they be a-goin’ ter (old couple nod to each other), an’ I sees ’em take the path down by the hedge-row. So I creeps along softly, a-tiptoe, on t’other side, just like this (shows how she crept along), a-peepin’ through.
Woman(rubbing her hands together). Sharp gal you be, Peg.
Man(toWoman). Keep still; don’t bother her.
Peg.When they goes down on the grass to rest, I goes down too, on t’other side, ye know, to rest,—so. (Sits down.)
Man(laughing). Yes, yes: so ye did. Poor little gal, wasn’t used to trampin’!
Woman(toMan). Gabble, gabble, gabble! The gal’ll never git done.
Man.Tell away, Peg.
Peg.I listens, an’ I finds little miss is a-goin’ with her maid to see the dances. There, I’ve started the game: let’s see ye foller it up.
(Old couple sit in silence for a few moments, turning over the silver.)
Man(thoughtfully). ’Tis deep water; but I sees through.
Peg(bending forward). Let’s hear. (Womanlistens.)
Man.Tomkins’s show draws all the crowd, missy among ’em.
Peg.Go on, dad.
Man(rising). They two, missy and maid, stands agapin’ at it,—so. (Imitates.) You creeps in between,—so. (Imitates.) I stays outside.
Peg.Yes, yes!
Man.In the middle of it I gets myself knocked down outside, and groans and roars, “Help, help! thieves! murder!”
Woman(eagerly). Then everybody’ll run.
Man.Then everybody’ll run. Peg catches hold o’ little miss, runs her off. I say, “I’ll take care of yer.” Neat job, hey? (Rubs hands.)
Peg(briskly). Then I’ll lend her some of my clothes, ’cause they’s better for her, you know, an’ help her eat what’s in the buful basket; an’ she’ll be my little sister, an’ she’ll tramp with us (rises) an’ our merry, merry crew. (Sings. Old couple join in chorus, and all keep time with feet and hands.)
Music
Oh! we’re a merry gypsy crew, Roaming all the country thro’,Plenty to eat and little to do, Roaming thro’ the wildwood. Sing ri fa la lilu li oh! Plenty to eat and little to do, Roaming thro’ the wildwood.
Oh! we’re a merry gypsy crew, Roaming all the country thro’,Plenty to eat and little to do, Roaming thro’ the wildwood. Sing ri fa la lilu li oh! Plenty to eat and little to do, Roaming thro’ the wildwood.
Oh! we’re a merry gypsy crew, Roaming all the country thro’,Plenty to eat and little to do, Roaming thro’ the wildwood. Sing ri fa la lilu li oh! Plenty to eat and little to do, Roaming thro’ the wildwood.
Oh! we’re a merry gypsy crew, Roaming all the country thro’,
Plenty to eat and little to do, Roaming thro’ the wildwood. Sing ri fa la li
lu li oh! Plenty to eat and little to do, Roaming thro’ the wildwood.
Want and care we never know:Sun may shine, or winds may blow;All the same we come and go,Roaming through the wildwood.Sing ri fa la li lu li oh!Plenty to eat, and little to do,Roaming through the wildwood.
Want and care we never know:Sun may shine, or winds may blow;All the same we come and go,Roaming through the wildwood.Sing ri fa la li lu li oh!Plenty to eat, and little to do,Roaming through the wildwood.
Want and care we never know:Sun may shine, or winds may blow;All the same we come and go,Roaming through the wildwood.Sing ri fa la li lu li oh!Plenty to eat, and little to do,Roaming through the wildwood.
Want and care we never know:
Sun may shine, or winds may blow;
All the same we come and go,
Roaming through the wildwood.
Sing ri fa la li lu li oh!
Plenty to eat, and little to do,
Roaming through the wildwood.
Scene III.—EnterFloraandElsie,hand in hand. Both have flowers; andElsiecarries a pretty lunch-basket.
Flora.What pretty flowers there were in that meadow! Why, I wanted every one!
Elsie.Then we’d have to fetch a wagon to carry them home in, I guess.
Flora.A wagonful of flowers! What would mamma say to that, I wonder?
Elsie.All the vases together wouldn’t half hold ’em.
Flora.Then I’d put them in my little crib, and have them for my bed.
Elsie.Margery wouldn’t spread her white sheets on such a bed as that.
Flora.But I could take flowers for bed-clothes, and smell them all night. Oh! what a—(stops suddenly, and listens). I hear music. Hark! (Music heard faintly, as if afar off.) O Elsie! they’re coming, they’re coming! Hark! don’t you hear the singing?
Elsie.Yes (looking in the direction of the music): they’re marching this way.
(Singing comes gradually nearer, until the chorus is heard outside. Enter a procession of girls and boys,blind fiddler following. Boys are dressed in white trousers, with bright or striped jackets, flowers at the button-hole; girls in white, with garlands. All march round the stage, singing; then either eight or sixteen of them form a circle for dancing the May-dance. At intervals, in some pretty figure, the dancers pause, and sing a May-song, in which all join. Dancing ends with a march, which is interrupted by a girl rushing in from the show.)
Song(briskly, to “The Poacher’s Song,” or any lively tune).
We come, we come, with dance and song,With hearts and voices gay;We come, we come, a happy throng;For now it is beautiful May.We’ve lingered by the brooksideTo find the fairest flowers;We’ve rambled through the meadows wideThese sunny, sunny hours.
We come, we come, with dance and song,With hearts and voices gay;We come, we come, a happy throng;For now it is beautiful May.We’ve lingered by the brooksideTo find the fairest flowers;We’ve rambled through the meadows wideThese sunny, sunny hours.
We come, we come, with dance and song,With hearts and voices gay;We come, we come, a happy throng;For now it is beautiful May.
We come, we come, with dance and song,
With hearts and voices gay;
We come, we come, a happy throng;
For now it is beautiful May.
We’ve lingered by the brooksideTo find the fairest flowers;We’ve rambled through the meadows wideThese sunny, sunny hours.
We’ve lingered by the brookside
To find the fairest flowers;
We’ve rambled through the meadows wide
These sunny, sunny hours.
(All move round.)
Chorus.
Oh! we’ll dance and sing around the ringWith footsteps light and gay;Oh! we’ll dance and sing around the ring;For now ’tis the beautiful May.
Oh! we’ll dance and sing around the ringWith footsteps light and gay;Oh! we’ll dance and sing around the ring;For now ’tis the beautiful May.
Oh! we’ll dance and sing around the ringWith footsteps light and gay;Oh! we’ll dance and sing around the ring;For now ’tis the beautiful May.
Oh! we’ll dance and sing around the ring
With footsteps light and gay;
Oh! we’ll dance and sing around the ring;
For now ’tis the beautiful May.
Girl(rushing in). Oh, come! do come and see the show! ’Tis the funniest show!
All together.Where? where? (Pressing about her.)
Girl(pointing). Over yonder by the wood. Only a penny. Come!
All together(or nearly so). Yes: let’s go! Come! Only a penny? We’ll all go!
(All rush out,ElsieleadingFlora.Curtain falls.)
Scene IV.—Tomkins,in flashy costume, preparing for the show. There should be several objects, supposed to be statues or animals, covered with white cloth. The animals may be boys in various positions. The coverings will not be removed, as the show is to be interrupted.Tomkinsmoves about, peeping under the coverings, dusting the statues, patting and quieting, and perhaps feeding, the animals. He holds in one hand a string which is attached to one of them. EnterTom Thumband hisBride,arm in arm, followed by his aged parents and maiden aunt. (Five little children must be dressed up to represent these.)Tomkinshelps them to a high platform at the back part. Old lady is knitting a doll’s stocking. Enter crowd of May-dancers,Pegamong them. She tries several times to separateFlorafrom Elsie while they are listening toTomkins,and finally succeeds. (This scene may easily be lengthened by adding other figures to the show, such as a giant, or curious animals, &c.)
Tomkins(arranging the spectators, speaks rapidly). Stan’ reg’lar, ladies and gentlemen, stan’ reg’lar, and let the tall ones look over the short ones; for if the tall ones don’t git behind the short ones, and the short ones gits behind the tall ones, then how’s the short ones a-goin’ to look over the tall ones? Ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor to show you the only ’xhibitionof the kind on record. On this ’casion ’tis not a talkin’ ’xhibition. Six talkin’ ’xhibitions they’ve done to-day. Do I want ’em to die on my ’ands? Do I want to close their ’xpiring eyes, an’ say—an’ say—farewell, my dears? No. Let ’em live to d’light the world, an’ to ’dorn—to ’dorn—my ’xhibition. (The animal gets uneasy.Tomkinsjerks the string.) Sh—sh—! your time’ll come when the Thumbs is all done. Ladies and gentlemen, you see before you the descendants of the real Tom Thumb, who lived in story-books a thousand years ago. Their grandfather far removed was carried in his master’s waistcoat-pocket, and swallowed by a cow. (Animal steps. He pulls the string.) Sh—sh! They would speak to the audyence: but six talkin’ ’xhibitions they’ve done to-day; an’ their healths must be looked to, as their constitootions compares with their sizes, and ’tis very nat’ral they’d be short-breath’d. The old lady, as you see, is knittin’ a stockin’ for her grandchild that lives in Siam. The old gentleman takes his pinch of snuff, an’ would smoke his pipe, but—ladies present. The maiden aunt is neat about her dress; and that’s why she’s smoothin’ out the wrinkles, and rubbin’ off mud-spots. Tom Thumb is very fond of his bride; an’ you won’t think strange of his strokin’ her curls, an’ lookin’ at her face in admiration. (Animals move a little.) But my an’mals is uneasy, and I must also proceed to uncover the statuarys. Thumb family may march round and take their leave. (They march round and go out, each turning at the door to salute the audience.) I will now proceed to uncover the famous, unheard-of, wonderful animal called—(Deep groans heard outside. “Help!thieves! murder!”) Don’t be uneasy! (All rush out.Pegruns off with Flora.)
[Curtain falls.
Scene V.—Lady Carolinereclining in her chair. She rings a bell. EnterMargery.
Lady C.You may bring that round table nearer to me, Margery: Miss Flora and I will take our tea together. What a treat it will be for her!
Margery(bringing the table). Yes, my lady. (Spreads cloth.)
Lady C.She will be eager to tell all that has happened, and I shall be just as eager to hear. (Margeryfetches plates, &c.) Bring her small china mug, Margery (she likes that best); and bring her low rocking-chair.
Margery.Yes, my lady. The little dear will be so tired! (Brings the things.)
Lady C.Place the chair near me. Is the supper all ready? What an appetite the little traveller will have to-night!
Margery.Every thing is ready, my lady.
Lady C.And fetch her slippers lined with down. They will be soft to her tired feet. Ah, how many steps those feet have taken since she kissed me good-by! (Margerybrings slippers, and places them in front of the chair.) So. That is right. Now that all is ready, how long seems every moment! Margery, go stand by the upper window, and bring me word when you catch the first sight of them coming along by the hedge-row.
Margery.I will, my lady. I’ll watch, and not leave the window,—not for one single moment.
[ExitMargery.Curtain falls.
Scene VI.—Trampand hisWife.Old bags, bundles, and baskets lying about.Manis binding an old shoe to his foot with a strip of cloth. Foot is on the shoe, not in it.Womanis picking over rags of different colors.
Woman.Wal, ole man, here we bees agin. ’Tis a year ago this blessed day since Peg ’ticed the little gal from Tomkins’s show.
Man.’Twouldn’t ha’ been a year, mammy, only we got no news o’ the reward. Fifty guineas, an’ no questions asked. Wal-a-day! Many’s the weary tramp we’s had that we needn’t a’.
Woman.An’ many’s the trinket I’ll buy.
Man.Now, ole Beauty Spot, you don’t git the spendin’ o’ that gold!
Woman.I don’t! Wal, we’ll see! I don’t, do I?—humph!
Man.But where’s Peg? Meet us by this wood, she said. An’ ’tis past the time set. She must a’ reached the hall two days agone.
Woman.If I’d a’ had my say, the child should ha’ been sent by some other body; but Peg she would go along.
Man.’Tis a marcy an’ she don’t git fast under lock an’ key.
Woman.Wal, the child’s back to where she belongs; an’ lucky she be; for our Peg, that be a great deal toosmart for us, will go to mind every crook o’ that young un’s finger, an’ worse’n that. Now I’ll tell ye. I harked one night, late it was, with the stars all so bright, we inside the tent, they two out, nobody stirring, no noise, only corn rustlin’ a-near us, an’ a little matter of a breeze in the trees; an’ what does I hear? Why, that young ’un a-tellin’ our Peg about the angels, an’ more besides, an’ what good was, an’ what wicked was. Does I want a gal o’ mine to hear the like? No, I doesn’t. Peg ain’t the gal she was (shaking her head). No, no! She ain’t up to half the smart tricks. (EnterPeg.)
ManandWoman. The money! The gold, the gold! Where’s the gold?
Peg.The lady wants to see you at the hall.
Both.Ha!
Woman.Be we fools?
Man.She wants, does she?—ha, ha! She wants!—he, he, he!
Peg.I want, then. And the gold is ready for you there.
Woman.What be we a-goin’ to the hall for?
Peg.She has a favor to ask.
Woman.Yes: the favor o’ shuttin’ us up.
Peg.The favor o’ lettin’ me be servant to Miss Flora. (Womannods toMan.)
Man.Have more sense, gal.
Woman.O Peg! an’ would ye go from us, an’ to be a slave?
Man(picking up bundles). ’Tis all a trap to nab us.
Peg.No, there be no trap.
Woman.An’ what use of our seein’ the lady?
Peg.She be loath to keep anybody’s child without consent. The little un begs me stay; an’ I must.
Woman(entreatingly). Don’t, Peg! Let her go. She ben’t one o’ our sort.
Peg.I can’t; an’ the truth must be spoken to ye. I’m tired o’ trampin’, tired o’ beggin’ an’ thievin’, an’ skulkin’ about; an’, what’s more, I can’t lose sight o’her.
Woman(sorrowfully). O Peg! An’ how could the little un bewitch ye so?
Peg.I can’t tell that. How can I tell what makes me pine for a sight o’ her sweet face, an’ why ’tis that the sound o’ her sweet voice touches me here (places hand on her heart), an’ why ’tis I weep when she tells me of the angels and holy things? Will ye go, or no? (Moves towards door.)
MantoWoman(confidentially). Between you an’ me, I’d sooner have Peg there. Don’t ye see? (Claps hand on her shoulder.) Many’s the nice bit she’ll help us to, or a silver penny, or a spoon.
Woman.That she won’t. An’, if she’d do’t, ain’t we got money enough wi’ all that gold? I’d sooner keep my gal. (Folds arms, and looks down sorrowfully.) But ’twon’t be for long.(Looks up more cheerfully.) Peg’ll come back to us. She’ll soon pine for the sweet woods agin’. (Ties up her bundles.)
Man(contemptuously). Enough!—enough gold! (Picks up baskets.) What can the old gal mean? Enough money?—ha, ha, ha! Enough!—he, he, he!
[Curtain falls.
Scene VII.(chiefly a tableau).—Lady C.sits with her arm roundFlora.Margeryarranging the furniture. Enter gypsies, conducted byPeg.Lady C.,at sight of them, shudders, and turns away.Margerykeeps them at a distance.
Margery.Stand back, stand back! Don’t ye see my lady almost faints at sight of ye? (Music, heard afar off, comes gradually nearer.)
Lady C.(listening). What music do I hear, Margery?
Margery.’Tis the May-party, my lady. They come to welcome Miss Flora back with a cheerful song.
Lady C.Bid them enter, Margery.
(Margerygoes to the door. Enter May-party and blind fiddler. They are arranged byMargery.Gypsies watch the proceedings,—Old Gypsyleaning on his staff with both hands;Old Woman,rather sullen, stands with folded arms.Pegmoves softly along, and sinks upon the floor nearFlora.Elsieis among the singers, but stands silent with downcast looks.Margerymotions for the young people to sing, and, when they begin, holds corner of apron to her eyes.)
Closing Song.
Home again, home again!All her wanderings o’er;At home, sweet home again, to dwellWith loving friends once more!Flowers, show your fairest hues,Make the meadows gay;Dear little birds, oh I carol forthYour sweetest songs to-day.
Home again, home again!All her wanderings o’er;At home, sweet home again, to dwellWith loving friends once more!Flowers, show your fairest hues,Make the meadows gay;Dear little birds, oh I carol forthYour sweetest songs to-day.
Home again, home again!All her wanderings o’er;At home, sweet home again, to dwellWith loving friends once more!
Home again, home again!
All her wanderings o’er;
At home, sweet home again, to dwell
With loving friends once more!
Flowers, show your fairest hues,Make the meadows gay;Dear little birds, oh I carol forthYour sweetest songs to-day.
Flowers, show your fairest hues,
Make the meadows gay;
Dear little birds, oh I carol forth
Your sweetest songs to-day.
Chorus.For home again, home again,Her weary wanderings o’er,At home, sweet home again, she dwellsWith loving friends once more.
Chorus.For home again, home again,Her weary wanderings o’er,At home, sweet home again, she dwellsWith loving friends once more.
Chorus.For home again, home again,Her weary wanderings o’er,At home, sweet home again, she dwellsWith loving friends once more.
Chorus.For home again, home again,
Her weary wanderings o’er,
At home, sweet home again, she dwells
With loving friends once more.
[Curtain falls.