PR 4161 
 .B2 J4 
 1858 
 I Copy 2 
 
 MfiClCAyKl' 
 
 ^ 
 
 lsro_ 6. 
 
 JESSIE BROWN; 
 
 THE RELIEF OF LUOKNOW. 
 
 % grmna, m S^bxee ^tts. 
 
 BY DION BOURCICAULT. 
 
 A .1e3ni-i[)tioii of tli« CostinTve^easrTvrthe (Jharacters— Entrancea and Exita- 
 Rf^lathf Pofiitions of the Performers on the Stage, and the whole of the 
 .^tage Bii(?ine88 ' 
 
 This Plav forms No. 203 of French's Edition of thp Standard Drama. 
 
 NEW VORK: 
 SAMUEL FRENCH 
 
 No. 122 Nassau Street, Up Stairs. 
 
♦LONDON ASSURANCE, a Comedy in 5 acts. - 
 
 ♦IRISH HEIRESS, a Comedy in 5 acts, - 
 
 ♦A LOVER BY PROXY, a Farce in 1 act, 
 
 ♦ALMA MATER, a Comedy in 3 8,cts, . - - - 
 
 ♦CURIOSITIES OF LITERATURE, a Farce in 1 act, 
 
 ♦THE BASTILE, a Drama in 1 act, - - - - - 
 
 ♦THE OLD GUARD, a Drama in 1 act, . - - - 
 
 ♦WOMAN, a Tragedy in 5 acts, - " (f * 
 
 VICTOR AND HORTENSE, a Drama in 2 acts, 
 
 I LOVE IN A SACK, a Farce in 1 act, - - - . 
 
 LOLAH, a Drama In 2 acts, - - 
 
 USED UP, a Comedy in 2 acts, - . - - - 
 
 ♦OLD HEADS AND YOUNG HEARTS, a Comedy in 5 acts,- 
 DON C^SAR DE BAZAN, a Drama in 3 acts, - 
 A MATCH FOR A KING, a Comedy in 2 acts, 
 MOTHER AND SON, a Drama in 3 acts, - - - • 
 
 FOX AND GOOSE, an Operetta in 1 act, 
 ♦LAYING A GHOST, a Faroe in 1 act, 
 
 ♦A CONFIDENCE, a Comedy in 1 act, - - - - 
 
 ♦THE OLD SCHOOL, a Comedy in 2 acts, - - - ■ 
 
 ♦FOUND OUT AT HOME, a Comedy in 3 acts, 
 THE WATER CURE, an Operetta in 1 act, 
 ♦SHAKSPEARE IN LOVE, 1 act, - - 
 
 |!l ♦LOVE AND MONEY, a Comedy in 5 acta, 
 
 ♦THE WILLOW COPSE, a Drama in 5 acts, - 
 
 ♦THE KNIGHT OF ARVA, a Comic Drama in 2 acts, - 
 
 ♦SALAMANDRINE, a Ballet, 
 
 GERALDA, a Comic Drama in 3 acts, 
 
 TipS^ INVISIBLE HUSBAND, a Comic Drama in 3 acts, 
 
 ♦A RADICAL CURE, a Farce in 1 act, 
 
 ♦LOVE IN A MAZE, a Comedy in 6 acts, 
 
 SEXTUS THE FIFTH, a Drama in 5 acts, 
 
 [Continued on third page of cover.] 
 
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KOHilING 'VUP. REPKRTOlIli'; OK 
 
 MISS AGNES ROBERTSON. 
 No. VI. 
 
 JESSIE BROWN; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE RELIEF OF LUCKJ^OW, 
 
 g^ Jlrama, in ^l^rce gicts. 
 
 (founded on an episode in the INDIAN REBELLION.) 
 BY 
 
 AUTHOR OP 
 
 London Assurance, Old Heads and Youns? He?.rts, The Irish Heiress, Used Up, The 
 
 Corsican Brothers, Love and Money, The Willow Copse, The Life of ;iu Actress, 
 
 The Phantom, Andy Blake, The Chameleon, Victor and Hortense, (renevicve, 
 
 The Young Actress, Louis the Eleventh, The Knight of Arva. Fanst and 
 
 MarK;uerite, Janet Pride, George D'Arville, The Poor of New York, 
 
 Belphegor, Napoleon's Old Guard, Love in a Maze, Alma Mater, 
 
 A Lover by Proxy, Don C^sar de Bazan. The Invi«ihle 
 
 Husband, Sixtus the Fifth, The Prima Donna, Bluebelle, 
 
 The Cat Changed into a Woman, Una, The Fox 
 
 Hunt, &.C., &c., &<% 
 
 Entered ■&oc«T'd5Dg to Act «f Congcc-es, in the year One TteustaU Kigfet HtiDdred and Fifty Kight, 
 by DioK BouiiciCAUi.T, in the Clerk's" oflice «f the DT»tTj<-t Court oT tfce I'nited Stat« 
 for the Souibein District of New York. 
 
 
 NEW VORK: 
 
 SAMUEL FRENC H^^C/. ^ ^ 
 122 Nassau Street, (Up Staihs.) 
 
 ITU 
 
 <SC> 
 
 f/ 
 
CAST OP CHARACTERS.— [Jes3,ip/Brown.] 
 
 Wallack's Theatre, 1858. 
 The Nana Sahii?, Rnjah of Bitlioor, - Mr. l^oiircicault. 
 AcHMKT, his Vakeel, - - - - - Mr. II. 13. Phillips. 
 K.VNUAL McGr.BGoK, } Officer.s in the En^- ) Mv. Lester. 
 Gkordie McGRicaon, ( lish Service, ( Mr. A. 11. Davenport. 
 
 PwEV. David Blount, Cliaplain 32nd Regiment, Mr. W. R. Blake. 
 SwEESiE, a Private, 32d Reghiicnt, - - Mr. T. B. Johnston. 
 CassidT; a Corporal, 32d iJegiment, - Mr. Sloan. 
 
 Soldiers, Highlanders, Sepoys, and Hindoo Servants. 
 Jessie Brown, a Scotch Girl, - - - Miss Agnes Kohertson. 
 
 Amy Campbell, Mrs. Hoey. 
 
 Charlie and Effie, her Children, - - Misses Reeves. 
 
 Alice, - - Mrs. Allen. 
 
 Mary, - Mrs. H. B. Phillips. 
 
 Ladies and Children. 
 
 The Scene is laid at Lucknow. in the Province of Oude, in India. 
 
 Time— The Summer of 1H57. 
 
 An Act supplemental to an Act entitled "^n Act to amend the several acts respect-' 
 ing Copijright," approved February third, eighteen hundred and thirty-one. 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repiesentatives of the United States 
 of America in Congress assembled. That any copyright hereafter granted under the 
 laws of the United States to the author or . proprietor of any dramatic composition, 
 designed or suited for public representation, shall be deemed and taken to confer 
 upon the said author or proprietor, his heirs or assigns, along with the sole right to 
 print and publish the said composition, the sole right also to act, perform, or jepre- 
 scnt the same, or cause it to be acted, performed, or represented, on any stage or 
 public place during the whole period for which the copyright is obtained ; and any 
 manager, actor, or other person acting, performing or representing the said compo- 
 sition, without or against the consent of the said author or proprietor, his heirs or 
 assigns, shall be liable for damages to be sued for and recovered by action on the 
 case or other equivalent remedy, with costs of suit in any court of the United 
 States, such damages in all cases to be rated and assessed at such sum not less than 
 one hundred dollars for the first, and fifty dollars for every subsequent performance, 
 as to the court having cognizance thereof shall appear to be just : Provided 
 nevertheless, That nothing herein enacted shall impair any right to act, perform, or, 
 represent a dramatic composition as aforesaid, which right may have been acquired, 
 or shall in future be acquired by any manager, actor, or other person previous to 
 the securing of the copyright for the said composition, or to restrict in any way the 
 right of such author to process in equity in any court of the United States for tho 
 better and further enforcement of his rights. 
 Approved, August 18, 1856. 
 
 .Notice. — Any manager permitting this work to be performed in his 
 * t^eatre^without the written permission of the Author, is liable to a 
 })enalty of not less than one hundred dollars for each performance— 
 in conformity with the new Copyright Act as above. 
 
JESSIE BROWN 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 SCENE I.— The Exterior of the Bungalo of Mrs. Campbell— Luck- 
 now in the distance. Table laid on r. h. side, under a tree, with 
 viands upon it. Native servants in attendance. 
 
 Music. — Enter Geoedie McGregor, with Alice and Mary. Enter 
 AcuMET from the house. 
 
 Geor. Here we are at last. What can induce Mrs. Campbell to live 
 a mile from Lucknow 1 
 
 Alice. You are a pretty soldier — you cannot march a mile withoufc 
 a murmur. 
 
 Geor. On my own native hills in bonnie Scotland, with my hound 
 by my side, I have walked a dozen miles before breakfast ; but under 
 this Indian sun 
 
 Mary. And with only a pretty girl by your side 
 
 Alice, Say two pretty girls. Don't be bashful, Mary — include me. 
 
 Entef Mrs. Campbell. 
 
 Geor. Oh, Mrs. Campbell, look here! I am besieged — Delhi is 
 nothing to the condition I shall be in if you don't relieve me. 
 
 Alice. Mrs. Campbell, pleaf^e, he won't tell us which of us he is in 
 love with. 
 
 Mrs. C. I will tell you : with neither. He is in love with his new 
 uniform ; he only received his commission two months ago, and every 
 officer is for six months in love with himself. 
 
 Geor. After that I'll take a glass of sangaree. 
 
 Mrs. C. Where's Randal 1 
 
4 JESSIE BROWN. 
 
 Oeor. My fiery brother, the McGregor — as Jessie will insist on call- 
 ing him — is, as usual, inspecting his men. 
 
 Mrs. C. Jessie is right ; for your brother, Randal McGregor, is the 
 noblest man tliat ever breathed the Scottish air and made it purer. 
 But tell me, what news from Delhi ? [They sit. 
 
 Geor. Oh, the siege continues; butitM'ill be taken, of course — these 
 black rascals are mere scum. 
 
 [AcHMET, who is serving Geordie, looks round. 
 
 Alice. There is one who disagrees with you on that point. 
 
 Geor. Does he 1 
 
 Ach. No, sahib, Allah Akbar ! it is so — we are scum. Lady, in 
 Hindoostan there are one hundred millions such as I am, and there 
 are one hundred thousand such as you ; yet for a century you have 
 bad your foot on our necks ; we are to you a thousand to one — 
 a thousand black necks to one white foot, God is just, and Moham- 
 med is his prophet. We are scum ! 
 
 Geor. I can't answer for the truth of your calculation, but I agree 
 in the sentiment — you are scum. [Brinks. 
 
 Ach. Sometimes the scum rises. 
 
 Gear. Yes, Dusky, and when it does, the pot boils over and puts 
 the fire out ; so the scum extinguishes the element that made it rise. 
 
 Ach. I cannot reason with a European. 
 
 Geor. No, nor fight with one; by your own calculation it takes one 
 thousand of you to do either one or the other. [Exit Achmet. 
 
 Mrs. 0. Beware of that man, Geordie ; I did not like the expression 
 of his face as you spoke. 
 
 Geor. Bah ! there is virtue enough in one red-coat to put a whole 
 army of them to flight. 
 
 Mrs. C. Have you ever been in battle 1 
 
 Geor. Never. But when I'm on parade, and hear the drums and 
 see the uniforms, I feel like the very devil. 
 
 Alice. There is no chance of the war coming here — is there ? 
 
 Geor. Not the slightest. London itself is not more peaceable than 
 yonder city of Lucknow : the native regiments here are faithful as 
 dogs. You need not fear danger. 
 
 Mrs. C. The rebellion is still far. But when I think of the atrocities 
 already perpetrated by the Sepoys — w^hen I think of my two little 
 children — oh, why do 1 remain here in the midst of such scenes of 
 horror '] 
 
 Geor. Because you are in love with my brother Randal ; the feel- 
 ings of the mother urge you to go and the feelings of the woman com- 
 mand you to stay' 
 
 jlfrs. C. [Rising.] Geordie, there is more truth than kindness in 
 what you say. 
 
 Geor. [Holds her.] Stay, Amy, I'm a thoughtless fool. 
 
 Mrs. C. Yet you wrong me a little — I was betrothed to Randal. 
 We quarreled, as lovers will, and parted. In that moment of anger I 
 accepted the hand of Colonel Campbell. 
 
 Geor. At the seige of Sebastopol Randal became your husband's 
 most devoted friend, and watched over him like a brother. 
 
JE8BIE BROWN. 
 
 6 
 
 Mrs. G. Oh ! it was a noble reproof to rny falsehood. 
 
 Geor. And at the charge of tlie Highlanders, when Campbell was 
 struck down mortally wounded, and the command devolved on my 
 brother, Randal carried him in his arms, at the head of the regiment, 
 into the Redan, so that none of the glory of that day should be lost 
 to his rival, 
 
 Mrs. C. Should I not be unfaithful to my dead husband if I did 
 not love Randal McGregor as I do 7 
 
 [Jessie, outside, sings. 
 
 Mary. Hush, listen ! [Geordie goes iip. 
 
 Alice. What is that 1 
 
 Geordie. What is it 1 why it is a sprig of heather from the High- 
 land moors. Il is a slogan on the Scotch pipes that nature has put 
 into the prettiest throat that ever had an arm round it. It is the pet 
 of the regiment. It is Jessie Brown. 
 
 Mos. C. Yes, 'tis Jessie, here she comes up the hill with her two 
 lovers. 
 
 Alice. Two lovers ! That's extra allowance. 
 
 Geor. She might, have eight hundred if she liked, for that is the 
 strength of the 78th Regiment, and there's not a man in it that would 
 not stake his life for a blink of her blue eye. 
 
 Mrs. C. Jessie is a good girl, as honest and true as steel. She is 
 betrothed to Sweenie Jones, a private in the 32d. 
 
 Geoo'. An ugly, wiry little fellow, but a smart soldier and as brave 
 as a terrier. 
 
 Mrs. C. But she is also followed by a soft, good-natured Irish cor- 
 poral named Cassidy, the bosom friend of Sweenie, and to see these 
 two men so devoted to each other, and yet so fond of the same girl, 
 is a picture too like my own history not to fill me with interest and 
 emotion. [Music. — Scotch air — very piano. 
 
 Geor. She belongs to our clan. 
 
 Alice. Here she comes. 
 
 Mrs. C. And here come my darling ones. 
 
 Enter Sweenie, carrying Charlie on his hack, and Cassidy ca/rrying 
 Effie on his shoulder. 
 
 Cliar. Wo, hossey ! come up. [Sweenie tries to salute Geordie. 
 Cassidy salutes him. 
 
 Effie. [Eeaiiiig Cassidy with her parasol.] Go along, hossy. 
 
 Char. Oh, Sweenie, you'll have me down, hold me up, sir. 
 
 Enter Jessie. — Music ceases. 
 
 Jessie. Dinna ye hear the bairn, ye lout, hau'd him up. 
 
 Sween. How can I when I must salute my officer 1 
 
 Jessie. Ee, sirs, its maister Geordie — gude day, leddies — ee, ma 
 certie, how braw a chiel he is in his red coat, and his gou'd lace. 
 There's McGregor in every inch of him. Ee why wasn't I the Queen 
 of Scotland to make a king of him. 
 
 Geor. Don't be a fool, Jessie, you talk just as you did when w© 
 were children. 
 
ff JESSIK BROWX. 
 
 Jessie. And wha shouldn't I, Geordie, thei^ in the days of auld 
 lang syne, when we played together on the craigs o' Duncleuch, you 
 aye used to kiss me when we met and parted — you do so now when 
 there is nane to see — are you ashamed of those days when we were 
 children, Geordie 1 I'm not. 
 
 Geor. No, Jessie, and I'll kiss you now if Sweenie does not mind. 
 
 Sween. No, your honor, if Jessie says all right, so it is. 
 
 Gas. We give our consint. 
 
 Alice. [Vexed.] Jessie has three lovers instead of two, it seems. 
 
 Jes. Eh I [Aside.] Yon lassie loo's him, I spier it in the blink o' 
 her e'e. She is fashed wi' him for kissin' me. 
 
 Geor. [Aside.] Alice is furious. [Aloud.] Come, Jessie, for auld 
 lang syne. 
 
 Jes. [Snatching Charlie from Sweexie — aside to Sweenie.] Say 
 ye nae like it. 
 
 Sween. [Puzzled.] Eh,— What ! Hold your honor; I ax pardon, 
 but 
 
 Jes. Sweenie's jealous. 
 
 Gas. We are chokin' wid it, plase your honor. 
 
 Mrs. G. [wlio with Mary has watched this scene, and understood 
 Jessie's motives, advances.] Go along, all of you, take your sweet- 
 hearts into the kitchen. Jessie, leave the children here. 
 
 Jes. 'Tention 32ud ! fa' in. Recht fess.— March ! 
 
 [Exit Sweenie and Cassidy, following her word of command. 
 
 Mrs. G. [Laughing.] There girls, there's a pair of lovers reduced 
 to discipline ! 
 
 Alice. Yet people say that now-a-days the chivalry has left the Offi- 
 cers and is to be found in the ranks. 
 
 Mrs. G. No, Alice — Jessie is beloved, because all men worship 
 what is brave, gentle, and good, because she shrinks from hurting 
 another's feelings, even in jest, as she did yours just now. 
 
 Jes. Nae, my leddy — I knaw nout o' what yer spierin at. 
 
 Mrs. G. Then take that blush away. 
 
 [Jessie runs out, stops and returns timidly to Alice. 
 
 Jes. [in a low voice.] Ye are nae angry wi' puir Jessie. 
 
 Alice. [Turns and throws her arms round her neck and kisses her.] 
 No. [Jessie runs off. 
 
 Mrs. C. Now, Geordie, you can take Jessie's kiss where she has 
 left it, and I am sure you will hurt nobody's feelings. 
 
 Alice. Oh, Amy. [Geordie crosses to Alice. 
 
 Mrs. G. Come girls, take Geordie in, I would be alone. 
 
 [Music, exit Geordie, Alice and Mary. 
 
 Mrs. G. Randal is coming, I cannot hear his footstep, but it falls 
 on my heart, he is beyond my senses, but love, that heavenly essence, 
 gives me a feeling finer than sense, and I know that my lover comes. 
 'Tis the air he breathes, that conveys his presence to me, as it flutters 
 through my heart. 
 
 Enter Randal McGregor. 
 Ran. Amy. 
 Mrs. G. Ah, I knew it. 
 
JESSIK BUOW>F, T 
 
 Qiar. Oh, dere's Randal. 
 
 Effie. No. Charlie, nie lirst. kis:^ Effie first. {They run to him. 
 
 Ran. There, that will do, run along, no Charlie, go Effle, yoti tease 
 me. [The Children shrink back. 
 
 Mrs. C. Come away dears, you are tired, Randal. 
 
 Ran. No, but the sight of those children pains me. 
 
 Mrs. C. They remind you that I have been unfaithful — oh Randal, 
 do not visit the fault of the mother upon these innocent children. 
 
 Ran. Amy, your repentance wounds me, and your memory of that 
 fault is a reproach to my love. Oh, let it be buried in the grave of 
 your noble husband. 
 
 Mrs. C. Forgive me. 
 
 Ran. Charlie, come here, Effie, come. [He kisses them.] Amy, I 
 have bad news, the rebels are at Cawnpore, not fifty miles from hence, 
 and a report has just arrived, that tells of horrors committed on our 
 countrymen, their wives, their children, that makes my blood freeze 
 and my heart groan. 
 
 Mrs. C. Randal, Randal, are we in danger here, my children, are 
 they safe. 
 
 Ran. Hush, one cry of alarm, one look of fear, and we are lost. 
 Of our regiments in Lucknow, four will mutiny, one only will remain 
 faithful, to-night you must leave this place. 
 
 Mrs. C. Is peril so near. 
 
 Enter two native servants, who remove the service. * 
 
 Ran. Hush, [Sings as he dances, Charlie. 
 
 There is nae luck aboot the hoose. 
 
 There is nae luck at all, &c. 
 
 [3Irs. Campbell leans, trembling, over the child at her side. Exeunt 
 
 Natives. 
 
 M7-S. C. They are gone. 
 
 Ra}b. Regain your courage, think of these children. 
 
 Mrs. G. Eaudul, you exagerate the danger ; look around you — all 
 is at peace, the people are kind and gentle — not a look of anger or 
 of hate in any face ; our servants are devoted to us. 
 
 Ran. Fatal security ! Yonder country to you seems in repose — to 
 me it seems like a sleeping tiger. Death is humming in the air. 
 You say your servants are faithful — there is one of them watching us 
 now — we are watched — don't turn — a tall black fellow in a crimson 
 turban. 
 
 Mrs. C. Achraet. 
 
 Ban. Listen, without betraying a,ny emotion. At midnight I shall 
 bring down 50 men — be rt ady to start without delay ; take nothing 
 with you — make no preparation. 
 
 Mrs. C. Why cannot we fly now, at once? 
 
 Ra7i. Bec-Mii^ti your own servants would assassinate you, and join 
 the virmy. [Night begins, 
 
 Mrs. (\ M.iy they not do so ere to-night. 
 
 Ran. No ; I gavtj Cassidy and Swcenie leave to come here, and sent 
 Georfiie on — that makes three, and you have only 30 servants ; the 
 natives dare m)t attack at ^uch odds. 
 
8 JESSIE BROW5. 
 
 Mrs. C. Does Geordie know our peril ? 
 
 Ran. No ; nor is it necessary, until the hour arrives. He is yonng, 
 and might lack coolness. 
 
 Alts. C. Why do you suspect my household of treachery? 
 
 Ran. [Drau-ing out a paper.'] Do you know the Rajah of Bithoor? 
 
 Mrs. C. Nana" Sahib — I saw him at Benares, at the feast of Moham- 
 mcdah. a year ago. I might not have recollected him, but he fol- 
 io\\ed me with so a strange gaze that be almost terrified me. 
 
 Ran. Do jou understand Hindoostanee ? 
 
 Mrs. a No. 
 
 Ran. 1 do. {.-is he reads. Achmet glide.s on behind, and creeps to his 
 thoulder.] This letter was intercepted at Secundcrah, to-day. Listen 
 at- i translate : " My faithful Achmet — to-night, at one hour after the 
 set of moon. I shall be at the Martiuiere with 500 men ; when the 
 Fevinghee woman is in my Zenana, to you I give a lac of rupees. 
 Destroy the children— tbey are giaours. Nana Sahib.'- 
 
 [Achmet raises a knife over Randajl. 
 
 Mrs. C. My children! {Music. Sees Achmet and utiej-s a cry ; Acu- 
 MKT drops Aw knife, rums vp and leaps over the parapet. Randal turns, 
 draws a pistol and fires at him as he disappears. 
 
 Be-enter Geordie, Alice, Mart, Jessie, Stveenie, and Cassidt. 
 
 Fan Do not be alarmed. 'Twas only— a jackal ; I fired and scared 
 him away. 
 
 Cas. A jackal is it— then, be jabers, here he comes back again— 
 and on his hind legs. 
 
 Enter Blount, with his Jiat smashed. 
 
 All. Mr. Blount ! 
 
 Man. The Chaplain of our Regiment. 
 
 Cas. His Riverence ! 
 
 Blount. Good evening, my friends. May I suggest that the next 
 time you throw a fellow six foot high out of an upper window, you 
 would intimate your views to peaceable persons below. 
 
 Cas. A jackal, six foot high ! 
 
 Geor. Are you hurt, sir? 
 
 Blount. No ; fortunately I received the thing on ray head— from 
 whence it bounded off, and rolled down the hill-side into the jungle. 
 
 Ran. Return to the house, all of you. [Exeunt all but Mrs. Campbell 
 yh\ Blount, stay ! one word— you are a clergyman — but once you 
 "w-re, I belifive, an officer in Her Majesty's Carbineers. 
 
 Blount. I quitted the army from conscientious scruples. 
 
 Ran. Are you a coward ? 
 
 Blount. A coward ! I think not — that is — well — no ; for when I 
 read the accounts of these atrocities, I feel in me an emotion that is 
 evil, very evil — a sinful desire to smash the beads of these wretches, 
 who butcher women and infants. I know the feeling is horrible ; I 
 ought to forgive and pray for them. I have bound the devil in me, 
 but he leaks out. 
 
 Ran. If you saw these little ones in peril, would you fight? 
 
JESSIE BKOWN. ^ 
 
 Blount. Fight! young man — my dear Randal — I kill human beings I 
 a clergyman destroy lives ! what do you take me for? 
 
 Ran. I take you for a brave man. You were born a warrior, but 
 your more gentle nature refused to war against any creatures but the 
 wicked, and you could not shed blood except in the cause of human- 
 ity. Don't deny it ; you retired from the army and became curate of 
 a poor Scotch village near my home; from your lips I first learned 
 what war was. 
 
 Blount. I portrayed its horrors, its wickedness. 
 
 Ran. I only saw its glory ; I only saw your face lighted with the 
 animation of the charge — you fired my soul and made me what I am- 
 
 Blount. God forgive me 5 I ruined the boy. 
 
 Ran. I entered the army — you followed me. 
 
 Bloiint. Did I not promise your dying father to watch over you ? 
 and here's how I did it. 
 
 Ran. Listen, my dear old tutor. You are brave and cool, and to 
 you alone I can confide the defence of this house to-night. 
 
 Blount. To me — good gracious ! 
 
 Ran. You will be surrounded by Nana Sahib's troops; his design is 
 to murder all its inmates except Amy, whom he destines for his 
 Zenana. 
 
 Blount. The demon 1 May his infernal spirit roast in — what am I 
 saying ! May a merciful Father forgive him ! This is horrible. 
 
 Ran. At midnight summon all the household, and start for the city. 
 I will precede you and gather a guard, and hasten back to meet you. 
 
 Mrs. C. Do you go alone ? 
 
 Ran. My horse is at the foot of the hill, picketed in the copse ; 
 once on his back, I am in Lucknow. Farewell. 
 
 {^Mu^ic. Embraces Mrs. C. 
 
 Mrs. C. Oh. Randal, shall we ever meet again? 
 
 Ran. We sleep to-night in yonder city or in Heaven, [Exit Randal. 
 
 Blount. Stop, Randal, my dear boy ; I can't do it. He is gone — 
 what shall I do ? Mercy on me ! what arms are there in the house? 
 
 Mrs. C. Two double guns, a rifle, my late husband's swords and 
 a brace of pistols. 
 
 Blount. A clergyman— a minister of peace — what will become of 
 me ! Have you any powder ? 
 
 Mrs. C. A small keg of cartridges? 
 
 Blount. These poor children ! I tremble in every limb. Have you 
 any caps? 
 
 Mrs. C. A box or two. 
 
 Blount. The old devil is kicking in me — my blood beats hot. Get 
 thee behind me, Satan ! Oh ! if I could only see these deluded mur- 
 derers, to speak with them, to prepare their erring souls, before I sent 
 them to ask for that mercy in Heaven which, by the way, they never 
 show on earth. [Mnsic.'\ My respected and dear friend, we are en- 
 gaged in a wicked deed — I feel it — come, let us see your ammunition. 
 
 {ExmiU. 
 
10 JESSIE BROW:y. 
 
 SCENE II. — ,i verandah attached to the house. Night. 
 Enter Sweenie and Cassidy. 
 
 Cas. Whisht! Sweenie, come here— spake low! D'ye see that 
 wood beyant ? there's fifty black divils hidia' in it, and here's one of 
 their raping hooks I found in the grass. 
 
 Sween. Rebels here ! 
 
 Ca^. I was watch in' the Capting ; as he hurried down they crept 
 afther him. He has come to grief, Sweenie, for yonder is the road 
 to Lucknow, and his horse has not passed down it yet. Oh, wurra, 
 wurra, what will we do? 
 
 Sweett. Give me that sabre; stop here, Cassidy, I will creep down 
 and see what is going on below ; don't say a word to frighten the 
 women, but if I don't come back in ten minutes, conclude I'm dead ; 
 then, in with ye, barricade the doors, and tell Master Geordie. 
 
 Cas. Sweenie, avich, let me go. Oh, murdher! you'll be killed 
 and Jessie wil never forgive me for not goin' in your place. 
 
 Sween. Cassidy, if the rebels are here in force, I shall fall ; and as 
 the savage spare neither women nor children, I'll see ye both in 
 Heaven before morning, so I won't say good night. [Exit. 
 
 Cas. God speed ye, Sweenie, an keep ye. 
 
 Enter Jessie. 
 
 Jes. Who is that ? Cassidy ! 
 
 Qis. Meself, darlin'. {Distant sfiot. 
 
 Jes. What s that ! 
 
 Cas. [Aside.'] Its murdherin' the Captain they are, I dar'nt tell 
 her. [Aloud] That, that was Sweenie, sure he's gone down beyant, 
 may be, that is by accident, his swoord went off on half cock. 
 
 Jes. His sword ! 
 
 Enter Geordie. 
 
 Geor. Jessie, come here; eh, who's that — Cassidy? 
 
 Cas. [Aside.] What'll I do at all, if if he knew that Sweenie was 
 gone to get killed for his brother. 
 
 Geor. Go in, Cassidy, leave us. 
 
 Cas. I'm off, your honor. [Going.] Five minutes are gone, I'll creep 
 afther Sweenie. If I had a bagginit, or a taste ov a twig itself, but 
 I've nothin' in my hand but my fist. [Exit. 
 
 Jes. Did ye ca' me. 
 
 Geor. Come here, you little puss, now you shall give me that kisa 
 I did not get this afternoon. 
 
 Jes. Geordie you have been drinking. 
 
 Geor. And if I have. Wine lets out the truth, Jessie, and the truth 
 is — I love you. 
 
 Jes. Ee ! dinna ye always loov me ? 
 
 Geor. No, I love you as you deserve to be loved, and I can't bear 
 to see such a pretty girl as you have grown throw yourself away on 
 those common soldiers, like Sweenie and his comrades. 
 
 Jes. Oh, Geordie, Sweenie loves you — he would die for yo« or 
 Randal 
 
JESSIK BROWN. 
 
 11 
 
 Geor. Oh, devil take Sweenie ! all our mess say you are too good 
 for him. You are the prettiest girl in Lucknow. 
 Jes. Let us gang awa in. Geordie dear. 
 
 Getyr. {Taking her in his arms.} No. you sba'n't — come, don't be fool- 
 ish. Jessie. Could you not be happy with me— dou't you like an 
 officer better than a vulgiir, common soldier. 
 
 Jes. Oh, Geordie ! oh, Geordie ! {Buries her face in her hands. 
 
 Geor. Look up. Jessie. 
 Jes. I canna, I canna. 
 
 Geor. Why can't you look up into my face ? 
 
 Je£. I'm lukin far awa — far awa, upon craigs of Duncleuch ; 'tis in 
 the days of auld lang syne, and the arm of wee Geordie McGregor is 
 round the body of Jessie Brown, for he is saving her life in the sea. 
 Na, don't tak yer arm awa, Geordie dear. I m lukin still. Geordie 
 is a laddie uoo, and he chases the deer on the craigs of Duncleuch ; 
 beside him is poor Sweenie — poor faithful Sweenie, that follows the 
 McGregor like a dog ; Geordie drives a stag to bay ; the beastie 
 rushes on him and throws him deon— anither minit and Geordie will 
 na see Jessie mair — but Sweenie's dirk is quicker than that minit ! 
 the brute fell dead, but not before he gored poor Sweenie sorely. We 
 watched by his bedside ; d'ye mind the time, Geordie ? your arm 
 was round me then — na, dinna tak it awa noo. 
 Geor. Oh, Jessie I oh, Jessie! 
 Jes. Luk up, Geordie. 
 Geor. I cannot. 
 
 Jes. Why canngi ye luk up into my face ? 
 
 Geor. Because I'm looking far away, far away into the days of auld 
 lang syne, and they make me ashamed of what I am. 
 
 Jes. The bluid of shame never crossed the brow of a McGregor, 
 Na ! na ! you may kiss me now ; but listen, Geordie ; whisper — 
 
 {Sings. 
 Should auld acquaintance be forgot 
 
 And never brought to mind, 
 Should auld acquaintance be forgot 
 And the days of auld lang syne. 
 
 For auld lang syne,, my dear, 
 
 For auld lang syne, - - 
 
 Then tak a kiss of kindness yet 
 
 For auld lang syne. {Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE III. — The Interior of the Bungalo. A room serving for a nursery 
 — large openings at the hack discover a distant view of Lucknoiv, brilliant 
 with lights. 
 
 Mrs. Campbell discovered. Charlie and Effie, Alice and Mary. 
 
 3frs. C. No, 1 shall not undress the children. Take EflBe with you, 
 Alice. 
 Alice Poor child, .she is almost asleep now. 
 Ohay. Mammu, I want to go to bedi Where is Jeteie ? 
 
12 ,'EfeSIS I5KOnS, 
 
 Enter Jessik. 
 
 Je?. Hore, my precious one. [_Exit Alice and Mary, with Effie. 
 
 Airs. C. Placo him ia his cot : do not remoA^e bis clothes. {WalTa 
 tip and doicn. A4de.'\ I have calmed the agitation of the poor old 
 cuuplain. but my own overpowers me. 
 
 Clurr. Jessie, bing me Charlie ; you are not tired, are you ? 
 
 Je-f. Nae, darling ; I'm never tired o' teaching ye the airs o' Scot- 
 laud. \_Sings a verse of '■'Charlie is my Barling.'' 
 
 Mrs. C. Can I entrust the secret to this girl? [^loud.'\ Jessie! 
 
 J&S-. Aweel. my lady. 
 
 Mrs. C. There's danger near. Don't start, don^t cry. To-night 
 this house is to be surrounded by the rebels — our murder is planned, 
 but so is our escape. 
 
 Jes. [Rising. 1; It canna be ; wha tauld ye this? 
 
 Mrs. C. Randal McGregor. 
 
 Jes. Then it's true. 
 
 Mrs. C. Hush ! five hundred men will attack us. 
 
 Jes. Mercy on us ! what will become of us ? 
 
 Mrs. C. Randal has promised to rescue us. 
 
 Jes. [Resuming he)' calmness.'] The McGregor has said it ; dinna ye 
 fash yersel— gin he said it, he'll do it. [Returns to the cot. 
 
 Mrs. C. Go, Jessie, see to the fastenings of all the doors, but show 
 no fear, excite no suspicion. 
 
 Jessie. I hae no fear. Has not the McGregor gi'en his word to coom 
 back ? He'l tak it up, and under his claymore there can nae fear. 
 
 [Exit hastily. — Music. 
 
 Mrs. C. This girl gives me a lesson in courage — what reliance, 
 what noble confidence she has in Randal — how calm she turned, 
 when she heard he had given his word to secure our escape. 
 
 [Nana Sahib ajid Achmet appear at the zeindow, on the balcony. Achmet 
 points to Mrs. Campbell. The Nana enters the chamber. Achmet dis- 
 appears. 
 
 What is the hour ? [ Goes up and looks at her watch.} It is now past 
 eleven. Randal must have reached the city by this time — it is feirac 
 to prepare. [She turns and sees iAc Nana iesirfe A«-.] Mercy! 
 
 JVana. Be silent — you know me. 
 
 Mrs. C. The Nana Sahib. 
 
 Nana. The ofiicer who intercepted my letter to Achmet, is my 
 prisoner. My men are now surrounding your park. Escape is hope- 
 less. 
 
 Mrs. C. [Aside.] Randal taken prisoner ! then we are lost. 
 
 Nana. Listen ! I saw you at Benares — your soul entered through my 
 eyes into my heart, and thrust out my own. I followed you, until 
 like the sun you passed away where I could follow no more ; 1 went 
 to Bitboor, and my wives oftended your soul in me. I gave them 
 riches and sent them away— my Zenana is cold — I am there alone ; it 
 awaits the form to which the soul here belongs. 
 
 Mrs. C. You.w«\ild murdt;rmy children and dishonor their mother. 
 
JESSTE BKOWSr. 18 
 
 Nana. Your children shall be mine, princes of the Mahratta ; follow 
 me and no blood shall flow. I will withdraw my men. Lucknow 
 shall be spared, and peace restored. 
 
 Mrs. C. England would spurn the peace bought thus with the 
 honor of one of her people. 
 
 Nana. [Approaching the bed.} This is your child ? 
 
 Mrs. C. My child. 
 
 Nana. [JDraivs his yataghan.} No cry ! or this steel is in his throat I 
 
 Char. Mamma, oh, dear mamma, help me. 
 
 Mrs. C. Hush, Charlie, my own one, don't cry, hush. Oh, Rajah 
 Sahib, spare my child ; yes, I consent. 
 
 Enter Jessie. 
 
 I will follow you— spare — 
 
 [Jessie snatches the knife from the Nana, and stabbing him with it suddenly. 
 
 J(.^. Drop that bairn, ye black deevil ! [Nana staggers a moment and 
 drops the child, whom Jessie catches to her breast. 
 
 Nana. Tehanum possess ye — mine then ye shall be by force — ^none 
 under this roof but you, shall see to-morrow's sun. 
 \^Distant shots — cries within — Achmet appears. Nana and Achmet drauf 
 
 their scimeters and leap over the balcony. 
 
 Enter Geordie, Alice, and Mart. 
 
 Geor. What shots were those? 
 
 Alice. What has happened ? 
 
 Mrs. C. The Nana Sahib with five hundred rebels, besiege us in this 
 house. Randal is their prisoner. Randal who promised to res- 
 cue us. 
 
 Jes. Prisoner or free, the McGregor will keep his word. 
 
 Mrs. C. The impassibility of that girl drives me mad. 
 
 Enter Cassidt, running. 
 
 Cas. He's comin' thunder and turf, he's fightin' like a cat wid tin 
 legs and fifteen claws on aich fut. 
 
 Alice. Who? 
 
 Cas. The Captain ; Sweenie is fightin' beside him. [Shots otiteide.'] 
 Hurroo ! they're at it. 
 
 [Runs up, Geordie follows to verandah at bach. 
 
 Geor. There they are in the copse. 
 
 Cas. Where's a gun, oh a gun for the love o' God. 
 
 Jes. Here is one. {Shots. 
 
 Cas. Hoo ! there goes a bullet through my leg. [Geordie staggers 
 back very pale. Jessie runs up with the gun.} The devils see U8 in the 
 light here, and they're pepperin' us handsome. 
 
 Jes. Look, Cassidy, look ! there's a big fellow makin' for Sweenie, 
 quick. [C^SSiDY fires, 
 
 Cas. Hoo! 
 
 Je3» Here they come — quick by this ladder. 
 
14 jt;ssie browk. 
 
 Enter Sweenie, and then Randal. Jessie comes down and soofh^ 
 CuARLiE a7id Effib. 
 
 Ban: Cast down that ladder, Cassidy, aad stand to your arms 
 
 Cas. Ay, your honor. 
 
 Mrs. C. Oh, Randal, you have escaped! 
 
 Jes. I told you the McGregor would keep his word. 
 
 Ran. I was taken prisoner, by about fifty men, who lie just this 
 side of the bridge, their main force is still beyond the river, they are 
 led by some Rajah of rank. 
 
 Mrs. C. By the Nana Sahib in person, he was here. 
 
 Alice. Here! 
 
 Mrs. C. He came by that ladder, and fled when wounded by Jessie. 
 
 Jes. Na ! the deevil bad a steel jacket on, the b!ow slipped awa. 
 
 Ean. Nana Sahib, then the whole force of the rebels is in the 
 neighborhood— Lucknow is threatened— the garrison will be taken by 
 surprise, where is Geordie ? 
 
 Geor. Here, Randal. [Advancing. 
 
 Ean, How pale you are, are you wounded? 
 
 Geor. No— it is nothing. 
 
 Ean. A scratch I suppose. Geordie, a dispatch must be carried to 
 the city 3 I will write it, and you must bear it. 
 
 Mrs. C. But can Geordie escape thro' the lines of the enemy who 
 surround us. Death must be nearly certain. 
 
 Ran. Death is nearly certain, and therefore I pick my own brother 
 for the service ; besides, he is an officer, and claims the post of dan- 
 ger as his right. Do you forget the name we bear ? Alice, return 
 to the interior of the house. Come, Amy, give me paper and ink. 
 Geordie, while I am gone, see to your arms. 
 
 [Exeunt all but Geordie and Jessik. 
 
 Geor. Death^he said that death is nearly certain. 
 
 Jes. How pale he is ! Geordie, speak— are you hurt ? 
 
 Gear. Oh, Jessie ! 
 
 Jes. I saw ye flench from the shots — you came back white as snaw. 
 You tremble— what is it, Geordie dear? — tell me. 
 
 Geor. I can't, Jessie. My tongue fails me — as my limbs do — oh, 
 Jessie— I feel I cannot face the fire. 
 
 Jes. What say ye ? 
 
 Geor. I am a coward. IFalls in a chair. 
 
 Jes. Na! [Runs to him.] Hush, dearie ; there's nae drop of coward 
 bluid in the McGregor— tak' time, Geordie. 
 
 Gear. I cannot help it, Jessie ; the passion of fear is on me — I can- 
 not stir. 
 
 Jes. Oh, my heart ! oh, my heart ! My Geordie, think of what 
 Randal will say if he sees ye so— his ain brither— his ainly one ! 
 Think, dearie, there are women here — and bairns, puir helpless things 
 —and if ye flench noo, they will be killed ! 
 
 Geor. I know \i~[hides his face and his hands']— hut I am paralyzed. 
 
 Jes. Think of the auldmiiher at hame, Geordie— the proud one that 
 nurs(;d ye, Geordie— the Itddy that awaits her twa boys cumin' back 
 tra the wars— what I will yc bring-yer mither back a blighted name ? 
 
JESSIE BROWX 15.': 
 
 Oh, hae courage, for Her sake ! — oh, lor mine, Geordie! [Throws her 
 amis around himJ] Oh, why caniia' I gang beside ye, to show ye how 
 to bleed for the auld braes o' Scotlaud ? 
 
 Enter Blount. 
 
 Wba'p there ?— ga&g awa' — oh, 'tfs the minister. 
 
 Blount. Is he wounded? my poor boy, is he hurt? 
 
 Jes. Oh, sir, help him ; his heart fails — it is his first fight, and he 
 flenches. 
 
 G&yr. This terrible sense of fear which paralyzes me will pass 
 away. "Tis a spasm — it cannot be that my father's son, my brother's 
 brother, can be so miserable, so contemptible a thing as this ! 
 
 Blount. The boy has conscientious scruples, like me. 
 
 Gear. No, no ; to you—to you alone, companions of my childhood, 
 let me coafess — 
 
 Blount. No, don't ; you sha'n't say a word — you don't understand ; 
 I know all — first powder smells sick ; but after you see a few men 
 fall, that goes off. 
 
 Jes. Yes, it clears awa'. 
 
 Blount. Take your lip between your teeth and choose your man. 
 
 Jes. Think o' the bairues they''ve slaughtered in cauld bluid. 
 
 Blount. Don't trust to pistols — I always preferred steel, it's more 
 reliable and doesn't miss fire ; use the point — it kills ten when the 
 blade throws open your guard, and only wounds one. God forgive 
 me ! I am teaching this boy how to murder. 
 
 Re-enter Randal., with the order] followed hy Sweenie. 
 
 Ran. Here is the dispatch. "Where is my brother? 
 
 Jes. He is here, but stay a wee. [Aside-I Oh, what can we do ? 
 
 Ran. How's this ? what has happened ? 
 
 Jes. Naething. \_Aside'[ He blenches, he canna' do it. [Aloud.] 
 Randal, I have asked Geordie a favor, and he has granted me. That 
 order, winna' the soldier that bears it safe to the General get advance- 
 ment? 
 
 Ran. My brother will win a brevet rank of lieutenant. 
 
 Jes. Na ; your brither is rich and can buy his rank, but my Sweenie 
 is puir, and Geordie has consented to let Sweenie tak' his place and 
 win his sergeant's stripes. 
 
 Sween. Oil Master Geordie ! do you so ? God bless ye ! there's not 
 a prouder boy in the Queen's uniform to-night than I am! 
 
 Geor. Jessie! Jessie! 
 
 Jeg. Dinna' speak. 
 
 Blount. lAside.] She puts her owu lover in the jaws of death ! God 
 bless her ! God bless her! 
 
 Ran. it is better so — I have other work for Geordie. Quick then, 
 Sweenie ; at the copse, near the brook, my horse is tied to a tree. 
 Can you ride ? 
 
 Sween. I can hold on. 
 
 Rufi. This letter to the Genera). I will defend this house till 
 becomes to relieve us, or wc are bucied under its ruins._.The alarm 
 
16 JESSIE Bnowy. 
 
 guns which will be fired from the fort when your Dews is known will 
 apprise us that you are safe in Lucknow, and have escaped. We can 
 both see the flash and hear them from here. Away with you. 
 
 Jes, God be wi' ye, Sweenie. God be wi' ye laddie. 
 
 \TUroics her arms round him. 
 
 Stveen. I'll deserve ye this time, Jessie ; ye'll be proud of me, dead 
 or alive. [Goes up. Jessik fa/Is on her knees. 
 
 Blount. What are you about? you are not going by that road, you 
 will be seen. 
 
 Siveen. I know it — they'll fire — 'tis ten to one they'll miss me ; but 
 I'll fall into the garden as if I was shot, and while they are thinking 
 me stiff, I'll be creepin' down to the horse and off to Lucknow. 
 
 Man. Well, let me see you try it. 
 
 Jes. Oh ! my loov I 'tis for Geordie's sake. 
 
 [Raj!>/dal and Sweenie ^o into the balcony. 
 
 Mrs. C. But why should Randal go ? 
 
 Blount. To lead his man, habit. 
 
 [A shot. Sweenie falls over. — 6f cry from Jessie. 
 
 Ban. [After watching, returns.'] 'Tis all right, he has escaped. 
 
 Jes. But he maybe wounded? 
 
 Ran. I think not, unless there were two bullets. I have got one 
 bere. [Takes off his cap — Aw temple is bloody. 
 
 Mrs. a Randal ! 
 
 Ban. Tut ! we have other things to do. [Draws out a handkerchief, 
 presses his forehead; and replaces his cap.} Now, Amy, to work, there 
 are but three of us here, Geordie, Cassidy, and I. 
 
 Blmnt. You may say four I I will lay aside my conscientious scru- 
 ples, and like my namesake, David, I will strike the Philistines. 
 
 Ran. You have three native servants, who, I think may be trusted. 
 There are not more than fifty Sepoys on this side of the bridge— now if 
 we can destroy that bridge, we shall divide our foes and hold our own 
 or a few hours. 
 
 Blount. There's a keg of powder down stairs, I'll take it down 
 under my arm, and blow up the bridge. This enterprise is bloodless, 
 it suits me exactly. 
 
 Ran. You propose with your form to creep down unobserved, you 
 would be cut to pieces. 
 
 Blount. But if the piece of me that held the keg got there, I might 
 accomplish the good deed. [Aside.] I'm afraid he will send Geordie. 
 
 Ran. Geordie, quick, you and I will see to this. 
 
 Geor I am ready. [Rises. Randal embraces Amy. 
 
 Jes. He's ganging, look, look, he goes bravely, the McGregor bluid 
 is in his cheek, the dark fire is lechted. 
 
 Geor. Bless you, Jessie. [Aside tb her.] Sweenie has not been sacri- 
 ficed in vain. I'll not belie your love, Jessie, farewell. 
 
 [Exit Geordie and Randal. 
 
 Jes. He's gane, he's gane, baith gane— and Sweenie — and my cour- 
 age has gane too. 
 
 Enier Alice, Mart, and the children. 
 Alice. All is quiet. 
 
JKSSIK BnOWN. 17 
 
 Blount. That's a bad sign. But let us extinguish the lights, they 
 serve the enemy. {He puts oul the candle. Stage dark.l^ 
 
 Mrs. 0. Oh, Heaven protect us in this dark hour of peril, preserve 
 my poor little children. 
 
 Blount. Amen? — they come! I i^ee white figures in the garden. 
 
 Jfs. My Sweetiie. havi- they killed my poor Sweenie, oh this sus- 
 pense is worse than death. 
 
 Blount. The house is surrounded, the whole collection is here. 
 
 Mrs. C. Cassidy, fire, why don't you fire on thera. 
 
 Cas. [Looking m.] Plase yer honor ma'am, them savages is like 
 birds — firin' frightens frightens them away, and if we coax them here 
 awhile, sure they won't be seeing afther the Captain Randal. 
 
 Blount. Good heart, noble heart, oh Merciful Father in Heaven, it 
 is a pity such good people should die. Have pity on us, have pity 
 on these weak ones, and upon these little ones. 
 
 Jes. Oh ! protect my puir Sweenie ; don't let his bluid lie on my 
 hands— don" t break puir Jessie's heart. [A distant explosion. Music. 
 
 Cas. lEnt^ring.} D'ye hear that ? It's the bridge! the devils are 
 skelping back again to see what kind of hell is behind 'era. 
 
 ISounds of conflict. 
 
 Blount. They are coming ! I hear Randal's voice. 
 
 Ban. Cassidy ! Cassidy ! 
 
 Cas. That's me ! here I am, your honor. Hoo I 
 
 [Leaps over the balcony and disappears. 
 
 Blount. The door, the door is fast inside. [Runs out, r. h. 
 
 Jes. No alarm guns from the city ! the time is passed ; no sign that 
 he has escaped, and I sent him, I sent him. Oh, Sweenie, Sweenie ! 
 
 Mrs. C. They come — they are safe. 
 
 Miter Randal, bearing Geobdie in his arms. 
 
 Ran. See to the doors. 
 
 Alice. He is dead ! 
 
 Jes. Dead! wha's dead? [Sees Geordie, and utters a scream of grief 
 and Iwrro?:'] Geordie, what have ye done? ye have killed the bairn. 
 Stand awa, a' o' ye. Geordie, Geordie, look to me. Oh ! I did it — I 
 killed him— only for me he wad nae have gane. Geordie ! [She kisses 
 his face.} Speak to me, dear! Oh, I shall go mad, Geordie, if ye dae 
 not answer me — if ye do not luk to me. [Geordie raises himself at this 
 moment. A fl<!sh 0/ a gun is seen from the distant city. 
 
 Run Ha ! the alarm gun from the city. [A second gun ie heard. 
 
 Gior. Jessie, Jessie, do you hear those guns? Sweenie has escaped, 
 and after a', Geordie is not a coward. [Ee faints. 
 
 END OF ACT I. 
 
18 JESSIE BROWN. 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 SCENE I. — Th^ interior of a Hindoo Temple in [jucknoto. JESSfE chained, 
 Ij. B.., to a pillar. Geordik is lying oti a pallet, R. u.., chained also. 
 Hindoo Guards at the back. Achmkt. r. c. A Divan., h. c. IStac/e 
 sombre. Mumc. 
 
 Gear. \_Awaki7ig.'] Where am I? Oh, these chains, those dark walls, 
 those darker faces — I am a prisoner — why did 1 awake ? 
 
 Jes. Geordie, dear, you are better now, the fever has left ye. 
 
 Geor. Jessie, are you there ? come near me. 
 
 Jes. I can't, dearie, the t-avages have tied me like a dog to the wall. 
 
 Geor. What place is this ? 
 
 Jes. It's a church where they worship the deevil. 
 
 Geor. How long have I been here. 
 
 Jes. For six laag weeks. 
 
 Gaor. Does the Residency still hold out against the rebels? 
 
 Jei. I dinna ken. I have been here a' the time. 
 
 Geor. Were you taken prisoner when I fell into their hands? 
 
 Jes. Na ! but when we heard that you were dying here, for want of 
 Christian help, I cam' across to nurse y.e. 
 
 Geor. My poor girl ! But they will murder you; they show no mercy 
 for age or sex. 
 
 Jes. I knaw it ; here is the Calcutta news. It is fu' o' the bluidy 
 wark the Nana Sahib made at Cawnpore. 
 
 Enter Nana. 
 Ee ! talk o' the deevil 
 
 Nana. Sahib, open your ears. Your countrymen are dogs. They 
 still lie howling in the Residency — they dare not come forth — Inshal- 
 lah 
 
 Geor. They look for aid. 
 
 Nana. Their hearts lie, and hope will not feed them ; their food is 
 out, they cannot live on air. 
 
 Jes. Ye mistak' ! they are living on an air noo, and is ca'd, '* the 
 Campbells are coomin'." And oh, could I but hear one screel of the 
 pibroch — could I see the wavin' o' the bonnie tartan, and the bi-aw 
 line o' the shinin' steel, I'd na gie ye twa minits, but ye'd find the 
 deevil before ye could say " Cawnpore." 
 
 Nana. Woman, be silent, read your printed words, and leave men 
 to speak with men. [7b Geordie.] Your countrymen are in our hiiMd>^. 
 Beneath this mosque, even below our feet, we have a mine, it passes 
 beneath the fort commanded by the Sahib, your brother. Behold, the 
 powder is laid, the match is ready; we can destroy him utterly, his 
 fort once taken, the Residency is ours. Bismillah ! have i defiled 
 my tongue with lies? 
 
 Geor. The Redan lort is the key to our position. 
 
JKSSIK BROWN. 19 
 
 Nana, Enough blood has been shod — let him yield — his men shall go 
 forth unharmed, we will pour tbe oil of mercy oa their wounds. 
 
 Jes. {^Reading the paper. \ And under these conditions Cawnpore was 
 surrendered ; the garrison marched out, and entered the boats pro- 
 vided for their safe transport. 
 
 Nana. You say your countrymen still look for aid, but they know 
 not that the Sahib Havelock was defeated by my troops, Fiom 
 Lahore to Alahabad, Hindoostan is ours; you shall write these things 
 that they may kuow ; they will believe yonr word, and they will 
 yield. Inshallah! they shall go forth safely ; we will show mercy — 
 on my head be it. 
 
 Jer.. \_Reads.'\ No sooner were the boats containing the troops, the 
 women and children, in the midst of the stream than the <neiny 
 opened a murderous fire, and a work of slaughter began. 
 
 Nana. What woman is that ? what writing has she in her hand ? 
 tear it away ! [Achmet tears the paper from Jessie.] What says the 
 pen there ? 
 
 JcB. IRising.'] I'll tell ye in broad Scolch. It says that you have 
 taught baith women and children to fecht, for you have found some- 
 thing that they fear more than death. 
 
 Ach. What's that ? 
 
 Jes. The mercy of Nana Sahib ! 
 
 Nana, Let my ferooshees come here. 
 
 Unter two Hindoos. 
 
 Take that woman and let her die. 
 
 Geor. Stay, Rajah, you would not kill that poor child. 
 
 [.4^ a signal from Acu.met, tivo cords descend from the roof. 
 
 JVajia. You would have her life? Give me the letter to your bro- 
 ther ; she herself shall bear it to the Redan fort. [Theg unbind Jessie. 
 
 Geor. That letter will not serve you. You do not know Randal 
 McGregor — he will die, but will never yield. 
 
 Nana. Be it so. [Rising.] Achmet, hew away the right hands of 
 these prisoners, and let their bodies swing from the heights of this 
 mosque. 
 
 .^ch. On my head be it. 
 
 Jes. Geordie, Geordie ! 
 
 Geor. No, Nana, do not give me tbe death of a dog. Spare that 
 poor child. 
 
 JVana. Stifle the howling of that hound. 
 
 Jes Geordie, far'weel, Geordie! 
 
 Geor. Hold! what would you have me do? 
 
 Nana. [Beturning.l Do you see yonder ropes? they ascend to the 
 minaret of this mosque. [To Achmet.] Prepare the means in yonder 
 room to write. [Exit Achmet.] Behold ! write as I have said or give 
 your neck to the cord. Choose — I have spoken. 
 
 Jes. Ay, but you have spoken to a McGregor ! 
 
 [Theg unbind Geordie. 
 
 Re-enter Achmet. 
 
20 JESKIK BKOAVy. 
 
 Gwr. lAside.'] One day more — aid maj come. Havelock, Outram, 
 cannot be far. 
 
 Jes. \_Aside.'] He hesitates — if he pens that letter a' is lost again, 
 yet if 1 speak, the deevils will murder me. 
 
 Geor. [Aside.l She shall not die. 
 
 [Enters, ii. u.,/ollcnv€d by Achmet. Stage dark. 
 
 Jes. [Looking off, R. H.] He will do't, to save my life, he will write 
 down his infamy; nae if I bear it to the fort. I can tear it up on the 
 way, but then they will kill him after a', and I ainly pan be saved. 
 Yonder he sits, he tak's the pen — his hand shakes, but still he writes, 
 he writes, oh, what are the words? words of infamy, that will gae 
 hame, and fill the faces of a' the Christian world wi' shame. Oh, 
 could I reach his heart, I cculd stay his hand, but that black Beelze- 
 bub is wi' him. Eh ! baud a wee, I'll speak to him. [Sings. 
 
 " Oh, why left I my hame," &c. 
 
 [.after first verse."] He stops, his head fa's in his hand, tears, tears, ho 
 minds me, he minds me. [She falls on her knees. 
 
 [She sings the 2nd verse.] 
 He knows what I mean ! [A poHion of the floor gives way, and falls in. 
 Ah ! [StarU hack.] What is that ? 
 
 [Cassidyputs his head through the orifice. 
 
 Gas. Pooh ! what a dust. Cheu ! [Sneezes.] That was a big pinch of 
 Bnutf anyway. 
 
 Jes. Wha's that ? 'Tis Cassidy's voice. 
 
 Cas. I'll call S weenie ! 
 
 [Sweenies head appears through the orifiM, beside Casstdy\ 
 ' Jes. Sweenie ! 
 
 Cas. Sweenie ! 
 
 Siveen. What's the matter ? 
 
 Ca^. Matther! Bedad there's an echo here that spakes first — a Hin- 
 doo echo that takes the words out av yer mouth. 
 
 Jes. Hush, 'tis I, Jessie. 
 
 Siveen. Jessie ! 
 
 Cas. Hoo ! garry owen yer sowl ! Hurroo ! 
 
 Jes. Hush ! gae down quick, they are coorain'. 
 
 [Gassidy and Sweenie disappear, Jessie draws the nusmud or turkish carpet 
 of the Divan over the orifice. 
 
 Enter Achmet with a light. 
 Jessie Sings, ''My boy Tammie!-' with afcHed unconcern. Achmet 
 
 examines the place, holds the ligfUto her face, and goes out. Jessie loiih- 
 
 draios the carpet. 
 
 Jes. Hush, silence, whesper. [Sweenie and Cabsidy re-appear. 
 
 Cas. Where the divil are we at all. 
 
 Jes. This is a mosque, they ca' it. It is my prison and Geordie's. 
 How did you get here? 
 
 Sween. We were working in the counter mine, ordered by the 
 Captain, when we struck Tight into the mine, prepared by the rebels 
 
JE5SIE BROWN. 21 
 
 to blow us up, we removed their powder, of which we were running 
 short, and then Cassidy and I took a stroll along their mine, to see 
 the country. 
 
 Cos. The road was mighty dirty, but the view at the end of it, is 
 worth the walk. 
 
 Jes. Then this passage goes under ground to the fort. 
 
 Cos. Bedad, Sweenie, we niver thought of that ! it comes this way, 
 but I don't know if it goes back the same. 
 
 Jes. D'ye see yon ropes danglin' there, they are ready for me and 
 Geordie. Twa hours raair, and ye'd been too late, down wi' ye noo, 
 don't stir, until I tell ye. 
 
 Cas. AVe'U be as dumb as oysthers. 
 
 \^They disappear, Jessie replaces the carpet. 
 
 Re-enter the Nana. Drums without. Re-enter Achmet. Sepoys enter at 
 
 back. 
 
 Ach. A flag of truce from the fort. 
 
 Enter Randal and Blouxt. 
 
 Jes. The McGregor ! 
 
 Rand. You are the Nana? 
 
 Nana. I am he. 
 
 Rand. I command the Redan fort. I come to offer you an exchange 
 of prisoners. We have taken sixty of your men. 
 
 Alina. They are in your liand, Inshallah ! Mohammed Allah ! 
 Death is their portion. To each man his fate. lExit Achmet. 
 
 Rand. We light our foes, we do not murder them. 
 
 Blount. Stay, Randal, don't be so fiery, let me speak to the Rajah. 
 Salam, Aleikoom ! 
 
 Nana. Allah, Resoul Allah! speak! There is no God but God, and 
 Mohammed is his prophet. 
 
 Blount. There I can't agree with you, and I shall feel pleased to dis- 
 cuss that question at any time your leisure may permit. I am a 
 minister of peace and a herald of mercy. Let me touch your heart. 
 Our Heavenly Father, whom you call Allah, has given you rule and 
 power over men ; you have used it so cruelly, that all the world will 
 shudder at your deeds of blood. This girl came here on a mission 
 of mercy, she is not your prisoner 5 in every religion, and of all 
 time, the weakness of woman protects her life, and makes her safety 
 sacred. 
 
 Nana. The shepherds from the hills of the Himmelayah came to 
 me and they said, Behold the tigers come out of the jungle and prey 
 upon our flocks, and wt; fear. Which hearitig, I arose ; 1 sought the 
 lair of the noble beast. I found ttiere the tigress and her cubs. I 
 slew them, until they died ; but, lo, the tiger came, but did he whine 
 and weep, t-aying. Sahib, you have done evil, my mate and my little 
 ones are sacred, their weakness should protect them? 
 
 Bloimt. Are we tigers? 
 
 Nana. The tiger wad placed here by Allah ; he eats for his hunger, 
 and kills that he may eat. Did Allah send the Briton here to make 
 U8 BlavfS, lo clutch us beneath hia lion's paw, and to devour the land. 
 
22i jE9-sir: browx. 
 
 Inshallah ! The voiceless word of God has swept over the people* 
 and it says, Sufferers, arise, 'ye shall be free ! 
 
 Ran. Freedom was never won by murder, for God has never armed 
 the baud of an* assassin. 
 
 Nana. What, dogs, are you to judge the ways of Allah? 
 
 Enter Achmkt with a letter. 
 Has the English prisoner written as I have said ? 
 
 Ach. -Tis done ! 
 
 Jes. Na. it canna be ! 
 
 Nana. The ofBcer, your brother, knowing the folly of further resis- 
 tance, writes here to you Sahib, and counsels you to yield. 
 
 Jes. Oh, I dar' na luk at Randal. 
 
 Rand. IStriding up to Nana.] You lie ! 
 
 Blount. Randal, forbear, perhaps Geordie has been misled, deceived ? 
 
 Hand. Deceit can make a man a fool, but not a coward. 
 
 Enter Geokdie. 
 
 Geor. Randal ! 
 
 Rand. Stand back ! Lieutenant McGregor ! the Rajah of Bithoor 
 declares that in this letter to me, you have counseled to surrender. 
 1A pause.'] You are silent. 
 
 Geor. Randal, you will forgive me when you know all, but now 
 and here, I dare not speak. 
 
 A'am. The proud brow of the Englishman, our tyrant, can be 
 bowed down with shame. Achmet, read the letter. 
 
 Geor. No, no, not here. 
 
 Ach. I cannot 5 it's in a foreign tongue, 
 
 Blount. [Looking over it.'] 'Tis in Gaelic, the native tongue of Scot- 
 land ; I do not understand it. 
 
 Jes. Eh ! I do ; let me see. There's nae words in Gaelic that would 
 serve a coward's tongue. Let me see. [Music. She reads low.] Eh, 
 sirs, it is pure Gaelic, and rins so. [To Nana.] Open yer lugs, ye 
 deevil, for here's porridge for ye, hotter than ye can sup it. maybe. 
 [Reads.] To Captain Randal McGregor, Her Majesty's 78th High- 
 landers : My dearest brother, the Nana Sahib has doomed me to the 
 death of a dog. My execution will take place at seven o'clock ; you 
 can spare our mother that grief, and me that disgrace. Jessie will 
 point out to you the window of my prison — it looks over the Redan 
 fort, and is within gun-shot of our men. As the clock strikes six, 
 I will be at that window ; draw out a firing party, and let them 
 send three honest volleys through my heart. God bless you ; give 
 my love to Alice and Mary ; remember me to all the fellows of our 
 mess — let them give me a parting cheer when I fall. Your affec- 
 tionate brother, Geordie McGregor. 
 
 Ran. Geordie, my brother I my own brother ! 
 
 Geor. Randal ! 
 
 Blount. [Bursting into an cfstacy of delight] I can resist no longer. 
 [Shouts.] God save the Queen I 
 
 [Enibraces Jessie. Nana goes up with Achmkt. 
 
 Ran. What guns are thofe? 
 
JKasiK snows. 2f 
 
 Nana. My artillery cover the advance of the faithful on the Redan 
 forf. Bind these men. Your hours are numbered. 
 Ran. Traitor ! we are protected by a flag of truce. 
 Nana. Your liug of truce shall be your winding sheet. Swing their 
 bodies, to the Minaret. As the hour strikes seven let it be done. 
 [ The Hindoos seize Raxdai., Geordie and Jessie.] Let the old man go, 
 that he may bear witness over all the earth, and etrike white with 
 terror the hearts of England, when they hear the vengeance of Nana 
 Sahib. lExU. 
 
 Blount. Don't ! Hang me too, hang me ! I'll be hung, if I die for it. 
 
 Ach. Slaves, see the Nana' s order done, on your heads be it. On 
 the suoko of seven, draw the ropes! my duty calls me to the mine. 
 The niine below your countrymen. In five minutes the match will 
 be lighted, and from above you will be able to see your soldiers 
 blown to the skies. 
 
 \_Exit AciiMET. The. Hindoos having bound Randal, Geordie and 
 Jessie exeunt. 
 
 Jes. [Calling.'] Sweenie, Cassidy, quick. 
 
 [Cassidy throws hack the carpet. 
 
 Cas. Here I am ! \^Appears in the orifice."] I'm nearly choked wid 
 keoj)in' the fight in me. [Jumps up. 
 
 Blount. Where do you come from ? 
 
 Cas. From ibe mine, alanna ! Sweenie has run down below to 
 look afther the uaygur, that's gone to blow us up, he's got a word or 
 two to say to him. 
 
 Ran. Quick, cut these cords, the executioners hold the other end, 
 outside, and at the stroke of seven, they will run us up. 
 
 [Cassidt cuts the cords, aided by Blount. 
 
 Geor. Free ! [Embraces Jessie. 
 
 Sxoeen. [At the orifice.'] Come along, it's no use kicking. 
 
 Ran. Sweenie! 
 
 Siveen. All right your honor. [Salutes Randal.] I've got a Hindoo 
 Giy Fawlccs, matches and lantern all complete. 
 
 Can. Come up asy, darlint. 
 
 [Sweenie and CASsroy ;?z<Z/ Kqwa-WS, gagged and bound, throHhe orifice. 
 
 Ran. Secure that fellow, so that he may not give the alarm. 
 
 Cos. Never fear. Captain. [Guns outside. 
 
 Ran.~^hyi attack has commenced ! To the Redan, Geordie, to the 
 R. dan. [Geoudfe and Randal disappear dotm the orifice. 
 
 Bluuut. Sweenie, spare that man, shed no blood boys, do yea 
 hear me. 
 
 Cas. All right, yer riverence. 
 
 Blw.int. Bind him fast, but let him live. [He descends. 
 
 Sioeen. Here is a rope, tic him with this. 
 
 [AcHMET itruggle-H and tries to speak, they throw him down. 
 
 Cas. He's as lively as a cock salmon. Hould quiet ye divil, he's 
 tryin^ to spake. 
 
 Je.s. [Aside.] That rcpe, they dlnna ken what it is there for. 
 
 Cas. Tie him tight, and for fear he'd get the gag out and cry 
 murdher, giv the rope a hitch round his neck. 
 
54 JESfBIR BROWK. 
 
 Jes. Stop, release bim, that cord is held by the eXf^ctitioners out- 
 side, and at the stroke of seveu. [^The grtut dock qf the masque strikes.} 
 Ah, mercy. 
 
 Cas. What is it? 
 IThe body of Achmbt is Mddtnly carried up, and disappears above 
 
 through the roof . CxssiDY and Sw'eexie look amazed. Jkssis w«€rs« 
 
 cry, and falls, hiding her face. 
 
 END OF ACT II. 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 SCENE I. — The Redan, a fort commanding a certain part of the City af 
 lAicknotc, and forming an oidpost icork, near the Residency. A breast 
 work of gabions, fascines, and other military appliances embrace the stage. 
 Through embrasures, four pieces of artillery are placed, one of them isdis^ 
 mounted, as if by a cannon ball. In the distance is seen the encampment 
 of the rebel Sepoys, and three forts similarly constructed to the Redan, and 
 mounted loith ariillery. The scene generally bears marks of a severe attack, 
 both of musketry and cannonade Groups of ladies with children, wounded 
 soldiers, on guard, and some asleep. Oassidy smoking a pipe, sits beside 
 Jessie, who is asleep, her head resting on his knapsack, and his grey coat 
 spread over her. Sweenie. with Ais head bound and rvounded, leans on his 
 muskel. Mrs. Cami-bell and her two children on the l. h., a grey, cold 
 light thrown over the scene, indicates the dawn of day. Gbokdie at the 
 back is looking through a field glass, examining the position of the e7itmy. 
 
 Mrs. C. Geordie,, what can you see ? 
 
 Geor. I can see the road to Aluin})agh, from whence we expect re- 
 lief, but there is no sign of troops there. 
 
 Mrs. C. Day after day we hope, until hope itself dies away — for 
 three long months we have resisted. 
 
 Charlie. Mamma, I am hungry. 
 
 Mrs. C. God help you my poor child. 
 
 Geor. ITothemen.] Lads, here's a little child starving, is there a 
 crust among ye ? 
 
 Siveen. [Saluting.'] Not a crumb, your honor, except it's in Phil 
 Regan's kit, he died an hour ago. There he lies. [Points off. ii. 
 
 Geor. Search and see. [£!xi( Sweexie. 
 
 Enter Randal. 
 
 Rand. What news of the night ? 
 
 Geor. Nine men dead of their wounds." Six gone into the hospital. 
 
 Rand. Inglis is hemmed in — can scarcely hold his own, like us, can 
 scarcely sustain himself from hour to hour. If the columns of Gen- 
 eral Havelock's force do not appear to-day, we must make Luck- 
 now our permanent residence, Geordie. 
 
 Geor, You meaa that you will die at this post ? 
 
JESSIE BKOWN. 25 
 
 [SwEENiE re-enters with a morsel of bread, and hands it to Mrs. Campbell. 
 
 She gives it to Charlie, ivho is going to eat it, but hesitates, breaks it in 
 
 half and places one half of it in the hand of Effie, toho still sleeps, then 
 
 the child eats. 
 
 Mrs. C. How is Jessie ? [Geordie knei^ls beside Jessie. 
 
 Sween. She sleeps, but the long weeks of sullering has worn her 
 spirit out at last. 
 
 Band. Poor Jessie, has she too lost her spirits? 
 
 Cas. Lost her sperrits! Bedad, yer honor, the biggest keg of whis- 
 key will give out at last if ye go dhrawin' at it ev'ty minit, an' 
 aflher Jessie cam' back, she tuk no rest, night or day, what wid nurse 
 tendin' the woundid men, an' comfortin' the wimmin an' childer, an' 
 cookin', an' kaping up the sperrit of the boys at the guns. When 
 the hunger was in her mouth, she'd always have a song in id about the 
 ould couuthry that warrum'd our hearts, or a gay word to throw us iu 
 passin' that ud fetch ihe tear into our eyes. Lost her sperrits, Oh, 
 achone ! them sperrits was brewed iu heaven above, they nivir touched 
 the head but the heart of a man could get dhrunk upon 'em. 
 
 3Irs. C. Poor Jessie ! she has been in a state of restless excitement 
 through all the siege, and has fallen away visibly during the last few 
 days. A constant fever consumes her, and her mind wanders occa- 
 sionally, when recollections of home seem powerfully present to her. 
 Overcome by fatigue, she has lain there since midnight, wrapped iu 
 her plaid. Poor child ! it is strange, Kaudal, to see those rough 
 meu watch over her with the tenderness and grief of a mother over 
 r a sick child. 
 
 Bnter Blount. 
 
 Blount. No news of relief? 
 
 Ran. None yet, but our fort here is cut off from the Residency, 
 and Colonel Inglis may have dispatches. 
 
 Blount. Cheer up, lads, there's a good time coming. The old folks 
 at home will long remember the defense of Lucknow, and every man 
 here will be a hero in his own native village. 
 
 Cas. Except me, your riverence, divil native village I've got. I 
 was born under a haystack, me father and mother had crossed to 
 England for the harvest. Me mother died of me, and me father bruk 
 his heart wid dhrinkin', so when they sent me home to Ireland, my 
 relations would'nt own me, bekase I was an Englishman. 
 
 Blount. My good Cassidy, hearts like yours are never without a 
 home, while there is goodness in earth and room in Heaven ! 
 
 Cas. I'm content, sir ! if Jessie was not sick, and I'd an ounce o' 
 baccy, I would'nt call the Queen me uncle. 
 
 [Zfe draivs the coat over Jessie. 
 
 Geor. Here's the rations for the day. 
 
 [Bnto' a Sergeant, 2vith a tin vessel containing the food. 
 
 Ran. Now, lads, there's no bugle to call ye to breakfast, so fall in 
 and fall to. This is the last of our food, so make it go as far as you 
 can. [I'h&focd is divided amongst tltemeii. They f&rm a group and speak.'] 
 As soon as the sun is up, wc shall have warm work. So buckle 
 
26 JESSIK BKOWX. 
 
 your belts tight. [^-1 distant '^u)i..\ There goes a how d'ye do from the 
 rebels. 
 
 Sween. \_Advancing and saluting.'] Pleas-e your honor, the men 
 wants 10 know very respectfully sir, please if this here ration is the 
 last of our food, what's the children' and ladies a' goiu' to have 
 sarvid out, 
 
 Raa. That is a mutinous question, sir, fall in your ranks. 
 
 Sicct-d. Ax your pardon, please sir — the men won't eat their 
 rations till they icnow. They say they would'nt fight no how sir, 
 nay ways comfortable, if they ain't allowed to share all fair with the 
 women and the little 'uns, 
 
 .1^/ the men. Share alike ! Share alike ! 
 
 Ran. Silence in the ranks! fall in, my good lads. Listen: for 80 
 days we have held this fort against fifty thousand rebels — from v/eek 
 to week our numbers have been thinned oft", until we alone remain ; 
 a few hours more, and General Havelock may arrive, [a gun.'] but 
 those few hours will be terrible. The rebel Sepoys grown desperate 
 by repulse, will try to overwhelm us with their whole force. [.1 gun.'] 
 To preserve the loss of these weak ones, you must have strength to 
 repel this attack. You are starving — the food you eat is their pro- 
 tection. 
 
 Sween. Please, Captain, the men say they'd feel worse after such 
 a meal. 
 
 lian. Do as you will, there is a Captain above who commands your 
 hearts. Break ranks. 
 
 [?Ae men hasten to the various groups of women and children, and divide 
 their rations with them. 
 
 Blount. The Lord is with us. His spirit is amongst us ? 
 
 Geor. \_To Blount.] Will you not eat, sir? lOfering him food. 
 
 Blount. How can I, boy ? my heart is in my mouth, I have food 
 enough in that. \_To the groups.] Stay, my dear ones ! the food is poor, 
 but let us not forget Him who gave it. {Each person arrests his hand at 
 the moment of eating.] God bless us, and give us strength in this dark 
 hour of our lives ! [Jessie wakes. 
 
 Jes. I'm cauld — I'm verra cauld. 
 
 Cas. Cowld, darlin ! sure it's September, and as hot as blazes — the 
 Lord be praised. 
 
 Mrs. G. Jessie, are you better ? [Jessie looks round eagerly. 
 
 Jes. I maun get my father's breakfast ; the gude man will be bock 
 soon frae the field. 
 
 Cas. What is she talking about? 
 
 Sween. Eat, Jessie dear — we have kept your ration till you awoke. 
 
 Jes. Eat ! na — ah ! [rejects the bread] dinna ye see ? there's bluid 
 upon it ! 
 
 Cas. Blood! 
 
 Geor. Jessie! 
 
 Mrs. C. Jessie? [Crosses hastily to her.] Jessie, you are ill. Look at 
 me — speak to me — do you not know me ' [Kneels beside her. 
 
 Jes. Knaw ye ! knaw ye ! Nae, but I ken a bonnie soug — a song 
 of Scotland— it's made o' heather and bluebells, woven in a tartan, 
 and it ia so gladdome that it maks me weep. 
 
jE.rSiE brow:?. 27 
 
 Mrs. C. Randal, Randal, her senses have gone — her mind wanders. 
 Char, Jessie, my own Jessie ! don't look so. 
 Jes. "We'll gang hame. Coora to me — what's yer name ? 
 Char. Charlie Fergus Campbell. 
 
 Jes. Then ye'ar Scotch — Scotch to the core of the heart. Listen. 
 
 [Sings. 
 '' In winter, when the rain rained cauld," &c. 
 
 Stceen. Jessie. Jessie dear? don't you know me ? Sweenie. 
 
 Je-f. Sweenie ! where is he ? He'll be outside the Byre, doon by 
 the gates. After melkin the coos. I'll coom t'ye my lad. I'll steal 
 away to the trystin, Sweenie. Fear nought. [Sings. 
 
 '• Oh, whistle and I'll come to yer, my lad."«fcc. 
 
 Ran. Do not weep, Amy. She is happier so — and if we fail in re- 
 pulsing the rebels to-day, or if we are not relieved by sundown, her 
 madness will be a blessing — she will be insensible to her fate. 
 
 Mrs. C. Has the last hour come, Randal ? 
 
 [Three grins are heard in quick succession. 
 
 Ran. Hark ! the batteries are opening their fire. Fall in, men. 
 Geordie, repel any advance by the left. I will hold the front. 
 
 Cas. [ Who has been looking over the back-l Plase your honor, here 
 come the black divils — they're upon us. 
 
 Ran. Steady men, no hurry. — Sweep them down. — Forward! 
 [Exit -R.i^.E. with men Music. £xii Geordie l. ivith men. Sounds of 
 musketry — caii non outside — drums. 
 
 Blount. To your knees ! — to your knees ! — and pray ! — this hour 
 may be our last. Oh, if my scruples did not weigh so heavily upon 
 me, I could strike for my country. [Takes out a hook. 
 
 Je*.. [ Who has been recovering her senses, as she listens to the conflict, at 
 first with surprise, then ivith awakening compi'ehension.} Ah ! I mind it 
 all — I am awak ! where's Sweenie? 
 
 Blount. Let me read aloud to you, the words of peace and comfort. 
 [Jessie turns and sees the heads of some of the Sepoys at the embrasures, 
 two of them are trying to escalade the breastwork.} Look ! look ! they come ! 
 
 [The women utter a cry of dismay. 
 
 Blount. The enemy ! [Pockets the book, and seizes a gun rammer. \ In 
 the name of the Lord and of Gideon! [He advances to the back. The 
 two tvounded soldiers rise, and crawl to the guns. Jessie runs to a bomJ)- 
 shdl, that lies, L. H., and finding Cassidy's pipe where he has thrown it 
 still alight, she lights the fuse, and carries it with great difficulty to the breast- 
 ivork, toppling it over. Blount standing on the disabled gun, deals pon- 
 derous bloivs right and left, with the rammer, and knocks over the Sepoys as 
 they appear.' The two loounded soWjers, Jessie, Alice and Mrs. Camp- 
 bell, draw out the other gun, load it, and run it in again. The bomb is 
 heard to explode outside, followed by cries and hurrahs. Mrs. Campbell 
 applies a portfire to the gun, and fires it. Another shout. Jessie leaps on 
 the gun. The children bring hand grenades, and roll in a cannon ball. 
 R.1NDAL and Geoudik re-appear. R. and L., leading back their men, some 
 wounded. Groups are formed. The ladies tear their dresses and make ban- 
 dages for the ufounded soldiers. 
 
28 JESSIE BROWN. 
 
 Rand. W«ll done, bravely done ! The enemy is repulsed, it was 
 hot work. 
 
 Blount. Hot ! It was terrible ! I'm afraid I have killed somebody. 
 I fear I have sent a sinner to his last account up there. ^Points up. 
 
 Cas. {Taking his arm and making him point it dcnvn.] No, that's the 
 way they wint. Bedad but ye made that shillelah dance like over 
 their heads— they wint down by dozens — it was illegant. 
 
 Mount. I'll have to answer for this hereafter. 
 
 Cas. Ob, make yer mind asy ! Damn the question ye'll ivir be 
 axed about it. 
 
 Geor. Who sent that bomb, it fell into their advancing column and 
 exploded with terrible effect ? 
 
 Mrs. C. 'Twas Jessie. 
 
 Siveen. 1 
 
 Rid. J^-^^^ 
 
 Geor. J 
 [ They look round, Jessie is discovert crying bitterly, seated on the breast' 
 work. They bring her forward. 
 
 Mrs. C. Jessie, what ails you ? why do you weep ? \_To the rest.l I 
 never saw her cry before. 
 
 Alice. Dearest Jessie, are you wounded ? 
 
 Jes. Na, na, but I canna help it. The clouds in my brain are 
 pourin' oot, an' — an' — an — {Falls into hysterics, 
 
 Alice. She is weak, poor child, hunger and fear have killed her. 
 
 Blount. No ! this spasm of tear's relieves her overburthened brain — 
 she will recover. 
 
 Mrs. C. Leave her to Alice and me. 
 
 Char. Jessie, dear, don't 'ee cry, don't cry. 
 
 [Jessie embraces the children. 
 
 Rand. [Taking Blouxt and Geordik ande."] We have repulsed the 
 first attack, but the enemy is too strong for us, they will try a second 
 and a third — we have now only 20 men left — their next attack will 
 succeed. 
 
 Blount. God's will be done. Let us thank Him that we are pre- 
 pared to die. Yes, it is with joyful thankfulness that I say it. There 
 is not one human being here, that has not shewn a noble, beautiful 
 and Christian spirit, except me. I have been led away. The shep- 
 herd has killed his flock. 
 
 Rand. No, he has only driven the wolf away. 
 
 Blount. Let us hope that it may be forgiven me. Now what shall 
 we do. 
 
 Geor. Alice, Amy, and Jessie, must they fall into the* hands of 
 these wretches? Oh, Randal, remember Cawnpore ! 
 
 Blount. Let them decide. Let them know the worst, that they 
 may prepare to meet their fearful fate. 
 
 Rafid. I cannot speak it. I can face the enemy, but I cannot look 
 into the pale faces of those women and tell them that my arm is 
 powerless to defend their honor atni their lives*. 
 
 [Go&'i up and seats himself dejcciedLy &n a gvn carriage^ 
 
JESSIE BROWIT. 29 
 
 Blount. This is my mission. I will speak to them ; heaven inspires 
 me with courage! Geordie. tell me when the last moment is come. 
 \_SUs, K. H., and takes out hit book.} Let me know when our death is 
 near. 
 
 3Irs. C. Her temples throb and burn. My poor Jesaie, lie down 
 awhile and rest your head in my lap. 
 
 Geoi\ \_Nea7- Blount.'] What are you reading ? 
 
 Blount. \_Looking up.] The prayers for the dead ! 
 
 [Goordie goes up, and leans on the breastwork. The men are reposing in 
 
 groups. 
 
 Alice. How she trembles ! her hands are icy cold. 
 
 Mrs. C. Jessie, are you cold? 
 
 Jes. {Sings in a low voice. "} 
 
 " In winter, when the rain rained cauld,-' &c. 
 
 Alice. Her senses wander again. 
 
 Mrs. C. Jessie, my dear Jessie ! try to rest your wearied brain — try 
 to sleep. 
 
 Jes. Sleep ! Aye, let me sleep awee — but you will awak me when 
 my father cooms frae the ploughin'. 
 
 Mrs. C. Yes, Jessie, when the gude man comes home, I will awake 
 you. [Aside.] God help her ! 
 
 Jes. I'm his ainly bairn, and he loos me well. [Sings slowly the first 
 fexo bars of '^Robin Gray,'"' as she falls to sleep. 
 
 Geor. [Advancing to Blount,[ The enemy are making, sir — the time 
 has come. 
 
 Blount. [Closing the book.'] I am ready. 
 
 [Rises. Distant drum is heard, very low. 
 
 Ran. The enemy ! Fall in, men ! 
 
 [Eight men rise, and form with Sweenie and Cassidy — Randal counts them. 
 
 Ran. Ten ! ten men alone are fit for service — ten men to repulse a 
 thousand ! [Turns aside. 
 
 Blount. My gentle friends — to you. weak in body but so strong in 
 soul, I speak. It is fitting that you should know that the last hour 
 has arrived. [Drums. A gun.] The last earthly hope is gone — let us 
 address ourselves to heaven. 
 
 Alice. Will these men desert us ? 
 
 Blount. In an hour not one of those men will be living. 
 
 Mrs. C. But we shall be living. Oh. recollect Cawnpore ! these 
 children will be hacked to pieces before our eyes — ourselves reserved 
 for worse than death, and then mutilated, tortured, butchered in cold 
 blood. Randal, will you see this done — will you not preserve us 
 from this fate. [Alice weeps on Geordie' s breast. 
 
 Ran. Amy, my heart is broken. What can we do? 
 
 Mrs. C. Kill us. Put us to a merciful death ere you fall. Oh, 
 Randal, do not turn away from me — think of the fate reserved for 
 her you love. Oh, death, death ! a thousand times death ! You are 
 going to die — take us with you, Randal ; if you leave us here, 
 you are acce?sories to our dishonor and our murder. 
 
 Blount. They come, they come— already they begin to ascend the 
 hilL 
 
30 JESSIE BROWN. 
 
 Alice. Geordie. 
 
 Mrs. C. Quick, or it will be too late. Quick, Randal— oh. remem- 
 ber we are cowards — we are women and we may not have the courage 
 to kill ourselves. 
 
 Ran. I cannot, Amy, I cannot. 
 
 Mrs. C. Lend me your dirk, then. Rather than see my children 
 mutilated, tortured, tbey shall die. God will forgive a mother 
 when her children plead for her. 
 
 Blount. They are here, Randal — they are here. * 
 
 Ran. Murderers! they come for their prey. [Dashing down his 
 bonnet.] Yes, I will tear it from their rage. Soldiers, one vol- 
 ley — your last — to free your countrywomen from the clutches of 
 the demons. One volley to their noble and true hearts, and then 
 give your steel to the enemy. Load. 
 
 {The soldiers bite off the ends of their cartridges and load their muskets. The 
 women cast themselves into each other^s arms and form a group. 
 
 Blount. lB<yins to read the service for the dead.} In the midst of life 
 we are in death. 
 
 {A distant loail of the bagpipes is heard. Jessie starts from her sleep. 
 
 Ran. Shoulder arms. Ready ! 
 
 {^Another wail of the pipes is heard. 
 
 Jes. Ah! [Utters a cry.] Hark — hark — dinna ye hear it? dinna ye 
 hear it? Ay! I'm^no dreamin', it's the slogan of the Highlanders! 
 we're saved — we're 'saved! [Throws herself on her knees.] Oh, thank 
 God ! whose mercy never fails the strong in heart, and those that 
 trust in him. 
 
 Raji. Relief! no ! it is impossible 1 [Guns outside. 
 
 Jes. I heard it ! I heard it ! 
 
 Geor. Here comes the enemy ! 
 
 Jes. To the guns, men, to the guns ! Courage ! Hark ! to the 
 slogan. 'Tis the slogan of the McGregor, the grandest of them a'. 
 There's help at last. Help ! d'ye hear me ? help 1 
 
 Ran. There is no signal from the Residency. Jessie, your ears 
 deceive you. 
 
 Mrs. C. She is mad ! 
 
 Jes. I am not daft, my Scotch ears can hear it far awa'. [Bagpipes 
 sound nearer.] There again — there — will ye believe it noo — d'ye hear 
 — d'ye hear? the Campbells are comin' ! 
 
 [The Bagpipes swell out louder, but still distant. Distant musketry is heard 
 to roll. Shouts ! 
 
 Geor. See, the flag runs up at the Residency. 'Tis true. 
 
 [Cannonade. 
 
 Ran. To arms! men! One charge more, and this time drive your 
 steel down the throats of the murderous foe. [Musketry. 
 
 Jes. Ha! theycoom! they coom!' yonder is the tartan. Oh! the 
 bonnie Highland plaid. [*S'Ae waives her tartan plaid.] You have nae 
 forgotten us. 
 
 [The pipes here change the air to " Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot.^^ 
 
JESSIE BROWN. 
 
 31 
 
 D'ye hear! d'ye hear, -Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot," noo 
 lads, here come the rebels. It will be yer last chance at them, 
 
 [She leaps down. 
 Ran. Steady lads ! {The Sepoy a appear at the back. 
 
 All. Hurrah! 
 [They dash up the breast work and after firing , club their guns and 
 disappear fighting, driving the Sepoys doivn. Shouts and musketry 
 and cannonade, groiv furious. The back scene is covered with a 
 red. gloiv ; explosions, as from mines, are heard, through all of 
 which the bagpipes continues, noiv very loud and near. The Hin- 
 doos appear fighting , and driven in at the back. They fall over 
 the breast tvork ; Randal and, the Highlanders, with their piper, 
 charge up the breastwork and croivn it in every direction, bearing 
 doivn, the Sepoys with the bayonet. Geordie and his men enter l. 
 H. Cassidy and Sweenie from r. h., with others of the men, face 
 those of the Sepoys, who are driven over by the Highlanders. 
 
 TABLEAU. 
 
 Note from the Author. — The powerful incident with which this 
 drama concludes, incited me to construct the domestic fiction con- 
 tained in the first and second acts. lie dramatic value I had seen 
 tested by Mr. Everett, on an audience at the Academy of Music, 
 rendered breathless and hysterical by the sweet power of his pathetic 
 description. Yet the task of dramatising the subject might have 
 been abandoned had I not possessed, in my own wife, a representative 
 for the character of Jessie Brown, singularly adapted to its realiza- 
 tion. Her Scottish blood warmed to the subject ; her Scotch dialect, 
 and her power of delineating Highland character, assured me that 
 the central figure of my dramatic group would be faithfully rendered. 
 I hope that in the treatment of this pretty subject, the reader may 
 find I have not injured the beautiful sentiment of the original tale. 
 
 DION BOURCICAULT. 
 
 The following account is taken from the letters of a lady, one of the rescued on 
 the 26th September, when Lucknow was relieved by the forces under Sir Colin 
 Campbell : 
 
 " Death stared us in the face. We were fully persuaded that in twenty-four hours 
 all would be over. The engineers had said so, and all knew the worst. We women 
 strove to encourage each other, and to perform the light duties which had been as- 
 signed to us, such as conveyins orders to the batteries and supplying the men with 
 provisions, especially cups of coflcc, which we prepared day and night. I had gona 
 out to trv and make myself useful, in company with Jessie Bro'wn. Poor Jcssio had 
 
32 JESSIE BROWN. 
 
 been in a state of restless excitement all through the siege, and had fallen away 
 visibly within the last few days. A constant lever consumed her, and her mind 
 wandered occasionally, especially on that day, when the recollections ol' home 
 seemed powerfully present to her. At last, overcome with fatigue, she lay down on 
 the ground, wrapped up in her plaid. I sat beside her, promising to awaken her 
 when, as she said, " her lather should return from the ploughing." She at length 
 fell into a profound slumber, motionless and apparently breathless, her head resting 
 in my lap. I myself could no longer resist the inclination to sleep, in spite of the 
 continual roar of cannon. Suddenly I was aroused by a wild, unearthly scream 
 close to my ear ; my companion stood upright beside me, her arms raised and her 
 head bent forward in the attitude of listening. A look of intense delight broke over 
 her countenance, sha grasped my hand, drew me towards her, and exclaimed, 
 "Dinnaye hear it? dinna ye hea.r it? Ay, I'm no dreamin' ; its the slogan o' the 
 Highlanders ! We're saved, we're saved ! " Then, flinging herself on her knees, she 
 thanked God with passionate fervor. I felt utterly bewildered; my English cars 
 heard only the roar of artillery, and I thought my ))oor Jessie was still raving, but 
 she darted to the batteries, and I heard her cry incessantly to the men, " Courage ! 
 hark to the slogan— to the Macgregor, the grandest of them a' ! Here's help at last." 
 To describe the effect of these words upon the soldiers would be impossible. For a 
 moment they ceased firing, and every soul listened in intense anxiety. Gradually, 
 however, there arose a murmur of bitter disappointment, and the wailing ol the 
 women who had floc'wed out began anew as the Colonel shook his head. Our dull 
 lowland ears heard nothing but the rattle of the nmsketry. A few moments more of 
 this deathlike suspense, of this agonising hope, and Jessie, who had again sunk on 
 the ground, sprang to her feet, and cried in a voice so clear and piercing that it was 
 heard along the whoie line— "Will ye no believe it noo? The slogan has ceased, 
 indeed, but the Campbells are comin'. D'ye hear, d'ye hear ? " At that moment we 
 seemed indeed to hesr the voice of God in the distance, Avhen the bagpipes of the 
 Highlanders brought us tidings of deliverance, for now there was no longer any 
 doubt of the fact. Tnat shrill, penetrating, ceaseless sound, which rose above all 
 other sounds, would come neither from the advance of the enemy nor from the work 
 of the Sappers. No, it was indeed the blast of the Scottish bagpipes, uoav shrill and 
 harsh, as threatening vengeance on the foe, then in softer tones, seeming to promise 
 succor to their friends in need. Never surely was there such a scene as that which 
 followed. Not a heart in the Residency of Lucknow but bowed itself before God. 
 All, by one simultamous impulse, fell upon their knees, and nothing was heard but 
 bursting sobs and the murmured voice of prayer. Then all arose, and there rang 
 out from a thousand lips a gi-eat shout of joy which resounded far and wide, and 
 lent new vigor to that blessed bagpipe. To our cheer of " God save the Queen 1 " 
 they replied in the \t ell-known strain that moves every Scot to tears." Should auld 
 acquaintance be forgot," &c. After that nothing else made any impression on me. 
 I scarcely remember what followed." 
 
 THE END. 
 
THE GARDE MOBILE, a Farce in 1 act, 
 
 THE QUEEN OF SPADES, in 3 acts, 
 
 THE CORSICAN BROTHERS, in 3 acts, - 
 
 *THE VAMPIRE, in 3 acts, 
 
 THE PRIMA DONNA, in 2 acts, 
 
 aENEVIEVE, in 3 acts, - - - - 
 
 THE YOUNG ACTRESS, in 1 act, - 
 
 THE FOX HUNT, in 5 acts, 
 
 ANDY BLAKE, in 2 acts, . - - 
 
 FAUST AND MARGARET, in 3 acts, - 
 
 LOUIS THE XI, in 5 acts, 
 
 ♦APOLLO IN NEW YORK, in 2 acts. - 
 
 *JANET PRIDE, in 5 acts, - 
 
 ♦THE CHAMELEON, in 1 act, - 
 
 ♦THE FAIRY STAR, in 1 act, 
 
 ♦THE LIFE OF AN ACTRESS, in 5 acts, 
 
 ♦THE PHANTOM, in 2 acts - 
 
 AZAEL, in 3 acts, - - - 
 
 ♦UNA, in 2 acts, . . . . 
 
 ♦NOTHING IN IT, in 1 act, 
 
 BLUEBELLE, in 2 acts, 
 
 THE CAT CHANGED INTO A WOMAN, in 1 act, 
 
 ♦GEORGE D'ARVILLE, in 5 acts, - 
 
 THE POOR OF NEW YORK, in 5 acts. - 
 
 London. 
 
 1851 
 
 London, 
 
 1851 
 
 London 
 
 1852 
 
 London 
 
 1852 
 
 London 
 
 1852 
 
 London 
 
 1853 
 
 New York 
 
 1853 
 
 New York 
 
 1853 
 
 Boston 
 
 1854 
 
 London 
 
 1854 
 
 London 
 
 1854 
 
 New York 
 
 1855 
 
 London 
 
 1855 
 
 New Orleans 
 
 1855 
 
 Boston 
 
 1855 
 
 New Orleans 
 
 1855 
 
 Pliiladelphia 
 
 1856 
 
 New Orleans 
 
 1856 
 
 New Orleans 
 
 1856 
 
 Philadelphia 
 
 1856 
 
 - New York. 
 
 1856 
 
 - Boston 
 
 1856 
 
 London 
 
 1857 
 
 New York 
 
 1857 
 
 ThLs list comprises the principal and most popular works of this Dramatist, those to 
 which a star is prefixed are original, the rest are adaptations, translations, or altered 
 from obsolete pieces. Upwards of sixty works by the same autlior, are not included 
 in the above catalogue. 
 
OF CONGRESS