George M. Baker

“ Said I, here’s a sweet occupation, and a candid young man can win more lasses’ favor in this line than in any other. Nancy, you would adore me could you see me in a white apron, pulling molasses candy over a hook (with gestures) , with a long pull, and a strong pull, and a pull altogether!
Nancy. Simon Stone, you are a fool!
Simon. Nancy, I know it, or I should not be running after you, when I’ve been snubbed time and time again. Nancy, dear Nancy, look upon me with favor this time. (Takes box from pocket behind.) Accept this slight but sweet offering of affection. ”

“ May. I?
Matt. Would you, surrounded by luxury and comfort, happy in the love of a kind husband, would you take that man to your heart, present him to your husband?
May (rises) . I?
Matt. Yes, you: May Manning,——once May Randall——you who turned me from your doors——ponder well; for all the wretchedness and shame that clings to me, is part and parcel of——your father.
May. Ah! (Staggers to table and falls into chair R. of it, her face on her arm on table. Matt passes to back of chair at fireplace, and with hand upon it looks at her.) I have told you the truth. ”

“ May. Yes: I was left to the care of strangers. And this kind neighbor, Mrs. Bradley, took pity upon me. She was poor; but, hard as was her lot, I was treated as her own child. O Roy! she was a mother to the friendless little [9] stranger! Heaven knows I am grateful! All the tenderness she bestowed upon me I have tried to repay in love for her child. In days of poverty, Bess and I shared our crusts together; and now that fortune has blessed me with prosperity, her happiness is more than ever, with your dear help, to be the aim of my life. Comrades in adversity should be comrades in prosperity. ”

“ Nancy. Good riddance, Simon. Wonder in what new freak of business he’ll appear next.
[19]
(Enter May C.)
May. Ah, Nancy, you’ve had a visitor! Nice-looking, clever young man, I should say. (Seats herself at her sewing L. of table) .
Nancy. Clever! he’s too clever. Thinks he knows a great deal; and I think he knows more by this time. They’re all clever enough to come offering their affection; but, till he can offer something more substantial, he’ll find I’m clever enough to keep single. (Matt staggers in from L. to door C. and leans against side of door L.) . Good gracious! here’s a tramp. ”

“ Roy. May, you shall know all (walks to table) . No, no, the secret is not mine. I must be patient; she must suffer. (Marcus looks up at him from paper) . Well, what’s the matter with you?
Marcus. Manning, old fellow, I’m afraid you’re going over to the enemy. (Bess comes down back of table.)
Roy. It’s about time, when the enemy——as you style her——is a sweet, little woman, stung with remorse, and the attacking forces men, strong men, who ought to be ashamed of themselves: I don’t like it.
Marcus. Then strike your flag at once. There’s only one thing to prevent it. ”

“ Simon. I beg your pardon.
May. Well what is it; anything the matter in the garden?
Simon. No, everything is flourishing there: I’ve weeded out all that’s unsightly and unwholesome; but there’s something wrong here in the house.
May. In the house,——what do you mean?
Simon. Mrs. Manning, gardening has not been the sole occupation of my life. Before I entered your service I was a policeman.
May. Well?
Simon. Now, a policeman picks up a great many things in the course of his experience, and, in my short career, I have gained a morsel of information that may be useful to you. ”

“ He dare to love Bess? Ah, I have the power to save her. Heaven be praised.
Simon. He is here.
May. For the last time, I am determined.
(Matt runs in C.)
Matt. No letter, Roy’s wife, and that’s the best news I could bring. For as he has not written ’tis a proof he’s on the road home. Dear old boy! How glad we shall all be to see him. (Pause.) Ah! what’s the matter?
May. When a spy is caught in his enemy’s camp, what is done with him?
Matt. He’s strung to a tree, without judge or jury.
May. When a rogue is caught playing the honest man, in a peaceful and loving family, what should be his fate? ”

“ Simon!
Simon (sobered) . Well, Nancy?
Nancy. Do you ever look at the girls?
Simon. To be sure I do. I’ve often received a kiss from them.
Nancy. Simon!
Simon. Sugar ones, Nancy.
Nancy. Very well, Simon, very well. I’m perfectly satisfied.
Simon. Oh, Nancy! then you——
Nancy (furiously) . I’ll have nothing more to say to a man who so debases himself as to associate with lozengers and lollypops, sugar plums and pretty girls, with eyes full of candy and mouths full of kisses. Good morning, Mr. Stone.
Simon. Where are you going, Nancy?
Nancy. Back to my washing. The business won’t suit, Simon. ”

“ May (rising) . ’Tis as I feared, she is learning to love this [32] man; this tramp, who, in some unaccountable manner, fascinates the whole household. Roy delights in his company. Bess is happy at his side; even Nancy, the man hater, almost worships him, while I feel magnetized by his presence; and yet he robs me of my husband’s society. But he must not win my Bess, there’s too much at stake, an accident might rouse the slumbering curse of his former life, and then what a fate would be hers. Oh, no, she must be saved from that, though I make an enemy of my husband’s comrade. ”

“ Fire burning in fireplace. May in armchair before fire, half turned toward audience, gazing into the fire. Light on her from fire. Bess at piano playing, “’Tis the last rose of summer.” Marcus has arm on piano, looking down at her. Study lamp lighted on table, L. C. Roy seated L. of table reading paper. Curtains at windows down. Chair R. of table, as music ceases:——
Marcus. Thank you, Bess. “’Tis the last rose of summer,” to-night we pluck: the last of our delightful courtship, to be replaced with orange blossoms, fit symbols of the fruits of happiness, we shall then garner for the future. ”

“ Matt. Stop, stop, I say. You must not make me hate you, for you are Roy’s wife. My friend’s wife. Taunt me not. I will go out into the cold world once more. It’s only a step, and I am the outcast, the tramp, again.
Bess (runs to Matt) . No, no, you must not go. Roy will soon return.
May. Let him face him if he dares. (Goes R.)
Matt. Fear not, I will not face him. I told you, Bess, I was not wanted here. I have come between man and wife. A part of the affection which should have been all hers has gone out to the man who, in auld lang syne, tried to be a true friend. Let it pass. ”

“ May. Matt Winsor? impossible! he has told me he has no wife.
Simon. Then he’s a villain. I have told you all I know. The woman is dying. Let him know that, and if he denies her, then——
May. Why have you told me this?
Simon. Because he wronged my warm friend Marcus Graves. Drove him from this house. I want to see him treated as he treated Marcus.
May. Enough! you may go. (Simon turns, and goes up.) Stay. I may want to speak with you again. (Simon goes up to plants, and busies himself trimming them.) Drive him from this home. My husband’s friend. Wretch, he deserves no pity. ”

“ That night in camp we renewed our friendship, and, in jovial mood, vowed that whatever good fortune should be in store for us in the future should be shared between us. We were both poor——nothing but our soldier’s pay. The war ending, we parted. He went West in search of friends. I come here, to find my only friend, my father, dead, and, to my surprise, a small fortune awaiting me. Poor fellow! ”

“ Roy. Half a mile below. Did he look rough?
Mar. Rough, but good-natured. Dress ragged, face bloated, figure plump. These fellows thrive on their pickings these pests.
Roy. Don’t say that, Marcus. The fellow may have been unfortunate.
Mar. Unfortunate? Bah! What’s misfortune but a roll in the dust?——jump up, shake yourself, and you’re as good as new. I’ve no patience with a man who wants vim——something on the side of his face——you know——cheek!
Roy. Yes: a quality which tramps (aside) and drummers (aloud) possess in a wonderful degree. (Bess goes up to piano.) ”

“ Matt. Ah, old fellow, the dear one was hardly pressed; she fought bravely, and won a peaceful victory. To her be all the glory.
May. She has stepped between the comrades of old days only, I trust, to be the link that binds them closer. (Gives R. hand to Matt.) Hereafter, in the battle of life, we three march in line, joy and sorrow, victory and defeat, to one, to all. Comrades in prosperity, comrades in adversity, ever true, sworn comrades.
(Exit Simon, Nancy, R. Matt, May, Roy, C. Marcus, Bess, L.)
Curtain.
Transcriber’s Notes
A table of contents was added as a navigation aid. ”

“ May, this is my old comrade, of the war.
May (turning away) . His comrade?
[21]
Bess (comes down L.) . May, he’s drunk.
Matt (comes down) . ’Scuse me, ma’am, we were sweethearts in the camp (hic) , you’re his sweet—hic—heart now; but you can’t love Roy any better than I did in those (hic) gay old days (hic) , and now an ungrateful (hic) republic turns her noble ’fenders out to starve.
Roy. Not quite as bad as that, Matt. I’ve enough and to spare. Come with me.
Matt. Hold on a (hic) minute, Roy. Who’s the chap with the whip?
Roy (C.) . Mr. Marcus Graves. ”

“ May. Oh, Roy, you will not leave me. (Throws herself upon his neck.)
Roy. For his sake, May, yes. Do not hold me. You [37] have done a fearful wrong, as you will one day learn. (She unfolds her arms and staggers to mantel.) My brave, old comrade. You have struggled hard for a better life. Strike out, struggle on. You shall not sink. I will save you yet.
(Runs out C.)
May staggers down to chair R. of table, face on table. Bess runs and leans over her. Marcus, C. watching them. Nancy R. points up stage, and Simon, with a woeful face, looks at her. ”

“ Nancy. Indeed! a dirty kitchen is no place for a member of the ring. (Exit R. I. E.)
Simon. They’re in all kinds of dirty business anyhow. Don’t think, then, that will prevent me. Well, I’ve made her about as mad as I dare. She’s a smart girl, Nancy is, and she’ll find that, with or without money, there’s nothing shabby about me. (Exit R. I. E. May runs in front door L.)
May. Roy. Roy, where?——I must have dreamed, when I threw myself upon the bed. Such a horrid dream. Where are they all? (Looks off L.) There’s a light in the billiard room, and Marcus and Bess are there. ”

“ And so eager to help, one can’t help liking him. I’m sure Miss Bess does. (Dusts at mantel.) Look out, Mr. Graves; I wouldn’t give much for your chance three months from now, if you leave the field to the tramp.
(Enter C., May, in apron and gloves, a trowel in her hand; followed by Simon, who carries a flower-pot containing a geranium. He keeps his back to Nancy.)
May. You may place that geranium on the flower-stand. (Simon goes to stand and busies himself there.) That’s all I shall need at present. Thank you. Anybody been here, Nancy?
Nancy. No marm. Mr. Manning hasn’t come yet. ”

“ Roy. A military man——not exactly, our military drummer——musters his men to battle with the rattle of his sheepskin; your civil drummer, with the rattle of his tongue, taps the sheepskin of the men he musters, and too often makes enemies in his own ranks, with short and poor rations not up to sample. ”

“ Matt. ’Scuse me. You did (hic) n’t ’spect me.
May. Oh yes, yes, you are very welcome: we have sought you——Roy has. I longed for you to come to tell you how sorry I am for the wrong I did you.
Matt. No such thing (hic) : you did me no wrong. I de (hic) ceived you, and you turned me out like a dog——a stray dog——just what I was. What right had I ’mong hones’ folks.
May. The right every man has to recognition when he attempts to shake off the shackles of habit, and be a man again.
Matt. Jes’ so; but you see it’s no use (hic) . I fell again.
May. O Matt——Roy’s comrade——tell me you forgive me. ”

“ Nancy. It’s most time to hear from Mr. Manning. Two days since we’ve had a letter. Queer freak that was of his’n, turning Mr. Marcus Graves out of doors, and all at once starting off west to bring him back. (Dusts at back.) Couldn’t have been because Miss Bess was pining away, because she isn’t. Her appetite is good; and, when love doesn’t affect that, there’s no use in worrying. (Dusts piano.) She’s just as happy all day riding about with Matt Winsor as she was with the other. And what a change in him. Came here, six months ago, a drunken tramp ”