4:? 



I 



^t'^Vf fvfil 



y 



mi 







CLEVELAND, OHIO: 

W. C. AIKEN & CO. 

1876. 




I 



IHE 



BAG OF GOLD 



A DRAMA. 



TIN O^IIIilliE AOTS. 



y OF CO/v. 






CLEVELAND. OHIO: 
PUBLISHED AND PRINTED BY W. C. AIKEN & CO. 
1876. 

y7- 



<o'^ .,^^^ 



y)") -o 



Copyright. 1877, 
BY 

W. C. AiKKN cK; (\ 



TMP92-008607 



PMl 



^^ 



PERSONS REPRESENTED. 

Paul, a chimney sweep. 

Jean Payot, father of Paul. 

Mother Payot, 

Trinnette, the betrothed of Paul. 

Annie, ^ 

Catherine, jfnends of Trinnette. . 

Father Dries, a shoemaker, father of Trinnette. 

Father Mentz, 

Judge, 

Gendarmes, 

Firemen, 

SCENE. In one of the small provinces of France. 



THE 

BAG OF GOLD, 



ACT I. 

SCENE 1. — In the open stree' — a group vf joung girls chatting to- 
gether with their needle work in their hands — dressed in the style of 
the peasantry. 

Annie. "Oh Trinnette, what a beautiful day! how 
sweet and fresh the air is, this month of May is so 
charming." 

Trinnette. "Yes my feet dance in spite of me, this 
first ray of sunlight is delightful and makes me feel so 
happy, we can now sit out of doors with our work and 
sing and dance and have such fine times. What a ter- 
rible thing it is to be shut up four long months of winter 
like a poor bird in a cage scarcely able to breath in the 
close and stifling walls of ones chamber. And it does so 
try my eyes to work this fine lace during the dark and 
dreary days." 

Catherine. "Yes and one gets rheumatism and colds 
and coughs and thinks her life will end with the month 
of March. It seems as if the sun would never shine again, 
and we count the days one by one until this dear dear 
month of May comes, and brings sunlight, and warmth, 
and shines as graciously upon the poor as upon the rich; 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 



but now let us forget and not trouble ourselves about the 
old imbecile." 

They all sing — 

We'll be happy now and dance and sing, 
For this is the month of May. 

Annie. "Bring your cushions and let us all sit together, 
for fear some troublesome fairy will come to separate us." 

While they are working on a few moments in silence, a woman who 
appears about fifty years old, passes by them and enters her cottage. 

Catherine. "There is Mother Payot, she never denies 
herself anything, she has on a new dress and a cap trim- 
med with two borders of lace." 

Trinnette. "Oh how wicked you are! what difference 
does it make to us the manner in which people dress if 
they can afford it." 

Annie. "Yes, Trinnette you are right — but she is so 
proud." 

Trinnette. "But she is a good woman." 

Catherine. "Yes, she looks as haughty as though she 
was the sister of the rich Madam High-Mountain, and 
when she walks along with her parasol she looks down 
upon us as if we were not worthy to clean her shoes." 

Trinnette. "But that is only her manner, she comes 
from a high family, she has an aunt in Holland she says, 
who is rich, very rich, she has, I do'nt know how many 
tons of gold, and you understand when one comes from a 
high family, it is in the blood, she cannot help it." 

Annie. "Bah! she is always talking about her family, 
nothing comes of it however, and her husband himself 
laughs at her as well as the rest, and tells her she is only 
the wife of a chimney sweep." 

Trinnette. "I do not know why you need trouble 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 



yourselves about her, chimneysweeper not, she lives in a 
house that belongs to her and owes no one anything, she 
pays for what she buys and does not care if her neighbours 
are envious." 

Annie. "It would not be astonishing if you should 
take her part, for she is Paul's mother." 

Catherine. "But do not be angry Trinnette and tell us 
if is true that you are soon to be married? for I heard it 
yesterday at the grocers." 
Annie. "And to Paul. " 

Catherine. "A chimney sweep! a man as black as 
black can be, six days in the week." 

Trinnette. "Oh! if you could only have him." 
Catherine. "I do not want him, even if he is the gayest 
fellow in all this quarter, and Sunday when he is washed 
clean, you could not even shake hands with him without 
running to the pump — fie! he makes me afraid — and when 
he laughs and shows his white teath, he looks like a dog 
who has eaten Spanish pepper." 

Annie. "How you do talk, Paul is the best boy in the 
world, he knows such pretty songs, he dances, and can 
amuse the whole neighbourhood, every one likes Paul, 
and then Sunday when he has on his blue jacket, and his 
pretty cap, he w^alks so erect and looks so handsome. 
Trinnette is right to love Paul if their parents are pleased." 

Paul is seen in the distance coming towards them singing joyously 

"Sweep, sweep, sweep."— accompanied by his father, both dressed as 
chimney sweeps carrying their brooms and bags. 

Trinnette. "Ah! there is Paul and his father." 
They approach the young girls— the father passing— Paul then comes 

up to them holding in one hand a small broom, in the other a branch of 

lilac. 



8 THE BAG OF GOLD. 

All the girls together. "Oh! Paul do'nt come near us 
you will soil our work." 

Paul. "Trinnette, I met a young girl to-day, so beau- 
tiful, so charming and so agreeable — do'nt pout now; 
she asked me, in a sweet voice, if I had a lady-love; I 
would have answered no, but I dared not tell a lie; so 
when I answered her in the affirmative she then asked me 
the name of the young lady I prefered, I replied, her 
name is Trinnette, and she is beautiful, and as fresh as a 
rose. 'Then give her my compliments and these flowers," ' 
said she 'and if you continue to love each other, I will 
bring you flowers every year; as many as you wish."' 

Trinnette. "Who could she be?" 

Annie. "Why who is she?" 

Catherine. "What is her name?" 

Paul. "You know her all of you very well, for her 
name is Madam May." 

Paul laughing. 

Trinnette. "He means the month of May." 
Paul. "And is she not an old acquaintance?" 
Paul hands the flowers to Trinnette. 

Trinnette. "Thank you Paul, these flowers are very 
sweet, and you are very kind to bring them to me." 

She reaches them towards her companions, that they may inhale their 
sweet fragrance. 

Paul. "And now adieu for a while my turtles, and I 
will go and put on my Sunday face." 

SCENE II. — Interior of a cottage — Paul's mother seated by a table upon 
which is burning a small lamp; she is occupied with darning the 
stockings of her son; she is dressed in a jacket of rose color, with an 
apron bordered with black velvet, having upon her head, a high 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 



Normandy cap trimmed with a double frill of white lace. She seems 
occupied with sad disagreeable thoughts, and talks aloud to herself. 

Mother Payot. "How they do deceive poor people; 
these rogues, they know how to keep money from the 
rightful heirs; and then they put it in their own pockets; 
but if I spend my last sou, I Mall see what has become of 
the inheritance of my aunt in Holland. Honest robbers 
they are." 

At this moment her husband comes down stairs and sits near her; his 
appearance is changed, having washed himself, and put on his Sunday 
suit. 

Husband. "I have had a great time with the rats, up 
in the garret." 

Wife. "Oh leave me in peace. For the past ten years 
you have been killing rats, but there are still as many 
left. If you should leave your bag of soot up there they 
would devour it." 

Husband, " That is true, but what can I do, lean- 
not kill all the rats in the world, but wife, what has 
gone contrary to-day, I have noticed that something aileth 
thee Theresa, but it is without doubt a question of lawyers, 
of your aunt in Holland, of the inheritance, and of your 
poor old father who died up in this garret, and left nothing. 
We have been married now nearly twenty-five years; next 
year at the Fete of St Jean, we will celebrate our silver 
wedding. During all these years, you have been con- 
stantly running to the lawyers, and spending as much 
each month as would make a small fortune. And now 
potatoes are very dear and the wages of a chimney sweep 
are barely enough to buy a small piece of meat, and the 
bread, the bread." 

Wife. "Oh you need not trouble yourself with the 



lO THE BAG OF GOLD. 

cost of bread when you can buy beer." 

Husband. " But good mother, we forget what we were 
talking of. You are always thinking of immense inher- 
itances that you expect to receive ; and this is all bad for 
you. Soon old age will come on, and you will prehaps 
lose your reason — and God knows if all the aunts in Hol- 
land, would send me to the lunatic asylum." 

Wife. "Oh what unpleasant things, one is obliged to 
hear from a husband. So you think I am from a family 
who had nothing." 

Husband. "Oh no little wife; I think they were only 
an ordinary family: a family who had not much. Your 
father kept a small store for the sale of buttons, tape &c., 
and everybody believed he had some money hoarded up, 
as he was so miserly. But he died suddenly, and left 
nothing; we only inherited this cottage — but that is enough 
for me — your cousin was an orange pedlar; and your 
aunt picked up old bones and iron; her son was a fireman. 
They were all good, honest people; but then you can look 
at things as you please; and see everything you wish in 
the clouds: a splendid house, a carriage drawn by' four 
white horses, servants, rich dresses, or a dragon with 
seven heads: you have only to wish." 

Wife. "You may say what you choose, but I know I 
will be rich some day, before I die. I dreamed last night 
that I found a gold piece, under the floor of our cham- 
ber." 

Husband. "Well in this case you will have to wait a 
long time — but what is that noise?" 

Wife. "Oh it is only the rats; but what would you do 
if we should become rich some day?" 

Husband, "Oh Theresa do not talk to me any more 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 



of your castles in the air; we have never wanted for any- 
thing; the good God gives us our daily bread, and allows 
me every day to drink my pint of beer with my friends; 
what can we wish for more?" 

Wife. *'But then if you should become rich some 
day?" 

Husband. "What would I do? [he reflects a moment] 
lets see; I would paint the sign on my house, and have it 
ornamented: and I would buy four hams at the same time: 
and then I would give four bags of potatoes, and six 
measures of coal, to the poor widow around the corner; 
and in the fourth place, I would buy a house for Paul, 
and give it to him the day of his marriage with Trinnette, 
and we would make a wedding such as we have never 
seen before." 

Wife. " And is that all ? that is hardly worth becoming 
rich for" 

Husband. "Well, how do I know now; I would live 
as I chose, and help my friends." 

Wife. "And you would still be a chimney sweep?" 

Husband. "Oh I would only sweep chimneys at my 
pleasure." 

Wife. "Oh you simple man." [she bursts into laughter] 

Husband. "Well what would you have me do with 
my time, sit all day in a beer saloon? but now Theresa, 
tell me what you would do, if a treasure were to fall from 
heaven." 

Wife. "Oh I would do better than you; for I am from 
a high family: me ? I would buy a grand house: I would 
have a carriage, and four horses, a servant to drive, and 
one to ride behind: I would wear silk and velvet dresses, 
and I would have a muff and boa." 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 



Husband. "A boa; what's that?" 

Wife. "Why, what ladies wear around their neck." 

Husband. "Is that the thing? it looks like the tail of 
a wild beast." 

Wife. "Yes, they cost a great deal — and I would have 
diamonds; and to my dress behind, I would have a long 
train, like a queen; and I would have a servant to follow 
me, with a coat almost covered woth gold lace; with yel- 
low gloves; and a hat, braided with gold; then I would 
go sometimes to promenade in the streets, and I would 
make the grocer's wife die with envy." 

Husband. "Yes madam, to see you, would make any 
one almost die with laughter; the wife of a chimney SM^eep, 
walking the streets, with a dress that trails, a fox tail 
around her neck, and a great fool of a man to walk behind 
her — but first put me in the mad-house, for I should cer- 
tainly go crazy — but listen, the rats are mocking us, I 
will fix them, let me get my old sword — and wife get 
a few pennies for me, to get my pint of beer, when I come 
down." 

He lights a lamp, and takes an old rusty sword, from the cupboard, 
and goes up stairs. 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 



ACT II. 



SCENE I. The same place. 

Father Payot comes down stairs, without the lamp, and walks on tip- 
toe to where his wife is sitting, he whispers: — 

Husband. "Theresa! Theresa ! 

Wife. "My God ! what has hapened; where is your 
light." 

H. " Keep quiet and let me take breath." 

W. " But what has happened ? what have you seen ? a 
robber? a ghost?" 

H. "Speak low Theresa, thy dream is realized; a 
treasure ! a great treasure ! " 

W. "Oh my poor husband, he is out of his head." 

H.. "Oh no no, but do not make a noise, or we are 
are lost." 

W. "Speak then, for the love of heaven, speak, and 
tell me what has happened." 

H. "I have found the treasure that you dreamed of." 

W. "A gold piece." 

H. "A bag filled with gold pieces; I will bring it, and 
show it to you." 

W. "Oh if you are deceiving me; if this not true, I 
shall die." 

H. "Keep still, or you will betray us." 

W. "But how have you found it?" 

H. "Did you not hear, Theresa, when I struck upon 
the floor? I was trying to kill two rats, that ran right be- 
tween my feet; I hit my old sabre against a beam 
which supports the roof, when suddenly there fell out, a 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 



little board, and a bag full of gold and silver pieces, 
rolled at my feet; I was so bewildered, I thought myself 
dreaming; but keep perfectly quiet and I will bring it 
down." 

He goes up; comes down soon, carrying the bag. 

W. " Let us put it in the strong iron box." 

H. "Oh no, we will hide it under our bed, or in the 
straw of the mattrass." 

W. "Any one can see that you are not accustomed to 
have money; do you suppose rich people put their money 
under their beds? we will put it in the box, and lock it 
up, and if we find a better place, to-morrow we can chai^^e 
it." 

H. "Well, I will go and fasten all the doors and 
windows, for fear some one will suprise us." 

He goes and fastens the doors, while he has gone, she locks the 
money up in the box, and puts the key in her pocket. 

H. "The key, Theresa." 

W. "The key? I have carried it for twenty-five 
years, is it necessary now, in your old age, that you 
should carry the key." 

H. "No, but it is to prevent you from spending it 
foolishly; for when we are old, and unable to work, it 
will be hard to live in poverty and want; while we had 
only a little money, it was of no use; but do not use any 
of it without my consent." 

W. " And can I not then have enough to buy 
for myself, a new dress, and a hat with plumes, a pair of 
new earings, in place of mine, which are out of fashion." 

H. "You do not understand me, Theresa, if you 
let everybody see that we have much money in our house, 
we may be robbed; and if you wear rich clothes, the 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 



neighbours will point their fingers at you in scorn." 

W. "Well what of that? the money belongs to me, 
my relations have lived in this house a hundred years." 

H. "But, if robbers should know of it, they might 
enter our house and rob us, and kill us, perhaps." 

W. "Oh! the sight of that money, has made you a 
coward." 

H. " But think a little; how will people believe us, 
when we say we have found it? God only knows it may 
make us much trouble, Alas! Alas! we will lose our 
treasure perhaps." 

W. "That is true, you are right." 

H. "Be careful, be prudent, dear Theresa." 

W. "Oh ! I cannot keep still, for my mother has tau- 
ght me to speak." 

H. "Oh ! how unhappy we shall become." 

W. " Is everyone unhappy who is rich?" 

H. "No, but everybody will know that we have so 
much money in our house." 

W, "Well, what of that?" 

H. " The robbers ! 

W. "Oil you are beside yourself." 

H. " Oh ! Mon Dieu ! Mon Dieu ! " 

W. " But we will say that it is the inheritance of my 
aunt in Holland." 

H. "That is well; and then no one will know that 
we have much, in our house: but you will manage our 
money very carefully Theresa, you will be very saving 
will you not ? " 

W. "Our money? it is my money that I shall speak 
of; and we will make Paul believe the same as the others. 
Go quick and unlock the doors, that he will not suspect 



l6 THE BAG OF GOLD. 

anything." 

The chimney sweep runs to unlock the doors, and then seats himself 
at the table, with a face as calm as though nothing had happened. Soon 
is heard the joyous singing of Paul: he enters and bursts into laughter. 

Paul. "Oh! how I have laughed; I've had so much 
fun; I've laughed till I cried." 

He laughs again. 

Jean. "Oh Paul! do not make so much noise." 

Paul. "Why not? you know father, that we were 
having a new flag painted for our club, and we had Ru- 
bens — they call him so because he wears a hat with a 
broad brim, and a great moustache — to paint on the flag, 
a head; and when it was finished, it resembled exactly, 
the face of the blacksmith; then when it was unrolled, 
every one burst into laughter: ha ! ha ! ha! [he laughs.] 
some rolled on the floor, and held their sides; I thought 
I should die laughing; — but what has happened? you do 
not listen to me; and father you look so sad, you are not 
sick I hope." 

Mother. " This is not a time to joke, my son; Paul, 
I must tell you something; we are going to have a fortune 
left us." 

Paul. "Again? I know that old song of, my aunt in 
Holland." 

Mother. "Yes, from my aunt in Holland." 

Paul. "Oh mother, you cannot make me believe 
that." 

Jean. "It appears true, however this time, my son." 

Paul. " If this is so, I can then have my new panta- 
loons, and a dozen new shirt collars, as soon as the money 
arrives. But you both seem as if this was not good news; 
tell me then truly, what has happened." 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 1 7 



Jean. "I have a headache, so do'nt make me talk, I 
will tell you all about it to-morrow." 

Paul. "But something has happened that you do not 
wish to tell me; people who have received an inheritance 
have usually very happy faces: to-morrow morning I must 
rise early, for I have three chimneys to sweep at the 
Chateau Raust, it is over two miles from here, so good 
night." 

Mother. "Paul, my son, we are no longer chimney 
sweeps, and when you go out to-morrow put on your Sun- 
day clothes, do you hear? 

Paul. "Yes, mother, but I think you are hurrying 
things a little — well good night." 

Paul goes up stairs with a light step, singing his usual song: — " I'm a 
merry chimney sweep," etc., soon after his parents also retire to their 
chamber, but Jean soon comes down, in a state of agitation, not being 
able to sleep. 

Jean. "No! No! this is not true, I have no money, 
No ! No ! leave me ! " 

He runs around, tiembling with fright; his wife hearing him, comes 
down, and seizes him by the arm, shaking him rudely. 

Mother. "What is the matter, have you the night 
mare." 

Jean. "Oh! where am I! I believe I am dying. Oh! 
Theresa, it is impossible to describe what I have suffered. 
I was scarcely asleep when suddenly, I do not know what, 
some horrid being rested his whole weight upon my 
breast, and cla.sping his fingers around my throat endeav- 
ored to choke me. He told me to give him my money, 
and when I refused he threatend to strangle me and to 
stab me with a long knife he held in his hand. Oh! 
Theresa, it was a robber ! ai> assassin ! ! " 



l8 THE BAG OF GOLD. 



Mother. "Oh, what foolishness; why do you go to 
sleep with your arm under your head? this is a night 
mare, go and take a little rest." 

She goes back to bed; after a short time he — finding her again asleep, 
lights a lamp, goes to her dress, which she has left in a chair, and takes 
from the pocket, the key to the money box, unlocks it; he say? — 

Jean. "It is there yet. Oh! to Ije rich; to have 
money ; what happiness! but after all, it gives a great 
deal of trouble, and takes away all rest at night, my wife 
is vain ! she wishes to live in a great house; to wear 
beautiful dresses; to buy gold, and diamonds. Paul is 
young, she will have him play the gentleman; he will 
spend much; they will spend my money, even to the last 
sou; aud then in my old age, I will be obliged to lie upon 
a bed of straw, and beg my bread from day to day; Oh! 
how unfortunate I am to have a wife who cannot hold 
her tongue. To-morrow as soon as daylight, she will 
run to all the neighbours, and tell them what has hap- 
pened; and then, she will so exagerate the amounts, that 
the thousands, will be millions. She tires every one out, 
with her talk; and everybody will spread the story that 
the old chimney sweep has become suddenly rich; and 
then robbers will break in, and carry it all away; and we 
shall become poor again, become again poor! Oh what 
anxiety and trouble riches bring to poor people; this is 
singular; and before, I was as a fish in the water; I knew 
neither trouble, or anxiety; I was contented with what- 
ever God gave me; I danced, I laughed; it seemed to me 
that there was not a king, as happy as I; and now I 
tremble with terror, at the least breath, I am afraid of 
myself and everybody; I cannot sleep; — but I will become 
accustomed to riches, after a little, and if I do not laugh, 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 1 9 



it will be only natural; a rich man ought to be grave and 
quiet. When I was a poor man, I could not aid the poor 
widow, — who lives around the corner — as much as I 
wished, but I had pity for the poor; I often wished to be 
rich, to be able to help them more, her dead husband 
was my best friend, and I promised him on his death bed, 
to assist his poor little children; now that I am rich, I can 
fulfil my promise. Ah ! yes to do good, to be charitable; 
now I can feel how happy one is to be rich; but what will 
I give to that poor widow, fifty florins? that will be too 
much, they will spend it all, and who knows if it will 
not make them ungrateful: if I give them ten florins, it 
seems to me that would be enough; they have never seen 
so much money in their lives; it is dangerous to give too 
much to poor people, they are not accuston^ed to it, and 
it might make them gluttons, or idlers, if they can obtain 
money so easy; it is not best to encourage begging; but 
when I was poor, I sometimes put into the hand of the 
widow the few pennies destined to procure for myself, a 
pint of beer; and then I remained at home, instead of 
going to see my friends. Riches, make one miserly and 
selfish, and with less pity for the poor; truly, I feel some- 
thing frightens me; Oh ! no no, away with selfishness: I 
will put one side fifty florins, for the poor widow, and 
give her a part each week. Perhaps God will bless me 
by making me enjoy my riches more, and deliver me from 
this terrible anxiety, which makes me tremble every mo- 
ment." 

He looks a moment in silence, at the pieces of gold, — which, by the 
flickering light of the lamp, sparkle like stars; — he takes out a few pieces 
and puts them in his vest pocket, in speaking in a low tone to himself: — 

"I will add two more, the poor widow is so unhappy, 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 



and the thought even of coming to her aid, does me so 
much good." 

He then takes the greater purt of the treasure, and counts it, 

"Fifty pieces; fifty pieces are five-hundred florins; and 
five-hundred florins are about a thousand and fifty francs; 
I will hide this sum in some place where my wife or Paul 
cannot find it, and then if anything happens, or if my 
wife spends foolishly in useless things, the other part, 
there will still remain this sum for Paul; and when he 
shall marry Trinnette, they will have something to com- 
mence housekeeping and to set him in a little botique." 

He wraps this sum up in his handkerchief, approaches the chimn-ey, 
places a chair under, and deposites the money inside, on a ledge of stone. 

"Ah! now my heart is lighter; now I can sleep." 

He blows out the light, and again goes up to his chamber. 

SCENE n. — From the street in front of the house. Father Payot ap- 
pears at the window and cries: — 

Jean. "Fire! fire! help! robbers!" 

Paul hearing the noise, comes to the window. 

Paul. "Father! father! is the house on fire? where is 
it burning? " 
Jean. "It is nothing my son, I have been dreaming." 
Paul. "Well what has happened? I thought some 
one had entered the house; I have not closed my eyes to- 
night, I have heard such noises. But what will all the 
neighbours say to be awakened at this time of night, they 
have probably all jumped out of their beds, at this terrible 
cry of fire." 

Firemen, gendarmes &c., gather under the window. 

"What are all these? they have stopped directly under 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 



our windows; they are the firemen and gendarmes, who 
hearing the cry of fire, are ready to put it out. Hello! 
what are you doing down there? go on your way, and let 
people sleep." 

People outside. "Where is the fire, is it in here?" 

Paul. "Where is the fire? in the oven of the baker's 
shop, it is eight houses from here, on your right." 

Firemen. "We'll teach you to mock us up there, open 
the door immediately, or I will break it in." 

Gendarme. "Do not be angry; Paul you know is a 
great joker, if he wished to speak otherwise, he would 
not be able; let me speak to him. Is there a fire in your 
house?" 

Paul. "There is, every day just an hour before 
dinner." 

Gendarme. "Now, no more joking, I was on the 
other side of the street with a comrade, when I heard the 
cry of fire! as if the whole street was in flames." 

Paul. "Yes, it was my father, who was dreaming 
aloud." 

Gendarme. "Wait a moment, I will teach you to 
mock the police; Corporal, run for the Constable; we will 
break down the door, in the name of the law, and put 
these people in prison." 

Jean. "Oh! my dear sirs have a little patience, and I 
will open the door. Paul, my son, our house will be 
devoured by these firemen, it will make me ill." 

Paul. "These firemen will not eat us up, father." 

Jean. "Yes, yes, you do not know what I have 
suffered this night, my son, I can hardly stand upon my 
feet." 



THE BAG OF GOLD, 



SCENE III. — Interior of the cottage. — Paul opens the door, and five or, 
.six firemen enter; the chief, siezes Paul by the arm, in a threatening 
manner. Father Payot places a chair in front of the box which 
contains the money, and seats himself 

Gendarme. "Ah! insolent young man, I will teach 
you to mock the firemen." [Paul laughs.] 

• Paul. "You may speak of prison as much as you wish, 
but I am a free man, and if you touch me with the end 
of your finger, I will show you how you .will fly out of 
my house, even if I am a chimney sweep, and .do not 
wear a silver badge." 

Gendarme. [Turning to Jean.] "But where is the fire, 
there must be a mistake somewhere." 

Jean. "Oh I thank you a thousand times for the 
trouble you have taken, but there is not a spark of fire." 

Gendarme. "But you have cried fire!" 

Jean. "Yes! but I have had such singular dreams," 

Gendarme. "Well, get up and show us all your 
chimneys." 

Jean. "Pardon gentlemen, I cannot hold myself up, 
my limbs will fall from under me; Oh I beg of you gen- 
tlemen go out of my house; fine me if you wisb, a heavy 
fine, but I pray you go out of my house." [enter Mother P.] 

Mother Payot. "Gentlemen, this is indeed, a very 
singular affair, but it is not necessary for you to take it 
in a bad humor; I will explain all to you; I have received 
news from my aunt in Holland. 
Her husband extends his hand, as if to stop her mouth. 

We are to inherit I do not know how many hundred 
thousand florins; this news has so excited my husband 
that it has thrown him jnto a fever; poor man; but my 
l^rave people, I do not wish you to have all this trouble 
for nothing, take this [she gives them a piece of money.] 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 23 



and go and drink to our health, and remember that we 
are truly grateful for your kindness." [exit firemen etc.] 

Jean. "Mon Dieu ! if poor people only knew what a 
trouble it is to be rich, they would not wish to become 
so, it is a heavy charge." 

Wife. "Well! you have done beautifully; go to bed 
now Zebedee, and if you choose to dream of robbers and 
gendarmes, make as little noise about it as possible; the 
sight of money has almost taken away your senses." 

Paul and his father go up stairs. It now being daylight, the wife 
prepares breakfast, then puts on her hat and goes out. Soon after, Paul 
comes down, and eating his breakfast, sits down to await his father. In 
the course of an hour, his mother returns. 

Mother. "How has your father .slept, is he sick? 

Paul. "No mother, he is not ill, he is fatigued; the 
events of the night have excited him too much; he will 
come down soon." 

Mother. "Paul, look at me, what do you say to these 
earrings, do they not ]:)ecome me?" 

Paul. [Raising his shoulders.] "I do not know, mother, 
but under your cap, they will be hid." 

Mother. "Oh you wait a little, in a few days you will 
not see a lady dressed finer than your mother: she will 
wear a hat with plumes, a velvet sacque, a silk dress and 
colored boots; and then when you see me pass in the street 
with a little parasol in my hand, with an air so grave and 
so imposing; every one will judge of what a great 
family I am." [he sighs and shakes his head] 

Paul. "Oh well, if there is no remedy for it, go then, 
live in another house; for to see a lady dressed as you will 
be, come out of the house of a chimney sweep; that will 
look strange; and then people will point their fingers at 



24 THE BAG OF GOLD. 

you, and make sport of my mother." 

Mother. "Patience, patience; your father does not 
wish to leave this lodging just at present; he has reasons 
for it. But when the inheritance of my aunt in Holland 
comes, I have my eye upon a beautiful house." 

Paul. " Do you know mother what I believe? I believe 
we have all become fools; and as to the inheritance, I 
would rather have two good florins in my pocket, than 
these beautiful golden eggs not yet hatched." 

Mother. "Oh incredulous boy, [she holds out to him 
her hand filled with gold pieces.] that is only a little 
speck ; Ah ! you have never seen so much money before 
in your life; [Paul keeps silent, his eyes fastened upon 
the gold.] hast thou lost thy tongue?" 

Paul. "Mother, dear mother are we then rich?" 

Mother. "Yes Paul, we are very rich." 

Paul. "Ah I ha! what a life we will then lead. And 
Trinnette, poor girl, God knows if she will not become 
foolish with joy." 

He sings: — "Chimney sweep, chimney sweep, how happy am I." His 
mother puts her hand over his mouth, and says in a tone of reproach: — 

Mother. "Fie! Paul that song is for poor people, it 
is necessary to have one for a boy of a good family." 

Paul. "You are right mother, I will make another 
song." 

Mother. "No! no! it is not best that you should sing 
or dance now; a rich man should be grave and serious 
looking." 

Paul. "Then I cannot be gay any longer." 

Mother. "You can, when you are alone, but if you 
wish to take a good bottle of wine when there are no eyes 
to spy you, the neighbours will say nothing; this is the 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 



25 



way the rich people do." 

Paul. "When I am alone? Do you believe that I 
drink for the sake of drinking? upon my word, when my 
friends are not with me, I like only to drink water." 

Mother. " Beer, beer. Rich people do not drink beer, • 
they drink only wine." 

Paul. "But mother, I do not like wine." 

Mother. " You can learn to like it. The first thing 
that you should discontinue, is your manner of walking 
in the streets, and your joking and laughing." 

Paul. "And can I not laugh at all?" 

Mother. " In t]j| street ? no! you should walk with 
your head high up, and with your face drawn down so." 
She shows him. 

Paul. "As if I always had trouble?" 
Mother. "No, as if you were always angry; it is so 
common to laugh and be gay. 

He imitates her manner, holding his head erect, and looks very grave. 

There, that is beautiful! it is really worth the trouble 
of becoming rich; one can amuse themselves with their 
money. 

She takes a seat at the table, as if to say some important things. 

Paul sit down, it is very necessary that I tell you one 
thing, and now listen to me attentively. 

What would people say to see the son of a baron marry 
the daughter of a boot and shoe maker? " 

Paul. "I should think it a very singular thing." 

Mother. " Do you not think Paul, now that we are 
very rich, that people would blame us if you were to 
marry a poor girl who has nothing." 

Paul. "Good heavens! what do you mean to say." 

Mother. "You see, Paul, Trinnette is a very good girl, 



26 THE BAG OF GOLD. 



but she is the daughter of a boot and shoe maker, and I 
am ashamed to know her, if we had remained common 
people, you would have married her before the end of the 
year, but now all the town would laugh at us." 

Paul. "Well, let them laugh; I would like better to be 
a chimney sweep with Trinnette, then to be a rich baron 
with any other. Now do not touch that chord, mother, 
or you will find me as stubborn as a mule." 

Mother. "But Paul, there is the daughter of the rich 
merchant; she has black eyes and a fine figure; she is al- 
ways dressed so elegantly, and then such beautiful man- 
ners. There is plenty of money in tluit family." 

Paul. " But mother I do not wish you to speak to me 
of her." 

Mother. "Well, suppose you have no taste for her, 
you shall not marry Trinnette." 

Paul. "I shall not marry Trinnette?" 

Mother. "No!" 

Paul. "Oh well in this case, I do not care to be rich 
any longer." 

Mother. "You will wait until sometime when it is 
convenient, and marry some rich lady." 

Paul. "No! none other than Trinnette. Father said 
only a short time ago, that we should have a happy and 
joyous wedding." 

Mother. "Your father will change his mind, when he 
becomes accustomed to riches. You must forget Trin- 
nette, I tell you." 

Paul. " I cannot forget her. I ought not to forget 
and I do not wish to forget her. Such a good girl, who 
would die for her Paul if it was necessary. It would 
l>renk her heart. And I would not do it now that we are 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 27 



rich. I would sooner kill my self." 

Mother. "I forbid you ever seeing her again." 

Paul. "And father told me to go and see her this 
morning, so that she should not learn of the inheritance 
from any other person." 

Mother. "Then you are too late; half of the village 
know it already." 

Paul. "But mother, you have yet a heart; think then 
that for the past six years, you have looked upon Trinn- 
ette as your own daughter. She loves you so much; it is 
always, dear little mother here, and dear little mother 
there. If she comes here to keep you compaiiy when you 
are attacked with the rheumatism, she always seems 
to anticipate your wishes. If the weather is cool, and 
the door is left open, she runs immediately to close it; 
and when you were so ill a few months ago, she wept 
every day, for three whole days, and went every morning 
to the church to pray for you. She has watched all night 
near your bed; and when your illness became dangerous, 
she wept so much and was so troubled, that the neigh- 
bors knew not who to pity most, you or poor Trinnette. 
I loved her very much before that, but since I found that 
she would even give her life t6 save my mother, an other 
sentiment has filled my heart. I have respect for her, and 
in my eyes, all the damsels in the village, would not 
equal my Trinnette. And you mother, would now have 
laid in your shroud, if it had not been for her devotion." 

He weeps. 

Mother. " Paul my boy, you would melt a heart of 
stone; but rich or not, we are not the less human. Co 
and see Trinnette. Beautiful clothes will aid in a 
measure to give her an air more 'comme il faut.' And 



28 THE BAG OF GOLD. 



I will do my best to teach her good manners." 

Paul. "Ah! thanks mother; do now with me as you wish, 

if necessary, I will wear eye glasses, or yellow gloves; 

even if everybody laughs at me; but do not l)ring trouble 

upon dear Trinnette." 
He rises to go out. 
Mother. "Paul, put on your hat; a rich man ought 

not to wear a cap; and here is a silk cravat, with red and 

blue stripes; come to the glass and let me put it on you." 

She puts it around his neck; he making it appear very evident that the 
colors were disgusting to him. He goes out very joyously, throwing an 
adieu. 

Mother. "Paul! Paul, no more jumping; walk, as 
becomes your rank." 

Paul, to please his mother, walks more slowly, and with his head held 
high, with a certain magesty. 

SCENE IV. — In the open street, bordered on both sides with young 
girls making lace. They rise quickly, and greet Paul with attention. 
He seats himself near the door of the old shoemaker, and speaks to 
them. 

Paul. "Why Annie you look so astonished; I should 
think an elephant was passing." 

Annie. "Monsieur Paul, I congratulate you." 

Paul. "Truly, and why." 

Annie. "It is very sad in our street, now that the 
joyous Paul has become a rich gentleman, and is going 
to live far away in a distant part of the village." 

Paul. " Keep still with your 'Monsieur;' I am always 
Paul as before," 

Father Mentz. "Monsieur Payot, can I speak to you 
a few words." [Paul blushes and seems embarrassed.] 

Paul. "Certainly, good father Mentz, give me your 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 29 



band, how is your health." 

Father M. "You do me too much honor; Monsieur 
Paul permit me to ask one favor; my daughter Susan you 
know her? " 

Paul "Yes! a very good and pretty girl." 

Father M. "She is a very good workwoman, and if 
you will please speak a good word for her to Madam your 
mother, and if she will help us to gain a few sous from 
time to time; for times are hard, and bread is dear." 

Paul. "Yes! yes! certainly, but leave me in peace 
with your Monsieur and Madam. I should think every 
one was losing their senses. [To the young girls.] 

Trinnette is binding shoes, I suppose." 

Annie. "Ah! poor Trinnette, she is to be pitied ; it 
will be a happy thing if she does not die." 

Paul crosses over to Trinnette, who is seated before the door of her 
cottage weeping; her apron up to her eyes. 

Paul. "Trinnette! Trinnette! what is the matter? 
speak; speak! " 

Trinnette. "Oh Paul, I know it is not your fault; you 
would not have been so cruel to give the death blow to 
poor Trinnette." 

Paul. "But for the love of God, what has happened?" 

Trinnette. "I will bear my sad fate, and when I come 
to die, I will never blame you, Paul ; I will pray God that 
he will give you a wife who will love you as much as I 

do." 

Paul. "Ah ! is it that, that you fear; console yourself 

Trinnette, nothing has changed between us, you are de- 
ceived." 

Trinnette. "Oh! Paul, I am a girl too poor to lift her 
eyes to you; you are of a great family, and my father is 



3© THE BAG OF GOLD, 



only an honest workman." 
Paul stamps his foot impatiently. 

Paul. "But who said that? it is only the talk of the 
envious. Trinnette you must not listen to them." 

Trinnette. "No! no! your mother has laughed at us 
and said that I was only the daughter of a poor shoe- 
maker, and should never enter her family. You must 
obey her, and leave me in my sadness, it will pass away 
soon, and when I shall be lying in the cemetery, and you 
go to walk there sometimes, think then of poor Trinnette 
who died young because she loved you too much." 

Paul. "Trinnette, even if my father were king, you 
alone shall be my wife; my mother herself has no other 
desire; she has sent me here, and she said, rich or poor, 
Trinnette shall be my daughter." 

Trinnette. "Oh! then can Madam Payot yet be my 
mother? and shall I yet be happy in this world? Paul, 
Paul, do not deceive me." [enter Father Dries.] 

Father D, "Monsieur Payot, I am astonished that 
you dare come again to my house ; we are poor people 
and common people, but we are honest ; and each one 
is king in his own house. It is not your fault prehaps, 
but go now and forget that we live here." 

Trinnette. "Oh! father do not be angry, thii'^;: are 
not as you think." 

Father D. " Now that your parents have inherited 
some tons of gold, there would be a great scand il if ', ou 
should marry the daughter of a poor shoemaker' 

Paul. " Father Dries you are cruel and uni r t, my 
mother has sent me here to ask you to excuse e \v;iy 
she spoke to you ; it was not intended, and she 1 les you 
will forget it." 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 3I 

Father D. " No ! No ! your mother has shown publicly 
how she despised us, and now Paul, you shall not enter 
our house again ; we are not rich, but it shall not be said 
that we let any one walk over our heads." 

Paul. "And if my mother herself came here and 
declared to you, that she did not mean it, and had no 
wrong intention." 

Father D. "In that case, it would signify something." 

Paul. "Well, I will go and find her." 

Father D. "I have just seen her go out a moment 
ago." 

Paul. "Well when she returns, I will pray her to 
come and speak to you." 

Father F. " But you cannot remain here now ; I do 
not intend that you shall return M'ithout you are ac- 
companied by her. The' neighbours are all assembled 
around our door ; go ! if things are as you say, all will be 
arranged ; but for the present, I pray you to return to 
your own house." 

Paul on going towards the door to go out, speaks low to IVinnette. 

Paul. " Trinnette, fear nothing, be happy, all will be 
well, in an hour I will return with my mother." 

SCENE V. — Paul's home. — He enters and perceives his father seated 
by the table, his face buried in his hands. 

Father. " Paul why is your face so red ? " 
Paul. " I have been to see Trinnette, and I found her 
weeping and sobbing as if her heart would break and my 
own feels nearly as heavy. Her father has put me out of 
the house. But father you are ill, let me go and bring a 
physician, you look so pale." 

Father, "No! No! it is all over now, it was only a 



32 THE BAG OF GOLD. 

nervous agitation. But tell me what was the cause of 
the trouble of Trinnette; why has her father been angry 
with you? " 

Paul. "I do not know; mother has made a remark in 
one of the shops, that Trinnette was nor worthy to enter 
our family ; and from that, you can understand that he 
has mounted his high horse. But it will all be mended ; 
I will go to the house with mother." 

Father. "Your mother, your mother, she! makes all 
our trouble. She does not know how to overcome all her 
pride. She talks and boasts as if we had received a 
million florins." 

Paul. " Three tons of gold! When I was coming 
back from the shoemakers, Annie asked me from the 
shop door, if it was true, that besides the three tons of 
gold, we had also inherited many houses and vessels." 

Father. "Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu!! this is a very un- 
happy state of things; we shall never be able to sleep 
tranquilly again ; all the robbers will have an eye upon 
our house; and God only knows how many plots are now 
being made to rob us of all. And they will kill us too 
perhaps." 

Paul. "It is possible father, it appears that every one 
in the village know it, and everybody is talking of this 
astonishing news, ' the inheritance of her aunt in Hol- 
land.'" 

Father. " Astonishing inheritance ! ! Ah ! Paul, it is 
not necessary to have much, to have the neighbours think 
so." 

Paul. "There is much however, three tons of gold." 

Father. "But the neighbours are out of their heads." 

Paul, "But then father, if there was only one ton." 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 33 

Father. "No no, it is only a little fortune, enough 
though to live comfortably with management and econ- 
omy." 

Paul. "Who will believe it now, for mother has spo- 
ken of a house upon the St. Jacques, of hats with plumes, 
of servants, and so many other things that I believed that 
she had the purse of Fortunates and that we were going 
to live on a mountain of gold." 

Father. "Your mother will put us upon a bed of straw, 
but I am going to show her that I am master. I will 
crush her new hats under my feet, and I will cut her silk 
dresses in pieces, and if she does not wish to behave her- 
self I will put her out of the house, yes! yes! I will put 
her out. But what expensive finery have you about 
your neck?" 

Paul. "O I had forgotten that, mother made me put 
it on, [he pulls it off and throws it down in rage] but if 
I have any, I will have one with better colors than that. 
I wish the inheritance had never come. We were never 
born to be rich; I w^ould rather be poor than to pass such 
a life as this." 

Father. "Do not desire poverty my son, for if your 
mother does not become more sensible, misery will come 
soon enough, perhaps it is already threatening us." 

Paul. "But father you are sick, very sick". 

Father. "O no nothing ails me, I am only fatigued." 

Paul. " How is it possible that money has so changed 
you, your eyes look badly, you are pale, and your voice 
sounds so feeble. Before, you were always so joyous and 
happy, you could sing from morning until night. I feel 
already that money is an enemy to joy; my heart is 
heavy also, and it seems really as if some terrible thing 



34 THE BAG OF GOLD. 



is going to happen." 

Father. "Yes my son, what you say is very true, but 
still it is a great thing to be rich." 

Paul. "So it appears, since this cursed inheritance 
has come there has been nothing but trouble and com- 
plaining." 

Father. "Your mother is the cause of it all, it is her 
rage for expending that torments me, just think of it 
Paul, she has gone out now to look for a servant, and she 
will take none excepting one who has served a lady. To 
have a stranger in my house." 

The door opens and there enters a servant, wearing a dress of livery, 
and a hat braided with gold. 

Servant. "Why! this cannot be the place." 

Paul. "Well, what is it?" 

Servant. "You see my boy, I was sent here by a lady, 
but I think this cannot be the place." 

Paul. "Yes it is here." 

Servant. "Here? here in this house? it is impossible." 

Paul. "Well, if you do not believe it you can go and 
leave us in peace." 

Servant. "I have lived at the house of Madam Van 
Steen, but I do not wish to remain there, and hearing 
that your lady desired a servant to ride behind her car- 
riage, to carry her prayer book to church. I suppose you 
are the errand boy of Madam, and this, the coachman ; 
I hope both of you will say a good word for me, and 
we will have a good time together." 

Father. "Go out of my house you impudent scamp 
or I will throw you into the middle of the street." 

He drives him out. Soon the door opens and Paul's mother enters, 
she looks angrily at her husband. 



THE HAG OF GOLD. 35 



Father. *' Paul, I am going up stairs." 

[exit Father Payot,] 

Mother. "What is the matter again, Paul?" 

Paul. "Oh nothing, there came here a stupid peasant 
who wished to be your servant and we sent him away. 
But mother before you take off your cloak, I wish you to 
do me a favor." 

Mother. "Yes anything you wish." 

Paul. "Ah! mother I went to see Trinnette, and if 
you had seen her you would have surely wept, she looked 
as if she was going to die, she begs you to come to her 
house, and tell her that you are not angry with her, and I 
promised her you would, come mother come." 

Mother. "Oh who can refuse you anything." 

[exit Paul and mother.] 

SCENE VII. — Interior of the shoemaker's cottage. Paul is seated 
beside Trinnette who is embroidering. She puts her apron to her 
eyes to wipe away the tears. Paul's head is bowed, and he seems in 
deep grief. 

Trinnette. "Paul, do not be so sad; what matters it 
if the neighbours do talk, if your parents can prove from 
where they received the money." 

Paul. "The money ! it is the money that makes all 
our trouble. It will kill my poor father if the neighbours 
even think that he did not come by it honestly. Mother 
has now her five senses but I fear for her reason. And 
then dear Trinnette, your father is so angry with me. 
Ah ! when they say such things against my poor innocent 
father it makes me tremble, and I am afraid that we are 
going to be seperated. Trinnette, this morning I went 
to church and prayed during one whole hour at the foot 



36 THE BAG OF GOLD. 



of the cross, that God would be merciful to us and make 
us poor as before." 

Trinnette. "Paul, you must not feel so sad, there are 
a great many rich people, are they all so unhappy?" 

Paul. " I do not know, but for us money is like poison. 
Oh it is frightful to hear people say that my father is a 
robber, and not to be able to find the serpent who has 
dared first to injure the good name of my father." 

[enter father Dries.] 

Father Dries. "Trinnette, go up to your room for a 
few moments and leave me alone with Paul, I wish to 
speak with him. [exit Trinnette.] Paul, where did your 
father get the gold that your mother has shown to every 
one? [Paul hesitates to reply.] Say! quick! from where 
comes the money? It is for your good that I ask it." 

Paul. "My mother has inherited it." 

Father D. "The inheritance has come then?" 

Paul. "No, not yet." 

Father D. "Tl\en from whei'e comes this money." 

Paul. "She has probably received it in advance." 

Father D. "From whom? from whom?" 

Paul. "I do not know." 

Father D. "You know nothing about it? my poor 
friend what is going to happen." 

Paul. "But what is the matter? you are beside your- 
self, I tremble like a leaf." 

Father D, "Paul, I have been questioned in regard 
to the origin of the gold pieces your mother has shown 
to the neighbours, but at present I connot confide to you 
what the commissary of police has said to me, but I pity 
your poor father, for he has always been my friend, and 
I pity you and poor Trinnette." 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 37 

Paul. "For the love of God speak quick! and tell me 
what has happened!" 

Father D. "Paul, tell your father to save himself, to 
fly ! for they are now coming to your house to arrest him." 

Paul. "To arrest him? to arrest my father?" 

Father D. "Believe me Paul, follow my counsel or 
your father is lost! [He whispers in Paul's ear.] There 
has been a heavy robbery at a large banking house, and 
they are suspicious that your father is an accomplice." 

Paul. "What! do you believe that my father is a 
robber?" 

Father D. "No! no! but unless he can tell where 
this money comes from, how can he justify himself." 

Paul. "He will tell, how can you doubt him." 

Father D. "Well now Paul, you understand the sit- 
uation of affairs, do your best to aid your father, but 
until this is cleared up, you must not come here again ; 
Trinnette has a good reputation, and you would not rob 
her of her only riches." 

Paul. " Ah ! I know it, I wish to save her." 

[exit Paul.] 

SCENE VIII. — Paul's home. His father is sitting alone when he 
enters. He closes the door, and turns the key. 

Paul. " Father, do not be angry with -me if I ask you 
one question. I cannot bear this suffering and anxiety 
any longer. It is very necessary that I know where this 
money came from." 

Father. " We have inherited it." 

Paul. " No, no, not inherited it, but received it in 
advance." 



38 THE BAG OF (iOLD. 



Father. "Well, yes, but why are you so troubled?" 

Paul. " But from whom have you received it?" 

Father. " Why Paul, you owe your father some 
respect, why do you dare to question me so?" 

Paul. " I wish to know, I will know." 

Father. "Ah ! Paul, you ask me that which I cannot 
tell you." 

Paul. "That, you cannot tell me? Heavens!!" 

Father. " What is the matter Paul ? " 

Paul. " Father, there has been a heavy robbery at 
the bank, and they are suspicious of you, they charge 
you v/ith the crime." 

Father. " These things are said by the wicked and 
envious, my son, you need not mind them." 

Paul. " But father, the gendarmes are coming to 
to arrest you. 

He litters a cry of agony and falls upon a chair. 

For the love of God, tell me from where you or mother 
have received this money. Alas! this that they say must 
be true, my father dares not reveal from where he has 
received this money. O ! I shall die with shame. 

Accused by his son, he weeps bitter tears. Paul puts his arm around 
his father's neck and kisses his forehead weeping also, 

Forgive me father, I am so unhappy." 

Father. " Accused by my son, and how have I de- 
serve this. Oh Mon Dieu ! " 

Paul. "No, No! but it is necessary that I know, so 
that I may defend you. Oh father tell me then." 

Father. " I cannot, I ought not ; but be assured that 
your father is an honest man." 

Paul. " And the gendarmes father, will you not tell 
them?" 



THE BAO OF (JOLD. 39 



Father. •' Paul ! go and leave me alone, I wish it." 

Paul. "Oh father, father." 

Father. " Obey nie, go ! [exit Paul.] 

For a while, the old chimney sweep remains alone. He talks in a low 
tone, reflecting upon all the trouble that the treasure has brought upon 
him, and that his once happj' home has now become a hell, full of alarms 
and trouble. 

But I will reveal all, even if it should result in the 
taking a-way of all the treasure ; and T will then become 
a happy chimney sweep, [enter Mother Payot.] Wife, 
sit down I have something to tell you. There has been 
a robbery at the bank, the same night we found the bag 
of gold, and because you showed some of the pieces, they 
suspect us. We shall be arrested and thrown into prison. 
I have resolved to tell all, even if they take away our 
treasure." 

Wife. "It is the old shoemaker who is the cause of 
it all. Paul shall never marry Trinnette, never! and you 
are a robber to rob me of my money to give to strangers 
who have nothing to do with it. I will be protected by 
the law, you will be free to become a chimney sweep, and 
I shall leave for America." 

Father. " But my dear wife listen to sound reason," 

Wife. " What sound reason ! " 

A violent knocking is heard. Mother Payot opens the door, and three 
officers enter. 

Gendarme. "We have come to arrest you. You are 
suspected of robbing the bank." 

The officers then proceed to fasten the handcuffs upon him. He turns 
to his wife and speaks. 

Father. " O Theresa, you have been the cause of this." 
On hearing that, the gendarmes arrest her also. 



40 THE BAG OF GOLD. 



ACT III. 

SCENE I. — The court-room filled with a multitude of people, judge, 
gendarmes &c. The judge turns to Madam Payot, and speaks. 

Judge. "You say that you have had this money in 
your possession a long time, and that it came from your 
father." 

Mother P. "Yes." 

Judge. " How happens it that it was not known at 
his death that he had left any property ? " 

Mother P. "I know better than any one what there 
was. That which was given during his illness, could not 
be found at his death." 

Judge. " How much does the sum amount to, that 
you have preserved until this day?" 

Mother P. "I do not know exactly." 

Judge. "Was there ten-million florins?" 

Mother P. "Yes, more." 

Judge. "How can you explain, that during these 
twenty years you have lived as poor people, and sudden- 
ly you find your pockets full of gold? " 

Mother P. "Every one to his taste. I knew that I 
would inherit some, from my aunt in Holland, who is 
rich." 

Judge. "How much money do you now possess?" 

Mother P. "We have nothing now." 

Judge. "What! nothing? yesterday however you 
showed a handful of gold pieces to the proprietor of the 
house of St. Jacques." 

Wife. " Suppose I have given it away and do not choose 






THE BAG OF GOLD. 4I 



to say to whom." [He turns to the gendarme.] 

Judge. "Lead in the husband. [He leads him in.] 
From where comes the money which has fallen so sud- 
denly into your possession?" 

Jean P. "My wife, my wife has inherited it." 

Judge. "From her aunt in Holland, is it not?" 

Jean P. "Yes, I believe so, yes." 

Mother P. " Imbecile! His mind, gentlemen, is like 
an infant's of six weeks." 

Judge. "Officer, take that woman by the arm, and at 
the least word lead her out. [Then turning to Jean.] You 
say then that your wife has inherited this money from 
her aunt in Holland?" 

Jean P. " Yes, no." 

Judge. "Yes and no? You must not mock the of- 
ficers of justice. This is money received in advance from 
the inheritance of vour wife! " 

Jean P. "Yes I believe it is." 

Judge. "And the sum received amounts to some thou- 
sands of florins? " 

Jean P. "No no, hundreds." 

Judge. "Not a thousand?" 

Jean P. "I do not know." 

Judge. " Tell the truth. We know all. Your wife 
says that she has received over ten-million florins." 

Jean P. "It is possible. I do not know what I say." 

Judge. "You are not sincere; you contradict yourself 
every moment. Perhaps you do not understand that you 
gain nothing by concealing the truth from me. Ten days 
ago, there was a heavy robbery at the bank, and they are 
suspicious that you are the robber; and every circum- 
stance, even your own words testify against you. If you 



42 THE BAG OF GOLD. 



do not wish to be conducted to prison by these gendarmes, 
explain from where this money came, which has been 
seen in your wife's hands. You are guilty of the crime 
which is imputed to you." 

Jean P. "No, No, I am not a robber, I have robbed 
no one." 

Judge. "Can you then explain why, on the night in 
which the i^obbery was commited, you awakened your 
neighbours with the cry of fire! to make them believe 
that you were in your own house at the time of the 
robbery, in order to conceal the criminal action that you 
had committed." 

Jean. P. "Am I dreaming?" 

Judge, "We know enough but we will search your 
house for more proofs. 

The gendarmes enter, holding cords in their hands, with which to bind 
his arms. 

A last chance is now given you to confess all; behold 
the ropes that are to tie your arms. For the last time I 
beg of you for your own intrest to tell the truth, the 
whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Where did you 
get the money? speak quick! where did you get the 
money?" 

Paul rushes into the room uttering a piercing shriek. 
Paul. "Oh father, father where did this money come 
from ? for the love of God speak ! You, a robber ? No ! No ! 
it cannot be possible, it is a frightful dream." 
Father. "I have deserved it, I am punished." 
Paul. " Deserved it ! deserved it ! what do you mean ? " 
Father. "No my son, your father has done wrong 
but he is not a robber. I shall tell all. I am going now 
to show you the treasure and after that, I will tell you 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 



43 



how it came into my hands." 

His wife points her finger at him in a threatening manner. 

Wife. "If you dare ! coward." 

Judge. "Gendarme, lead out that woman." 

Jean P. "It is useless sir, I am going to tell you all, 

from the begining. I have not robbed, I have found 

the treasure." 

Paul. "Oh Mon Dieu ! Mon Dieu ! Thanks for thy 
mercy." 

Judge. "Are you ready now to give your explana- 
tion?" 

Jean P. " Yes yes, but I have a prayer to make to 
you first. You see, this money has made me so unhappy ; 
have the kindness to it away ; have pity upon me; deliver 
me from this scourge; carry it away with you." 
Judge. "Well, show us this treasure." 
Jean P. "It was on Friday evening, the rats made 
such a noise in the garret that I took up my old sabre 
and was just hitting two which ran between my feet, 
when the point of my sabre hit a beam, and a little board 
fell out, and this bag of gold fell and rolled at my feet. 
The fear of robbers and that the money would be taken 
away from me, has made me nearly beside myself; but 
this is the truth pure and simple." 

_ Jean takes from his pocket, the remainder of the bag of gold, and hands 
It to the judge, who examines it ; he takes out an old memorandum book 
and looks through it, then at some of the gold pieces one by one. 
Judge. "Woman, what was your father's name?" 
Wife. "Vandenburg, Peter Vandenburg." 
Judge. " This man has told the truth; they are not 
guilty. In this book are dates, where at different times 
her father has deposited in this bag a certain number of 



44 THE BAG OF GOLD. 



gold pieces and stating that this treasure was to be left 
to his only daughter. We know that her father had the 
reputation of being a miser, and as he died suddenly, 
he had not time probably to tell where he had hid the 
money. You see these gold and silver pieces are old 
ducats of the crown of France, they do not at all compare 
with those taken from the bank. My brave man you 
have given yourself much useless pain and trouble ; this 
money belongs to you lawfully." 

Jean P. " O, carry it away with you." 

Judge. "You simple man, we have nothing to do 
with it, it is lawfully yours; listen: 'Article 716 Civil 
Code. The property or a ti-easure found, belongs to the 
one who finds it on his own property.' This properly 
belongs to you as the house is yours." 

Jean P. "And must this scourge still remain in my 
house ?" 

Judge. "Woman, this money is an inheritance from 
your father, you can consider this old book his will, and 
both of you endeavor to make good use of it." 

SCENE II. — Interior of the cottage. Enter Paul with Trinnette and 
her father, followed by a number of other friends to offer their con- 
gratulations. 

Paul. "Come come, dear Trinnette, and father Dries, 
and offer father your congratulations, this was only 
a fright." 

Jean P. "Dries, this is the happiest day of my life. 
It is impossible to tell you what I have suffered on ac- 
count of this cursed inheritance." 

Father Dries. " But it is all ended now." 

Jean P. "O yes. We found the money here in the 



i 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 45 



house, it was left by my wife's father, here is his old book 
in which he noted down the amounts that he deposited 
in a bag at different times." 

Father D. "God be praised. Jean, I have trembled 
for you as if you were my brother." 

Jean P. " But you are the same as my brother. Ah, 
now we can see our dear children happy." 

Father D. ^'But you are rich, and your wife — " 

Jean P. "What! rich? I am Jean your friend, and 
this Monsieur, and Madam, is ended; we shall not say 
anything more about these things, we will talk of the 
joyous wedding that we will have for Paul and Trinnette. 
The money will be a good thing after all." 

They all seem very happy and join in a hearty laugh. 

SCENE III.— The cottage. At midnight. Enter two men; they move 
stealthily about the room; one carrying a dark lantern. They sud- 
denly discover the box, and breaking it open they take from it the 
bag containing the money and hastily depart. 

SCENE IV. — The same place. Mother Payot comes down stairs at an 
early hour, and finding the doors open, she goes to the box where 
the bag of gold was usually kept, and finds that open also ; on per- 
ceiving this, she runs to the stairs screaming with fright. 

Mother P. "The doors have been broken open! 
Robbers have been here! The money is gone! My 
money! Oh my money! I am robbed. Oh dear! My 
money, the inheritance of my poor dead father! Oh I 
shall die! [Jean hearing her cry, enters,] Oh where is 
my vinaigrette, my smelling bottle. 

Jean pours out some from a bottle and endeavors to rub her face; she 
repulses him in anger. 

Leave me alone, I see very well that you are pleased 



46 THE BAG OF GOLD. 



with what has happened." 

Jean P. "Theresa, the money is gone that is true; 
but the bitter life and all our troubles are gone with it I 
hope ; have courage ; I will go to work again and we will 
live in peace and pass our days in affection and joy." 

[Enter Trinnette.] 

Trinnette. "Oh dear mother, what is the matter? 
what is it that makes you so unhappy?" 

[Enter Paul.] 

Paul. " Hello ! what is this ? I believe our house is 
haunted. Trinnette here? then all will be right," 

Jean P. " Paul, we have been robbed ! robbers have 
taken away our money ! " 

Paul. " God be thanked. I can again become a chim- 
ney-sweep." 

Mother P. "You, also laugh at me in my trouble." 

He takes his mother's hand and tries to console her. 

Paul. " Why mother, you are crying ; but be comfort- 
ed ; the loss of the money is painful to you, but think ; it 
did not make us happy ; for since we have been in pos- 
session of it, we have only had trouble and disputes. 
You and father had always lived so pleasantly, but from 
the day when you found the money you have not ceased 
to have a sad face. We will now have no more trouble 
or sadness." 

Mother P. "This was all your father's fault, he does 
not know how to use money, but I was born to be rich." 

Paul. " Every one knows that you were, but my dear 
mother, I am your only child, and you are so good 
hearted, now be comforted; for since it is the will of God 
it is all right." 



THE BAG OF GOLD. 47 



Jean, ''Theresa, be reasonable. During so many 
years we have lived such a peaceable and happy life, and 
we will henceforth enjoy ourselves more than ever, now 
that that wicked and vile money has been taken away." 

Mother. " Be still ! You have prayed that this might 
happen." 

Paul. "But dear mother, think how well off we were 
before ; father and I were gay and always had something 
to say to make you laugh, and we were friends with 
everybody. You see, that beautiful and joyous life will 
return; father and I from time to time will buy you anew 
dress, and when Trinnette comes to live with us,you will be 
waited upon as a lady. You will find more pleasure in 
living than if you had the care and trouble of the money." 

Mother. " But, Paul, what will the people say?" 

Paul. " This is what they will say when we go out to 
walk you will take my arm and they will say that we are 
honest people who accept happiness or unhappiness as it 
pleases God." 

Mother. "The will of God be done. Come dear Tr- 
innette, you are the best girl in the world. Men do not 
know what it is to be rich, but then you will very quick- 
ly become accustomed to it will you not? It will come 
some day, be patient. My aunt in Holland is now over 
eighty years old. 

Paul goes out very quickly without being noticed. Suddenly Mother 
Payot turns tremblingly towards her husband who enters at this moment. 

Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu ! Jean, there is still fifteen 
florins to be paid at the jewelers. To be poor is terrible 
but to have debts is far worse, and we have no means to 
pay it now, but I will carry my jewelry back." 

Jean. "No, No, Theresa, you can keep them." 



48 THE BAG OF GOLD. 



Mother. "But who will pay the debt?" 

Jean. "I will myself." 

Mother. "You?" 

Jean. "Yes, me. I put away, a larger part of the 
money, tied up in my handkerchief. I hid it so that if 
robbers should come, most of it would be saved. 

Jean goes to the chimney and gets the money, and empties it upon 
the table. 

There Theresa, this is all your money ; do with it as 
you wish ; but I pray you to save a greater part, to build 
a little shop for Paul and Trinnette." 

She smiles, and seems overjoyed at the sight of the money. Paul 
enters, dressed in his old dress of chimney-sweep, singing his usual song. 

Paul. " Hello ! Paul is himself again. Father, mother, 
Trinnette, how happy am I. Sing, dance and be gay 
now, for our trouble is all taken away." 

He takes Trinnette by the arm and tries to make her dance. 

Mother. "Paul, be quiet. I have something to tell 
you. See here, the money is not all gone ; your father 
had hid a part of it. I will give it to you to set up a 
little store, when you and Trinnette are married — which 
I hope will be very soon ; but I pray you to continue to 
live with us." 

Paul. "Yes mother, we will live with you; we will 
continue to live united until death shall separate us." 

Trinnette. "Yes! Yes! And you will be my good 
mother."" 

Paul. " Are you not happy now, mother?" 

Mother. "Yes! my child, let us rejoice." 

Paul takes his mother by the hand, holding Trinnette on the other, 
with Jean and father Dries on each side, forces them to dance. 

THE END. [Curtain falls.] 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

016 102 275 5 ^.