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diff --git a/old/54535-0.txt b/old/54535-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index fe4247e..0000000 --- a/old/54535-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2968 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Changed Valentines, by Elizabeth F. Guptill - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Changed Valentines - And Other Plays for St. Valentine's Day - -Author: Elizabeth F. Guptill - -Release Date: April 10, 2017 [EBook #54535] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHANGED VALENTINES *** - - - - -Produced by Emmy, MFR and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: - - NO PLAYS EXCHANGED. - - BAKER’S EDITION - OF PLAYS - - The Changed Valentines - - Price, 25 Cents - - WALTER H. BAKER & CO. - BOSTON -] - - * * * * * - -A. W. Pinero’s Plays - -Price, 50 Cents Each - -THE AMAZONS Farce in Three Acts. Seven males, five females. Costumes, -modern; scenery, not difficult. Plays a full evening. - -THE CABINET MINISTER Farce in Four Acts. Ten males, nine females. -Costumes, modern society; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. - -DANDY DICK Farce in Three Acts. Seven males, four females. Costumes, -modern; scenery, two interiors. Plays two hours and a half. - -THE GAY LORD QUEX Comedy in Four Acts. Four males, ten females. Costumes, -modern; scenery, two interiors and an exterior. Plays a full evening. - -HIS HOUSE IN ORDER Comedy in Four Acts. Nine males, four females. -Costumes, modern; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. - -THE HOBBY HORSE Comedy in Three Acts. Ten males, five females. Costumes, -modern; scenery easy. Plays two hours and a half. - -IRIS Drama in Five Acts. Seven males, seven females. Costumes, modern; -scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. - -LADY BOUNTIFUL Play in Four Acts. Eight males, seven females. Costumes, -modern; scenery, four interiors, not easy. Plays a full evening. - -LETTY Drama in Four Acts and an Epilogue. Ten males, five females. -Costumes, modern; scenery complicated. Plays a full evening. - -THE MAGISTRATE Farce in Three Acts. Twelve males, four females. Costumes, -modern; scenery, all interior. Plays two hours and a half. - -Sent prepaid on receipt of price by - -Walter H. Baker & Company - -No. 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Massachusetts - - - - - The Changed Valentines - - And Other Plays for St. Valentine’s Day - - By - ELIZABETH F. GUPTILL - - _Author of “A Troublesome Flock,” “Little Acts - for Little Actors,” etc._ - - BOSTON - WALTER H. BAKER & CO. - 1918 - - - - -The Changed Valentines - -And Other Plays - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - - THE CHANGED VALENTINES, 3 males, 4 females 3 - - A ROMANCE OF ST. VALENTINE’S DAY, 1 male, 2 females 25 - - THE QUEEN OF HEARTS, 11 males, 13 females 45 - -[Illustration] - -COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY WALTER H. BAKER & CO. - - - - -The Changed Valentines - -In Two Acts - - - - -The Changed Valentines - - -CHARACTERS - - BOBBY, _the small boy of the family_. - EVELYN } - HELEN } _his older sisters_. - LOUISE, _his younger sister_. - MRS. WINSTON, _his mother_. - BERT, _his older brother_. - MR. BERTRAM ELLIOTT, _his bachelor uncle_. - - -ACT I - - SCENE.--_The setting is the same for both Acts--a living-room - or library._ - - (_As the curtain rises BERT is sitting at a desk, evidently - just finishing a letter or note._) - -BERT. There! I’ll just tuck it in here with the valentine, and let her -get both together. (_Does so, and directs envelope._) Miss Eloise V. -Worthington! A pretty name, and a stately one, but somehow I like Winston -better. I wonder if she will? - - (_Finishes addressing it, and sits looking at it._) - - _Enter BOBBY, in a hurry._ - -BOBBY. Bert! Frank’s out here in his brother’s buzzcart, and wants to see -you. He says you can ride up-town if you’ll get a move on. - -BERT. I will that. - - (_Steps out, comes back through, putting on his coat._) - -BOBBY (_with a grin_). Going bare-headed? - -BERT (_putting hand to head_). Why, I thought I put it on! Run and get -it, kid. - - (_Exit BOBBY. BERT paws around on table, upsetting everything._) - -BOBBY. Here’s your lid. - -BERT. Thanks. Where in the name of common sense are my gloves? I put them -here for Mother to mend, last night. - -BOBBY. They’re sticking out of your pocket. - -BERT. So they are. So long, kid. - - (_Hurries out, forgetting valentine. BOBBY spies it and picks - it up._) - -BOBBY. Gee! It’s a valentine for Eloise. Bet it ain’t as pretty as the -one I bought. There won’t no silly girl get it, either. I wonder---- - - (_He starts to take it out of envelope, hears some one - coming, and runs out, dropping it. There should be a curtain, - apparently separating two rooms, and behind this BOBBY hides._) - - _Enter UNCLE BERTRAM; goes to desk._ - -UNCLE B. (_addressing his envelope_). Well, well! That’s the fortieth -valentine I’ve sent Ellen. I sent the first, I remember, when I was a -three-year-old, in kilts, and she a baby in little white dresses and -blue shoes. Ha, hum! Such is life! Here we are, both middle-aged people, -though blest if I feel so! If she’d only answered that twentieth one, I -might not have been sending the fortieth. I wonder---- (_He toys with -letter._) - -MRS. WINSTON (_looking in_). Oh, here you are, Bertram. You’re wanted on -the ’phone. - -UNCLE B. (_rising_). I’ll be right there. - - (_He hurries out, and BOBBY hurries in, and picks up the - dropped letter._) - -BOBBY (_going to desk_). Gee! I’ve thought of the best joke! This ain’t -sealed, either. I’m a-going to change ’em. Thirty-nine valentines are -enough for one lady to get from the same man, anybody’d know! (_Makes -the change, and seals both letters._) There! I guess a “change’ll be a -difference,” as Aunt Emily says, and Eloise oughtn’t to care. This one’s -from Bert, too. Didn’t know Uncle Bertram ever signed his name Bert. -Jumping frogs! He’s coming! - - (_Hides again, BERT’S letter in his hand. His uncle takes the - letter, and sees it is sealed._) - -UNCLE B. Funny! I thought I hadn’t sealed that. Getting absent-minded, I -guess. - - (_Puts it in pocket, and goes out, whistling._) - - _Enter EVELYN and HELEN. Both start toward desk. HELEN reaches - it first._ - -EVELYN. Oh, dear, Helen, won’t you let me have the desk a minute? I just -want to address a letter. - -HELEN. So do I, and I’m in an awful rush. - -EVELYN. What is it? A valentine? - -HELEN. Is yours? - -EVELYN. Well, why don’t you address it, or else let me have the desk? - -HELEN (_rising_). You may have it, Evvie. I’ll wait. (_EVELYN seats -herself, toys with pen._) Well, why don’t you do it, if you’re in such a -rush? (_EVELYN laughs._) - -EVELYN. For the same reason you don’t, I guess. Here! (_Hands her a -fountain pen._) You can do yours on the table. Then we won’t bother each -other. - -HELEN. I’ll let you see who mine is addressed to, if you will, too. - -EVELYN. No, thanks. (_Both hesitate, laugh, and HELEN takes hers to -table. Both write hastily. A crash is heard, followed by a loud scream, -and both girls rush out. BOBBY comes out of his hiding-place, and -changes valentines swiftly, sealing both, then darts back as he hears -girls coming. They enter._) Katy will scare us to death some day. Did you -ever see any one who could get so many tumbles? - -HELEN. Or smash so many dishes? No, I never did. (_Takes up valentine._) -Why, I don’t remember sealing this. - -EVELYN. Nor I mine. I suppose the--the Irish earthquake in an American -kitchen put it out of our heads. Want me to mail your letter? I’m going -out. - -HELEN. No, thanks. I’m going out, too, and this envelope is private -property. - -EVELYN. H’m! I could make a pretty good guess as to the name on the -outside. It’s “Pet,” of course. - -HELEN. Really, it’s mean to call Phil that. He hates it so! - -EVELYN. Then his mamma shouldn’t have named him Philip Etheridge, when -she knew his last name must always be Tuttle. Then he is such a pet. I -always want to see a big lawn bonnet on those golden curls of his, and -see his dear little self in ruffled white dresses, with short socks and -blue slippers. Of course the little darling wants a valentine! But I -should think he’d make you tired! - -HELEN. He’s lots nicer than that homely Jack Hamilton. All he thinks of -is baseball. - -EVELYN. Well, he isn’t soft and sentimental, and--mushy like Pet. I don’t -care to lead a nice little poodle-dog around by a blue ribbon. - -HELEN. You’d prefer a bulldog? - -EVELYN. I certainly should. Coming out to mail your precious epistle? - -HELEN. I am. - -EVELYN. Come on, then. (_Both pass out._) - -BOBBY (_coming forth again_). Now maybe I’ll have a chance. No, here -comes Lou! - - (_Dives out of sight again._) - -LOUISE (_entering_). I saw you, Bobby Winston! What you hiding for? - -BOBBY (_stepping out_). I ain’t hiding. - -LOUISE. Well, you were. Thought you could jump out and scare some one, I -s’pose. - -BOBBY (_as she seats herself at desk_). Who you writing to? - -LOUISE. Nobody. I’m sending valentines. - -BOBBY. Valentines? More than one? Helen and Evvie only sent one apiece, -and I’m going to send one. - -LOUISE. Oh, Bobby, who to? - -BOBBY. That ain’t good grammar. - -LOUISE. And that is, I s’pose. H’m! - - (_She takes two envelopes and tucks in valentines, and seals - them._) - -BOBBY. Who you sending ’em to, Lou? - -LOUISE. I shan’t tell. Go ’way, Bobby, so’s I can get ’em done. - -BOBBY. Tell me who they’re going to? - -LOUISE. No siree! - -BOBBY. I’ll give you my glass agate if you will, Louie. - -LOUISE. What you want to know for? To tell somebody, and get me laughed -at? - -BOBBY. No, I won’t tell, honest Injun! - -LOUISE. Well, the pretty one goes to Reginald, and the homely one goes to -Freddie, ’cause I’m mad on him! - -BOBBY. What you mad at Freddie for? - -LOUISE. ’Cause he said Valentine’s Day was silly, and he shouldn’t send -one. - -BOBBY. Ho, ho! And you wanted him to send you one! - -LOUISE. No such thing! He can keep his old valentines, if he wants to. -I’m going to send a lovely one to Reginald. He’s got sense enough to -’preciate it, maybe. And I got a horrid comic one of a miser, all ragged -and thin, gnawing a bare bone, like a dog, with his money all piled up -around him. - -BOBBY. Mamma doesn’t like us to send comic ones. - -LOUISE. Don’t you tell, Bobby Winston! - -BOBBY. What’ll you give me not to? My aggie back again? - -LOUISE. I haven’t got it yet to give back again. Yes, keep it if you want -to, but don’t tell. If you do, I’ll never tell you anything again, so -there, now! - -BOBBY. Well, I won’t, but Mamma wouldn’t like it. You know she wouldn’t. - -LOUISE. Maybe she wouldn’t like all you’ve been up to, either, Sir Robert. - -BOBBY. What you know about what I’ve been up to? - -LOUISE. Oh, you have! You have been up to some mischief! Now if you tell, -I will. - -BOBBY. You can’t, for you don’t know it to tell, smarty. Say, Lou, let’s -see the funny one. - -LOUISE. It isn’t funny. It’s just horrid, and I meant it to be. Besides, -they’re sealed now. Keep still while I direct them. (_She writes. BOBBY -gets behind her, and shows wild enjoyment. LOUISE rises._) There! Now -I’ll go mail ’em. Have you sent any, Bobby? - -BOBBY. Not me. I’ve got too many sisters to want to send valentines to -girls. (_LOUISE goes out. BOBBY seats himself at desk._) See if I can -get mine sent some time to-day. (_Writes._) I suppose I’d better mail the -one Bert forgot. Gee! But wasn’t it good! Louise mixed up her own, and -she’s sent the pretty one to Fred, and the other to Reginald. Good one on -her! It seems to be catching. I’ll go out and mail mine before anything -happens to it. It’s a poor day for valentines. Sort of mixy, somehow. -Six of ’em, all going wrong! Gee! Mine’s the lucky seventh. Wish I was a -bumblebee, and could follow some of ’em. Wouldn’t it be fun! Well, Papa -says a boy ought to be a good mixer. Guess I’m all right. (_Goes to door, -and calls._) Mamma! - -MRS. W. (_outside_). What is it, Bobby? - -BOBBY (_as she enters_). Here’s a letter Bert left on the desk, all -addressed and sealed. Shall I mail it? - -MRS. W. Certainly. Let me see it, Bobby. (_Takes it, and reads._) It’s -for Eloise. A valentine, probably. Mail it by all means, dear. - - (_BOBBY runs out. MRS. W. tidies up the room a bit, and then - also passes out._) - - -ACT II - - SCENE.--_Same room as before. Evening of same day._ - - (_MRS. WINSTON is seated, with sewing. BOBBY runs in._) - -MRS. W. What do you think I got in the mail to-day, Bobby? - -BOBBY. The paper, probably. - -MRS. W. Yes, but something more. - -BOBBY. A letter. - -MRS. W. Something better and more precious still. - -BOBBY. What was it? - -MRS. W. A valentine--such a pretty one! Why, I haven’t had a valentine -for years! - -BOBBY. Did you like it? - -MRS. W. I certainly did, very much. If I only knew who sent it, I -should--kiss him, I think. - -BOBBY. You mightn’t want to. - -MRS. W. I’m sure I should want to, for, you see, I knew the writing on -the outside. - -BOBBY. You did? - -MRS. W. Yes indeed. Thank you so much, dear. It was very nice to receive -a valentine once more. - -BOBBY. Don’t ladies get valentines? - -MRS. W. Not usually after they are my age, dear. - -BOBBY. But Miss Colwell does, and I heard you say once that you had the -same birthday. - -MRS. W. So we have, dear, but what makes you think she gets valentines? - -BOBBY. I know she does. Uncle Bertram sent her one this morning, and he -said it was the fortieth. - -MRS. W. Uncle Bertram? Did he tell you that, Bobby? - -BOBBY. N-no, not exactly; but he said it, Mamma. He did, really. - -MRS. W. To whom, then, if not to you? How did you come to hear it? - -BOBBY. He said it to himself, when he was directing it this morning. - -MRS. W. Did he know you were there? - -BOBBY. N-no. I wasn’t there, exactly. - -MRS. W. Then where were you? - -BOBBY. I was--in there. (_Points._) - -MRS. W. Bobby! You weren’t listening? - -BOBBY. Well, I couldn’t help hearing, could I? - -MRS. W. Here comes Louise. Don’t mention what you have told me, Bobby. -Not to any one. Remember. - -BOBBY (_as LOUISE enters_). Yes’m, I won’t. Hi, Louie! How many -valentines did you get? - -LOUISE. Eight. Want to see ’em? - -BOBBY. Sure I do. Come on over and show ’em to Mamma. - - (_LOUISE passes to side of her mother’s chair; BOBBY stands at - other side, and they look at the valentines._) - -LOUISE (_showing them_). Bert sent this one, and Uncle Bertram sent this -one, and Grandpa sent this one, and Harold sent this one, and Leon sent -this one, and Edwin sent this one, and Reginald sent this one. - - (_She says this slowly, showing them, and MRS. W. and BOBBY - make comments on how pretty they are, etc._) - -BOBBY. Gee! That’s a beaut of Reginald’s. Bet you’re glad you sent him -one. - -LOUISE. No, I’m not. He bought one for every girl in our class--every -single girl! He likes to show off how much pocket money he has. - -MRS. W. It’s a very pretty valentine, Louise. - -LOUISE (_showing last one_). I like this better. Freddie made it all -himself, and it’s the only one he sent. - -BOBBY. ’Tis pretty, but it isn’t nearly so swell as Reggie’s. Besides, I -thought Freddie wasn’t going to send any. - -LOUISE. He said he wasn’t going to buy any, and he didn’t. - -BOBBY. Gee! And you sent him---- - -LOUISE. I didn’t either, Bobby Winston. I got those envelopes mixed, and -sent him the nice one. - -BOBBY. And you sent the other to Reg? Kinder tough, when he’d treated the -whole grade to valentines. - -MRS. W. I hope my little daughter didn’t send a comic valentine to any -one. - -LOUISE. I did, Mamma, but I shan’t again. I should have been so ashamed -if Freddie had got it, when he made me such a pretty one. - -MRS. W. But how about Reginald? - -LOUISE. Oh, Reggie didn’t care a bit. He never got a comic one before, -and he thought it was funny. He never guessed one of us girls sent it, -and you see, it was a miser, and Reggie isn’t a bit, you know, so it -didn’t touch him at all, but---- - - _Enter EVELYN and HELEN, evidently rather “huffy.”_ - -HELEN. Well, you got some, didn’t you, kiddo? - -BOBBY. I should say she did! Eight of ’em! How many’d you get, Helen? - -HELEN. Oh, five or six. What a foolish day it is! Worse than April first! - -LOUISE. I think it’s lovely. Don’t you, Evvie? - -EVELYN (_shortly_). No. - -BOBBY. Looks as if you two had a grouch. What’s up? - -EVELYN. Nothing. - -HELEN (_scornfully_). Nothing! - -EVELYN. Oh, dry up, do! Let your face rest a while. - -MRS. W. Evelyn! What sort of talk is that? - -EVELYN. Well, I’m sick of her nagging! And everything’s gone wrong to-day. - -HELEN. I don’t see as anything went wrong with you. - -EVELYN. I suppose you wouldn’t call it so, but why any one should want -that simp of a Pet hanging round her, I don’t know. - -HELEN. Then why did you have him? - -EVELYN. How could I help it? He doesn’t know enough to see when he’s -turned down. I did everything but slap his pretty face for him, but -nothing would penetrate that rhinoceros hide of self-esteem. Bah! He -makes me sick! - -HELEN. You looked like it. I saw how earnestly you were talking to him. - -EVELYN. I certainly was. - -BOBBY. Gee! Evvie’s stole Helen’s beau, and Helen’s mad! - -HELEN. No such thing. - -MRS. W. That will do, Bobby. I have never seen any signs of Evelyn’s -fancying Philip. He isn’t her style. - -EVELYN. No, he isn’t. I detest sissy boys, and always did. Helen can have -him and welcome. - -HELEN. Then why did you send him a valentine? No wonder you wouldn’t show -me the address! - -EVELYN. It wasn’t to him. - -HELEN (_hotly_). You’re---- - -MRS. W. (_interrupting sharply_). Helen! I hope neither of my girls is -going to forget that she is a lady. - -HELEN. Well, she did send him one. - -EVELYN. I did not! - -HELEN. I heard him thank you for it in two lines of poetry. - -EVELYN. And if you’d played eavesdropper a little longer, you’d have -heard me absolutely deny it. I told him I only sent one, and that not to -him, and advised him to talk to the one to whom he sent the volume of -poetry and the white roses. - -HELEN. And he said you were the prettiest. I hate you both, so there! - - (_Throws herself into a chair, and begins to cry._) - -EVELYN. Truly, Helen---- - -HELEN. Don’t talk to me. I saw the address on the envelope, and so did -Freda and Myrtle, and we all recognized your writing. No other girl in -school makes a P like yours. - -EVELYN. It was a very good imitation, I’ll admit. The work, no doubt, -of some one who thought it a very good joke to play on me. Just wait -till I see Mr. Jack Hamilton, that’s all. It was a neat little stroke of -business to be out of town to-day. I could shake him with a will. - -MRS. W. But why should a valentine make such a disturbance? It’s just boy -and girl fun at your age. - -BOBBY. Helen don’t think so. She’s awful spoony on Mr. Philip Etheridge -Tuttle. - -MRS. W. That will do, Bobby. Don’t be vulgar. - -LOUISE. Well, he always walks to the corner with her, and to-night he -didn’t. He came with Evvie. - -BOBBY. Came after her, you mean, trotting behind like a little poodle-dog -whose missis goes too fast for him, and she and Helen have been fighting -ever since. - -HELEN. Well, she knew he liked me, and she’s always pretended not to like -him, and he’s always thought she was pretty, and so, when she sent him -the valentine---- - -EVELYN. When she sent him nothing! If he tags me to-morrow I’ll tie a -blue ribbon on his neck, and hitch it to a little chain, and lead him -round like a nice little toy dog. You see if I don’t! - -HELEN. Just to show every girl in the school that you’ve captured him! -Well, I’ll see that they know how you did it. - -EVELYN. I’m about tired of being told I--twist the truth. - -HELEN. I’d say it stronger, if Mother’d let me. You may think it, -instead. I saw you address that envelope this morning, and you refused to -let me see the name--you know you did! - -EVELYN. Well, so did you. What was the matter with the one you sent him, -I wonder? - -HELEN. I wish I’d never sent it. All I’ve got from him to-day at school -is a nod and a stare. He’s mad about something, and you’re to blame. - -MRS. W. How about the roses and the book? - -HELEN. Well--he sent them before he got Evvie’s valentine. - -EVELYN. I never sent him any! - -MRS. W. That will do, girls, both of you. Helen, if things have gone to -this point I am glad I have found it out in time. I knew he was a rather -sentimental boy, but I thought him harmless as an associate, and he was -poor Fanny’s boy, so I have encouraged his coming here--having no mother. -But this---- - -EVELYN. Oh, Helen isn’t quite as foolish as she seems, Mamma. She’s just -jealous because he thinks me pretty. As if I cared what he thought! - -HELEN (_sneeringly_). Yes, as if you did! - -MRS. W. Here’s Bert coming. If you don’t want to hear of this foolish -quarrel for the next six weeks, you’d better stop it. Bobby and Louise, -not a word about it. Remember now. - - _Enter BERT._ - -BERT. Good-evening, every one. What’s the matter, Helen? (_Throws himself -into seat._) - -HELEN. Nothing. What’s the matter with you? You look glum as an oyster. - -MRS. W. Didn’t things go well at the office to-day, Bert? - -BERT. Oh, yes, about the same as usual. - -LOUISE (_going up to him, and smoothing his hair_). Was somebody mean to -you, Bertie? - -BERT (_taking her on his knee_). Just a bit, maybe, little sister. See -here! (_He takes a dime from his pocket._) If I gave you this what would -you do with it? - -LOUISE. I’d buy a little dolly at the ten-cent store. - -BOBBY. A dolly! Gee whiz! I’ll bet you’ve got twenty now. - -LOUISE. But we girls, seven of us, are going to have a sewing society, -and we’re going to buy some little dolls, and make a whole outfit for -them, and---- - -BOBBY. Pretty outfit it’ll be, I guess. You can’t sew. - -LOUISE. I can, too, a little, and besides, Eloise is going to show us how. - -BOBBY. Oh, it’s her get up, is it? Then Bert’ll give you the ten-cent -piece, sure. - - (_BERT does so, and she hugs and kisses him._) - -LOUISE. You’re just the dearest big brother! But what makes you look so -sober? Does your head ache? - -BERT. A little, I guess. Perhaps, if you smooth it, it will make it -better. (_She proceeds to do so._) - -BOBBY. Got any more of those little shiny fellers that you want to give -away, Bert? - -BERT (_teasingly_). Why, let me see---- Why, what’s come over Uncle -Bertram? Never heard him come in like a college boy before. (_Enter UNCLE -BERTRAM. He goes straight to BERT, and shakes his hand heartily._) Glad -to see you, Uncle, truly; but why pick me out for this particular grip? - -UNCLE B. Because you’ve done me the greatest possible favor. I shall owe -my happiness the rest of my life to you, Bert. - -BERT. To me? Say, Uncle, is it a joke, or have you gone nutty, or what? I -haven’t seen you since morning. - -UNCLE B. No, I know it, but you’ve done a great thing for me, just the -same. I’m--I’m going to be married. - -ALL (_together_). Why, Bertram! Oh, Uncle Bertram! Who to? Why, Uncle! - -BERT. Glad to hear it, I’m sure, but I don’t see what I had to do with -it. I didn’t propose to the lady for you, I’m sure. - -UNCLE B. That’s just what you did, boy, though you didn’t know it. And -she wore the white rose, all right. - -BERT. Oh, she did? Well, I don’t know how you came to know of it, but if -Eloise wants to marry a man twice her age because he has a little money, -she’s welcome, for all me. I--I congratulate you, Uncle Bertram. - -UNCLE B. Good grit, boy, though it isn’t true, one bit of it. - -BOBBY. What isn’t? Aren’t you going to be married? - -UNCLE B. I certainly am, and so is Eloise, I fancy; but not together. I’m -to marry Miss Ellen Colwell, my boy. - -MRS. W. Ellen? After all these years? - -BERT. Not Eloise? But the rose? - -EVELYN. And how did Bert propose for you, when he didn’t know anything -about it? - -HELEN. Do keep still, everybody, and let Uncle Bertram tell it. It sounds -awfully mixed up to me. - -BERT. Yes, explain, do, Uncle. You’ve got me guessing for fair. - -UNCLE B. Well, you see, to really explain, I’d have to go back twenty -years. - -HELEN. Oh, do, Uncle. It sounds so romantic. - -UNCLE B. Romantic! Idiotic! That’s what it was! Well, you see, when I was -a youngster only three years old, Dr. Colwell came to town to practice, -and bought the home where Miss Ellen lives now. We lived on the same -street then, and Mother took me with her when she went to call, and I -fell in love with her on the spot. - -BOBBY. With your mother, or the doctor? - -UNCLE B. With the doctor’s baby, little Ellen. She was a bit of a thing, -with a white dress and a blue sash, and blue shoes, and she had big blue -eyes that just matched, and little soft, yellow curls, and she called me -“Boy.” It was the first word she had ever tried to say, her mother told -me. - -LOUISE. Miss Ellen’s hair is brown. - -UNCLE B. So it is, Louie, but it used to be yellow. Well, from that day -on we were playmates, and I sent her a valentine that year. In fact, I -have every year. I sent my fortieth this morning. - -BERT. But I don’t see---- - -UNCLE B. Hold on, Namesake. Wait a bit, and you will. Twenty years ago I -sent one in which, in the best verses I knew how to make, I asked her a -question--_the_ question; and I asked her, if the answer was yes, to wear -a white rose in her hair, and to sit in the bay window as I went home -that night. - -BERT. Why---- - -UNCLE B. Yes, I know, my boy. We’re much alike, and history repeats -itself. If it hadn’t--well, to go on, she didn’t do it, although I had -had some white roses delivered there that afternoon. It seems now that -she didn’t get the valentine at all. It went astray somehow. She thought -I had forgotten, and didn’t care, and I thought the answer was “no,” and -it made a difference in our friendship. Though we have been friends, the -old intimacy was gone--and--well, we’ve lost twenty years. - -MRS. W. Oh, brother! - -UNCLE B. We’re going to make them up, Eva, don’t you forget it. Well, -to-day I sent my fortieth valentine, and the same thing happened. It -went astray. At least she hasn’t got it yet. (_BOBBY gives a start, and -claps his hand to his pocket, but no one seems to notice. UNCLE B. goes -on._) She did get one, though, in rhyme, which, strange to say, asked her -the selfsame thing. Don’t blush, my boy! And as she always gets a box -of white roses on this particular day, when I came home to-night there -she sat, in the bay window, with a white rose in her hair! I couldn’t -believe my eyes, but I went in, and it’s all right. We’re to be married -in six weeks, and I’ve you to thank, my boy, and when you and Eloise -are married, you’ll get a check for one thousand dollars for a wedding -present. - -BERT. But I don’t see how she came to get my letter, and I should have -thought she would have known it wasn’t hers. - -UNCLE B. Why, you called her Ellie--my old pet name for her, as well -as yours for Eloise, it seems, and you signed it Bert, which every one -always called me till I had a namesake nephew. - -BERT. But I directed mine all right, and--no, I didn’t mail it, I do -believe. I went off in a rush with Frank, and left it on the desk. - -MRS. W. And Bobby found it there, and I told him to mail it. - -BERT. And did you mail it, Bobby? - -BOBBY. Why---- - -EVELYN. He didn’t! He forgot it. I saw him start just now, and clap his -hand to his pocket. I bet it’s there now. - -BOBBY. No, sir. - -UNCLE B. Can’t be, because Ellen got it. - -BERT (_rising, and grasping BOBBY, who is trying to sneak away_). Come -here, my beloved little brother. Let’s see what you have in your pocket. - - (_He seats himself, BOBBY between his knees, and proceeds to go - through his pockets, in spite of his endeavors to get away._) - -BOBBY. You let me go. - -BERT. Directly, my dear brother, directly. Ah, here we are! (_He takes -letter from BOBBY’S pocket._) That’s my letter, sure. Now, young man, why -didn’t you mail it? - -BOBBY. I meant to, truly. But I forgot. - -EVELYN. Let Uncle Bertram open it, Bert. I’ll bet a box of candy _his_ -valentine is inside. There have been queer doings with valentines to-day, -and I believe Bobby’s at the bottom of the whole thing. Hold him tight -while I investigate, or rather while we all do. Open that, Uncle Bert. - -BERT (_passing it_). Yes, do, Uncle Bert. My letter isn’t inside, that’s -sure, since Miss Ellen got it. No, no, Sir Robert, stay right here. Your -elder brother is very fond of your company just now. - -BOBBY. Let go! You’re twisting my arm! - -BERT. I won’t hurt as long as you don’t try to get away, but here you’ve -got to stay just now. How about it, Uncle? - -UNCLE B. (_who has opened letter and looked inside_). It’s mine, all -right, boy. (_To BOBBY._) Now, young man, how about it? Who changed them -around, and when? - -BOBBY. How should I know? I found this on the desk and asked Mamma if I -should mail it, and she said yes, and then I forgot to, that’s all. - -BERT. But how came Uncle Bertram’s letter in this envelope? - -BOBBY. How should I know? Stop that! Mamma, he’s hurting me. - -MRS. W. Yes? Well, I should advise him to keep on doing so till he gets -to the bottom of the mystery. - -HELEN. Yes, make him tell. I’ll bet he did it. - -EVELYN. Might as well own up, Bobby. You’ll have to in the end. - -LOUISE. There wasn’t any letter on the desk when I wrote mine. Oh, Bobby, -did you change mine? If you did, I’m glad, Bobby, truly I am. - -BOBBY. I didn’t though, truly, Lou. You did it yourself. I knew it, -though, but I thought I’d keep still. I wanted to find out if Reggie -Westcott could get mad. He’s such a girlie boy! - -LOUISE. Well, he didn’t. But I’m glad Freddie didn’t get it. I’m glad -they got mixed. - -UNCLE B. So am I, girlie. ’Twas a good mix up for me, but I’m sure other -hands tampered with mine. - -BERT. And mine. Now, young man, how about it? - -BOBBY. About what? - -BERT (_taking him across knee_). About this. - - (_Gives him a spank._) - -BOBBY. Ow! You hurt. - -BERT. Good. I’m going to make each one a little harder than the last. -Will you tell me how and when you changed those letters? No answer? Very -well. - - (_Spanks again._) - -BOBBY. Mamma, make him stop. - -MRS. W. Not until you tell the truth about it, Bobby. A joke is a joke, -but a lie is a lie, and I’m certain you do know. Answer truly, now. Don’t -you? - -BERT (_spanking again_). Answer your mother, young man. - -BOBBY. Gee! How can I answer when you’re hurting me? - -BERT (_standing him between knees again_). Now I’m not hurting you. -Answer Mother. - -BOBBY. Answer what? Oh, don’t take me that way again. I’ll answer. Yes, -Mamma, I do know. I only did it for fun. Bert left his when he went off -in a hurry, and I was going to look at it---- - -BERT. Well, that’s cool. - -BOBBY. I just wanted to see if it was as pretty as the one I had for -Mamma, and Uncle Bert came in quick, and I didn’t want him to catch me -looking at it, so I dodged behind the portière. And he talked out loud -to himself, and said it was the fortieth one he’d sent her, and I just -thought thirty-nine was enough to get from one man, and I wished I could -get a chance to change ’em, just for fun, so when Uncle Bert was called -to the ’phone---- - -UNCLE B. So that’s when you did it! I thought I hadn’t sealed that -envelope! - -BOBBY. So I slipped yours out, and Bert’s in, and sealed it, and dodged -back. Then I fixed the other back there. They weren’t valentines, though, -either of ’em--just poetry, with a fancy border, but both of ’em begun -“Dearest Ellie,” and ended “Yours forever, Bert,” so I don’t see why one -wasn’t as good as the other. Bert’s was the best, though, really, ’cause -any one could understand it, but yours was just rhymes and long words, -without any sense that I could see. - -BERT. You little scamp! Don’t you know it’s dishonorable to read other -folks’ letters? - -BOBBY. They weren’t letters. They were valentines. How was I to know -that men were so silly as to write letters that way? When I want to get -married I shall just walk up to the one I want and tell her so. - -UNCLE B. Right you are, Bobby. If I’d done so, I’d have been a married -man all these years, instead of a lonely old bach. - -BERT. I believe he’s right myself. I’m off to try my luck. If she says -“No,” the whole family will know I’m jilted, thanks to my small brother. -Wish me good luck, mother mine. - -MRS. W. Indeed I do, my boy. Never fear. If I have read Eloise’s eyes -aright lately, we’ll congratulate you in the morning. - - (_BERT goes out, all the rest calling “Good luck” after him._) - -EVELYN (_cornering BOBBY_). And now we’ll probe a little deeper. If you -don’t answer _my_ questions, I shall tickle you without mercy. You were -behind there when Helen and I came in? - - (_BOBBY hesitates. EVELYN tickles him._) - -BOBBY. Stop, Evvie, do stop. Yes, I was there. - -EVELYN. And you changed them when Katy fell, and we ran to the kitchen? - -BOBBY. Yes. I knew how you hated Pet, and I thought it would be funny to -make you send him a valentine. So, of course, I had to send Helen’s to -Jack. - -HELEN. Of all the mean kids! - -EVELYN. You see, Helen, I wasn’t as mean or as silly as you thought, or -as Phil thought, either. You may explain to him if you choose. - -HELEN. Well, I shan’t. Any one as fickle as that isn’t worth it. - -MRS. W. I’m glad you see it, little daughter. I really think that, as -so much good has resulted from Bobby’s playing Cupid, we will have to -forgive him this time, but he must never do so again. - -BOBBY. I won’t, Mamma, truly I won’t. - -UNCLE B. I don’t suppose you ought to be paid for a naughty trick, but -that pony you’ve wanted so long is yours, my boy, next Saturday. - -MRS. W. No, not for a month, Bertram. Bobby must be taught a lesson. - -BOBBY. All right, Mamma. I deserve it. But thank you, Uncle Bert. You’re -a brick! - -UNCLE B. And now, little girlie, what do you want? A pony, too, or a big -dolly? - -LOUISE. I want to be the little flower girl. - -UNCLE B. So you shall, bless your heart! And Helen and Evelyn shall be -bridesmaids. - -LOUISE. And maybe Eloise’ll let me be hers. I’ll be two flower girls. - -EVELYN. Two weddings! And one twenty years delayed! Well, I guess there’s -something doing in this family, and all because of Bobby and the changed -valentines! - - CURTAIN - - - - -A Romance of St. Valentine’s Day - -In Three Acts - - - - -A Romance of St. Valentine’s Day - - -CHARACTERS - - PAULINE, _a schoolgirl_. - POLLY, _her great-aunt_. - MR. AMOS HILL, _her aunt’s former lover_. - - -ACT I - - SCENE.--_A plain, old-fashioned room. The essential piece of - furniture is an old-fashioned sewing table, what is known as - a Martha Washington table, and is quite generally imitated - to-day. They were small and square, with leaves that turned - down, and two drawers._ - - (_GREAT-AUNT POLLY is seated by the table, looking at a - collection of valentines, post-cards, etc., such as the young - girl of to-day receives. PAULINE is seated a little way from - her._) - -AUNT P. Very pretty, Pauline, I’m sure, and a great many of them for one -little schoolgirl. I don’t really like the post-cards, though, dearie. It -doesn’t seem just right to send a valentine unenclosed. - -PAULINE. Oh, it’s quite the thing, now, Aunt Polly. Everybody does it. - -AUNT P. It’s a style I do not care for, my dear. - -PAULINE. But it saves money. - -AUNT P. The difference between one cent and two is not very wide, is it? - -PAULINE. No, but when one wants to send a lot it means a good deal, -unless you are flush--and I never am. - -AUNT P. Send a lot? What do you mean, my dear? - -PAULINE. Why, every fellow wants to send one to every pretty girl he -knows, of course. - -AUNT P. A Christmas card, perhaps, but a valentine! That should be for -one only, my dear. - -PAULINE. How odd! Why, I sent twenty-five, myself, to the nice boys I -knew. - -AUNT P. Twenty-five! Oh, my dear! You didn’t! - -PAULINE. Sure I did! Why not? Is that the way they sent them in your day, -Auntie? Seems to me they were rather narrow. - -AUNT P. No, indeed, my dear, but a valentine meant something then. A -young man sent but one, and that went to the lady of his choice. The -girls did not send any. We would have thought it immodest. But girls do -many things to-day that would not have been tolerated in my day. A girl, -then, was supposed to be a lady. - -PAULINE. Instead of a madcap tomboy? Well, I plead guilty, and throw -myself on the mercy of the court. I just love to be a tomboy, and I’m -going to be one a long time yet. No “one valentine” sentiment for me, or -one boy, either, for years to come. - -AUNT P. Well, perhaps you are right, yet many of my girlhood friends -married at sixteen, and nearly all of them were married by the time they -were twenty, that is, of course, those who married at all. - -PAULINE. And why didn’t you, Auntie dear? Didn’t you ever like any one -well enough? - -AUNT P. Yes, dearie, I did. I don’t suppose any woman lives to be thirty -without liking some one well enough to marry him, if circumstances came -about right. But there! They don’t always do it. Would you like to see my -old valentines, Pauline? - -PAULINE. Oh, I would, so much, Auntie dear! - -AUNT P. (_opening top drawer of stand_). Well, dearie, here they are. No -post-cards among them. Most of them came from the same one, as you see. -This is the last one he ever sent me. - -PAULINE (_opening it._) Did he die, Auntie? - -AUNT P. No, he didn’t die, dear. He’s alive still. He got angry at me, -that’s all. Talk of girls getting in a huff over nothing! Boys aren’t far -behind, let me tell you. - -PAULINE. And did he marry? - -AUNT P. No, he is single still. - -PAULINE. Then he cared, you see. How romantic! Why didn’t you try to make -up with him? - -AUNT P. It isn’t the lady’s place, my dear, to run after a man. - -PAULINE. Well, I like that! Well, if ever I’m fond of a man, I’ll run -after him and hold him, if necessary, till I know what he was mad at. Or -did you know, Auntie? And was it something that couldn’t be made up? - -AUNT P. Why, I suppose I did know, dearie--but it seemed such a slight -thing to anger him. My cousin came that Valentine’s Day. We had been -brought up almost like brother and sister before I came to this town. -It was fine sleighing, and he took me over to Wrentham for the night. -His mother was there, just for the day and night, and the young girl -whom he was to marry. When I came home, next day, I asked my mother for -my mail. She replied that there wasn’t any. “But there must have been a -valentine,” I said. “Amos always sends me one.” “I know,” she answered, -“but this year he didn’t. He called, though, last evening, and seemed -much put out that you were not here. He went off as stiff as a poker.” Of -course, I thought he must be angry because I went sleighing with Timothy, -though I thought it a bit far-fetched, as we were only old friends, and -so were Timothy and myself. “But,” I thought, “I’ll explain when he gets -over his huff, and it will be all right.” - -PAULINE. And didn’t you? - -AUNT P. No, dear, I hadn’t the opportunity. Next day his mother came over -to tell us that he had gone away. She seemed to think I was to blame, -somehow, and she never was nice to me again, and it was more than a year -before Amos came back, and then he was just coldly polite when we met. -That was the end of my little romance, dear, for though there were others -who found me fair, somehow I couldn’t seem to care for any of them. You -see, dearie, Amos had won my love, though he didn’t know it, and so---- -(_Pauses._) - -PAULINE. And he has it yet! Oh, Auntie, how romantic! And does he live in -town still? - -AUNT P. Yes, but I meet him seldom, and we merely say a “How-de-do” in -passing. Excuse me, dearie. I think I will go up-stairs a few minutes, -while you look at my old keepsakes. I cannot imagine how I came to let -you wheedle this old story from me. Please do not refer to it again. - -PAULINE. No indeed, Auntie. Thank you for telling me. (_AUNT P. passes -out, and PAULINE proceeds to investigate drawer, soliloquizing as she -does so._) Such quaint little valentines! I like them, though! And nearly -all in the same handwriting--that of the faithless Amos, evidently. Yes, -this one is signed A. H. A. H. A is Amos, of course. A. H. Could it be -Mr. Hill, I wonder? “A. Hill,” he has it on his sign. He’s old, or rather -old--sixty, I shouldn’t wonder, and he’s a bachelor. I’ll bet he’s the -one! Mean old thing, to bring tears to the eyes of my little great-auntie -after all these years! (_Puts valentines hack in drawer, and shuts it -rather vigorously, letting one drop, unnoticed, to the floor._) Men and -boys are queer creatures, anyhow. I’m glad I’m a girl! And I’m glad I -live now, instead of forty years ago. Why, I got more valentines, I do -believe, to-day, than Aunt Polly has in all her life. Why, I dropped one! -(_Picks it up._) Amos was a little fellow when he sent this, I guess. -(_Opens it._) No, this is from the Timothy who seems to have been the -villain in the little pastoral comedy. What a cute little verse! - - (_Reads._) - - “Dear Polly, though you’re far away, - Think of me on Valentine’s Day. - I wish I could see you, so sweet and prim. - That’s all. Good-bye, from Cousin Tim.” - -(_Tries to open drawer._) Why, what makes this drawer stick so? (_Pulls -till drawer opens with a jerk._) Why, of all things! How came that box -in there? It wasn’t there a minute ago! It looks like a little drawer. -I do believe it’s a secret drawer, that has somehow fallen down! And -here--why, I do believe here’s another valentine from Amos that was never -opened. It is sealed and addressed, but I don’t believe she ever got -it. And that, I’ll bet, made the trouble! I wonder--yes, I will, I’ll -mail it and see what comes of it. I’ll call Auntie, first, and show her -the drawer. No, on second thoughts, I won’t hurry about that. Here’s to -mail Amos’ last valentine, and then I’ll run down to the office later, -when the afternoon mail comes in, and get it. Wouldn’t it be romantic if -things came out story-book style, and I was the Cupid who had a finger in -the pie? (_Goes out._) - - CURTAIN - - -ACT II - - SCENE.--_Office of MR. AMOS HILL._ - - (_AMOS seated in office chair, tipped back, soliloquizing._) - -AMOS. Valentine’s Day once more! Strange I can’t get it out of my head! -Just forty years since Polly jilted me! Why, I wonder? I never did -understand. I was so sure that she cared for me--but there! Womankind is -fickle. She never married, though, nor I either, big fool that I was! -I couldn’t seem to help comparing every girl I met with her, and they -suffered by comparison, and so here I am, a bachelor of sixty, wanting -nothing but the one thing I never shall have--a wife and home of my own. -(_Puts a card photograph, such as were taken forty years ago, back into -desk._) There, little Polly, go back to your resting-place, while I go -back to work and try to forget you. (_Does not close drawer, but looks -up as knock is heard._) Eh? What? Come in, whoever you are. (_PAULINE -enters._) Polly! (_Gazes in surprise at her._) Who in the world are you? - -PAULINE. Oh, I’m Polly, just as you said, though most folks call me -Pauline. - -AMOS. But who are you? I thought---- - -PAULINE. You thought I was Aunt Polly? Do I look like her? - -AMOS. Is Miss Polly Dennison your aunt? - -PAULINE. My great-aunt. - -AMOS. Then you’re Angie Dennison’s girl? - -PAULINE. Yes, I’m Pauline Waldron, and I’m visiting at Aunt Polly’s. - -AMOS. But what brings you here? - -PAULINE. I’m playing Cupid. (_Catches sight of picture._) Oh, is that -Aunt Polly? What a dear, old-fashioned little girl! May I see it closer? - -AMOS (_passing it rather reluctantly_). Won’t you sit down? - -PAULINE (_seating herself_). What a sweet little face! How old was she? - -AMOS. Eight, I believe! - -PAULINE. What beautiful wavy hair! And so long! But what a narrow ribbon -she had on top! - -AMOS. Yes, little girls didn’t have more ribbon than hair in those days. -She had fine eyes, too. - -PAULINE. Yes, and has yet. But what a queer little dress, with its -plaited trimmings, and a lace bib! And the sash is wide enough to make up -for the hair ribbon, I’m sure. Oh, do give it to me! - -AMOS (_taking it hastily_). Certainly not. It’s a keep-sake. And now, my -young lady, you will oblige me by forgetting that you have seen it. - -PAULINE. Oh, I couldn’t forget it, it’s so quaint and dear! - -AMOS. I don’t see as it is so quaint. A dainty little girl, in a very -pretty frock, I think. Much prettier than little girls wear nowadays. -Please forget it. - -PAULINE. You shouldn’t use slang, Mr. Hill. - -AMOS. I didn’t, I assure you. I only implore that you will not mention -having seen what was never intended for your eyes. - -PAULINE. I won’t, indeed. You liked Aunt Polly, then? - -AMOS. Certainly. We were playmates and schoolmates from that time on. -That was taken just after she came to this town. You look very like her -at your age, my dear. - -PAULINE. So much so that you called me Polly. - -AMOS. Did I? Excuse me. And now, my dear little girl--I mean young lady, -what can I do for you? - -PAULINE. Just answer a few questions. This is Valentine’s Day; you know, -and I’ve been playing Cupid. - -AMOS. Indeed? And what did you wish to ask me? If it was ever legal to -play Cupid, I think it is on Valentine’s Day. - -PAULINE. If--if any one finds a letter that was evidently intended to be -mailed, and it hasn’t been, is it right for that person to mail it? - -AMOS. Why, certainly. It’s the proper thing to do, my dear. - -PAULINE. Even if it has been lost a long time? - -AMOS. I should think so. You see, you have no right to open it, so you -would not know the writer, and thus could not return it to him, so the -only thing to do is to mail it. - -PAULINE. So I thought. But you see, this one has been lost for forty -years. - -AMOS. Forty years? Are you sure? Perhaps the one to whom it was addressed -has moved, or is dead. It is a long time, my dear. - -PAULINE. No, he hasn’t, and she isn’t, so I mailed it. But I think I know -the writer. Ought I to tell him about it, too? - -AMOS. Why, it might be well to do so. It is an unusual occurrence, to get -a letter that was written to one forty years ago. I think you had better -tell me the whole story. - -PAULINE. I believe I will. I was showing my valentines to Auntie to-day. -Oh, do you know, I believe that letter was a valentine. Did you ever lose -one? - -AMOS. Never. A valentine forty years old will be rather stale, I fear. -Perhaps the lady--I believe you said it was a lady--may have been married -for years to some other man. She may be a grandmother now, and may laugh -at the effusion of the callow youth of the olden time. - -PAULINE. She won’t, I’m sure. And she isn’t a grandmother, for she never -married. She has been faithful to a faithless lover all these years, and -I believe that lost valentine is at the bottom of the whole trouble. - -AMOS. Indeed, just how, may I ask? - -PAULINE. Why, he had always sent her one, every year, since they were -children, but that year he was mad about something, and he didn’t send -her any. That is, she has always thought he didn’t, but I believe he did, -and that that’s the letter I found to-day. - -AMOS. And where did you find a letter forty years old, that had never -been mailed? It may cause strange misunderstandings now, child. Perhaps -it would have been better to have asked my advice before you mailed it. - -PAULINE. I’m asking it now. Mr. Hill, did you send Aunt Polly a valentine -forty years ago? Think back carefully, and see if you can remember. - -AMOS. I can remember quite distinctly, my dear. I did send your aunt one -that day--the last one I ever sent her. I have reason to remember it -quite plainly, my dear, on account of the answer I received. - -PAULINE. The answer? But you couldn’t have got any answer, for she thinks -the last one you sent her was forty-one years ago. She never got that -other one, so how could she answer it? - -AMOS. I certainly thought she did, and negatively, at that. But--my dear, -do you mean that you think you have found that letter--that valentine, -which I never knew had been lost? Where, and how? - -PAULINE. Why, Auntie let me see her old valentines, and when I’d put them -away, I found I had dropped one. And the drawer stuck when I tried to -open it, and I jerked it, and somehow knocked down a little drawer that -must have been above it, and in it lay the letter I told you of. It was -addressed to Aunt Polly, and sealed, and had a three-cent stamp on it, -but it had never been opened. - -AMOS. Because she didn’t care to open it, my dear. I happen to know that -she got it, for her grandmother took it from my hand that morning, and -said she would give it into her own hand. And you see, she must have had -it, for it was in her own secret drawer. - -PAULINE. I don’t think she knew about the drawer. And I know she didn’t -get it, for she told me so to-day, and her eyes were full of tears. - -AMOS. Polly cried? - -PAULINE. Yes. She loved you, I’m sure, and thought you were angry with -her because she went over to Wrentham with her cousin. - -AMOS. With Tim! Good land, child, I shouldn’t have been jealous of Tim! -But why didn’t she explain? Good gracious! If she didn’t get it, there -was nothing to explain! - -PAULINE. And you went away next day, and she didn’t see you for a year. - -AMOS. Yes, but--oh, what a hopeless, foolish tangle! And you mailed that -letter, child? Has she got it yet? - -PAULINE. No, I shall go to the office before I go back. Oh, I believe she -was going to the milliner’s this afternoon, so probably she’ll get it -herself. - -AMOS. And she’ll read it--for the first time--after forty years! See -here, little girl, I’ll be over to-night for the answer, but don’t you -tell her I’m coming. - -PAULINE. But you never go there. - -AMOS. I did once, and I’m coming again. To-night, you understand, and I -want you to give me a clear coast for half an hour or so, will you? - -PAULINE. Of course. - -AMOS. Maybe I’m an old fool for my pains, but that letter asked her a -question--_the_ question, and told her I would come that evening for my -answer, and I’m coming. If she gets it to-day, to-night is the night to -call, and I’m coming, if I get turned down for my pains. I thought she -went away to get out of having to say no. And to think I wasted forty -years! Well, there’s no fool like an old fool, and Polly’s got to answer -that question. Wish me luck, little girl. - -PAULINE. Indeed I do! And Aunt Polly does care, I know. I’m glad I -meddled. - -AMOS. So am I. Though I can’t understand about that letter. Going? Well, -you look in the office this evening, and you’ll find the finest valentine -this town affords, addressed to Cupid. Good-afternoon. - -PAULINE. Good-afternoon. - - (_Goes out. He takes out the little picture again, and gazes at - it._) - -AMOS. Love is eternal. Love is always young. Maybe I’ll end my days in a -home of my own, after all! Dear little Polly! - - CURTAIN - - -ACT III - - SCENE.--_Same as first scene. Evening._ - - (_PAULINE seated, with some bit of embroidery, or other fancy - work. AUNT P. is seated, also, as curtain rises, but during the - conversation moves about a good deal, rather nervously._) - -PAULINE. What’s the matter, Aunt Polly? What makes you so restless? Don’t -you feel well? - -AUNT P. Yes, I think so. I--I’m nervous, I think. - -PAULINE. I didn’t know you were ever nervous, Auntie. - -AUNT P. Why, I’m not, as a rule, Pauline. I don’t know what is the -matter, I’m sure. - -PAULINE. Hadn’t you better go to bed, Auntie, and sleep it off? - -AUNT P. No, I couldn’t sleep, I’m sure. - -PAULINE. You haven’t had bad news, have you? - -AUNT P. Why, no, dear, not exactly. - -PAULINE. Not exactly? You’ve had some news then that disturbs you? - -AUNT P. Yes, my dear, it is disturbing news, really. It’s almost as if -some one had risen from the dead; and I don’t understand it, and I don’t -know what to do or say. - -PAULINE. Could I help you any, Auntie dear? - -AUNT P. No, I think not, dearie. I must think it out alone. - -PAULINE. Do you mind if I run over to Grace’s a few minutes? - -AUNT P. Oh, don’t, dear, don’t. Stay with me. Some one might come in. - -PAULINE. Are you expecting any one? - -AUNT P. N-no, not exactly. That is--no, of course not. - -PAULINE. Why, Auntie dear, if you were a young girl, I should say you -were expecting a visit from your young man. - -AUNT P. But as I’m not, but an old woman of fifty-eight, you know it -can’t be any nonsense of that sort. Remember, my dear Pauline, I am your -great-aunt. - -PAULINE. Not so very great, either; just the dearest little auntie in the -world. And you don’t seem a bit old. Why, your hair isn’t hardly a bit -gray. Besides, there was Mrs. Atherton, in our home town, was married -just before I came here, and she was sixty-three. - -AUNT P. She was a widow, dear. - -PAULINE. What difference did that make? They said that Mr. Buffinton was -her first lover, but that her father had separated them, and every one -was glad to see her married. - -AUNT P. Very nice and romantic, dear, but, as I said before, she was -a widow, and that makes a great deal of difference. If she had been a -maiden lady, every one would have called her silly, and laughed at her. - -PAULINE. I don’t see why. - -AUNT P. Nor I, dear, truly, but the fact remains that they do. It would -take quite a strong-minded woman to face it. I couldn’t, I’m sure. - -PAULINE. But, Auntie---- - - (_Stops abruptly, as bell rings._) - -AUNT P. Some one is coming! I---- - - (_Rises, but sits down hastily, as she hears steps._) - -AMOS (_entering_). Well, Polly, I’ve come for the answer to that letter. - - (_PAULINE slips out._) - -AUNT P. Why, Amos, aren’t you a stranger? How do you do? - -AMOS. I’ll tell you how I’m going to do. I’m going to have an answer to -that letter. - -AUNT P. What letter? Do sit down, Amos! You make me nervous. - -AMOS (_seating himself_). Well, I’ve sat down. Now how about the answer -to that letter? - -AUNT P. That letter? - -AMOS. Yes, that letter. It’s no use to fence for time, Polly. I’m going -to have an answer. Didn’t you get a valentine letter from me to-day? - -AUNT P. Amos, you never sent that letter to-day. It was old. It looked -old, and it had a three-cent stamp. Three-cent stamps have been out of -use thirty years and more. - -AMOS. Then you did get it? - -AUNT P. Yes, but I don’t understand it, and I’m all upset about it. It -was like a voice from the dead. - -AMOS. It was, Polly, a voice from the dead past. That letter should have -reached you forty years ago. - -AUNT P. Did you write that forty years ago, Amos? And why didn’t you send -it? Why send it now, after all these years? - -AMOS. I did send it, dear heart. There’s a mystery about that letter that -we will talk about later. Just now I want my answer. - -AUNT P. Your answer, now? - -AMOS. Yes, now. Polly, dear, I’ve waited forty years for my answer. Isn’t -that long enough to keep a man waiting? - -AUNT P. But, Amos, forty years changes things. - -AMOS. It hasn’t changed my love for you any. I’ve tried to down it for -forty years because I thought I’d got my answer. But have that answer I -must and will. - -AUNT P. But, Amos---- - -AMOS. Let’s go back a bit, Polly. You used to like me when we were little -playmates, now didn’t you? - -AUNT P. Yes, of course. You were the nicest boy I knew. - -AMOS. And when we went to the old Academy together. You liked me then? - -AUNT P. Why, yes, of course, Amos. - -AMOS. And if you’d got that letter when you were meant to get it, you’d -have said yes; now, wouldn’t you? - -AUNT P. Why---- - -AMOS. You would, Polly, now wouldn’t you? Come, own up; it’s forty years -past. - -AUNT P. Why, yes. - -AMOS. Then you’ll say it now. You’ve just got it, and I’ve come for my -answer, as I said I should. Isn’t it yes, Polly dearest? - -AUNT P. But, Amos, I’m an old woman now. - -AMOS. And I’m an old man. I’m sixty. - -AUNT P. I’m sure that isn’t old! For a man, I mean. - -AMOS. Then fifty-eight isn’t old--for a woman. Polly, I’ve everything but -the thing I want most. I’ve no real home. I’m lonesome, dear. I’ve been -lonesome for forty years--forty years that the locusts have eaten. Must I -always be lonely, Polly? - -AUNT P. But think what people would say, Amos. - -AMOS. I don’t care what people say, Polly. I only care for you, and to -know that you care. And you do care, Polly, I know. Else why have you -kept single all these years? Besides, if you didn’t care, you’d have said -no and you haven’t said it. You’ve fenced. Polly, you did care. Don’t you -care any longer? Tell me! - -AUNT P. Y-yes, Amos, I did care. - -AMOS. And you’ve got over it? You no longer care? Ah, you can’t say no. -Say yes, Polly. Forty years is a long while to wait for an answer. - -AUNT P. That’s it, Amos, those forty years. It looks so ridiculous. - -AMOS. Ridiculous, nothing! I’m waiting to hear that yes, Polly. And I -shan’t go home till I hear it. - -AUNT P. Well--yes, then. - -AMOS. Oh, Polly, my girl, to think I didn’t hear that forty years ago! -We’ve lots of time to make up. - - (_Kisses her._) - -AUNT P. Do stop, Amos; Pauline will be coming in! What will she think? - -AMOS. Well, as she is chief-conspirator, she won’t be surprised, so cheer -up, my dear. Pauline ran out to the post-office. I hear her coming now. -(_Calls._) Come here, you little niece of mine, and congratulate me. - -PAULINE (_coming in_). Is it true, really? Oh, Auntie dear, I am so glad! -(_Kisses her, then goes to AMOS and kisses him._) Thank you, Uncle Amos -that is to be, for my lovely valentine. And I’m glad you got the right -answer. - -AUNT P. Pauline! Did you know? - -AMOS. Didn’t I tell you she was chief conspirator? She brought it all -about. You shall be bridesmaid, Polly girl, and choose what you please -for a gift. - -PAULINE. That will be lovely. When is it to be? - -AMOS. Soon. - -AUNT P. Oh, no, not very soon. - -AMOS. Yes, soon, very soon. Good land, Polly, isn’t forty years long -enough? - -AUNT P. But what had you to do with this, Pauline? And where has that -letter been all these years? - -PAULINE. Why, you see, Auntie, when I put the old valentines away I -dropped one, and when I tried to open the drawer it stuck. I jerked it -hard, to open it, and when it opened---- (_Opens drawer._) Look! That’s -what I saw, and the letter was on top. - -AUNT P. Why, how did that box come there? It looks like a drawer. - -AMOS (_pulling the drawer out, and looking in_). It was, Polly, a secret -drawer, just above this one. Evidently this had to be taken entirely out -to reach it, but one support has come loose, so it dropped into the other -drawer. - -AUNT P. (_taking secret drawer in her lap_). I never knew there was a -secret drawer in this table. Why, Amos! They’re Grandmother’s things! The -ones we never could find! Here’s her gold beads, and her gold thimble, -and Grandpa’s watch, and--this was Uncle Robert’s little shoe--he died, -you know, when he was a year old--and this box is full of hair--Father’s -curls, I do believe! That’s all. No. (_Lifts paper in bottom of drawer._) -This is her marriage certificate! We knew there was a secret drawer in -the desk, where she kept money. She showed that to Father about a year -before she died. But this--and how did my valentine get there? How did -Grandma get it before it was mailed? - -AMOS. That’s plain enough. She ran in that morning to show Mother a -new patch-work pattern. The letter lay on the desk, and she chaffed me -about it. Then she offered to play Cupid, and put it into your own hand. -Thinking you would get it earlier that way, I consented. So when I called -that night, and you were not at home, I thought it was a kind way of -saying no, and went away to get over it. I couldn’t, though, and came -back a year later, as you know. But why your grandmother didn’t give it -to you, I don’t see. She was always a woman to trust. - -AUNT P. I understand that part of it. When she got home I had gone with -Tim, and it was that night she had a shock, Amos. She never spoke again, -and died a week later. - -AMOS. And if I hadn’t run away on the first train the next morning I -would have known it, and might have mistrusted that you didn’t get it! -Oh, the years that the locusts have eaten! That was one of her own -expressions, you remember. - -AUNT P. But why didn’t you bring the letter to me, Pauline, instead of to -Amos? - -PAULINE. I didn’t give it to either, Auntie. I mailed it. If I’d given -it to you, you’d have read it, and cried over it, and treasured it, but -you’d never have let--Uncle Amos--see it or know of it, now would you? - -AUNT P. Not at this late day. It would have been equivalent to a proposal -from me. But I would always have treasured the thought that he did love -me, after all. That I had not given my love unsought, something which has -shamed me to myself all these years. - -PAULINE. And if I had given it to you, Mr. Hill---- - -AMOS. Uncle Amos is good enough, Polly girl. - -PAULINE. If I had given it to you, Uncle Amos, would you have mailed it? - -AMOS. No, I should have thought it too late. - -PAULINE. So you see I did the best possible thing, and the letter reached -the right one, and the result is all I hoped for. - -AUNT P. But how did you know about it, Amos? - -AMOS. Oh, the mischievous Cupid came and told me after she had mailed it, -so---- - -AUNT P. So you thought I’d expect you? - -AMOS. No, I didn’t. But the chance was too good to let slide. I’d never -had an answer after all, and I came for it, as I said I would. I got -it, too, just the answer I wanted. ’Tisn’t every man who has to wait -forty years for his answer. And now, Pauline, what is the shortest time -required to rig up a wedding gown? A week? - -AUNT P. A week! The idea! - -AMOS. I’m talking to little Polly. Isn’t a week long enough? - -PAULINE. I think you’d better give her two. - -AMOS. Two it is, then, and not a minute longer. Order your rig out, -little girl, the nicest and prettiest you can find, and I’ll pay for it. -You deserve it. And you’re to be our adopted daughter, and spend every -minute your parents can spare you with us. We’ll have a motor, childie, -and anything else we want, and Polly and I will do our best to make up -the forty years we have lost. - -PAULINE. Oh, I’m so glad I did it! I didn’t hardly dare! It sounds like a -romance. - -AUNT P. It is! To think of a lost valentine turning up after forty years! - - CURTAIN - - - - -The Queen of Hearts - - - - -The Queen of Hearts - - -CHARACTERS - - THE QUEEN OF HEARTS. - HER MAIDENS, _eight girls_. - ST. VALENTINE. - HIS ATTENDANTS, _eight boys_. - LITTLE SIR CUPID. - THE FAIRY. - THE QUEEN’S PAGES, _two small girls_. - ST. VALENTINE’S PAGES, _two small boys_. - - -COSTUMES - -Dress the QUEEN in a white robe, cut like a Grecian robe, with flowing -sleeves. It has a border of golden hearts, cut from gold paper. She has -a girdle of heavy gold cord, with a heart at each end, also a tiara of -lighter gold cord, surmounted by a heart of gold. She carries a sceptre -of gold, surmounted by a heart. Choose a pretty girl for the part. - -HER MAIDENS are in pale blue and silver. The dresses are made from crepe -paper, with double skirts, full waists, and large sashes. The waists -have Dutch necks and short puffed sleeves. Trim the neck, sleeves and -both skirts with silver tinsel. The stockings may be blue or white, the -slippers white or black. The hair should be flowing, held back from the -face with a band of blue, edged with the silver, tied in a bow at the -side, little silver hearts dangling from the ends of the bow. On the -upper skirt, or tunic, is a row of silver hearts. Each carries a scarf -or ribbon about two yards long, and four or five inches wide. These may -be of some sheeny lining material. Point the ends, and hang a silver -heart from each end, and from the centre. When the scarfs are not in -use, they are thrown over the head, and hang down, in front, over the -shoulders. They may be blue, to match the costume, or pink, of a shade -that will harmonize with the blue. - -ST. VALENTINE wears a long, white robe, girded with red and decorated -with red hearts. He has a long white beard, easily removable, also a -red cap or hood, to which is sewed long white hair. He carries a large, -handsome valentine. - -HIS ATTENDANTS wear long red robes, girded with white. Each carries a -valentine. - -HIS PAGES are two tiny boys, in white robes, with red girdles. All these -robes should be so fashioned that they may be quickly and easily thrown -off. Underneath all are dressed in court costumes, of red and white--long -hose, puffed trunks, doublet or tunic, belted in, and puffed sleeves. - -THE QUEEN’S PAGES are tiny girls in white, fluffy dresses. One has a big -sash and hair ribbon of pink, also stockings to match. The other has them -of blue. They have also bows at the shoulders, with short loops, and long -ends. The blue ribbon has golden hearts attached to the ends; the pink -one has silver hearts. - -THE FAIRY is all in fluffy white. Her dress is made of mosquito netting, -very short and full, with a full empire waist. White ribbons of varying -lengths hang from the folded girdle, also from a band which encircles the -low, round neck. To each of these ribbons is fastened a tiny silver bell. -The sleeves are merely deep ruffles, cut in points, to each of which is -sewed a bell. The slippers have rosettes, with the bells. Around the -head is a white band, to the lower side of which the little bells are -fastened. To the centre of this, in front, is fastened a silver star. Her -wand is white, with a silver star at the end. Below the star are several -streamers, with the bells. - -CUPID is a tiny boy, in a short, scant slip of pale pink, over very -short white trousers or trunks--short enough not to show. The slip is -cut straight, with low neck and no sleeves. A drapery of white mosquito -netting, passing over left shoulder, and under right arm, nearly covering -slip, gives a fleecy, cloud-like effect. He has little wings of pale -pink, and wears no shoes nor stockings. He carries a little silver bow -and a golden arrow. A quiver holding two or three more arrows may be -slung from his right shoulder, and hang at his left side. - - - SCENE.--_The Palace of Hearts. The throne, in the centre - background, is a chair, set upon a raised dais, the whole - draped with purple. Upon the floor, in the centre of the space - left before the throne, draw a large circle. Divide it into - eight parts, by lines crossing at centre. Draw a smaller circle - inside the other, having for a radius one-third the radius of - the larger circle. The little drill or dance by the QUEEN’S - MAIDENS is done on this diagram. Deck background with gold - hearts._ - - (_Curtain rises on MAIDENS, standing at either side of throne, - baskets of flowers in their hands._) - -FIRST MAIDEN. - - Oh, where is the Queen? Why so long delay? - She should not be late on her natal day. - -SECOND MAIDEN. - - Hark! She is coming! We ready must be - To join the procession, and bow the knee. - - (_MAIDENS pass to entrance, form double line, between which - the QUEEN, her PAGES holding up the court train, passes. The - MAIDENS then fall into line, two and two, behind them. The - procession should pass entirely around platform, and to C. - back. Then, while the QUEEN and PAGES pass down one side, to C. - front, the MAIDENS pass down C. and form aisle to throne, up - which the QUEEN passes. When she reaches the throne, she seats - herself, the little PAGES seating themselves on the dais, on - either side. MAIDENS arrange themselves on either side, and - sing “Hail to the Queen.” The music is that of “Little Stars” - in “Festive Songs for Little Singers.”_) - - -HAIL TO THE QUEEN - - All hail[1 to her, our lovely Queen, the fairest in the land. - We joy to be her Maidens true, before her throne to stand. - We welcome[2 her with glad accord, to her we bow[3 the knee. - Our hearts[4 are hers in love and truth, and evermore shall be. - - CHORUS - - Hail[5 to our fair Queen! Hail to our fair Queen! - Hail[6 to our fair Queen! The lovely Queen of Hearts. - - (_Rise during interlude._) - - On this, our Queen’s own natal day, we’ve sought in fairest bow’rs, - And bring,[7 as birthday offerings, these baskets of fair flow’rs. - We’re bound to her with links of love--with Love’s own silver chain. - Yes, we are hers in love and truth. Long[8 may she live and reign. - - CHORUS - - (_Motions_) - - 1--Baskets in left hands. Raise right hand high. 2--Right - hand out, toward Queen. 3--Sink on one knee. 4--Right hand on - heart. 5--Wave right hand high, through line. 6--Raise right - hand high as possible, hold through line. 7--Hold baskets, in - right hands, out toward Queen. 8--Raise baskets high, in right - hand. In singing second chorus, they do not kneel. At 5, swing - baskets, high, through line. At 6, raise them high to right. - Hold to end of line. At close of song, they march in front of - throne, and lay baskets on lower step of dais, leaving room for - Queen to step from throne. - -QUEEN. - - Thank you, my maids. They are offerings rare. - Never were blossoms more sweet and fair. - But I somehow am sad on my natal day. - -THIRD MAIDEN. - - We will dance, to drive dull care away. - - -DANCE OF THE MAIDENS - - (_The music should be joyous and rather quick, the step a - light, tripping one. Refer to diagram._) - - [Illustration] - - FIG. 1. Meet in front of throne, and form single line. March - down to A. First girl passes down line to E. Next girl passes - to O, then to D; third girl to O, then to F, others to C, G, B - and H, all first passing to O. Last girl remains at A. During - this figure they hold scarfs above head in both hands. - - FIG. 2. Each girl tosses end of scarf to next girl. March - entirely around circle. - - FIG. 3. Face centre, raise scarfs high, still held as in fig. - 2, trip sidewise around circle. - - FIG. 4. Recover scarfs. Hold them in both hands, right hand - high, left low, and march in, along lines, to inner circle. - March around inner circle, scarfs in right hands nearly - meeting, high in centre, like spokes of a wheel, march back - lines to places again. - - FIG. 5. Hold strips high over head, turn around in places, once - and a half times, bringing faces to centre again. - - FIG. 6. Girls at A and E march up lines to meet at O, cross - scarfs, march around, then march up to J and N, where each - raises scarf above head, turns completely around, and then - marches on to A and E. Girls at C and G repeat this figure, - then those at B and F, and lastly those at H and D. - - FIG. 7. All march completely around circle, swinging scarfs. - - FIG. 8. Girls at A, E, C and G march to inner circle, then - around it, then halt on J, N, Q and L, and toss ends of scarfs - to each other. Raise them high. Remaining girls march down - lines, pass between girls, and march in tiny circle inside. - They then pass through, between J and L, and march in circle - outside them, then pass in again, between J and L, and wind - in and out. Repeat this winding, but first girl stop when - she reaches R, next one on P, third on M and last on K. Toss - scarfs, and raise. - - FIG. 9. Scarfs so held, all sidestep around this inner circle, - then lower arms and recover scarfs. Step backward to places on - large circle. - - FIG. 10. Hold scarfs in both hands, dropped easily at sides. - Turn as if to march around circle. First girl marches down to - J, along inner circle to K, up line to B, along outer circle - to C, in on line to L, along to M, and so on, till she reaches - A again. As she passes down first line, second girl moves from - H to A, next girl from G to H, and so on, all moving up one - place. As first girl moves up second line, girl now at A moves - up first line, all others moving on one place. As second girl - passes up second line, third girl moves down first line, and so - on. Each girl performs the whole figure, which is much easier - than would appear from description, as each simply follows the - one ahead of her, keeping the proper distance between them. - - FIG. 11. March completely around circle. Then, led by girls at - A and E, half turning each way, march on circle, and up E O and - down A O, to centre. Here, leaders cross scarfs, march around, - then on to C and G. Next ones do the same, and so on. - - FIG. 12. March on, on circle, to B and H, marking time, to - allow all to complete fig. 11; then march down lines to F and - D, crossing at centre, then on, to places on circle. - - FIG. 13. March completely around circle, face centre, march in - to inner circle. Girls at J and N raise scarfs, step to centre, - back around each other and to place again. Girls at Q and L - repeat this; then girls at R and M; and lastly, those at K and - P. March backward to large circle. - - FIG. 14. Run in to inner circle, waving scarfs, then around - inner circle, still waving. - - FIG. 15. Girl at J stands still. Girls at R and K run up to - B and H, followed by those at Q and L, while one at J steps - to centre, and those at P and M move up, and follow, J and N, - stepping to P and M. As each reaches B or H, she runs to her - place at side of throne, till all are in place. - -QUEEN. - - ’Twas very pretty, my maidens fair. - - (_A knock is heard._) - - Bluebell, go and see who’s there. - - (_PAGE with blue ribbons goes out and steps quickly back - again._) - -BLUEBELL. - - I think it’s a boy, but he’s got wings. - -QUEEN. - - A fairy, or one of those elfish things? - -BLUEBELL. - - I really don’t know. He’s pretty and pink, - Too little to do any harm, I think. - -QUEEN. - - Well, say he may enter, but not to stay. - - (_BLUEBELL goes to entrance again, and CUPID skips in._) - - Well, well, little fellow! Who are you, pray? - -CUPID (_bowing low_). - - May I tell my tale in song? - It will not take me very long. - -QUEEN. - - Ay, sing. But tell us who you are, - And if you’ve journeyed from afar. - - (_CUPID sings. Tune: “The Rill” from “Festive Songs for Little - Singers.”_) - - CUPID’S SONG - - I’m Cupid, brave and wild, - Half fairy and half child, - I’m dancing here - And dancing there, - To greet me, earth has smiled. - I’ve wings, on which I fly, - Up to the sweet blue sky, - I travel far - To many a star, - When no one else is nigh. - - CHORUS - - Winging, winging, - Swift o’er land and sea, - Singing little songs of love - Where’er I be. - - With silver bow so true, - And golden arrow, too, - I aim my darts - At people’s hearts. - Look out! I may shoot you! - In earth or worlds above, - Where’er I may rove, - The heart, you see, - Once hit by me, - Will surely fall in love. - - CHORUS - -QUEEN. - - Methinks you’re a mischievous child, indeed. - Of you, in this court, we have no need, - For mankind never enters here, - So none can fall in love, ’tis clear. - -CUPID. - - The fair Queen of Hearts should find her a mate. - To die an old maid is a dreadful fate. - -QUEEN. - - Not so, Sir Cupid. A virgin to stay, - Is the fate I wish for, now and alway. - Besides, I have no mate, you see, - For no mere man is worthy me. - -CUPID (_sings to the tune: “Campbells Are Coming”_). - - He’s coming, he’s coming, ha, ha, ho, ho! - He’s coming, although you may not think so. - On Valentine’s Day there’s a mate for each lassie, - And one for the fair Queen of Hearts, ho, ho! - -QUEEN. - - Now, wee Sir Cupid, please depart. - Although so small, yet you are male, - And none of that sex is allowed - To stay within my kingdom’s pale. - -MAIDENS. - - Oh, he’s so pretty and so pink, - Please, dear Queen, let him stay! - He’s just a darling baby! - With him we’d like to play. - -CUPID. - - Yes, let me stay a while, and rest! - I promise to behave my best. - -QUEEN. - - Well, stay, child. You have winning ways; - And with no men-folks here, - You cannot do much mischief - With your arrows, that is clear. - Hark! Hear that silvery, tinkling sound, - And that rap, so light and fair, - It sounds like the touch of a fairy’s wand. - Rosebud, see who is there. - - (_PAGE with pink ribbons goes to door, and returns._) - -ROSEBUD. - - It is no boy this time, fair Queen, - But the dearest fairy. May she come in? - -QUEEN. - - Yes, bid her enter. - - (_ROSEBUD goes to door, and FAIRY flits in._) - - Lovely fay, - What seek you in my courts to-day? - -FAIRY (_sings to the tune: “The Fairies,” in “Festive Songs for Little -Singers”_). - - I’m the dainty little fairy - That’s called Tinkle Bell. - To your court, fair Queen, I flitted - Just to wish you well. - It was whispered ’mong the fairies, - ’Twas your natal day, - So our queen, with happy greetings - Bade me haste away. - - To the Queen of Hearts a message; - Little Tinkle Bell, - You must carry very swiftly. - ’Tis a gift as well. - Tell her that to her I’m sending - My best gift to-day-- - The best gift in earth or heaven; - And it’s on its way. - -QUEEN. - - What can it be? - -CUPID. - - I think I know. - -FAIRY (_frowning at him, and raising finger in warning_). - - Nay, impertinent child! - How can you think so? - - (_FAIRY flits about, tinkling bells. She flits up to CUPID, and - remains by him. While the attention of the court is taken up - with the next admittance, he aims at the heart of the QUEEN. It - is not necessary to shoot, in fact, he had better not. In each - case, throughout the play, he merely aims. Whenever there is - opportunity the FAIRY and Cupid whisper together, unnoticed by - the rest, and CUPID aims at every girl in turn, even the little - PAGES._) - -QUEEN. - - Another knock! Who this time? - Go see, my pages fair. - - (_Both BLUEBELL and ROSEBUD go, but come running back._) - -BOTH. - - It’s boys! It’s boys! And an old, old man! - -QUEEN. - - Tell them to go away, quick as they can. - - (_PAGES go to door again, remain a minute or two, then return._) - -BLUEBELL. - - He says his name’s St. Valentine. - -ROSEBUD. - - He claims this natal day of thine. - -BLUEBELL. - - He says he of this day is King. - -ROSEBUD. - - And that he’s come a gift to bring. - -QUEEN. - - Well, bid him enter, but alone, - Since he this day claims for his own. - - (_They go to door again, and return._) - -BLUEBELL. - - He says his attendants must come, too. - He will not enter, unless they do. - -QUEEN. - - Then tell him he outside must stay. - - (_They go to door and return._) - -ROSEBUD. - - The old man will not go away. - He says a gift so fair he brings, - It’s worthy of the wisest Kings - Or fairest Queens. - -QUEEN. - - Are they young and fair, - The attendants that are waiting there? - -BLUEBELL. - - They look sad and sober. Their robes are queer. - -QUEEN. - - For a brief space of time they may enter here. - - (_PAGES go to door again, and return, followed by ST. - VALENTINE, his PAGES holding the train of his robe. The - ATTENDANTS follow, two and two. He stands before throne, his - ATTENDANTS on either side._) - -QUEEN. - - I hear you claim to be a King; - And that a gift to me you bring. - -ST. VAL. - - E’en so, fair Queen. St. Valentine - Am I. This day is surely mine. - -QUEEN. - - But ’tis my natal day as well. - -ST. VAL. - - Much happiness doth that foretell. - -QUEEN. - - But where is the gift you bring to-day? - -ST. VAL. - - ’Tis my heart I bring. Accept it, pray. - ’Tis a gift most rare--this that I bring. - You’re Queen of Hearts, but I am King. - -QUEEN. - - St. Valentine is ages old. - Though Love’s a great gift, I’ve been told. - I am too young to mate with thee, - Though thou best King on earth might be. - -ST. VAL. - - And if I were not? Were I young and gay, - Fair Queen, would you say “no” to-day? - -QUEEN. - - Why, really, I like thee passing well, - Though the reason why I could not tell. - Why, yes. It’s a safe little word to say, - Since you are so old, good saint, to-day. - -ST. VAL. - - Love can make the heart grow young, and make the face grow fair. - And the Fairy Love stands in thy court with Cupid, over there. - -QUEEN. - - Love? Why, her name is Tinkle Bell. - -FAIRY. - - Fair Queen, my name is Love, as well. - So, Valentine, shed all disguise, - And stand forth, young, before her eyes. - - (_As she speaks, she touches ST. VAL., then the PAGES, then she - flits to either side, and touches all the ATTENDANTS. As each - is touched, he throws off his robe, ST. VAL. shedding cap and - whiskers, also. These are carried out by the PAGES. Have some - one at entrance to take them._) - -QUEEN. - - Why, can this be St. Valentine? - Young, handsome, gallant, straight and fine? - -ST. VAL. - - It is, indeed; and now, fair Queen, - Thy promise true thou must redeem. - -QUEEN. - - ’Twas won by fraud. Thou wast not true, - And so I cannot wed with you. - -ST. VAL. - - It was no fraud, but the power of Love, - The fairy all other fays above. - -FAIRY. - - Fair Queen, he is truly worthy of you. - He is brave and noble, tender and true. - -BOYS (_sing to the tune: “Autumn Leaves,” in “Festive Songs for Little -Singers”_). - - Noblest King in all the world, St. Valentine! - True and tender, brave and good--St. Valentine! - Faithful lover will he be, - True eternally to thee. - Take the gift he brings to thee. ’Tis divine. - - Share thy royal throne with good St. Valentine. - Fortunate art thou to have his love as thine. - With him thou wilt happy be, - Sorrow never dwell with thee. - If you’re his, fair Queen, you see, and he’s thine. - -QUEEN. - - Truly thy courtiers love thee well, - And noble things of thee they tell. - Truly, my heart inclines to thee. - -ST. VAL. - - Then give that heart, fair Queen, to me. - I’ll guard it as my greatest treasure, - And make my trust to seek thy pleasure. - -QUEEN. - - I yield. Thou takest what is thine own. - There’s room for both upon my throne. - - (_QUEEN moves aside, and ST. VAL. seats himself beside her. - His PAGES seat themselves by BLUEBELL and ROSEBUD, and the - ATTENDANTS move into place beside the MAIDENS, so that all are - in pairs._) - -CUPID (_sings, tune as before. At beginning of sixth line, FAIRY joins -in, and they sing rest of verse and chorus together_). - - My aim was good and true! - Fair Queen, I aimed at you. - My golden dart - Has pierced your heart-- - Those of your maidens, too. - In earth, or realms above, - Wherever you may rove, - Of gifts so fair, - Both rich and rare, - The best of all is love. - - CHORUS - - Winging, winging, - Swiftly on our way, - We brought you this fairest gift, - Thy natal day. - -QUEEN. - - Ah, Cupid, in mischief thou’rt bound to be! - ’Twas the opening wedge--admitting thee. - -CUPID. - - Art thou not glad? Tell me, fair Queen. - Dost wish thou’dst banished me from the scene? - -FAIRY. - - And the little Fairy, Tinkle Bell? - Art sorry that she came, as well? - And all these visitors of thine, - Including brave St. Valentine? - -QUEEN. - - Nay, ye are welcome, every one, - As well as he who shares my throne. - Of all fair gifts, from east or west, - I’m very sure that love is best. - -ALL (_sing to the tune: “Easter Day,” in “Festive Songs for Little -Singers”_). - - In all the world there’s naught so dear, - There’s naught so rich and rare, - As this fair gift her natal day - Brought to our Queen so fair. - For you may search the whole wide world, - North, south, or east, or west; - You ne’er can find a sweeter gift. - True love is surely best. - - CHORUS - - True love is best, ’tis surely best, - The heart’s most earnest call. - In north or south, in east or west, - The fairest gift of all! - - ’Tis love that makes the world go round, - That guides it on its way. - ’Tis love that builds our homes so dear, - Love that shall live alway! - ’Tis love that keeps the heart e’er young. - With us through life ’twill stay; - And last through all eternity, - For love must live for aye. - - CURTAIN - - (_The curtain should rise again, to show the wedding. The - CLERGYMAN, in the robes of the Episcopal church, waits at the - altar, where is also ST. VALENTINE, his ATTENDANTS near. The - bridal procession should enter at one side of the back, if - possible, pass down to the front, across to C. front, and up C. - to altar. CUPID and the FAIRY should precede the procession; - next should come one of the tiny PAGES, with the ring on a - velvet cushion. BLUEBELL and ROSEBUD follow, as flower girls, - then the QUEEN, followed by her MAIDENS, two by two. No change - is necessary in any of the costumes but to add a long veil of - mosquito netting to the QUEEN’S costume. At the altar, ST. - VALENTINE meets her, and they arrange themselves as for the - ceremony, the BRIDE and GROOM kneeling before the CLERGYMAN. - The curtain may fall on this tableau, or they may rise, and - march out, to the wedding march, if desired. Of course, in this - case, the order will be changed somewhat._) - - CURTAIN - - * * * * * - -A. W. Pinero’s Plays - -Price, 50 Cents Each - -MID-CHANNEL Play in Four Acts. Six males, five females. Costumes, modern; -scenery, three interiors. Plays two and a half hours. - -THE NOTORIOUS MRS. EBBSMITH Drama in Four Acts. Eight males, five -females. Costumes, modern; scenery, all interiors. Plays a full evening. - -THE PROFLIGATE Play in Four Acts. Seven males, five females. Scenery, -three interiors, rather elaborate; costumes, modern. Plays a full evening. - -THE SCHOOLMISTRESS Farce in Three Acts. Nine males, seven females. -Costumes, modern; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. - -THE SECOND MRS. TANQUERAY Play in Four Acts. Eight males, five females. -Costumes, modern; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening. - -SWEET LAVENDER Comedy in Three Acts. Seven males, four females. Scene, a -single interior; costumes, modern. Plays a full evening. - -THE THUNDERBOLT Comedy in Four Acts. Ten males, nine females. Scenery, -three interiors; costumes, modern. Plays a full evening. - -THE TIMES Comedy in Four Acts. Six males, seven females. Scene, a single -interior; costumes, modern. Plays a full evening. - -THE WEAKER SEX Comedy in Three Acts. Eight males, eight females. -Costumes, modern; scenery, two interiors. Plays a full evening. - -A WIFE WITHOUT A SMILE Comedy in Three Acts. Five males, four females. -Costumes, modern; scene, a single interior. Plays a full evening. - -Sent prepaid on receipt of price by - -Walter H. Baker & Company - -No. 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Massachusetts - - * * * * * - -The William Warren Edition of Plays - -Price, 15 Cents Each - -AS YOU LIKE IT Comedy in Five Acts. Thirteen males, four females. -Costumes, picturesque; scenery, varied. Plays a full evening. - -CAMILLE Drama in Five Acts. Nine males, five females. Costumes, modern; -scenery, varied. Plays a full evening. - -INGOMAR Play in Five Acts. Thirteen males, three females. Scenery varied; -costumes, Greek. Plays a full evening. - -MARY STUART Tragedy in Five Acts. Thirteen males, four females, and -supernumeraries. Costumes, of the period; scenery, varied and elaborate. -Plays a full evening. - -THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Comedy in Five Acts. Seventeen males, three -females. Costumes, picturesque; scenery varied. Plays a full evening. - -RICHELIEU Play in Five Acts. Fifteen males, two females. Scenery -elaborate; costumes of the period. Plays a full evening. - -THE RIVALS Comedy in Five Acts. Nine males, five females. Scenery varied; -costumes of the period. Plays a full evening. - -SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER Comedy in Five Acts. Fifteen males, four females. -Scenery varied; costumes of the period. Plays a full evening. - -TWELFTH NIGHT; OR, WHAT YOU WILL Comedy in Five Acts. Ten males, three -females. Costumes, picturesque; scenery, varied. Plays a full evening. - -Sent prepaid on receipt of price by - -Walter H. Baker & Company - -No. 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Massachusetts - - * * * * * - -S. J. PARKHILL & CO., PRINTERS, BOSTON, U.S.A. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Changed Valentines, by Elizabeth F. Guptill - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHANGED VALENTINES *** - -***** This file should be named 54535-0.txt or 54535-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/4/5/3/54535/ - -Produced by Emmy, MFR and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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