812 . 
 
 WG6I 
 
 THE BALLAD OF 
 PRUDENCE DEAN 
 
 1104 
 
 
 Price, 1 S Cents 
 
THE BALLAD OF 
 PRUDENCE DEAN 
 
 A PANTOMIME FOR CHILDREN IN FIVE 
 SCENES 
 
 BY 
 
 E. M. WILLARD 
 
 4 
 
 CHICAGO 
 
 T. S. DENISON, Publisher 
 
 163 Randolph Street 
 
THE BALLAD OF PRUDENCE DEAN. 
 
 CAST OF CHARACTERS. 
 
 Male. 
 
 Female. 
 
 Father. 
 
 Allan Hardin. 
 Simon Stone. 
 Two Friends. 
 
 Mother. 
 
 Prudence Dean. 
 Two Friends. 
 Indian Squaw. 
 
 Four Indians, 
 
 Someone behind the scenes sings the story to the tunes indi 
 cated, while the children act it in pantomime. 
 
 Costumes in Puritan style for all except Indians. 
 
 Time of Playing — About thirty minutes. 
 
 COPYRIGHT, I904, BY T. S. DENISON. 
 
. 
 
 /' v 
 
 THE BALLAD OF PRUDENCE DEAN. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 Scene. — Interior of Puritan home. Mother knits , Prudence spins , 
 Father sits opposite. 
 
 Music — “A Life on the Ocean Wave.” 
 
 On the bleak New England shore 
 Lived a Puritan maid so fair. 
 
 She was joy to her parents’ heart; 
 
 Their delight, as well as care. 
 
 But not to them alone 
 Was she a joy and pride, 
 
 For young Allan Hardin bold (Allan enters , bows to parents , then 
 to Prudence.) 
 
 Would win her for his bride. 
 
 So a-courting he did come. 
 
 And the maiden curtseyed low. (Prudence curtseys.) 
 
 I But her father darkly frowned (Father scowls.) 
 
 And ordered him to go. (Father points to door.) 
 
 He plead in vain, (Allan bozos to both } gestures.) 
 
 The father yielded not. (Father shakes head sternly.) 
 
 He plead in vain, (Father points to door.) 
 
 ‘ The father yielded not. ( Repeat above.) 
 
 Young Allan plead his suit (Allan steps forward, gestures.) 
 With earnest words and true. (Allan puts hand on heart, bows.) 
 -Sweet Prudence begged full sore, (Prudence clasps hands.) 
 
 But the father angry grew. (Father turns away from her.) 
 
 “Now, get ye hence,” he cried, (Father waves hands away from 
 him.) 
 
 “And haste ye from my door! ( Points to door.) 
 
 No penniless man shall win ( Points to Prudence, shakes head.) 
 t$My child. Come here no more.” ( Motions Allan away.) 
 
 1 • 1 3 
 
 U. Or ILL Li& - 
 
4 
 
 THE BALLAD OF PRUDENCE DEAN. 
 
 “There is one I welcome here, (Father points far off.) 
 
 Who has gold and lands to spare. (Father spreads his hands.) 
 His wife will happy be, . (Allan folds arms , stands proudly.) 
 
 He shall have my daughter fair.” (Father points to Prudence.) 
 Young Allan went, (Allan goes slowly out, turning at door to 
 look at Prudence.) 
 
 With proud and sturdy tread, 
 
 And Prudence wept (Prudence weeps.) 
 
 With sadly drooping head. 
 
 Then came the man of gold, (Simon Stone enters.) 
 
 With cane, and wig, and smile, ( Smiles , hows all around.) 
 
 And favor sought from her ( Bows elaborately to Prudence.) 
 Whose heart was sad the while. 
 
 She gave no word of cheer, (Prudence turns her back on Simon.) 
 But frowned and often sighed. (Prudence frowns, sighs, looks 
 dozvn.) 
 
 Her father stormed in wrath, (Father shakes fist at Prudence.) 
 And raged in his angry pride. ( Stamps foot and walks up and 
 down.) 
 
 “I’ll none of this nonsense now. {Goes to Prudence.) 
 
 You shall marry the one I say! ( Shakes finger at her, turns her 
 around.) 
 
 The wedding shall be soon. ( Raises both hands high.) 
 
 And I shall name the day. ( Points to himself.) 
 
 So cease your tears ( Shakes finger at her.) 
 
 And quench your stubborn pride. 
 
 Old Simon Stone ( Leads her to Simon Stone.) 
 
 Shall have you for his bride.” 
 
 CURTAIN. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 Scene. Same as Scene I. 
 
 Prudence alone, spinning. Light slowly grows less, till at end of 
 first stanza stage is quite shadowy. 
 
 Music — “There’s Music in the air.” 
 
 Sweet Prudence grived full sore, (Prudence turns wheel slowly.) 
 Vanity did she try to sing 
 
 As at her work she kept, ( Stops turning , looks far away.) 
 
 While sorrow did her heartstrings wring. ( Leans her head on 
 hand.) 
 
THE BALLAD OF PRUDENCE DEAN. 
 
 5 
 
 Then, when gone the golden sun, 
 
 And the tasks of day were done, 
 
 Sadly grieved the maiden fair ( Puts face in hands.) 
 
 For her lover in despair. (Indian faces appear at door.) 
 
 Then in silence stole a band (Indians enter stealthily behind her.) 
 Of savages upon the scene. ( Steal toward her.) 
 
 They seized upon her as she wept, ( One throws small blanket over 
 her head. Others seize her by arms.) 
 
 And bore away sweet Prudence Dean. ( Hurry her away. All in 
 silence.) 
 
 Silent came they on the scene ; 
 
 Silent seized sweet Prudence Dean; 
 
 Silent went as they had come, 
 
 And left a lonely home. 
 
 CURTAIN. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Scene. — Glade on edge of forest. Woodland backing. If no scenery 
 set bare stage. 
 
 Music — “A Life on the Ocean Wave.” 
 
 Loud was the parents’ grief, (Parents enter, searching.) 
 
 Great their distress and wild, ( They weep and wring hands.) 
 When she they loved was gone, (Friends search.) 
 
 And lost was their darling child. ( Search continued.) 
 
 Not a guide to aid their search, 
 
 Not a trace then could they find. 
 
 Till an arrow told the tale, (Allan -finds arrow, holds it up.) 
 
 And a feather left behind. (Father finds quill, holds it up.) 
 
 Then wild was their despair, ( All look in despair at each other.) 
 
 For they knew that the redskins wild 
 
 Sweet Prudence captive held — (Mother faints.)' 
 
 Had stolen away their child. (Father clasps hands to heaven.) 
 Her cruel fate, 
 
 It wrung their heartstrings sore ; 
 
 And much they feared 
 They’d see her nevermore. 
 
 Then spoke old Simon Stone: (Simon steps forward, gestures.) 
 
 “I’ve gold and many men, ( Spreads hands, points far off.) 
 
 And they shall find your child, 
 
 And bring her back again. ( Extends hands to them.) 
 
6 
 
 THE BALLAD OF PRUDENCE DEAN. 
 
 Now have no fear,” said he. ( Turns toward Friends.) 
 
 ‘‘There's naught gold will not buy. ( Motions them to go and 
 search.) 
 
 I’ll send over all the land, ( Motions far off.) 
 
 So dry your tearful eye.” 
 
 But Allan Hardin's heart (Allan stands looking at arrow.) 
 
 Was sore and dark with fear. 
 
 He hastened from the door ( Goes slowly to door, hurries out.) 
 To seek her far and near. 
 
 No word he spoke. 
 
 But in his flashing eye 
 Was read his heart. 
 
 He‘d find his love — or die ! 
 
 CURTAIN. 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 Scene. — Same as Act III, "with front scene or an inner curtain down. 
 Stage dark. 
 
 ■+ 
 
 Music — “There’s Music in the Air.” 
 
 A night — a weary day — (Allan enters before the front scene or \ 
 inner curtain, gun and knife in hand. He goes slowly here I 
 and there, looking on ground as if following a trail.) 
 
 Then a darksome night again, 
 
 Brave Allan followed fast. 
 
 Full of courage, hope and pain. 
 
 Naught for guide but midnight star 
 Had brave Allan, following far; 
 
 Naught of wealth, save heart of gold, 
 
 Had Allan Hardin bold. 
 
 Far, far away from home. ( Front scene opens or inner curtain 
 rises, lights turned up, Allan hides at one side.) 
 
 At last he found his lady fair — (Prudence tied to tree, Indians 
 around her.) 
 
 A captive ’mong the redskins fierce. ( They give her in charge of a 
 Squaw.) 
 
 Safe, but drooping in despair. ( Prepare to go azvay.) 
 
 When the warriors left her bound, (Indians go.) 
 
 While for other foes they start, 
 
THE BALLAD OF PRUDENCE DEAN, 
 
 7 
 
 He sprang and cut her cruel bonds (Allan springs in } catches up 
 blanket , throws it over Squaw, cuts bonds of Prudence, hur- 
 ries her away.) 
 
 And clasped her to his heart. 
 
 CURTAIN. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 Scene. — Interior of cottage. Same as Acts I and II. 
 
 Music — “A Life on the Ocean Wave.” 
 
 By the hearthstone cold and drear, (Parents sit alone and sad.) 
 Sat the parents, sad and lone. 
 
 Life empty seemed, and cold. 
 
 Since their dear child was gone. 
 
 Then glad the sounds and gay ( Laughter and cheers heard in dis- 
 tance.) 
 
 That fell upon the ear, 
 
 To tell them grief was past, 
 
 And happiness was near. 
 
 Oh, joy; oh, happy day! (Prudence and Allan rush in.) 
 
 They clasp her in their arms ! ( Parents clasp her in their arms , 
 
 grasp Allan's hands.) 
 
 All danger’s Qver now, 
 
 And Prudence is safe from harms. (Friends gather 'round, greet 
 Prudence, Allan and each other.) 
 
 All fear is gone, 
 
 And danger all is past. 
 
 Oh, happy day ! # 
 
 She’s safe at home at last. 
 
 No need had Allan brave 
 To plead for Prudence then. 
 
 Her father gave with joy (Father takes Prudence by hand.) 
 
 The child who lost had been. (Mother holds her other hand.) 
 “Bring all our friends,” quoth he. (Father motions all to come.) 
 “Let us be glad and gay, 
 
 And celebrate with joy ( Points to Prudence and Allan.) 
 
 This bright thanksgiving day. ( Raises hand and looks up.) 
 
8 
 
 THE BALLAD OF PRUDENCE DEAN. 
 
 a For grief hath taught me this, ( Gestures with free hand.) 
 
 That courage and true worth 
 Are better than lands and gold, 
 
 Or wealth of all the earth. 
 
 So, daughter Prudence, now (For these four lines repeat music of 
 previous four lines.) 
 
 He’s yours — this man so true. 
 
 And, Allan Hardin, here (Father leads Prudence to Allan and 
 joins their hands.) 
 
 I give my child to you.” 
 
 Then everyone (Tableau.) 
 
 Was happy, glad and gay. 
 
 Forgot was grief 
 On that thanksgiving day. 
 
 CURTAIN. 
 
DENISON’S ACTING PLAYS. 
 
 Price 15 Cents Each, Postpaid, Unless Different Price is Given. 
 
 FARCES AND SKETCHES. 
 
 M. F. 
 
 Assessor, sketch, 10 min 3 2 
 
 April Fools, 30 min 3 0 
 
 Bad Job, 30 min 3 2 
 
 Bardell vs. Pickwick, 25 min... 6 2 
 
 Beautiful Forever, 30 min 2 2 
 
 Betsy Baker, 45 min 2 2 
 
 Blind Margaret, musical, 30 m. 3 3 
 Borrowed Luncheon, 20 min. .. 0 5 
 
 Borrowing Trouble, 25 min — 3 5 
 
 Box and Cox, 35 min 2 1 
 
 Breezy Call, 25 min. 2 1 
 
 Bumble’s Courtship, 18 min. . . 1 1 
 
 Cabman No. 93, 40 min 2 2 
 
 Christmas Ship, musical, 20 m. 4 3 
 
 Cobbler, 10 min — 1 0 
 
 Convention of Papas, 25 min. . . 7 0 
 
 Country Justice, 15 min 8 0 
 
 Cow That Kicked Chicago, 20 
 
 min 3 2- 
 
 Cut Off with a Shilling, 25 min. 2 1 
 
 Deception, 30 min 3 2 
 
 Desperate Situation, 25 min — 2 3 
 Documentary Evidence, 25 min. 1 1 
 
 Dude in a Cyclone, 20 min 5 3 
 
 Fair Encounter, sketch, 20 min. 0 2 
 
 Family Strike, 20 min 3 3 
 
 First-Class Hotel, 20 min 4 0 
 
 Freezing a Mother-in-Law, 45 
 
 min 3 2 
 
 Great Medical Dispensary, 30 
 
 min 6 0 
 
 Hans Von Smash, 30 min. . . — 4 3 
 
 Hard Cider, temperance, 15 m.. 4 2 
 
 Happy Pair, 25 min 1 1 
 
 Homoeopathy, Irish, 30 min 5 3 
 
 I’ll Stay Awhile, 20 min 4 0 
 
 I’m Not Mesilf at All, 25 min.. 3 2 
 Initiating a Granger, 25 min.. . 8 0 
 In. the Wrong House, 20 min. . . 4 2 
 
 Irish Linen Peddler, 40 min. . 3 3 
 
 Is the Editor in? 20 min 4 2 
 
 John Smith, 30 min 5 3 
 
 Just My Luck, 20 min 4 3 
 
 Kansas Immigrants, 20 min — 5 1 
 
 Kiss in the Dark, 30 min 2 3 
 
 Larkin’s Love Letters, 50 min.. 3 2 
 Lend Me Five Shillings, 40 min. 5 2 
 
 Limerick Boy, 30 min 5 2 
 
 Little Black Devil, 10 min 2 1 
 
 Love and Rain, sketch, 20 min. 1 1 
 
 Lucky Sixpence, 30 min 4 2 
 
 Lucy’s Old Man, sketch, 15 m. 2 3 
 Madame Princeton’s Temple of 
 
 Beauty, 20 min 0 6 
 
 Mike Donovan, 15 min 1 3 
 
 Misses Beers, 25 min 3 3 
 
 Mistake in Identity, 15 min... 0 2 
 
 Model of a Wife, 25 min 3 2 
 
 Mrs. Gamp’s Tea, sketch, 15 m. 0 2 
 
 My Jeremiah, 20 min 3 2 
 
 My Lord in Livery, 45 min 4 3 
 
 My Neighbor’s Wife, 45 min 3 3 
 
 M. F. 
 
 My Turn Next, 50 min 4 3 
 
 Narrow Escape, sketch, 15 m... 0 2 
 
 Not at Home, 15 min 2 0 
 
 Obstinate Family, 40 min 3 3 
 
 On Guard, 25 min 4 2 
 
 Only Cold Tea, 20 min 3 3 
 
 Outwitting the Colonel, 25 m. . 3 2 
 
 Patsy O’Wang, 35 min 4 3 
 
 Pat the Apothecary, 35 min 6 2 
 
 Persecuted Dutchman, 35 min. 6 3 
 
 Pets of Society, 30 min — 0 7 
 
 Played and Lost, sketch, 15 m. 3 2 
 
 Pull-Back, 20 min 0 6 
 
 Quiet Family, 45 min 4 4 
 
 Realm of Time, musical, 30 min. 8 15 
 
 Regular Fix, 50 min 6 4 
 
 Rejected, 40 min 5 3 
 
 Rough Diamond, 40 min 4 3 
 
 Row in Kitchen and Politician’s 
 
 Breakfast, 2 monologues.. . 1 1 
 
 Silent Woman, 25 min 2 1 
 
 Slasher and Crasher, 1 hr. 15 m. 5 2 
 
 Taming a 'liger, 20 min 3 0 
 
 That Rascal Pat, 35 min 3 2 
 
 To Oblige Benson, 45 min 3 2 
 
 Too Much for One Head, 25 m. . 2 4 
 Too Much of a Good Thing, 50 
 
 min 3 6 
 
 Treasure from Egypt, 45 min.. 4 1 
 
 Trick Dollar, 30 min 4 3 
 
 Turn Him Out, 50 min 3 3 
 
 Twenty Minutes Under Um- 
 brella, sketch, 20 min 1 1 
 
 Two Bonnycastles, 45 min 3 3 
 
 Two Gay Deceivers, 25 min 3 0 
 
 Two Gents in a Fix, 20 min 2 0 
 
 Two Ghosts in White, 25 min. . 0 8 
 
 Two of a Kind, 40 min 2 3 
 
 Two Puddifoots, 40 min 3 3 
 
 Uncle Dick’s Mistake, 20 min.. 3 2 
 Very Pleasant Evening, 30 min 3 0 
 Wanted : a Correspondent, 1 hr. 4 4 
 
 Wanted; a Hero, 20 min 11 
 
 Which Will He Marry? 30 min. 2 8 
 White Caps (The), musical, 30m. 0 8 
 
 Who is Who, 40 min 3 2 
 
 Who Told the Lie? 30 min,.... 5 3 
 
 Wide Enough for Two, 50 min. 5 2 
 Woman Hater (The), 30 min... 2 1 
 
 Wonderful Letter, 25 min 4 3 
 
 Wooing Under Difficulties, 35 
 
 min 4 3 
 
 Yankee Peddler, 1 hr 7 3 
 
 The publisher believes that he can 
 say truthfully that Denison’s list of 
 plays is on the whole the best se- 
 lected and most successful in the 
 market. New Plays will be added 
 from time to time. 
 
 For Ethiopian Plays see Catalogue 
 
 T. S. DENISON, Publisher, 163 Randolph St., Chicago. 
 
CHOICE PLAYS AND AMUSEMENT BOOKS 
 
 Plays by T. S. DENISON. 
 
 That the plays written by T. S. 
 Denison are, all things considered, 
 the best for amateurs, is attested by 
 their very large and increasing sale. 
 New plays in this type. 
 
 COMEDIES. m. F. 
 
 Odds with the Enemy, 4 acts, 1 
 
 hr. 45 min 7 4 
 
 Seth Greenback, 4 acts, 1 hr. 
 
 15 min 7 3 
 
 The School Ma’am, 4 acts, 1 hr. 
 
 45 min 6 5 
 
 Only Daughter, 3 acts, lhr. 15m. 5 2 
 Louva, the Pauper, 5 acts, 2 hrs. 9 4 
 Under the Laurels, 5 acts, 2 hrs. 5 4 
 Danger Signal, 2 acts, lhr. 45m. 7 4 
 Our Country, Historical Play, 
 
 3 acts, 1 hr 10 5 
 
 Topp’s Twins, 4 acts, 2 hrs 6 4 
 
 It’s all in Pay Streak, 3 acts, 1 
 
 hr. 40 min 4 3 
 
 The New Woman, 3 acts, 1 hr.. 3 b 
 FARCES. 
 
 Initiating a Granger, 25 min. . . 8 0 
 
 Wanted : a Correspondent, 2 acts, 
 
 45 min 4 4 
 
 A Family Strike, 20 min 3 3 
 
 Two Ghosts in White, 20 min. . 0 8 
 
 The Assessor, 10 min — :. 3 2 
 
 Borrowing Trouble, 20 min... . 3 5 
 
 Country Justice, 20 min 8 0 
 
 The Pull-Back, 20 min 0 6 
 
 Hans von Smash, 2 acts, 30 min. 4 3 
 Irish Linen Peddler, 2 acts, 40 
 
 min 3 
 
 Kansas Immigrants, 20 min — 5 
 
 Too Much of a Good Thing, 45 
 
 min 3 
 
 Is the Editor In? 20 min 4 
 
 Pets of Society, 20 min 0 
 
 Wide Enough for Two, 45 min. 5 
 
 Patsy O’ Wang, 35 min 4 
 
 Rejected, 40 min 6 
 
 A First=Class Hotel, 20 min .... 4 
 Madame Princeton’s Temple of 
 
 Beauty, 20 min 0 
 
 Dude in Cyclone, 20 min 5 
 
 The Cobbler, 10 min ... ....... 1 
 
 A Convention of Papas, 25 min. 7 
 TEMPERANCE. 
 
 The Sparkling Cup. 5 acts, 2 hrs. 12 
 Hard Cider, 10 min 4 
 
 Only Cold Tea, 20 min 3 
 
 ^FTopp’s Twins, and It’s All in 
 the Pay Streak, 25 c each. All 
 others, 15c each, Postpaid. 
 
 OPERETTAS. 
 
 Bonnybell 25c. 
 
 Elina, the Fairy Child 2oc. 
 
 Eulalia 2oc. 
 
 Let Love But Hold the Key .... 25c. 
 
 Pocahontas 15c. 
 
 Large Catalogue Free. 
 
 DIALOGUES. 
 
 Friday Afternoon Dialogues. 
 
 Twenty-five original pieces. . . 25c. 
 All Sorts of Dialogues. 
 
 New, fine for older pupils 25c. 
 
 When the Lessons are Over. 
 
 New Dialogues, Drills, Plays.. 25c. 
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 Thirteen Selections 25c. 
 
 From Tots to Teens. 
 
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 special occasions 25c. 
 
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 Poetical Entertainer. 
 
 New original poems for all 
 occasions (bound), illustrated. 50c. 
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 Choice prose and poetry 25c. 
 
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 monologues, dialogues, etc.... 25c. 
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 Selections from best authors. . 25c. 
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 Choice collections, pathetic, 
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 Shadow Pictures, Pantomimes. 
 
 Charades, and how to prepare, 25c. 
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 Black American Joker. 
 
 For minstrel shows 25c. 
 
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 Full of the keenest fun 25c. 
 
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