.'■:=iK4f >^c^^ :^OSE M^CREA: OR, ( ! HISTORICAL DRAMA. 1 1 By EMILY E. KENYON. ROSE M^CREA ^oiturij$$ ^i ^atnp ^f \\\t "^mnm '^mWmu HISTORICAL DRAMA. By EMILY E. KENYON. 4 :dds. /4 Scenes. 5 laUeaux, Copyright. EMILY E. KENTON". A. D. 18Tb. BOSTON: ALFRED MUDGE & SON, PRINTERS, 34 School Street. 1876. 'is*; / > - t^L ^ \ ^^* DBAMATIS PEBSON^. Gen-. Wasiiixgton^. Lord Cornwallis. Gex. Lafayette. Gen. Howe. Gen. Putxam. Col. Eeed. Gen. Stark. Herman. Gen. Lincoln. Antoine . Dr. Franklyn. Two Indian Chiefs. Capt. Brooks. Lady Washington. Capt. Wm. Lucas. Madame Lafayette. Pres. Peyton Randolph, y^ ^ Mrs. JNIcCrea. Pres. John Hancock, r gi Eose McCrea. Sec. Charles Thomson, rll Mrs. Brown. John Adams, )a^ Annie Brown. Baron Steuben, Prus. Mary Knight. FAR3IER Brown. Colored Woman. Johnny Brown. A Clergyman. Jonathan Briggs. Soldiers, Etc. Mr. McCrba. TABLEAUX. First. Battle Bunker Hill and Burning of Charlestown. Second. Continental Congress signing the Declaration of Independence. Third. Surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. Fourth. The Goddess of Liberty, with Equestrian Statues of Gen. Washington and Gen. Lafayette. Fifth. The International Exposition with Forty-Two States. ACT FIRST. Scene First. (A farm-house kitchen, April 19, 1775. 3frs. Brown, a mid- dle-aged lady ; Annie Brown, a young lady ; Johnny Broivn, a boy fourteen years of age ; William Lucas, a young man. Mrs. Brov)n kneading bread; Annie Brown wiping dishes. A loiid knock at the door, ivhich is opened by Johnny. William Lucas enters in a hurried manner and says) : Where is Farmer Brown ? (3Irs. Brown comes forward loith her hands and eipron covered with flour, and answers) : He has gone down to plough the ten- acre lot near Stony Brook. But what's the matter, William? I heard the bells ringing before light this morning. William Lucas. Matter? Matter enough! Why, the Brit- ish came on from Boston last night and have been fighting up to Lexington this morning. They meant to surprise us, but Paul Revere was over to Charlestown watching for the signal-light, and as quick as he saw it he rode all the way through to Concord, rousing all the minute-men on the road, so there were sixty or seventy waiting to receive the redcoats at Lexington. Mrs. Brown. Were there many British soldiers there, William? William Lucas. Oh, yes ! There were hundreds of them. Colonel PiLcairn led them, and when he met the minute-men at the turn of the road he cried out in a lofty tone : " Throw down your arms and disperse, you rebels ! " But our fellows didn't obey him, so he brandished his sword and fired a pis- tol. Then his men shouted and fired. Annie Brown. Oh dear me ! I hope they did n't hurt any- body. William Lucas {with emotion). They killed seven and hurt nine more, and are now marching on towards Concord. Alf the minute-men are called out instantly, so I came after Farmer Brown. Mrs Brown. Here, Johnny! Go down and tell your father to come home as quick as he can. William Lucas. There is no time to lose, and as he is a good piece towards Concord now, we will carry his gun and powder horn down to the lot, so he can go right along from there. (^Mrs Brown turns pale, seems undecided, then goes into ad- joining room and brings out the gun. Johnny takes down the powder-horn that was hanging over the fireplace, then takes the gun from his mother's hand and runs out. Wiiliam Lucas says a few words to Annie in a low tone, and bids her good-by. She then bursts into tears. Curtain falls.) Scene Second. (A wooded knoll between Concord and Boston. William Lu- cas, Farmer Brown, and two other half-equipped minute-men sitting on a rock with their guns resting beside them, etc.) Farmer Brown. Why, the first I knew about it, Johnny came running down to the field with ray gun and powder-horn, and said that William Lucas wanted rae to meet him out to Buttrick's Corner, for the British had come to fight us ; so I come right along (^Jonathan Briggs, a tall, lank, 7ingainly fellow, vnth a basket of doughnuts on his arm and a gun on his shoulder, now joins them, saying): Wall, wall! You see I was kinder scared at fust. Why! I e'enamost lost my equi — equi — wilbraham, but I took a leetle cider and got kinder stidied down, then took this old guii and bid Jerusha good-by and started. She made me bring along this 'ere basket of doughnuts. (He passes the basket, saying): Help yourself, help yourself! for I s'pose some on you hain't had any breakfast yet. Farmer Brown. Well, I have been so mad ever since I heard liow those redcoats murdered our neighbors up to Lexington that I had n't thought to ask what they have done at Concord. I suppose they went up there to destroy our supplies, did n't they? William Lucas. Yes, they spiked two cannon and destroyed hundreds of cannon-balls and sixty barrels of flour. Farmer Brown. Did they kill anybody up to Concord? Jonathan Briggs. Wall, I heerd that Capt. Davis and another man was killed. William Lucas, (Starts and seizes his gun, saijing) : There I did you hear that report? I suppose the British are coming. They will face us at this turn in the road We 'il give thein a warm reception. Don't waste your powder, boys ! Jonathan Briggs. Gosh! I allers brings down a squirrel, and I guess I can bring down some of them are Britishers. (The British troops now a2:)pear marching along the road, with two mounted officers cheering them along. Farmer Brown, Wil- liam Lucas, and Jonathan Briggs and the two other minute-men keep up an indiscriminate jire on them from behind a stone-wall and trees. Curtain falls.) TABLEAU. (Battle of Bunker Hill, and Burning of Charlestoum.) ACT SECOND. Scene First. (McCrea's parlor in Boston. Mrs. 3IcCrea and Hose 3IcCrea sitting. 3Ir. 3IcCrea enters and says to them) : I hope you have made due preparation for the ball to-night. Bose. father I I don't care to go. I am so lonesome since that great battle. Mr, McCrea. But you must go. It will be magnificent. Gen. Gage, with many of the most distinguished officers of our lawful sovereign, will be there. Bose. Will there be any rebels (as you call them) there, father? 3Ir. 3IcCrea. Oh, yes. Society is in such a mixed state at present that there will probably be some rebels there. We expect to see all the fashion and elite of this city, which com- prises the loveliest ladies in the land. But my Rose will be queen of all. (Exit Bose.) 3Irs, McCrea. I hope this will benefit Rose, for she seems very unhappy. I sometimes fear she has given her heart to that rebel Brooks. Mr. 3IcCrea. Oh, I guess not: anyway, she will SDon for- get him. Thave a particular reason for wishing her to attend this ball, because I have promised Col. Reed an introduction to my daughter. 3Irs. McCrea. When her cousin Annie came to spend the winter with us I hoped her company might Improve Rose, but I don't see as it maizes any diflV-rence. Gapt. Lucas will escort Annie to the ball. I hope Jiose will not meet Brooks there. Mr. MoCrea. Oh, no; there is no danger of that. He has gone to New Yorlj. Scene Second. (^The haU-room, loitli a brilliant company assembled. 3Ir. McCrea crosses the room with Col. Beed, and introduces him to Mrs. 3IcCrea, Miss McCrea, and 3Iis3 Brown. The music com- mences, and Mr. and Mrs. McCrea, Col. Reed and Miss Mc- Crea, Capt. Lucas and Miss Brown^ join in quadrille. Curtain falls at close of dance.) Scene- Third. {Continental Congress, Philadilphia. Peyton Bandolph, Pres- ident ; Charles Thomson, S cretary. George Washington, Dr. Franklin, and John Adim-i ; Joh'i Hincock, vnth twenty-eight others, but only twelve v^te, one to rejjresent each Colony ) (Jir. Randolph rises and says) : The time has now arrived when it is necessary for us, as delegates from the twelve Colonies, to determine w^hether we will join New England in actual war, or abandon the glorious liberty for which we have long contended. All those in favor of making actual war against our oppressors will now make it manifest by raising the right hand. (Several raise their right hands.) All those against the war will please raise the right hand. (ii/r. Thomson records the vote, then says) : The vote stands in favor of the Colonies being immediately put in a state of defence and actual war against our oppressors. {Mr. Thom- son then rises and reads) : Resolved, that addresses be sent to King George and the people of Great Britain, and to the Assembly of Jamaica, informing them of our resolutions. Also res )lved that twenty thousand men immediately be equipped and bills of credit issued, for which the twelve United Colonies stand pledged. {John Hancock then rises and says^ : Mr. President, I would propose the appointment of George Washington, of Virginia, as commander-in-chief of the army. {John Adams says) : I second the motion. (31r. Bandolph then rises and says) : It is proposed that Geo. Washington, of Virginia, a member ol'this Congress, be appointed commander-in-chief of the army and all the forces of these United Colonies. (He then pi'oceeds to take the vote, lohicJi is decided in the affirmative. Congress adjourns. Curtain falls.) TABLEAU. {Independence Hall, Philadelphia. Signing the Declaration of Independence. Loud ringing of bells at the close of the tableau.) ACT THIRD. — New York. Scene First. {Greenfields, with a view of Kipps Bay in the distance. Capt. Brooks and Capt. Lucas in confidential conversation.) Capt. Lucas. Well, I suppose the British will attempt to laud here this very day. Capt. Brooks. Well, if they do, I hope we may be able to repulse them as bravely as Gen. Lee did down at South Carolina. Capt. Lucas. Yes. I see that Congress has unanimously voted thanks to Gen. Lee and Colonels Moultrie and Thomson for their gallant defence of Charleston. Capt. Brooks. Oa, yes; and Gov. Rutledge presented his own sword to Sergt Jasper, for his courage. Capit. Lucas. Was it Sergt. Jasper that amid the shower of balls from the British vessels, leaped over the rampart and picked up the flag, and fastened it to a sponge statf, mounted the merlon, and nailed it fast? Capt. Brooks. Yes, that was the brave. Sergt. Jasper! Capt. Lucas. Well, the British made a fierce attack; for there was scarcely a hut or tree left on Sullivan's Island after the battle; and seven thousand cannon-balls were picked up, which, I hope, may be soon returned to their former owners with interest. By the way, Brooks, I heard a lady inquiring about you yesterday. Capt. Brooks. A lady inquiring about me ! Who was it? Cajyt. Lucas. Rose McCrea. 8 Capt. Brooks. Rose McCrea! Where did you see her? Gapt. Lucas. Why, Annie Brown, a friend of mine, is vis- iting at McCrea's. Annie and Rose are cousins. Gapt. Brooks. Well, well, I haven't seen Rose in along time. When I called to bid her good-by, just before I left Boston, Mr. McCrea told me she was out, and slammed the door in my face. Gapt. Lncas. Did he dare do that? What a contemptible old Tory he is, anyway ! Capt. Brooks. That 's so ; for I have written two letters to Rose, but have not heard from her. He probably inter- cepted the letters. {lieports of firearms are now heard, and two American soldiers come running towards them. Gaptains Brooks and Lucas cry, ^^ Halt! halt!" Gapt. Brooks asks the foremost one ivhat he is running for, and he answers, hurriedly, that the British are landing in great force at Kipps Bay. The Brit- ish troops are now seen advancing in the distance, and tlie American soldiers that had been posted to oppose them, are re- treating, panic-stricken. Gen. WasJiington, mounted on horse- back, now gallops towards the enemy, vainly endeavoring to rally his men. Finally, Gen. Washington, in despair^ rides up front of the enemy, turns his horse head towards them, and dashes his hat upon the ground, evidently hoping to die there rather than to be cowardly deserted by his troops; but his attendants seize the bridle of his horse and hurry him from the field. The curtain falls.) Scene Second. {Gen. Washington's headquarters at Morris Heights, ten miles from New York. Gen. Washington^ Gen. Putnam, and Gen, Stark.) Gen. Washington. Our army has met with sad reverses recently. I scarcely know what to do, for the British seem to have every advantage. Gen. Putnam. I am so mad to think we had to retreat from New York and leave such a great amount of provisions and baggage stores to fall into the hands of the Tories. Gen. Washington. Orders from Congress have just arrived for us to hold Fort Washington as long as possible, and to 9 obstruct the navlsation of the North River by all means. Superhuman eflbrt is needed to manage and control our forces. Only think of our aniiy posted at the extreme distance of sixteen miles ! Gen. Stark. And what an unprincipled, cruel foe we have to contend with ! Only think of the inhuman acts committed by the British soldiers during that great flre in New York! They accused the Sons of Liberty of being the incendiaries, and hurled suspected persons into the midst of the flimes of the burning buildings 1 Gen. Washington. — That was shocking! (A soldier now arrives ivith despatches for Gen. Washington; he reads them, then says) More bad news ! {but is too deeply affected to inform them of the extent of the misfortune. He hands them to Gen. Putnam, who reads aloud) : " The British have taken Fort Washington with nearly the whole garrison, comprising about two thousand men. The garrison fought bravely, but were obliged to succumb to the superior force of the enemy. The British forces, now elated with success, threaten Fort Lee and the whole American army." QA long silence ensues; then Gen. Putnam brings his fist down on the tibleioilh great force, saying): Never despair! if you don't succeed in capturing the wolf the tirst time you attempt it, you must try again, as I did. For if we keep up good courage we shall surely succeed in bringing this British wolf or lion out of his den by the ears. Gen. Stark. Yes ; I have heard of your exploit in bringing that wolf out of his den, General, and have always admired your courage and perseverance. {Exeunt. Curtain falls.) Scene Third. {Gen. Hovne's headquarters. Gen. Hoioeand Col. Peed. Her- man and Antoine, servants. A table with decanters, glasses, etc.) Herman. Veil, vee has von goot time, vee has all de vine and lager dat vee vants to trink. Antoine. Yah, yah! dat ish petterish goot. Vee vill trink to Janarel Howe and King Shorge. {They hear some one coming, drain their glasses, and hastily retire. Enter Gui. Howe with Col. Peed.) 10 {Gen. Howe goes to the table and fills two glasses, hands one to Col. Heed, saying) : (H)ere's to the success of Kiug George ! {Col Beed lifts his glass, saying) : (H )ere's to the success of King George and Lord (H)ovve with the British army. {They drink, then take seats.) Gen. Howe {ivith strong English accent). Well, we (h)ave (h)ad great success, and I (h)ope it may continue until every W(h)ig is compelled to take the oath of allegiance. Col. Beed. The ultimate success of our army can no longer be doubted. Where was the American army when last (h)eard from, General? Gen. Howe. We (h)ave just received despatches from Lord Cornwallis informing us that the American forces (h)adjust retreated through the Jerseys, and that our advance even saw the last of AVashington's army crossing the Delaware River. But Washington (h)ad taken the precaution to secure all the boats for sixty miles north of Philadelphia, so that Lord Cornwallis could follow them no further. But our army is encamped on the Jersey side of the river, waiting for it to freeze over, — which it must soon do as it is now December; then they can easily advance on Pliiladelphia, Col. Beed. What can Washington do with two thousand half-naked, starving men, against thirty thousand of the best trained soldiers in the world? Gen. Howe. Oh, he can do nothing! Why, we already (h)ave possession of Boston, Staten Island, Long Island, and the city of New York, a portion of Rhode Island and nearly the whole of the Jerseys, and now threaten Philadelphia and Washington. Col. Beed. What about this proclamation you (h)ave just issued in the king's name. General? Gen. Howe. In the king's name we offer pardon and pro- tection to all those that will lay down their arms and take the oath of allegiance during the next sixty days. Col. Beed. That is a good thing. Self-interest, self-interest governs us all. General. {He rises, saying) : I will now bid you adieu, as I have an engagement to dine at Mr. McCrea's. {Gen. Howe detains him to drink another glass ofvnne. Gen. Howe, raising his glass, soys) : (H)ere 's to your success in love with the charming Rose ! {They drink the toast in silence. Exit Col. Beed. Curtain falls.) 11 TABLEAU. (A saow szene at Valley Forge. Log-Jiuts in the distance and a camp-fire in the foreground, around which several half-clad soldiers are sitting ivith bowed heads. Oen. Washington, kneel- ing, ivith clasped, uplifted hands, says, ** Lord, have mercy upon us! have mercy upon usf") ACT FOURTH. ScENK First. (Interior of Gen. Washington's log-hut at Valley Forge. The howling luind shakes the cabin. A scanty fire on the hearih and a lighted candle on a stand. Gen. Washington, Lady Washing^ ton, Gen. L'lfiyette, 3Iadame Lafayette, Baron Steiiben, Prus- sia^i. Lady Washington seated knitting, and Madame Lafayette reading a French newspaper aloud.) " Paris, le cinq Novr. "Les Colonies Araericaines sent clans une condition horrible. Q'land notre brave jeune compatriote, le Marquis de la Fayette, apprit leur pauvrete et leur detresse il acheta uu vaisseau pour porter les depeches du Dr. Franklin avec lui- meme etses amis en Araerique. Depuis qu-il est arrive la, il a acheta des provisions et des veteraents avec sou argent pour les soldats aflfames." (Gen. Washington, Gen. Lafayette, and B iron Steuben enter, their coats covered with snow-flakes. Gen. Lafayette is still somewhat lame from the effects of the wound he received at the battle of Brandywine. Lady Washington and Madame La- fayette arise to greet them.) 3Iadame Lafayette. Quel orage I Gen. Lafayette. Oui; les temps est horrible ! Gen. Washington. Yes, the weather is horrible and the times are horrible I My heart aches to see the suffering of our poor soldiers, exposed to this dreadful storm in such a destitute, starving condition. Lady Washington. Is it true, George, that your army left their bloody footprints on the snow, as they marched here from Whitemarsh? Gen. Washington. Yes, it is true, Martha, too trnel 12 Many of them are half naked, with their bare feet on the snow. In fact, this army must soon be dissolved unless some- thing can be done to supply their immediate wants. Lady Washington. What can you do, George? Gen. Washington. Well, I have just received orders from Congress to seize all the provisions within seventy miles of Valley Forge. That will last us a while, but when that is consumed I fear we shall be obliged to disband, or starve. {Baron Steuben has been watching Gen. Washington very intently, and now says, with great vehemence) : I drill dar may ! I drill dar-may ! {He then, idth violent gestures, goes through pantomime di'ill.) (Gen. Washington advances and takes Baron Steuben by the hand, saying) : Yes, that is what this army needs. You shall drill the army, and perhaps, by God's help, we may yet gain the victory. {Gen. Lafayette then advances and takes the hand of Gen. Washington, saying) : Ja-nar-al Vossenton! Van 1 hear da Col-o-nais, so-long-nail-man, daclair dair in-de-pang-dans, I say I vill give me life, me goold, to dafond da braive Col-o- nais day lar marekay ! Gen. Washington. God grant that you may yet be fully rewarded for your courage and generosity in leaving the lux- urious affluence [of your native land to offer your services, your fortune, and your life, to help achieve the independence of America. {Exit.) Scene Second. {3Iartha Washington peeling apples, and a colored woman rolling pie-cnist. A soldier and a market-woman, with a large basket on her arm, enters. The soldier says, loith deference :) Lady Washington, allow me to introduce Mary Knight, the good woman you so much wished to see. {Lady Washington shakes hands loith her, invites her to be seated, and says) : Yes, I have heard so much of your gojd deeds that I wished to thank you for furnishing and cooking provisions for our poor soldiers, and then, disguised as you now are, bringing it to Valley Forge. May God bless and reward you ! 3Iary Kkight {deeply affected, says) : I ask no greater re- 13 ward than the satisfiiction of feelina: that I have done all in my power towards alleviating the suffering of the brave de- fenders of my country. Lad>j Washington. I have also heard that you saved your brother's life, by concealing hira, when the British had set a price on his head and were hunting for him. How did you conceal liim? Mirij Knight. I headed him up in an empty cider hogs- head in my cellar. He remained in it three days. (Enter Midame Lafayette ) Lady Washington. Did the British search your house? 3fary Knight. Oh, yes ; they searched it four times, for they thought he must be there ; but they did not find him. Lady Washington Was n't he almost starved? Mary Knight. Oh, no; I gave him his food through the bung hole of the hogshea.l. (Jonathan Briggs enters, looking very wretched ; he has a large blanket around him, but his feet are almost bare. He says): Where is Gen. Washington? (The Soldier answers, saying) : Gen. Washington has gone out to visit the camp. Jonathan Briggs. I swan ! that is too bad, for I come to see if I could n't beg a pair of old boots, or sumthin' to keep my feet off this ice and snow. (Lady Washington takes a pair of long woollen stockings off the table and hinds them to him, saying) : H;re is a pair of stockings I had just finished for Gen. Washington, but you need them mire than he does. Jonithi,n Briggs Thank you, marm ! thank you, raarm ! (Madame Lafayette has been loatching Jonathan Briggs very intently. She now goes into an adjoining room and brings out a pair of fine, ornamental boots, very small size; hands them to Briggs, saving) : Get soldat est a plaindre. Je lui donnerai les bottes de Gen Lifayette. (Jonathan Briggs takes th", boots and looks at them, and with a ludicrous smile looks at hi-i large feet, then returns the boots to Madame Lafaydte, saving) : Thank you, marm ! Perhaps I can step into Gen. Washington's stockings, but I swokj I can't step into Gen. Lafayette's boots, for both on um wouldn't cover one of my huffs! (Mary Knight now opens her basket and gives him some dough- nuts, which he seizes with avidity 'and puts some of them in his 14 pocket and commences eating one, then says) : These dough- nuts raike me think of poor Jerusha. I s'pose she's mighty lonesome, now. There ain't many women that can make such good doughnuts, and I allers did love doughnuts ! {Exit Mary Knight, Jonathan Briggs, and the Soldier. Cur- tain falls ) Scene Third. {A summer scene in a X'leasant grove near Fort Edward.) Capt. Brooks. How are you, Will, since the great battle ? Capt. Lucas. Oh, I am all right except a little trouble with that ball in my cheek. Capt. Brooks. You had a narrow escape. If that ball bad gone an inch higher you would have been a dead man. Capt. Lucas. Well, they say a miss is as good as a mile, but I would rather have been a mile from that ball. Capt. Brooks. Wlien Burgoyne's Canadians and Indians saw how Gen. Stark's militia could fight didn't they run? But the British and Germans, nearly every one of them, fell into our hands. Capt Lucas. Well, that was pretty close fighting at Bennington. Did you hear what Gen. Stark said when he saw the British forming for battle? Capt. Brooks. No. What did he say? Capt. Lucas. He said, *'See, men! There are the red- coats. We must beat them to-day, or Molly Stark 's a widow." Capt. Brooks. Gen. Stark is a brave man, and I am so glad that we are once more successful in war, for I don't wonder many stout hearts have quailed when I think of the hardships and reverses that we have suO'ered during the past year. But what success have we in love, Will? I hope you bring good news from Kose. Capt. Lucas. Well, poor Rose is nearly heart-broken by the death of her mother, but she was delighted to hear from you. Since Washington's proclamation it seems that old Tory, her father, gives her no peace. He is determined that she shall marry Col. Reed. Ca2)t. Brooks (with great vehemence). And I am deter- mined that she shall not ! CajH. Lucas. Well, they say strategy is fair in love and war. 15 Capt Brooks. Have you succeeded in arranging an interview between us, Will? Ca2}t. Liicas. Yes; by great palaver and deception I have obtained Mr. McCrea's consent to talce Annie and Rose out riding towards night. To-night at eight o'clock Rose will meet you at the Old Oak. Capt. Brooks (in excited tone). For Heaven's sake, don't fail, don't fail, Will! {Sound of drum is heard in the distance. Exit.) Scene Fourth. {The Old Oak in the golden moonlight. The sound of ivheels is heard in the distance, and a signal between Capt. Brooks and Lucas. Capt. Brooks advances to met Bose, embraces her, and says tenderly): What's the matter, darling? You are more like a lily than a rose. Bose. Oh, I don't know, I don't know I My father has had a long talk with me this afternoon, and I am nearly dis- tracted. He informed me that he had promised Col. Reed my hand. Captain Brooks. O Rose ! How can you think of it? Bose. I hope you don't think I intend to carry out their plans? I have always told my father that I never would marry Col. Reed. But he only laughs at me and says girls always say No when they mean Yes. (Capt. Brooks advances and takes her hand, saying) : You have never said Yes or No to me in plain words, Rose, but I have dared to hope that you would be ray wife. If you love me we must immediately make some arrangements to thwart your father's plans. Bose. How can you doubt my love ? What else could have tempted me to brave the danger of this interview? I came to beg, to entreat you to save me ! Save me, Capt. Brooks ! Cajyt. Brooks. Save you, Rose? Why, is there any immedi- ate danger? Bose. Can yoii keep a secret, Capt. Brooks? Capt. Brooks. It shall be as sacred as my life, my love. Bose. I suppose you know that Gen. Washington has Issued a proclamation ordering every person that has taken the oath of allegiance to King George to deliver up their 16 certificates and immediately take the oatli of allegiance to the United States of America, However, all that prefer the pro- tection of Great Britain are allowed to withdraw themselves and families within the British lines. Capt. Brooks. Certainly, I know that; but does your father still adhere to Great Britain? Base. Oh, yes; and he has had an interview with Col. Eeed and arranged everythini?. To-morrow night Col. Reed will send two Indian chiefs to conduct my father and myself from Fort Edward to Burgoyne's headquarters. Col. Reed will be waiting there with a minister ready to perform the marriage ceremony, as we are expected to leave with Bur- goyne's army the next morning. {Copt. Brooks lonlks up ami down in an excited manner ^ say- ing, I must save her ! I loill save her 1 He then advances, puts his arm around JRose and she leans weeping on his shoulder. Capt. Brooks says tenderly^ : Yes, my darling, I will save you or die in the attempt! Now listen, and remember every word. You must appear to acquiesce with your father's commands. You must leave Fort Edward with your father and the Indian guides, as he has arranged, to-morrow night. I know the route to Burgoyne's headquarters, and will intercept you on the way or die in the attempt ! Bose. But, Captain, you will not harm my father? Capt, Brooks. Oh, no ! he shall suffer no harm, because he is your father. {Exit. Curtain falls. ^ Scene Fifth. {In a loood by moonlight. Capt. Brooks and Lucas walking up and down, watching and listening.) Capt. Brooks. You don't suppose we can have missed them, do you? Capt. Lucas. Oh, no; they must come this way, as they have no boats or canoes in which to cross the lake, and they would not think of going such a long distance around it. Capt. Brooks. You are certain they had not altered their arrangements? Capt. Lucas. Oh, don't be so nervous, Brooks ! yon must keep cool or you will not be able to cope with thes*^ savages. I saw Annie just before I left; she said McCrea was in high 17 spirits, and insisted that Rose should wear her white dress so as to be all ready for the wedding. But I guess he don't know who will he his son-in-law. Capt. Brooks. Hark! I thought I heard the sound of distant voices. We had better secrete ourselves and silently await their coming. (Theij secrete themselves one on each side of the path, and await their coming. Base and her father are seen advancing, loith two Indian chiefs behind them disputing as to ivhich shall receive the ransom. When they arrive op)posite where the cap- tains are secreted, one of the Indians uplifts his tomahawk and seizes Bose by the hair. Bose kneels, begging for mercy ; the other Indian stands behind her, on the other side, attempting to shield her with one arm and warding off the uplifted tomahawk icith the other. Capt. Brooks shoots the attacking Indian and Mr. McCrea rushes forward, falls on his knees before the cap- tains, crying, Save.my daughter I Save my daughter ! For God's sake save my daughter ! Bose faints in Capt. Brooks's arms, and McCrea accepts Capt. Lucas's arm. The surviving Indian in the mean time examines his ally, Jinds he is dead, and so retires from the scene. Curtain falls.) Scene Sixth. (^Fort Edward. Gen. Stark and Mr. 3IcCrea enter, shake hands and exchange compliments,) Gen Stark. Well, I hear that your surviving Indian guide obtained a scalp, which he carried to Col. Reed, representing it to be that of your daughter, and demanded the ransom. Poor Reed fainted at the sight of it. Mr. 3IcCrea Then he really thought Rose was murdered in the encounter? Gen. Stark. Oh, yes ! and they say he was nearly frantic with grief for a while ; but he has recovered, for you know that a man that loves himself so much better than any one else would never die with grief, even for his sweetheart. I think you made a good exchange, Mr. McCrea, for Capt. Brooks will make you much the best son-in-law. Mr. McCrea. Well, I must make the best of it, for I really feel under great obligations to Capt. Brooks for saving the life of my darling daughter, and if Col. Reed really thinks her dead we will not undeceive him, for he might make us some trouble. 2 18 Gen. Stark. That 's so, and he probably will not remain in this country much longer, as we hope with the help of France and Spain our successes may continue until even King George will be obliged to withdraw his troops and acknowledge our independence. {The bridal party enters: Capt. Brooks and Rose 3IcCrca, Capt. Lucas and Annie Brown, and a few ladies, military officers, etc. They are arranged with the two couples standing side by side, with Mr. McCrea standing beside Bose, and Gen. Stark on the other side of Capt. Lucas. The priest reads the Episcopal ceremony . They kneel. The curtain falls.') LIVING TABLEAU. {The surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. Gen. Washing- ton's army formed in line to receive the surrender. Gen. Wash- ington on horseback, attended by Gen. Lafayette, rides up front of his army, saying, '■'■We will not exult over the fallen foe. When the British lay down their arms, boys, don't huzzah. Posterity loill Imzzah for you." Cornioallis's army now file past, and Cornwallis surrenders his sword to Gen. Lin- coln ; the colors £/" the British regiments are delivered by their ensigns to the sergeants in the American army. When the order *' Ground arms ! " is issued by the British officers, the soldiers file past, laying down their arms, and many of them throw thtm dovm with force enough to break them.) TABLEAU — 1776. In the centre an immense statue of the Goddess of Lib- erty.) with the equestrian statue of Gen. Washington on one side and equestrian statue of Gen. Lafayette on the other. Thirteen young ladies, dressed in red., lohite, and blue to represent tJie thirteen original States., each one holding aloft a banner with coat of arms of one of the States. These young ladies arranged on both sides of the central figure.^ the whole forming a half circle. The figures 1776, of im- mense size, illuminated, fill the space above the central figure. The thirteen original States are Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Mary- land, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Bhode Island. 19 TABLEAU — 1876. Two immense flags, one of them with thirteen stars, 1776, and the other with forty-two stars, 1876; these flags repre- sent the two centuries. The Centennial Buildings at Phila- delphia form the background; forty-two young ladies, each dressed in costume of dark blue except that the court train overskirt is composed of the two flags 1776 and 1876. Each young lady carries a banner with coat of arms representing one of the States or Territories. They march around in procession while the band plays national airs. The States and Territories represented are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Bhode Island, Connecticut, Wew York, New Jersey. Pennsylvania, Delaioare, Maryland, Vir- ginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississipin, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas, California, Oregon, Nebraska, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Dacota, New Mexico. At the close they are grouped, forming a tableau beneath the two flags. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS