^5^ iia IJ ♦^4 f I I I ^ THE # LITTLE MOTHER I? it i? 1? I? ^iftu Cmts. 173 ^untgoKierg ^t. Copyrisht 1921 by A. J. Schindler. ^~* ————— .^_— ___ ^0^251321 ©CI.D 59:.'35 'HO I ' ^ THE LITTLE MOTHER ACT ONE. SCENK: A poorly furjiished rocm, Ziith icocden kitchen table and chairs; dcors to left ana right. Ks cunam riMs, Kcse is cnaaoed t/omng ^ofne icash. Rose {sighino^). O clear, o dear, it's drudge, drud^-e, drudge, from morning till nigni, one day like an- other, to keep the poor little children from sia^ving. The good Ivord has placed a heavy buu en on my young Piioulder^:, by taking away father and moth- er, and leaving me to provide for onr exittence. Pretty little Nor.i, aiui dear, sweet Tom. They are indeed a great ccmfoit to me, ard when I look into their innocent littie faccs, I am smply npaid ^or all my labor and trouble ( ceases irofAn^, piits lauyidry in basket). So there, now tnat's finished. When the children come from c-chool, they can bring the laun- diy ever to Mrs. ^nath. {clears vp, as Tom aiid Pat ivith Nora and May, r^ish on stage, shouting-.) Nora < kissing; V^Oio) . O mv dear little mother Rose, I'm so happy to see yen. I brought May along/ can I go out and play vrith he:? Tom {hugging; Roie). And I brought Pat. May I go sliding on the pond with h!m? Rose. Why, my dears, I have an errand for ycu. I want yoti to take this wash over to Mrs. Smith. TOm. O that's all right. Pat will give a lift, wont you? Pat. Sure I will, -lifts- it aint heavy at all. Rose, All right, j^oung mian, if you don't mind. Pat. That's easy, Miss Nolan. Come on. Tom, we wont be long, take hold -both off with laundry-. THE LITTLE MOTHER. Rose Aud now, 2>'ora, you may fetch your wraps and play with May while I prepare the supper. Nora O, goody, thank you. -off left- Rose Tell nie dear May, how you fared with your les- sons at sciiool t.)-day. May Ye;y well indeed; but Nora jumped me in 'rtih- injt.c. Sae took first place. Rosa {coruolino-.) Do not let that discourage yoti, bet- ter luck next time. May O. I don't mind as it was my own fault. I did not stud/ h.;rd enough, Rose {kissing her). There, you sweet little dear. Nora \_ruslies on.^} Come on, May, let's hurry on. May Very well, I'm ready. \ off chattering.'] Rose [^resii;nes diUies].D^?iV Itttie May how unselfish of lier not to btar malice towards Nora. Ah! there is still some goodiiess left iu this cold, cruel, world. {k;iock at Joor.y.lr:^, Snif^ins otters). Wh}'-, how do you do, Mrs. Snifiins, what brings you here? Sniff, (snappy). Why, I have a very good pair of ped- als, and, outside of that. I iiave an important mis- sion to perform in the cause of humanity. Rosa Indeed, Mrs. Snifhns, no offence. Can I be of any assistance to you? Sniff. That all deoends. If you can write out a check for say, fifty dollars, that will pass the bank-teller's inspection, 3^ou could be of material assistance , Rose {amazed) Fifty dollars? Why not make it cents, or mills: even at that, I doubt if I could material- ize to that amount at present. THE LITTLE MOTHER. Sniff. Well, it's just this wav. We've get to save those poor little Hindoo ciuldren from starvation and that's aii there ib ic it. 1 am a self -appointed ccm- mitiee to solicit subscriptions for their relief, and came to enlist your cooperation, {hands list to Rose) Rose Bat, my dear wcman, I am afraid that you aie starting at the wrong end. judging from your sub- Bcription blank, it's all blank a.-^ yet. I would sug- gest that you enlist the sympathies of son:e of\he more fortunate neighbors. As you know, I have barely enough to keep my own Utile Hindoos frcm starving, and further, as charity begins at home ai:d seii-preservQticn is the first hiw oi nature, I must a.-k you to excuse me. Sniff, {excited.) That's just what I expected, turned down in my first at en pt How can yen expect to have any luck in tl is wO'ld il you leiuse to sjd your fellow-beings in distress? I'ts no wonder that you cannot get fdong, yon deserve your mitfortcce, for he who dees net shew syn pcthy, merilt, it not! Rose (angrily.) I ask sympathy frrm no one, leaet of all from you. Had you any decency vou would not humble n:e in this manner. My own I'ittle Hindoos' welfare comes first. Sniff, (horrified.) Missi Nolan. I'm horrified! Have you lost all religious instinct? Rose Idcfiani.'] I may have lost my religion, but my moral instinct tells me the sooner vou leave, the better for both, -points- There's the door. Sniff, (hatighty.) Very well, you'll regret this inso lence . S^hic rries off. ] Rose \damming door.] Insolence,? Bosh! -after paKse HE LITTLE fyiOTHER. Ross \retnor$efhd.) I'm afraid I was rather rade to Mrs. isiii'^iis, and acted iu an unchristian spirit, but goodoc&s knows that I aio unable to assist the p^or Ilttk Hiadoos. Ferhap, some day, the Lord Will bless me with riches, aad then I can atone for iny raiea^n^ \ knock at i>on What, more visiters? OraCK {^filers, ^ru^iy.) I must have the balance oi my rent Miss Nolan, and that at once, or ont you go. Rose {pleading-.) Why, Mr. Crabbe, I would gladly give it tj yon if I had it. but you may b«;iieve me, I haven't a cent to my name, Crab, Th;u's no fault of mine, besides, I am tired of all these excnses, and must insist on payment. Rose I woald pay, bnt I can't draw blood from a stone. Crab. It's not a qn^^st'cu of blo:>d, it's money I want. Rose I surely will pay when I get the money. Crab. Then go, get ;t; I shan't leav^e until you do. Roso {tearfully.) Serely, Mr. Crabbe, you cannot be so hard ^i\A cruel to me. The only money I'ii have are the few cents that Tom wilibi-ing for doing up Mrs. Smith's wash, and TU need that to buy food. Grab. I'm not lookinij after yonr welfare, I'm after my mcney. [Tom rushes m followed by Pat, Nora and May. Crabbe grabs Tom, shouting] Hand over the money you got from Mrs. Smith, it belongs to me Tom [dra7iJS back, defiantly. Ji Who says I got money from Mrs. Smith? Grab. I do. Hand it over, or Til take it from yon. Nora [stfrnh'.] If yon do. you are & t kief I THE LITTLE IV10THER, Crab. What's that, you little brat? Take that for your insoleiice {is about to strike her as Rose intervenes.^ Rose {shrieking.) Stop where you are, yon miserable coward! If you must strike, then strike me. S^draws Nora to her ^Xi/d^Crabbe crouches) Do DOt dare touch this poor iittie child, least I be tempted to scratch those bleary eyes out ot your sodden head. Crab, {trembling , as he backs out.) Very well, I'll go; but the marshal will be at the dcor to-morrow, to throw you and your pesty brats out into the street. Rose {slamming door*) Go ahead, and do your mean- est, you miserable skinflint. Tom {sparring off ,) O, if I were only a big man now, how I would woUop the old jelly-fish. Rose {_rtbuking.^ No, no, Tom, you must not say that; Mr. Crabhe is within his rights to demand the rent. Has Mrs. Smith paid for the laundry? Tom No, Rose, being as they were short of funds at the mills, she could not pay. Rose More mieery indeed, and the long wintrer ahead. But come, ciiiichen, and have supper, \_brings a quarter loaf of bread, cuts into four slices, handing, each a piece. "^ It isn't much of a supper, but it will have to do for to-night, the Lord will provide for to-morrow. Come, May and Pat, cit down, keep them company while I arrange the beds, -off' May Vv^hy no, Miss Nolan, we wont take your last bit of bread from you, by no meatis. Pat We'll get our sapper at home, thanks. That re- minds me. I have a sandwich left over from my lunch, and you are welcome to it -hands it to Tom.- TH£ LITTLE l^tOTH'ER, ^ay Ar.d I Imve a lew cookies left ever. If you don't mind' (hands cakes ta Nora.) Hcva Thanks. May, this is so kind of you. lorn \muyfchi:ig:.) Ivlticb obliged, Pat, it's delicious. Pet Co-.ae on, Mav, we must be going now, or 'Pt-e'll ottisb our snpptr. Bg long, Tom. Msy (/If.o'fc.? Nora.) Good niglit, dear, God bless you, Nora Good liigbt, pleasant dre.'-ms. [Pat and May off, Tom Now isrj'L ibnt nice of the Farrei] kids? Mora indeed it iJ^, they L;fe great chums. Rose ^c.'i^i^/'-i.) Well, ch'ldren, if you are finished with f^uppc-r then get at your lessons. You know that it is a ve:y coid nii^'ht. and its snowitig.so the soon- er you are tucked in your beds the warmer j^ou'li be. 'y clearing: table,) Where did you get the cakes? No''a Pat -XA I M \y F:irrell left them. Tu'Ti Yes, left-overs from lunch; ain't they kmd. Nora Now pkuse, Rc~e, do eax something, wont you? Rose 'iconfiisad.] Why, I ate while yoi were at play. Nora O. vou fibbtr; dcn't you know it's a Bin to lie? To«r. You can't bluff us, Rose, you must eat some of thir- [/£??Tc'j her in chair. Rose resisting .'\ Flos^i No, no, dears, the truth is I'm net well. Tom I suppose you are suffering frora indigestion. Mora No. I think it's from eating too much x^.:^:^^ Come, cliildren, n^w .study your kssons while I ck'-Ar tl>^ table ir, th^ meantirae.[<:/''j/rtV#;»z study.'] THE LITTLE IVIOTHER. Ross (as she jlniihes). So, now I nu:st be off to visit poor widow Brown, bhe is quite ill, and I w^ill try and make her comfortable for the night. {puis 07i shawl). In the meantime study yo'ar lessens, and don't let anyo.i? in the house, nnbersla^id? I'll be back shoriiy. h-stch the door after me, Tom. - off- TcJTJ All right, Rose, don't be long {latches door) . 1 don't see why Rose worries about the house. Sure there" s nothing to sleid here, e^icept it be yen. Nora {looks Zip frotfi beck). Me? Get along with ycnr lionseiise. Who pnt that hiily notion in your head? Tom Kscatrd by Nora). O, 'taint you they'd want, but 3'our shiniiig golden tresses. Ncra \rttrov)n^\. O, mird ycnr foolishness, you old liatteier, and study \our lessons es Rose bid you. Tcm All ri^bt, dearie, here frees my history, -recites- America discovered Christopher Columbus after he sailed from Ferdinand and l.^abella, and - and- Nora idrcps book\. And? What are you jabbering about Tom Why, what's the matter with that? Nora Theie ahit no matter to it. Kcw cot^Id /America discover Columbus? Tom And why not? Didn't the Indians discover him when he landed in America, after sailing from Mr. Ferdinand when he left Spein, eh» smany? Nora That may be, but you have your lesson twisted. iknock at door's Listen! Som.ebcdy is knocking, rem Sure, let him knock, you know cur orders [con- ' tinues'). As I was saying, Ferdinand and Isebella sailed fioni Spain to discover -repeated knocking,- 10 THE LITTLE MOTHER. Mora itimid). Sh-h-h! Somebody's at the deer. Tom IvCt him stay there, for all I care (reads on). Is- abella sailtd from Columbus to discover Ferdinand in America {louder knocks, zoice^'Open the door". Tom (aside). O open it up yourself (increased knocking' wzV^"Open up, I'm cold and freezing out here"). Nora {frightened). What will we do? I'm afraid. How I wish Rose were YtQX^.\_voicc "Do I come in?" ] Tom No, thanks, you may stay Q\x\.\_to Nora]. Listen, Nora, you go upstairs, I'll attend to this prowler. Nora \_goins, off^. All right, but don't open the door, Tom Don't worry, I'll attend to him. [goes caiUiously to door~\. Who's there? Roger {from without). It's me, let me in. Tom So sorry, there's nobody hcm^e. But, who do you wish to see? Rog. It's Rose Nolan I wish to see. She lives here, I understand. Let me in. Tom Yes, she lives here but isn't home. Call again! Rog. No, no, open up, I have good news for Rose. Let me in, I won't harm you. Tom Well if that's the case, maybe I'll let you in. (Tom opens door slightly arid peeps onLHoger push- es in door and enters^ Rog. Well, this is a fine way to treat a fellow, I must say. M^/, but it's cold outside. LH me sit by the stove and warm up a bit before Ro^e returns. THE LITTLE MOTHER. n Tom {siipicioicsly). vSure, you may sit on the stove for all the good it w'll do you. Rog. What, have you no five in the house? Tom Nope. The fire is gone out, for a walk, and the coal miners are out on a strike, they say. (Rose is cautiously peering cut, listening, Reg. (aside). My, this is frightful! Little did I dream that they were so destituted (to Tern). He\e you a coal scuttle aroucd the house? Tom Sure, but there's no bottom to it. Rog {siiaki7iz head). And had you your supper? Tom Yes, but tliere ain't none left, so please don't ask for any, and you won't be disa; pointed. Rog. (aside). This is awful, indeed! (to Tom). Here, young man, you run over to the grocers, and have him fill a scuttle with coal, and gtt a dc7cn eggs, and .some bacon and tea, and crackers and- Tom [j:aping- astonished]. And some cheese? O, yes, I'll ditam about it. Rog. No. seriously my lad. do as I tell you. [hands 7noney'], Here, take this money and don't be locg. jom O, that's dilTerent. It ain't counterfeit, is it? Rog. Don't worry, ju>t run alon^, now. [Tom puts on coat a fid rushes ojj .] Surely, I did not expect to see such misery here, {^seated ivith buck to door. Nora listens intcritly]. It seems but yesterday, that I left this place for parts unknown, bidding goodbye to my sister a.nd her dear little ones, {.reflecting^ THE LITTLE TvlOTHER. Rog. {co?it inning) . In all these years I had no word from home, none could reach me, as I roamed from place to place, seeking my fortune. And, fi- nally, arriving' here, 1 learned of the death of my sister, and of the pitiful plight of her children. So I hastened here, to give aid and comfort, and bring joy and snnshine to this wretched heme again, R0S8 {enters^ excitedly). Wh-/, Tom, haven't I told you to latch tne door after me? Where aie you, where is Nora? {discovers Roger, shrieking). What does til's mean, where aie my children, how dare you intrude here? (alarmed, as Roger remains unmoved, calling). Nora, Tom, where are yen? Mora (rushes toivards Rose). Here I am, and don't be alarm.ed, for that's Uncle Roger, back frcm the wil- derness. O, ain't I glsd. Tom (rushes i?t with gf'oceries and coal). And here am I, Rof^e. I'll start up the f're in a jiily, and we'll all have tea, thanks to our good fairy. Ros3 \_hewildered, looks steadily at Roger who remains iinmoved\. I- I- cannot- understand. What is the meaning of all this? r^ora I'll tell you all. Pvose, for I overheard every word Uncle Roger said. R0S8 That cannot be Unc^e Roger, he must be dead. We had no word from him since he left us, many, many years ago. R33- [r^--J towards R.ose with outst, eshcd Iiaitds'] No no, P.ose, nnt dead, but very miTcli r.livc, and hippy t3 ser72 3"0U and your litt.e fa:"ily. THE LITTLE MOTHER. 13 Rog. {draws Rose to seat). It's a long story I have to tell of my foreign rcamings aiid adventures, but we'll leave that to relate after you prepare the little repeat that I sent Tcm for. Tom Yes, and here's the change. I fetched everything but the eggs. I slipped and- and fell, and left the eggs scrambled down the street, {hands change) . Rose So it is you indeed. Uncie Roger? I can scarcely believe ii. I should ntvtr have reccgnized ycu. Rog. In order to di-pel all further doubt, do you rec- ognize this? (shows mole on neck). If you can re- member you used to tease m.e about this mole, and say that I could not get loj-t with'that mark on me. Rose {jumps up, juUlant), It is you indeed, our dear Uncle Roger, welcome to our humble little home. The good Lo:d has sent you just in time, as 1 was on the verge of des; airiiig, re* dj^ to give up. It was a terrible struggle snd I am nigh exhausted. {sobbing, as she kneels). O Gcd in heaven, I thank you from the depths of m-y heart for this timely de- liverance. (Roger gently laises Rose). Rog. [dra7vs Tom and Nora towards hint] Yes. He be praised and thanked. He has taken the cares and bu'dens from your shoulders, end has sent m.e to be a big father to you all. Nora And may I call you daddy? Rofl. To be sure, little one. Tom And I'll call you just plain pop. Rog. Agreed. And Rose will be our little mother. All Won't that le nice. 14 THE LITTLE MOTHER. Rose {ti7nidly').kvA may I ask a favor from you? It's not for myself that I am asking, but I promised to to make a donation to the starving Hindoo child- ren, and if you will help me, I will be so happy. Roger {smiling). Why certainly, dear little mother. But let me first help my own little Hindoos, {puts necklace about Rose.) Accept th'S token as a reward for your heroic self-sacrifice and devotion. God bless you, you good, dear, sweet Little Mother. CURTAIN. t .r r . r . t . i . i ' .y^ T- ' -?- ? nrm . t . T . T , ; j. | t . t . t . ; ,m TjTrm M, ' . t , ' . i ■T: i .M. i JJJ.M. n IW^ copyright Notice. ..^^J ^his play bei7iQ, duly copyrighted, all rights, including acting privi- leges a7-e reserved, and no preform ance of it may be given exc^pt by special arrangement with the author. A. J. Schindler, Bloomfield, N. J. p/TTyTi '.'I'l'rm'riTn 'i'i'i7V^3'fii'i''ii3vri''i "' 017 400 194 7 To Sister M. G UILLsiLrM A, O.S.I). Now York THE LITTLE MOTHER CAST 01'^ CHARACTERS /?ose Nolan, Tom Nolan, Fat Farrell, Sally Sn ff.e. the little mother the liftie family the friendly chums the bj.3y-body. Roger Earle, the tmc.^e Nora Nolan MoyFarrell Li a3 Crabbe, landlord Scenery: Poorly fiinii.shed room, with doors right and left; Avooleii kitchen table andchaiis, ironing board v\asii basket, and vva-h placed about conveniently. Costumes: Ordinary dress appropriate to the charac- ter , with nukc-up to match. ARGUMEMT The plot of this )Uy centers .mnind Rose, the little mother, who, by the untimely death of her pirents. is bringing up her Ittth si.^ter and brother. Ry doing washii g and other domestic work, she earns a small pittance, b irely en^ ngh for a megre extstence, yet j^he struggles l)ravely on, full of self-sacrifice and de- votion to her little family. How she rebukt-s the brazen Sally Sniffle, who is solicitmg aid for the starving ; liudo') clnldren; how she lises up in wrath and anger, as Silas Crabbe is a- l>:>ut to strike Nora for nlteiing a justified remark; how she divides the last morsel of bread among the children, and finaly as she is about to give up in des- pair, a God sent mes'-enger in the guise of Uncle Rog- er aprears, back from the Indies, with wealth uiitold to alleviate her sufferings. Tliese are some of the inci- dents unfolded, yet, withal. Rose as a happy and lovable disposition which tends toeniivtn tlie play. HoUins pi- LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 017 400 194 7 #