Anna Phillips See

“ Forget not your vow, ladies. ’Tis for our hostess to uphold the “Boltwood Band.”
Miss B. I have passed my word, and shall keep it. I never break a promise. (Ladies curtsey.) Farewell, ladies. (Exeunt Mrs. C., Mrs. A. and Mrs. S.) I fear me, Stephen, troublous times are before us, and there is a matter I would discuss with you. Should the war prove serious I may return to England. I would Betty were well settled, for she is over-impulsive and filled with romance. You are a Tory and will fare well when the patriots are punished, as they doubtless will be. Why should you not marry the child? ”

“ True, ’tis an ideal—but——
Judge (enthusiastically) . Dear Lavinia, you have shown me how earthly are mere love and marriage compared to this mating of our souls. Never again will I annoy you with words of love. Such friendship is all I ask! ”

“ A woman who has flouted one of the best men in the world and yet doth keep him dangling! Bah! If he were not a saint he would betake himself to another woman and be happy. Betty, I love you better than anything in life save honor, but I will not be put off like Judge Ingram. ”

“ Betty. Pray, aunt, let us go immediately to Boston. Every minute may be precious.
Miss B. Betty, I am deeply grateful for your belief in Judge Ingram.
Enter Mandy with Mrs. A. Mandy carries a basket into which she has been picking the roses. She looks curiously at Miss B., as she observes her agitation. Mrs. A. takes Miss B.’s hand affectionately.
Mrs. A. My dear friend, I have just heard the news concerning Judge Ingram. Surely there is some awful misapprehension. No one who knows him could, for a minute, believe him a spy for the British. ”

“ Mrs. S. Your conserve is marvelous, Miss Boltwood. The receipt is a secret, I presume.
Miss B. A family heirloom, Mrs. Strong. Pray tell me, ladies, if the tea be sufficiently brewed. I can assure you ’tis prime Bohea and no “Liberty Tea”!
(She laughs a little scornfully.)
Mrs. C. ’Tis of an elegant strength and ’tis an elegant tea. I feel certain no duty was paid on it. Was it honestly smuggled, my dear Miss Boltwood?
(All laugh.)
Miss B. Indeed it was, and through Judge Ingram too. A poor Tory he!
Mrs. A. Mayhap the good man will become a patriot in time. (Helps herself to a cake.) ”

“ Is she throwing the girl at William’s head?
Mrs. A. Sh! She does not know how enamored the young people are. When she learns it—poor Betty!
Miss B. (turning from the fireplace) . I pray you, ladies, draw up to the table ere the tea be cold. (They seat themselves. Mandy brings the teapot and places it before Miss B. Mandy looks longingly at the tea, sniffs it, and licks her lips behind their backs. The ladies pour the tea into their saucers and blow it noisily, crooking their little fingers as they raise the saucers to their lips. At a sign from Miss B., Mandy exits.) ”

“ Miss Boltwood, a despotic spinster, is persuaded to join a band of ladies who have sworn to give up tea and all taxed articles till the Revolutionary War is over. The tea habit is too strong for Miss Boltwood and she drinks it secretly. Her niece, Betty, discovers this and uses the information to compel her aunt to consent to her (Betty’s) engagement to the young minuteman, William Dickinson. ”

“ Enter Betty. She looks in surprise at her aunt and guests.
Mrs. S. (maliciously) . Miss Betty, your aunt is deeply concerned over the downfall of Judge Ingram. The whole town is buzzing with the news. It seems the Judge joined the patriot army but to furnish information to the British. He has been discovered and is to be executed as a spy!
(Betty springs to her aunt’s side and puts her arms around her.)
Betty. Dear aunt, ’tis a false charge—I know it. They would not execute an innocent man. ”

“ Heard you not that when a girl she was betrothed to Judge Ingram, but could not abide the thought of marriage?
Mandy. Lawsy, Miss Betty! An’ such friends as dey is, too! De Judge am a Tory. Is dat de reason Missy Boltwood ain’t no patriarch like mos’ of de Hartfield ladies?
Betty. Nay, Mandy, ’tis because aunt lived so many years in England. She thinks there need be no quarrel between the Colonies and the king. Could she but hear William Dickinson defend the cause of our independence——
(There is the sound of a wagon driven rapidly. Mandy runs to the window dish in hand.) ”

“ Still, ’twould be a hardship to give up the tea.
Miss B. Well, I am neither Tory nor patriot; so I drink smuggled tea, and shall drink it till I am under better advisement. Pray take of the candied cherries, Mrs. Strong. May I fill your cup, Mrs. Cowles? (The knocker sounds. Mandy [Pg 7] passes through from L. to R. She ushers in Judge Ingram, who carries a newspaper. All rise and curtsey.) Good-afternoon, Stephen Ingram.
Judge. Good-afternoon, Miss Lavinia. Pray do not let me interrupt your tea-drinking, ladies. I but stopped in passing to leave Miss Boltwood’s Boston Gazette. ”

“ Mandy. Sh, missy! I hears you’ aunt on de stairs.
Enter Miss Lavinia Boltwood, handsomely gowned.
Miss B. Cease your chattering, Mandy. Fetch me the egg cakes and the macaroons from the great cupboard.
[Exit Mandy.
Betty. With your permission, aunt, I will go abroad to take the air. ’Tis too beauteous a day to remain within.
(Takes off her apron.)
[Pg 5]
Miss B. Then I pray you go down to the Meadow Road and buy me some sage cheese from Mrs. Abiel Dickinson. Should you chance to see young William, chatter not with him. ’Tis not seemly for maidens to talk overmuch with men. ”

“ Betty (holding up cream pitcher) . I like well this tea set, Mandy. ’Twas a most pleasing gift that aunt’s cousin fetched her from China. She surely hath a vast love for tea. ’Tis almost a carnal weakness!
[Pg 4]
Mandy. True, missy. You’ aunt do love tea most ’stravagantly, an’ cats too! (Looks scornfully at Salem.) A true sign she will never marry. But Missy Boltwood am so sperity de mens am ’fraid of her, mebbe.
Betty (as they set the table) . Aunt is too strong-willed and—and—managing to obey any man. ”

“ Sits by the window which is open. She takes the cat and lifts it to the sill.
Betty. Smell the roses, Salem. How sweet they be. You are a wise pussy; tell me if William has the rose and the letter I sent him some days since. The post is so tardy these days. (Puts down cat; rises and goes to the mirror; pulls beads from their hiding-place under her kerchief; arranges them around her neck.) ’Tis a pity I cannot wear William’s keepsake openly. ”

“ To it I will give myself and all I have, even my tea! Look! I break the pot in token that I break the habit.
(She takes the teapot from the cupboard and is about to shatter it on the hearth when Mandy springs forward.)
Mandy. Oh, missy, don’ smash de little teapot! Give it to old Mandy.
(She holds out her hands for it. Miss B. puts the pot into them. Mandy clasps it to her breast.)
Miss B. Well, take it and get you to the kitchen. You can brew naught but “Liberty Tea” in it now.
(Mandy starts to go but is loath to lose any of the conversation, so lingers by the door at L.)
Judge. ”

“ Miss B. Stupid! You know the Judge is a Tory. I sent him to Boston to arrange my affairs in case I should return to England. He says (taking up the letter) that he is attending on young Dickinson who was badly wounded at Bunker Hill—while [Pg 13] bearing the colors at the head of his company. Humph! He doth not lack bravery, ’twould seem. The Judge requests me to send word to the young man’s mother. Perchance neighbor Kellogg’s boy would bear the message to Mrs. Dickinson. I will go and see.
(Exit Miss B., at R., leaving letter on the table. Mandy exits at L.)
Enter Betty with knitting. ”

“ Plays twenty minutes. A very clever and effective sketch for two young girls. Can be done entirely without stage or scenery or other preparation than mere memorizing and rehearsal. Played rapidly it is a sure success. ”