S 635 Z9 918 opy 1 AGON GRAB-ALL. VS. 'MS] NATHAN BROWN; OK, I I THE WAR BETWEEN < CAPITAL AND I. \B01I ENDED. A SERIO-COMIC DRAMA. IN THREE ACTS. HyJ. tl. Curry, Ksq. J. H. CURRY, ESQ. Iu th(^ Office x)f the Libniriaii of Congio.ss, al Washi; p^i'm. [all rights keserved by the author.) FORT MYERS, FLA. ROSE A- SELBY, PUBLISHERS, 1896.. DEACON GRAB-AT.L, V5S. NATHAN BROWN: OK, THE WAR BETWEEN CAPITAI AND LABOR ENDED. A SERIO-COMIC DRAMA. (N THREE ACTS. BvJ. H. C\iinv, K»q. 1/ 4 EuteiMHi acooidius- Lo Act of Conirress, iu the year Is'Mi. l»y J. H. CURRV% ESQ.-^. Iu tho Office of the Libiariau of Congress, Hit Washi: ^t;»ii. iALL KIOHTS RESERVED BY THE AUTHOR. [ FORT MYERS, FLA. ROSE & SELBY, PUBLISHERS, 1896. a 4 TMP92-009004 NATHAN BKOWN,-APo()r Cobbler. DEACON GK.^B-ALL,-B,•^t!ker and Alanula. tuvor. (^OL. GOLDSMITH.- -Capitalist and Manufactiii-er. SQLURE NEEDHAM, -Attorney lor Grab-all. Goklsmitb A Conipauy. •JULIUS BEOWN. Only son of Nathan Brown ME. JOHNSON. -Sheriff EPHRIAM MrDUGAL,-^ An UiifortuuHte Outcast. M..EY BEOWN. -VvitV of Nathan Brown NORA BROWN, Daughter of Nathan Bi'own MAGGIE GRABALL. Daughter of Deacon Grab-all. TILLY MALLOY, An I'ish SorvaiU DEA(X)N GRAB-ALL, vs. NATHAN BROWN. A<;'r I. -SCENE I. {Nathan Brown, the 0>bblfr, in hiy > » "Well, hero it is a^aiii ; Mary its dead bent oli seadin^ Julius ti) Colleg-e How the duece she will u'lariage it, ^ets ahead of me. but womeu aie iiiiirhty determined ci'eature.s when the.\' tal^e a notion to do anything Yes, Mary is mighty proud too; she's got blue blood in her veins, always talking about position, socie- ty and so on. Well, she ean't help it. for she came from awful stu('k-u{) stock; and how she ever got stuck on a poor impecuni- ous cuss like me, always has l>een a 'ouundrum, but God bless her, she is a darling and has never gone back on tier choic-\ (f^nter Mary Brown with a lettn- in her hand.) •2 DEACON GRABALL VS. NATHAN BROWN Maru B. •'Nathan, what do you ivckou, I received a letter from Broth- er John toda^'. and he Brown. "Notbiu^ strange about that, you and John are al\va\-s writ- ing- to each other about some fool scheme oi' other. Mary B. "But Nathan, wait until I tell you about it. He writes me that he wants Julius to -ome to Boston and live with him, go to school and stay in his offi.M* and i-ead law. Brown. "How in the thunder does he expect us to send Julius to Boston, when we hav'nt got itioney enough to live on a week ahead, say nothing of the debts we owe and can't pay? Mary Brown. "But Nathan, you won't wait until I liuish he sends in this letter a chc' k for one hundred dollars to fix Julius up and to pay his expenses to Boston. He says that when he comes he will bear al! his expenses for four years. Oh! how good brother John is. Brown : •■But Mary this is a reflection on your husband. You know, I have never yet asked one of your blue-blooded, rich relations to help me one cent, and I never shall, as Umg as I can drive a peg. ( Kvcitedly strikes his last with hammer). Mary B: "N(\ no, Nathan. You don't understand brother John ; he never meant any reflection at all; you know John never did ob,iect to you, he was always jour friend He ju.st means to do us a kind- DEACON GRABALL VS. NATHAN BROWN 3. ness. Aud he has uo family, br that purpose. JuliuH B : •'Thexi, Mother, as ITn-lo John is so graeious, just let him lend me the hundred dollars, and 1 will pay old Deu.'ou (.Trab-ail his debt, and slay here and hell* lathtn- in the shop and pay back Uncle John in a year or two. Alary B: '*Bui-, Julius, your L'nele wauls \'«)U bo be educated, titt^ to succeed in life, to take a position iu society; he is ambitious, and prouU of you; it ia so gtK)d in him lo do this. Bfoijcn : "Yes. Julius, your Mother and Uncle John are right. I don't want you to be as I am, a veritable slave all your life The smell of Uwither is a very obnr)xious odor to the deli^-ate oU'actories of these xrwa'i^i/ folks; ar.ti you might not be as hirky as your old daddy wa,s in getting a blue-bkKxled girl for a wife, with the dirt and dust of manual labor, and the smell of the shop on your clothes. Mary B : "Now, Nalhao, it is nr>t that at all; y»u are just as good and 6 DEACON GRAB ALL VS. NATHAN BROWN noble as Deacou Grab-all, Colonel Goldsmith or anj-body e.l^e, but then you know Juliu» B: "That the old Deacon has got a mightv charming daughter, and mother has a charming son. This daughter might not ap- preciate the delicious aroma of cow-hides, goat -skins, tan-yards and so forth, ha ! ha ! Brown : '"J'his does settle it; Julius, you ar*^ going to Boston, and they can make leather out of my old hide if you don't stay there and get tixed up for a gentleman. I will work my nails off if neces- sary, and support this domestic institution and pay off old Deacon Grab-all besides. I mean with Mary's help, for she is a sorter of.a saving clause in our domestic economy and never does know when she is tired. Juliutt B : "No. father, this is not right ; I had rather stay here and help you out of your trouble. I am not ashamed of our trade The best iiian that ever lived or earth was a carpenter. The smell of the shop on the garments of an honest man is as sweet as holy incense that goes up to heaven before the altar, and the dust- stained garments of the true toiler are as beautiful in heaven's sight as the stainless raiment of Celestial light that enrobes the angels. Brown : "Now, I know you arc going to Boston. That speech does not DEACON GRAB ALL VS. NATHAN BROWN 7 fit the mouth of a eotiinion cobldei"; that's some of the outerop- piu^8 of that mother of yours. Boys always take after their mothers; all great men have great mothers. Mary B : "Nathan, you always turn everything into burlesque; you ought not to talk this whv. Brown : "Well, oM gal I iiiean it. give me a grip; Julius, get ready tt» start for Boston by to-morrow. Go and tell Nora about it. and fix up lively (Kxit Julius). [Brown i-arcHHes hi» wife). (JidtUH returns immedi- ately). Julius B : "Father, Deacon Grab-all is before the door in his carriage and says he wants to see you. Brown : "Tell him to come in, I am too busy now to go into the street {h^.xit Julius). Mary B : "Nathan, you are not busy, not doing anything. Brown : "Not doing anythiug? Don't call this loving and caressing a wife doing anything? You used to think it was something when we would steal out in the woods before we united our destinies Mary B. "Nathan, you ought to be ashamed 8. DEA(50N GRAB ALL VS. NATHAN BROWN hrown : "What! ashamed of kissing you? Why, you usf^d to De the oQe that Io(»ke(i mighty shamed; but there is the deaeou. {knocks.) Brown : "Conie ill. ( Knfer Deacon Grab all). Brown : "(iood moruing. Deacon, will you have a seat on the stool. Deacon Grab all. "No thank you, sir; I came around to see ahout that littlo matter between us; have you seen Squire Needham. to-day? Brown : "O. Yes I went to the Squire's office this morning- and signed .some sort of a do-ument ns further security for what I owe you. Dpacon Grab-all: "I am glad yni did. I shall see Squire Xeedham aiso about it. tBt'Oins to refirc). Brown . ( Infroducuig him to his wife). •' Deacon (Trnb-all this is my wife. (They grecJ). Marn H : "I think I once had the pleasure of meeting you a gof)d many years ago in Baltimoic, when you were working for my father in the bank. Deacon Grab-all : "O, Yes. I recall with pleasure those days, and the memory uf your father; and I have often thought srrange how things often DEACON GRABALL YS. NATHAN BROWN 9 happen so c'ontrary to all our expectations Mary B : "Yes, life is madr> up of surprises; sometimes they are very grievous and dieappointiii^, and often they are very agreeable and delightful Deacon U rob-all: "True enough. I bid you yood-day. (Kxit Deacon Grab-all). Brown: "Well. Mary, I'llsliut up shop, Jind we will go home and get things in shape foi- Julius' det>arture, besides I don't fe.>I like working any more to-day. We will spend the balan<'e of our time, until our boy leaves, with the children 'J his may be the last day we all shall i>e together. And Mary, life is getting *,o be a mighty serious business with us poor people: I sometimes lose courage, when I see how the poor are oppress* 'd by the rich. Mary B: "But, Nathan, you ai-e too prone to look on the dark side, it will all come right, in the end. The darkest time is .just before the dawn, you know. Brown : "Then, it must be mighty near broad day-light by this time, but God bless you, dailiug; a true wife is the inspiration of a poor, cowardly cuss of a husband anyhow. "Now for a forgetting of our sorrows and a hoping lor bright- zarci and .^heer me up im mensely ; what say you? \taru B : "Well, Nathan, you must help me and we will sin^r that littl" sonj^r you wrote for us when wp left our home in Baltimore and eanie to Alabama and were mairied (They sing the song as folloivs). No tongue can express the emotion I feel when I think of the time Wh swore to t^ach other devotion - A 'onstaucy. true and suhlime CHORUS. As pure as the stars up in heaven. Our vows we then sealed with a kiss ; The angels were watching, and even They shared in our Eden of bliss; The angels i'v)rgave us, and even They shared in our Eden of bliss There -atn" not a cloudlet Rt moi iiing To darken our beautiful sky : The sun of our love at its dawning We hailed with a rapturous '-i-y (<'liorusi, There crept in our hearts not a sorrow- Not even a shadow was cast ; Our hopos they were bright <^f to-morrow, We dreamed that they ever would uist. (. 'horus) As rivers rush down to the sea, And are lost beneath the dark wave, So i-unneth in sorrow or glee, Our livesto the^pitiless grave ,i( lu:)rus) vesto the^pitiless grave M lu)rui Jilt Gio^ V cr yfift . ACTl;S'^NEn *" (Nathan Broivn's shop. Enter Julius). Juliius B : "It's now ueai'ly six o'.'lock --md I haven't got any answer \et I w mder if that fool Eph didn't get my note to Maggie I cer- tainly <'an depend on Eph, DEACON GRAB ALL VS. NATHAN BROWN 11 (^7p/^ comes up excitedly), hJph : "Well, you can. Mr. Julius, depend ou Eph every rime, [tlandfi note to Julius) Golly. I had a time of a, getting that note. I fell over the wall right cawhalloping in the briar patch andh)st about two yards of hide; and while I was a lying theie I heard tlie old DeaL'ou a coming, blowing like a por -upine. Golly, I thought h<> had me, and Maggie squatted down beside the wall jest like a lit- tle chick when a hawk squeals around. Julius B : "Btilly for you, Eph. I'll send you something ni -e from Bos- ton. {Heads letter). h'ph : What does the Gal say, M r. Julius; is she coming? Julius : Never mmd, you .-an go now ( hJxit Kph) Yes, here is her note; "DcDend on me; will be there by six o' -lock, or pretty soon after, but I must be very careful, my conscience hurts me, any- how; but as you are going off to Boston, perhaps forever, I will agree to the meeting. Maggie." Yes, I knew I could certainly depou will be my "own, my darling wife Maggie : Oh, Julius; but, Julius, this is not right Julius : Maggie, don't you love me? Do you reject me simply because DEACON GRABALL VB. NATHAN BROWN 13 I am the son of a. poor cobblor, and you the dau^^hter of a banker and a niillionaireV 1 shall not always bo poor, despised, impe- cunious Maggie : Hush, Julius; You liuow it is not that. I could not think more of you if you had a hundred million; it is not money that makes the man. The truest wealtb is honor, uu«l he who possesses a noble, f^euerous In^arl, is as hi^h above the avariei»His money lover as the stars are above the earth Y<'S, Julius, I will promise to be faithful to my vows, and when you think the time has eome that I can make you a (He takes her hands a,ffectionately and kisses them). But Julius I must go, it is getting late. My father will put me on the witness stand and cross-questicm about my ab- bence, and ho might get me rathel" ex<*iled Julius : I (e in {Sora enters). Needham : Why. ^Jiss Nora, glad to see you; it is not every day a la w- yV Needham : I'll attend to that, but I have a message for you. Nora : I hear someone coming, I must go. Good morning. (Kxit Nora, hurriedly, leaving her handkerchief and a hunch of flowers on the desk, and Ncedhayn looking non-plussed). (Knock on the door) Needham : Come in. 16 DEACON GRABALL VS. NATHAN BROWN ( l^nter Deacon Grab-all). Deacon Grah-all : Good morning, Squire, how are you pn^^TessiLig with our. little mattei- with neighbor Brown. Needham : I think, Dea ou, I nave ^ot the papers fixed up a.-eordiu^ to Ho vie, and vou an stick it to him whenever you want to. Peacon Grab-all I don't think, Squire, that Hoyle is ^'ood authojity in law; in tVivt, I don't like that expression anyway; it smacks of gamiuj?, and you know that my position in so-'iety and the churih, ue.es- sitates my strong disapprobation of anything: tending? to leading young men from the paths of morality and virtue; and I am ex- tremely sorry to hear you use s ) glibly and familiarly such torms; it indicates a taste f(n-, i^ not an indulgence in, the iniqui- tous habit of gaming. You know one of my rules is never to have a y(.ung man who ever smok(^s. chews toba 'CO, indulges in alco holic stimulants, v)r plays at cards. i\ecdham : Yi'S, Dea^-op, I am aware of your strict notions on this subject and have often heard your lectures at the church to the young people, but tnen there might be some things as bad, if not worse than a little indulgence now and then in a game of I'ards Deacon G : No, sir; it is iniquitous, and I say again I am sorry to hear you talk as if you were familiar with su -h wickedness Needham : All Vigiit tnen, Dea-on, I apologize and say that the papers are tixed up a^-cording to due process of law, and I repeat, you can stick it to old Brown whenever vou want to. DEA JON GRAB-ALL VS NATHAN BROWN 1? Deacon G : I think I ought to go for this old rascal, he has been owing me this seveutv-flve dollars nigh onto two years. Needham: But, Deacon, you forget that Brown has paid you about tif- teen dollars interest, ami he has had very bad luck too. with sick- ness and Doctor's bills to pay, he has been put to it to make a living. Deacon (i : Don't talk to me about bad luck and his being put to it; why. sir, he has actually sent that son of his to Boston, to'College. using the money that justly belonged to me; it is outrageous, a shame, Needham : But, D«»acon, I understand that it was some relative that sent his mother the nu^ney to pay the boy's expcMises to College Deacon G: It makes no difference, it is ridiculous; Brown ought to keep that boy at home to help him work to pay his debts. Sending him off to College, indeed ! I never saw a College ; I worked w^en I was a boy for five dollars a month and board. I never got an education but I made a living and was ne-er a dependent pauper on the chaiities of friends. But, let me see the papers; did Brown sign them up cheerfully? Needham : Not so "heerfuUy, as resignedly; you know it is not such a cheerful performance for a fellow to sign away all he has,. But then, he made no objection and said, ho desired to pay the debt as soon as possible , . _ , Deacon G: • What do you call the paoer he signed this time. Squire? Needham : It is a bill of sale, just as you told me to fix up, a surrender of all rights, title and interest whatsoever in the old gray mare, the Jersey cow and calf, twobrindle steers, six head of swine, consist- ing of the mother, the brothers' and sisters of the Berkshire breed A'*^',; 18 DEA ON GRAB-ALL VS. NATHAN BEOWN Deacon G : All ri^lit ; do you think the property is worth tiie debt? Need/mm : Worth the debt! Why, that Jersey coav alone is worth your claim,, sav uothin^ of the other onttle, th(> horse, hogs, etc. Deacon (V : Now Squii-e, 8ut)|>ose you go and see Brown and explain to him ihat I have a legal i-ight to his, property, but that I dislike to press him, but that I am williog to compromise, if he will turn over tA) me the Jersey cow and calf, and the oxen and horse, I wil^ liot require the hogs, l^his will save too, the expense of a law- suit. Needham : Mr. Grab-all, I prefei- not to do this, law willing to do the legitimate work oi an attorney, but 1 can't go and look Brown in the fa"e and pursuade him to do this. The fact is, I feel like a crjmiua'l anyhow in getting him to sign this bill-of-sale. I think you ought to go yourself and see Brown ; and perhaps, you and he might adjust matters mutually satisf actor ih' Deacon G : Now, Squire Needham, you are a young man and have not established any legal rer)Utation here yet, in our town, and you know you are dependent on getting business to make a living as well as a reputation: and you further know that I am able to thiow more business in your way than any other man in town So I think you sliould not be so qui(;k to refuse my requests. Needham : But Deacon, you certainly would'' not desire me to do some- thing I thought was not tor your inteiest; and I am '-ertain you could succeed better than I, with Brown. I must decline to go on this errand. Deacon G '. Very well then, but remember my warning. Any how, bring suit at once. Replevy the |)roperty. I will claim all m> legal rights (hJxit Deacon). DEA ON GRAB-ALL VS. NATHAN BROWN Seedham ; Oh my! How I wisb i could afford to collar that old cuss and cxodise him down tuo .stairs. But theu. the old coou docs pay my rents and grocery bills What a slave is a poor imp(>cunious lawyer ! What a tvranny he must endui-e ! Here, I am for.-ed to do this dirty business, but in a legal way, for that old white- washed Phari.see. But then the cards change sometimes, and we have a i-un of luck, ha! ha! and when a lawyer uoes get the ad- vantage how he I'an use it; when he gets the grip on a tellowhow he can squeeze, squeeze him; just wait, I can teel the old Deacon now oozing througn my tender pi'essure; ha! ha! such is life, let the wheel tui-n; we will be on top after awhile. Hph : Hello, Squire, what is the matter with you and Uncle Grab-allV Seedham : How% is h»> your Uncle V /t/'p/i : He's mother's brother, so they say. After father di-'d he run father's business until he got the money, so I have heard my mother say. Mother didn't live long after that. She used to look mighty sad. I've seen her cry sometimes. 1 guess may be that hurt her I was a chap then, ten or twelve years old. but I remember that morning when he drove me off and knocked me in the head. It hurts me vet sometimes and things look mightv (Hirious and both«'rsome from what they used to look. Needharn : How camo you at Nathan Brown's. Eph? I^Jph : 1 didn't hav work, and it's j^etting mighty uear rUuuer time, too (.bYar^s' to go hut sees hanakerchief ami flowers on desk) Ha! ha! Mr. Squire, what's these here? Has Miss Nora been up here this moruing-V Needham : What tnaltas vou tliiuk so. Eph? h:ph: Golly, I Ivuows Miss Nora's haudkerchiet! See here, Mi-. Squire, here's her uame on it. And didn't I see her a g-ettiug- these fioAvers this morning-! I knowed something: was in her head. j\'e*'dham : Never mind that now. Here is a note that I want you to carry to Mr Jjrown's. hJph : All rig-ht, I'll take a note to Miss Nora, too, if you wiut me to. Needham : O, gro on, and rarry the note to Mr. Brown. ihJxit Kph), My God! Isn't this a reyelation; that poor unfortunate out -ast, the nephew of Grab-all His grreed broke a mother's heart and then ruined her child. And his own kin ! What villany! And now he poses in the g^arb of virtue! I will no long-er be a party to his oppression ! I will assert ray manhood ! In the name of humani- ty. I protest ! .\nd by the Gods, the wheel shaH turn ! iKxit Seedham excifedly). ACT I; SCENE IV. (At Xathan Broicn's house). (Sheriff' enters). Brown : Why, how flo you do, Sheriff Johosu, I have but little tim^' tn spar^v How are the oiks V— all well I suppose. DEA' ON GRAB-ALL Vh. N ATH IN BROWN 21 • Brown : Oh, yes, well as common; n )tbiu;^ to complain of ou that score, ex -ept Mary is not s j spry and strong lately as she mig lit be; she will work herself to death tiking^ in sewin* and washing?. Sheriff : I wouldn't allow her to do it, Brown. Brown : Well don't I protest, and fuss ab ut it, and out up the very old Harry? But nothing can stop her, she is doing this to ke^'p Julius at s 'hool; you know that boy is her pet, and she wants to make an educated gentleman out of Julius. I tell her she is working herself to death, that she is getting old before the time, turjows are coming into her dear face, but she thinks of her ab- sent boy, and goes right on bearing her burden as if it were light as a feather, ringing as cheerfully as that bird in the tree. Why, you would think, to see her, that not a care ever came into her sweet life. Sheriff. She is a noble wife, Br )\vti, and it means more than we men think to hnve su -h wives to help us poor fellows. Brown: Yes, she is a daisy darling. Sheriff; but she is not at home to- day, she took Nora and went over to Squire Needham's mother to do somt: sewing; that Needham family are mighty nice, cleve' folks, sheriff, Mary don't tell me, buc I catch on to things uow and then ; she takes Nora with her to old Mrs. Needham's, who is giving her lessons on the piano. Y(^u know M ry is mighty mu -h stu'di on the idea of educating the children: she is banking con- siderably on our daughter, Nora, as well as on Julius. Sheriff : Your dauyrhter is very intelligent and beautiful, Brown, and she ought to have all the advantages possible; she is fitted t-) shine someday as a star in society. Brown : But, Sheriff, she is simply the daughter of poor old Nathan Brown, the ^obbler, and this wdl keep her always in the back- ground. 22. DEACO^ GRAB-ALL Vh. NATHAN BROWN No, Brown, that doesn't follow; but then I had almost forgot— 1 have come to serve some papers on vou for Deacon Gi-ab-all. He says he has a bill-of-sale on your cows, the horse, hog-s, etc., and he has brought suit to get possession Brown : Well, Sheriff it is a fact, I did sign the document and I guess the Deacon has the legal daim on the whole thing, and if he pr.-sses his olaim and takes the property T car't help it, but'I.**ni a little surprised at the young Squire who got me to sign the paper. bheriff: But, Brown, you -an't blame the ; quiie; you know he is Dea xm Grab-all's lawyer and has to do whatever the old dea ;on says or lose his job Brown : Yes, yes, I see, that is all right I reckon, but I would hate to have to make mj-^ living a lawing for other folks, and yet Mary says our Julius is going to make a lawyer too, maybe so, but — weW. let it go. IShtriff: Brown, lawyers are not so bad as some folks imagine, and w^hen I tell you a secret it will change your opinion of lawyers. Squire Needham is your friend, and here is his fine gold w^atch and chain he left with me to get you the money to redeem ycnir property. ( With tears and considerable emotion Brown replies). Brown : But, Sheriff, this is not right in the Squire. I oan't a-cept his kind offer; in the first plaee, I cannot t'dl when I can ever repay him, and 1 might as well owe the Dei?on as the Squire; and then if the Deacon should find out that the Squire was befriendirg me this way he would go back on him and tal^e his business from him. No, no. Sheriff, I must not do this. Sheriff: But, Brown, you must accept this; the matter is all arranged ; I hold the watch and advance the money myself, go and pay the DEA(;0^ GRAB-ALL Vh. NATHAN BROWN 22 Deaoou and ^et >'our [)roperty released, bow tortuaate y(ju aiv; and your wife don't know about tbis either. Brown : Yes, yes. it does look like a mi^^hty curious piece of ^oour living ; that old Jersey cow pays our rent and wood bill, Sheriff If we had to ^ivp her up we would have to send f o ■ Julius sure enougrh to come home and ^o to work, and this wi)nld sure break Mary's heart. Sheriff: Yes, Blown, you ou^ht to fef>l grateful to the Squire, he wants to see you cnie <>ut all right. Brown : I guess I l»li*('itioa, but I have been unable to pay you until this very day Deacon G : You don't owe me auything. Air. Brown, you settled that debt by a biIl-of-sa:e of your property; I took this in lieu of the debt and have ^iven orders to my attornety here t > havf the property turned over by the Sheriff to me. Brown : But, Deacon, to be sure I did ^ive you a bill-of-sale and I thought this was simply to be further security for the debt You know I have never failed to pay up the interest, and in advance, and I never counted (m this, only as security Deacon O : But, Mr Brr>wn, vou ou^^nt t<» know better than that; you are aware that I already held a mortgage and why should I want further security, wher I had this chattel mortgage? What sense would there be in my going to the expense of hiri.ig a lawyer to draw up these last papers, when I had ample securitj' ; it Was simply a bargain and sale to mv, of n'oui- property. Sheriff: But, Deecou, the property is worth considerably more than seventy-five dvoUars, and .\'ou would be the last man to claim more than was right. Deacon are thus der«4iet iu their duty. Iran have you ruled fssion ')f mj'own? Answer me as a lawyer, not as a moralizer. Needham : Well, Deacon, your refusing to ac-zept this tender of the Mone>' places you at a gi-eat disadvantage and under the cii'cum- stances. you are wrong This bill-of-sale would be treated by the court as a nun^tgage and fore;-losure proceedings would be necessary. Deacon G : Then, sir, you aeceived me. You drew up the papers yourself. you led me to believe differently; you are wilfully or helnlessly ignorant; you have not respected the I'elations between <'lient and attorney. I am surprised, I am shocked sir, at your conduct. Aeedharn : Mr. Grcab-all, I have fully appre -latcd the relation existing between client and attorney, and I have arranged to get you your money; this is all any lawyer could do or any client should de- mand, DeaconG : Well, you can do as you please as my lawyer about accepting 26 DEA('ON GRAB-ALL VS. NATHAN BROWN the seventy-five dollars, Dut I will not pers;)aall3^ tlo it; theu re- nieniber I shall not pay one cent of cost conne-ted with this case nor a dime for attorney's fees. I will see you ai^ain about this and other ujatters ( hjxits Deacon angry). Needham : Well. Brown, liere is a reetupt in full for the seventy-five dol- lars. {Nand» him rec?iDf). Tho Dea '(m will soon get over this, he is dyspeptic, you know, and ^t^ts off hisj; base sometimes, but he will be all smiles next Sunday at chur.'h Sheriff: Yes, his is a case cf pecuniary dyspepsia. afTe 'ts his heart in- stead of his liver He is tbc hardest, knottiest old cuss lever saw, and when tie dies the last tbiny: he will ever behold will be a vision of niortg-ages and bank-bills and the last thing he will hear will be the jiugliDg of the almighty dollar. Brown : No, no, Squire, I did owe him the moaev and wh«M» he loaned it to n)e it was a mighty great ace )mmodation tjo. That was nearly two years ago and I pro-i'.ised t ) p ly him in six or nine months; so you see he has been very obliging, and If he had taken my property I would not have gruml)led, but onlv felt bad for Mary's sake You know Mary is dead brMit on keeping Julius at school; but these are awful times Squire, and we poor people are the veriest slaves. You lawvers and merchants and spe -ula- tors don't know how we fellows a.vo put to it, kec^piug the wolf fiom tne door; but I am not complaitiing. I aui only thinking how strange it is to see things like they are Needham : But, Brown, you are all right now with the Dea'on. the debt is paid and it tnaybe, that things wdl chaug<' for the better before long. I admit that we are living in the midst of terrible times, but then we are living in free America. The do.-trines of individ- ual sovereignty, equal rights to all, special favors tt> none, are be- coming <'rystalized ideas in the minds of the tnasses; and this shall be the almighty idea to nerve the hearts of the common peo- ple, Itefore they shall he utterlj'' dominated by this vvould-be money tyranny, moie damnable than any slavery that ever DEACON GRAB-ALL VS. NATH\N BROWN 27 cursf^d the earth. Brown : Why, Squii-e. you don't talk like a lavvyor or politician, you talk like one of our sort, I mean wecoiumon laboriui? pt^ople; but I love to hear you talk this way, Squire, and did you know it the common people are Deyriuninjif to think for themselve-;, as they never did before. They are bein^ educated on th(^se subjeits; ten men are reading- to-day where one was a few j-^ears a^o. Yes Si»', the massbs are bein*^ educated and intelii^euMi is beino: widely diffused. So ial, ecclesiastical, and political tyranny can only thrive where ignoran 'e abounds. Let th(> peopl<» be educated. Let iiitellif?enc(* rule and soon we shall hear the prelude to the an- them of victory ; we shall see the ffliut of the dawn ; the coming of the sun that shall dispel theprloom; Ave .shall hear the voice of American freedom like the voice of the Seven Thunders. This sound of arous >d America .^hall be like the trump that shall awake the dead; but. ha; ha; ha! I was about to forjjet the old Deacon and his seventy-five dollars. Here is a toast t> all men, and the Dea"on in particular, on the platform of the common brotherhoodjof humanity, I will see you ag^in to-morrow, orrnlh - men END OF AC r FIRST. •28 DEACON GKAB-ALL VS. NATHAN BROWN Aet Two, Scene One. I Deacon Grab-all's parlor, where he. Squire Needham, and Cot. Golds'mithJ,iscu88 the strike. Tilly Maloy, an Irish servant, seated at the piano, as Maggie, the Deacon's daughter, enters). Maggie : Tilly Maloy, what on earth are you doin^; I have b^en rin^- ug for you for the last five minutes ! Tilly : Indade, Mum, and 1 never heard a sound! Maggie : If you had been attending? to your duties as a si from earning a dacent living is no harm ! DEACON GRAB-ALL Vb. NATHAN BROWN 26 Maggie : Is your- husband ouo of the stiikersV Tilly: Aud faith, you kuow he has beeu workiug for your father in the factory, aud it's uothin^ to be ashamed of, I'm sure^to be an honest vvorkiu^man. I kuow a chap that you'd h>ike to be your man some we get down to serious business suppose we enjoy the aroma of a delicious Havana? Goldsmith: Nothing more acceptable, I think it a good prelud(s (Smoke) :^) DEACON GRAB-ALL VS. NATHAN BROWN ■Deacun G : Well, ^eiitletneu. we are confronted with a set ions problem in this matter of the strike amon^ our workinj^meu ; ami ri^ht nt)w, on the eve of the election we cannot afford tt) ignore t.ie necessity of wise and immediate measures. I should like to have you. Col Goldsmith, express your views upon the situation. Goldfimith : Then, tiist. I should say in rey:ard to the strike now on, we should not show any signs of weakening or yielding t > this how 1- iLtg mob; the moie we jneld, the nure they h )wl. We must • ou- quer them by starvation. They cannot hold out against hungei- and will <'ome back winning and fawning like whipped curs. Deacon G : Wed, Colonel, I am not able to discuss this Question, uot hav- ^ng been i»lessed with any great anjuit of education; but I believe that vour ideas c )iJC'^rning the sifc lation are about right, although it may uot b"^ policv for us to carry them out just at this time, on account of the election so near at hand; but here is our friend. Squire Needham, who is not only a student of Black- stone, but of everything else; I suggest that we hear fi-om him. Goldsmith : Yes, I readily yield to Squire Needham, I know that he is a stulaat of th > misters, Huxley, f jhn Sl^uirt. Mil, Ricardo, Adam Smith & Co. 1 believe Mr. Needham took the uuiversity prize on thf! subject of political economy. Xeedham : Well then, gentlemen, to uegin with, I tinnk you are too severe in your criti-ism^ of the strikers. There are some true and deserving men among the strikers, and it is pitiful to see so much distress accasioned, it may be, by the unwise enthusiastic leaders. Don't you think we might meet these strikers with the weapons of argument, pei'suasion and advi -e, and get their ear? We might ac 'ompiish more than we think. Goldfdity. These unba|)py. uncultured wretches who are to-day striving and seeking for mere bread, are so by virtue of their surroundings, their environ- ments. They have been eowed and cursed and crowded out until nil theii- self-assertion is well niirh crushed out of them. Give these poor wret'hes the same adv^antages th<5ir more favored brethern en.ioy, for the next ireneration or two. and see where and how they shall stand. Take the children of these poor laborers, place them amidst the i-etiuing, developing surroundings you enjoy, take your children and force them to endures the pur- gatorial existence of these despised hirelings, and when forty years have passed you may witness a re[)etition of this same scene, ifemght, only re.versed: your children's children will be protesting against, it maybe, fan 'led wrongs, and their children will be despising and dis ussing the uure 'ognized demands of the eowed, crushed eursj 4f VOU tO^\ tX tVt\ . Goldsmith: Needham. you are a so 'ialist. if not an anarchist. Such views as 'you have exr)ressed, promulgated, would kindle the tires of a i-evolution In this country. You, sii", are strangely out of sym- pathy with the higher views of ouj' civilization. Needham : But. Colonel, our > ivilization is strangely out of sympathy with the higher view ot justice and fraternal fellowship. Over eighteen hundred years ago the mightv teacher of Nazareth pro- mulgated this hateful doctrine of socialism as you term it. He laid down the law of human progress along the line of human 8-2 DEACON GRAB-ALL VS. NATHAN BROWN. brotherhood. This philosophy was as repu^?nant to the aristo- cratic class iu his day as it is to this same class in our day. The h )astful, arrosraQt pharisee believed in the doctrine of heredity, a ad g-loried iu being the children of A braham. They scorned the t.arpeuter of Nazareth and saw the taint of vulgarity in his line oicou'luct. But he rose above their foremost teachers, and with a logic as ' )Qsuming as lightning he scattered into atoms their false egotistical philosophy. j^eneath their massive, rotten creed, that had evolved out of their gross misconception of hum- an relationship, and crystalized into a mighty hypocracy he placed the bomb of truth, and destroyed the colossal fabric for- ever. Goldsmith : But, Squire, vou are an enthusiast; crazy; you are not an ad- vocate of dynamite-bomb tnrowing are you? Xeedham : No, Sir, not iu that sense, but history repeats itself, and this nineteenth century is repeating itself in geometric ratio, and we ma>' be nearer than we dream to a revolution, not of lire, sword or dynamite, but a revolution of ideas born of a desire for human freedom . Deacon U : Well, gentlemen, we have drifted from the subject. I move we turn to the subject of the strike now on hand, and see if som e- thing can't be done. Business is stopped. Stagnation has set iu ; stagnation is death. I suggest that we deputize Squire Needhani a committe'. It requires a little pecuniary grease to keep Zion's wheels run- ning, as well as everything else, and the parsi.n must have his bread buttered. But to business. I insist on Squire N(M?dham going to confer with the strikers. Needham : Well gentlemen, if 1 a -cept this mission what instru^'tions do you furnish me? What definite proposals do you submit to these people? I must cai-ry proposals that show fairness and sin -er'ty. Suppose Deacon, you draft the proposition for a settlement. Deacon G : All right. Squire, heie is what we submit. ( tie ads from a paper) Terms:- -It is hereby agreed to restore the ten per cont reduction of wages and to insure steady work fo)- the next six months, provided the workn^en shall agree to the ten hour sys- tem for vhe remainder of the yeai-. Goldsmith, Gkab-all. & Co. You see we restore the ten per cent reduction provided the men return immediately to work, and under the ten hour system, and provided they agree to bind themselves during the remainder of the year. 34 DEACON GEAB-ALL VS. NATHAN BROWN. Needham : Then geutlemen, if this is agreeable, I shall goat ouee aijdsee tne leader of the strikers and try to arraug-e matters satisfactor- ily. Shall I report here? Deacon G : Yes, we will wait here for the result of your conference. Who is the leader of this present strike. Squire? Needham : I don't know that he is the instigator, but he is the chief spirit among them and they abide his decision ; I mean Nathan Biown. Deacon G : That old cuss will never agree to anything I propose; but then you can try it, itJxit the Squire) Gold.smith : Oiab-all, that fellow Needhaoi is a dangerous fellow; he is shrewd and cunning, and I suspect his loyaltj'. Hs is in sym- pathy with these blatant strikers. I think we ought to elect another attorney for our company. Deacon G : I think you do the Squire injustice Colonel, he is not cunning or disloyal ; the fact is he is too confounded loyal and honest, that is what is the matter; he is a straight-forward, true fellow, but withall a fool in one sense. He will work for these people with- out fee or reward; defend them in the courts for nothing, help them out of their troubles, and all for a "thank you. ' But he is terribly popular, and I wouldn't be surprised Colonel, if they put him up against you for congress. (Sound of a belt in the dining- hail). There Colonel, I heai" a welcome sound, let's repair to the dining hall and partake of some refreshments; we can there dis- cuss further the question over our wine, and bv the time we have digested the viands as well as the subje-.-t the Squire will return and report (rotdsmith : All right, Doacou, a little replenishing of the inner ma?i, will not be ob.ie<'tional)le. Does the parson like your wine? Deacon G : He only takeb it in Homeopathic doses, and f(U- his stomach's DEACON GKAB-ALL VS. NATHAN BROWN. 85 s;ake, and othei' inttrmities. {2'hey retire] ACT II ; SCENE II. (At Nathan Brown's house. Brown and family, with friends, dis- cussing the strike). Foreman : But, Mr. BrowD. the ineii are very much aroused by this last reduction of their wages. Some of them have actually made threats against the property of Dv^acon Grab-all and Col. (jold- smith. Brown : That is all wrong. We must not resort to brute for -e. W r are not anarchists, we nmzt carry our point by an appeal to reason, to t'onsuience, and not resort to physical means. Foreman : How long do you expect a set of starving men, are going to wait? I tell you, they are right now i-eady to do some terrible vvoi-k and I can't blame them much, and you need not be sur- piised if some of the imruly ones carry out their threats, and it may be this very night. (Knock on the door). Brown, to his daughter: Admit who ever that is at the door. [Enter ISquire Needham.) Wh\', how do you do, Squire, glad to see you, eoine right in and be at home among us, I l)elleve vou are acquainted with every body. Needham : Oh, yes, thank you. but I have not k>ng to remain, I have come on a special mission, in fact I have been appointed a com- mittee of one to confei- with you about the strike. Brown : Do you come from Grab-ali. Goldsmith & Co? Neadttam : Yes, directly from them, and with a definite proposition, and [ thinK we can arrange matte? s satisfactorily. 36 DEACON GKAB-ALL VS. NATHAN BROWN. Br own : Well, Squire, 1 -dii speak for the luen, and say that they will aivetd to any proposition that is fair, that will enable them to niake an honest living. If these capitalists just understood us there would be no trouble. Of course we want terms just and honoi-able. What terms do you propose, Squire? (He reads the terms). Brown : Ibeliev(^ the men will agree to these terms, I will send them word. The foreman here of t^e factor^' crowd can ^o and tell the men we have agreed upon terms, and that all hands shall go to work in the morning. foreman : Yes sir. I will not be slow to spread the news, and I thinu everythiLg will be all right '.f we can just control two or three of the worst i.nes. [h'xit Foreman). Needham : Thank you, Mr. Brown, I shall be proud to repeat this to the gentlemen, who deputized me on this mission. Madam Brown : My husband is always ready to do what is right, and the men who selected him to be the head and adviser in this matter never did a wiser thing. I think the men ought to accept the proposi- tion and be thankful too. These are terribly hard times, and we should not expect things to be as they used to be. By the way, I received a letter from Julius to-day, he says everybody is talking about hard times in Boston, and prophesying dark days ahead. But he seems v-heerful enough, and actually wanted me to give him some definite information about the Deacon's pretty daugh- ter. What do you think of that, Mr Needham, for Julius? N^eedham : I think Julius has an eye for the beautiful, and has the Deacon's daughter in his eye. There is no telling what may hap- pen some of these days. But I must be going and make my report. { h'xit Needham). Brown ; That Needham is an awful clever fellow, Nora, your mother talks about Julius and the Deacon's gal ; but let me tell you pet, ]>EA('(»N G1{AB-ALL vs. \A IHAN HK()\V\. ;j7 iIk'Iv is 111.' fluip for in. , and lit' v'o,.|<| hiak'- I t.iilly soii-iii-law, old woinnii ! ' Sora luriiM away hfushunf) Mailiini B : Why, Nattiaii, .\'..ii <.iit;M! to lu- asli;iiii"' mine h-.-nt'eforth and for.'X'pr. Oh, ohl ^ii'l, those wer»' happ;,' old da\'s, and their niein- oi'v is sweet to nx' \"i . I>ui sav. IMaiy. iio'ft- is X-)ra «:ett';u^r on studying piano l.-ssons u[) m' old Mrs. N.'.'dliatu"s. Madam 1> : Nilhan. who told >'ou N'oim wa- 'akin.i; lessons ...t Mrs N.'ed- ham's. S'ora : \o!>od>- told papa, iriaina, he i.-. just t r\inii: lo find out soin.'- thing; h." is always ^iK'Ssing Miings. anr you. Brown : Ah. Well th"' Squirt' wrote you a song did li.'y This is first rate, getting along bully: I think I wr >t.' a song or two for Mary in days gone by. OidnM I Maiy? Madam B: Y«?s, and we used t<» sing th.'Ui togeth.-r to<^ when we would want t«» get sentimental. But this is not a s.'ntim.'Utal song that ^is DEACON GKAB-ALL vs. XATHAN BROWN. he wr(.)te t'oi' Nora. It is a sou^ fnr the poor workiii^iueu. Now Nora, I will help you and we will siuff It toyrether. I think it is rharmiu^. Nora : But niaiiia f ;'au't sing before papa. Brown : •Tut. tut. why I rui^ht joiu in the chorus myself, ^o ahead and let us hav<» it. {They sing the folloiringi THE LABOR SONG, "Twas in my dreams I heard a sou^ — O, shall I hear it sung ag-aiuV It was a tale ot grief and wrony— The poor man's prayer and plaintive song. And sung hv broken-hearted men. C'HOIiUS. But, Oh, ye weary sons ot men,- Still hope and trust, and sing and pray: We may not know the how or when. But soon to you there'll come again. A brighter, sweete)-, gladsome day. 1 saw them clasp each othei''s hand ; I heard their oath, their pledge and prayer. That for each other they would stand. Be ti'ue to home and native laud. And one anothei-'s sorrows shaiv. Chokus. For faithful wives and mothers dear ; For hungry babes, they sung their prayer : There trembled in each eye a tear— O, (iod, how pitiful to hear - This echo of their deep despair. Chokus. My dream was ended, still I slept And heard the euho of that song, And saw these brave men as they wept Repeating vows that they had kept i'o help to right the cruel wrong. Chortts, Oh, was this but a dream indeed? I would to God 'twas nothing moie But all around is human need And everywhere there's hearts that bleed, (lod save the rich and help the poor. Chorus. {As the}/ sing the chor'ii,^ at the conclusion, aery of fire ia heard — alarm belln, great confusion, etc.) 1)EA(M)N GRAB-ALL vs. NATHAN BROWN. :^9 Brown, "Run, run, the shops anl ftu^torirs an^ on tire, everything will be destroyed ! M s- God ! why could not the men have waited ! Poor wretches, they, themselves will be the sufferers!" [bJnierH in haste the Deacon, and the Sijaire. thf, beacon shouting.) Deacon Oraball, "I am a ruined man ! All I have is bein^ burned uo ; ail my bonds; all my becurites; everything I have on earth is yonder in that burning building I am a pauper to night The men would not listen to our proposals, now all is lost!" Mr».B • Deacon Graball, it must: be the work of some b xiy else besideb the poor strikers for my husband had forbidden them to do any- thing of the sort ; it is some dastardly coward who has never made an honest living— what ought to be done wiih such pepble, any how. Oh, what dreadful times these are; but Deacon, tnere is a good Providence who rules everything for the best and 1 know you are a Christian man. and can find comf )it in your religion." Deacon G. "Poor times now. Madam, to be getting lomfort out of religion when, everything I've got in the world is being destroyed. What shall I do? Where is your husband? Mrs. B, He has gone to tne lire.- He will tiy and save youi- property, I know he will get the men to help him " Deacon Graball, "But all is lost, -lam a pauper,-! see it now No longer than to day my daughter told me she had a dream and saw all our property burn up and saw us poor and despised and beggintr bread, like tramps. What makes folks n.ave dreams anyhow? I must go and see about my property. Good God ! I am ruined, a pauper, a beggar " Mrs. B Come, Nora, we will go and help, -this is dreadful; there come.s the Squire. Nora, you go with him ! I wall look after Nathan ; he might forget himself and go into the burning ouilding and be killed . 40 DEACON GRAB-ALL VS. NATHAN BROWN. Squire Needham, This is dreadful, but we can't help it. it may be a just retribution. There <'onies a orowd of men. Nora : How dreadful; but Mr. Needham, the poor starved working men were driven to desperation. Heaven help us all. {Curtain drops, end of scene and act 2nd.i DEACON GRAB-ALL VS. NATHAN BROWN. 41 Aet Third, Scene First. {Deacun (irabaU'x little coitage. Ht is poor, broken in spirit and in purse. Deacon reeling on a lounge,— enter Squire Needham ) {Several years have passed.) Deacon Uraball: "Why Vjless me, come in Squire, 1 did uot kuow you at first, -please excuse me for U'jt rising, I am quite ailiug of late, can hardly walk. Be seate'i, Squire Needham : Yes, Deacon, I am ^lad to see you. It Lims been several years since we met, and I snould hardly have known you, but I hope you will soon ^et better,— I have never ceased to remembei- your ^reat kindness in the i);ist, and shall ever be grateful. Deacon G : Well, Squire, things are mighty different now from what they used to be, here I am a poor old forsaken man living on the chaiity of a friend. My surrv)uudings are quite different now than when you used to see me. Squire Squire Needham : But Dea on, we all have our tricils,- our ups and downs, ^an\' how. you have the advantage of us poor sinners,— you are a ^o<>d church man, and can find a {ousolation in your creed. Deaco)i (i : We will not discuss that. Squire; but I can tell you the Chris- tian's creed is all right provided his life tall ys with his creed; but let me tell you, precious few live up to their creed I am a Chris- tian still, but not much on the creed busines^^, It won't do. But Squire, I have paid for my cussedness.— if sorrow and suffering counts for anything, I have not only lost all my property,— and am a pauper as you see me but, I have lost all m\- happiness. My dear wife never recovered trom the shock of the great tire, and died two weeks afterwards, My only daughter Maggie left home, Gt>d only knows where, and to day may be dead or living in shame and disgrace. Oh, Sii, I have drank to t!ie bottom the dregs of life's bitter cup. Squire Needham : You must not feel so despondent and look on the dark side oj lite. While life lasts there is hope I have come to tell you some 42 DEACON GRAB-ALL VS. NATHAN BROWN. goiid news, If you vvill hear it. Deacon G : Tell 111^ some good newsy Well lets hear it,— God knows I have not heard anj'-thing cheering in a long time If you have anything of this 'haracter I will bless your coming, sure. bquire Aseedham : Well, I have a message from Mr. Nathan Brown, he desires you to come out West and spend your days with him. Deacon G: Nathan Brown ! Why. where is he, and what is he doing? Tell me about the old codger? :Squire jV : Well, Sir, Brown is living out West in one of our flourishing (dties, and doing an immense business. He is a wholesale boot and shoe merchant,— one of the largest leather manufacturers in the country. Daacon (V : Still sticking to the leather business. Hurrah for Brown But he will be a leather njan. Squire A' : And that Son Julius of his is my partner,— practicing law. He is attorney for one or two large corperations. He is making his mark, too. Deacon U : rhat always was a smart boy ; but he inherits it from his mother. Do you know his mother came from mighty good stock. I used to clerk for her old daddy in Baltimore, She married old Brown out of pure spit^ and cussedness, ISquire A" : How was that. Deacon? Deacon G : Well Brown was a pretty good looking sort of a fellow, but a common cobbler, and one day she came to his shop to get him to make her a pair of shoes. She was still in her teens. Brown irieasurea her foot and made her the shoes and somehow, from that, the thing started,— and there sprung up an affection be tween the two, Mary's parents raised (^ain and the old man for- DEACON GRAB-ALL vs. NATHAN BROWN. 48 bade Brown from evea u-)ti ing his dau«rtiter ou the streets. Any how they ran away and ^ot married, Her parents never did forgive her, and the old man made his will and cut her off with a shilling. Squire N: But she stu;-k to hiiii anyhow. Deacon G; Stuck to him! I should say she did, She is made of that kind of stuff',— she would have stuck to him if he had been as poor and triiffng as a tramp But Mary had one brother that never went baok on her. He •vas and "old bachelor lawyer in Boston. He W'ls a downright g»)od fellow too. and he it was who educated Mary's boy, Julius . Squire A": Deacon I see you still stick to the idea that there is much in blood,— that aribtocrati*' idea of yours. Ueaco n G : And who don't? Blood will tell anywhere. Thert^ is mu-h in a stock of folks as there is in a stock of horses. Take an old common plug dra.v horse, blanket him, pamper him. curry him, put him in a stall, linod with cattcm and air tight, and he is the same old plug, a common old drag. Fake .i blooded Morgan- hitch him to a cart, put him in a rail pen for a stable, without a blanket^, and yet he will'cirry his head and tail up, lilie a prince. It is in him,— born in him and you can't gtt it out, any more than you can,.put it in. So it is with folks,— blood will tell ; and if it is not in them, you can't put it in them. Brown's wife was bloode i stock,— and there is where his children get that spunk, and high headedness from Squire X: But D VIC )n, I yt in '. by t ) se3 you e^^^ueoially tof our old friend Nathan Br jwn. H ? d 53ir>s ii )st sinc.n-cly that y.)U come out West and spend the rest of your life with him. He has succ«^eded in life,— worth sev<»ral hundred thousand dollars,— and he wants you to come and share his success. Here is his letter, by the way (Hands the Deacon a lettt^r.) 4[ DEACONGRAB-ALL VS. NATHAN BEOWN. Deacon G : You ueail it Squire, my evHsig-hr is l.»;',d, and I have not got my ypecta les handy. [^guirt' y : reads as follows.) My dear Deacon; --Mr. Ncedhani goea East on a business trip and will stop over on his way to see you. I send this to vou by him. 1 would be ^lad if you would arrang-e to eome and see me. I have a big- surprise for you when you come. I will not teU it yet, I want to give you a happy surprise. Please arrange and •••ume as soon as possible, Mary is anxious to see you too. Let me know wheu you can come. Yours cVC. Nathan Brown. P. S. Enclosed is a che.-k for S25 '■. Deacon G : Don't this beat anything vou ever heard of. Why Squire. I am going-^T) see Brown anyhow, for Mary's saiie 1 will ^;tart next week. Squire N: All-right, Deaeon, I am glad you ai>'. I will be back by that time, and you will have a royal welcome I kaow, i must bid vou good bye as my train leaves in half an hour. [They shake hands.] Well, Deacon, I will see you again soon. Deacon G : Yes if not;iing happens, Good-bye,. I will write to Brown to day. I will go righ*: n >w with you to the Post Office and mail him a letter. [hJxit both.) I ACT III;S:ENE II {On the Htreei, Deacon ijraball looking for the^usmess place of Nathan Brown.) ^B Deacon G : I ought to have telegraphed Brown what train I was coming on so he would l|ave met me at the depot. But I guess I can llnd his place of business. Gracious, this is a pretty big tjwn, and i* Brown is one of the big merch vnts in such a place as this, he must have made a big succe.ss I But it is that wife of his 1,11 warrant. ( As he is going along, Brown and /Ae Deacon meet.) Bi, Deacon, I le-oguized you a bio k away up the street,— you look like > ou did in the olden tim<%— a little bn ken but about the same. Deacon (J : Ah, no. Brown, I am not the same as when you knew me: I am all broken up. 1 am a pjor, desolate, old man. But then, I suppose it is all ri^ht. I am not halt so bad off as thousands ot poor men who an^ bettei' than I am. Brown, do you }:now that nothing is truer than the old doctrine; I treated my poor men wnmar,— I am reaping- the consequence but 1 must not complain Brow I. : Oh, well. Deacon, that is all iu the pdst,--you are here now and we will s(>e better days. Mary and the rest of the family are at home waitiui? to welcome you, I promise a surprise for you, -just wait until we get home and if I di)n't fulfill my promise' you can ta^ie my whole business, lock, stock, and barrel ann.' and my daughter Noia, — his wife. (Deacon and ^Squire gree.tff t-ach othiT.) Squire \: How do you d(\ Dea-'on, and a joyous weh^ome to oui- home Heie is my wife Mis. Needham, formerly Miss Nora Brown. Vou perhaps have not for^rottc^M her. Heacon (i : Well, well, isn't this passin;^ strange! Miss Noia, you and IIk^ Squire marriright In looking for the morrow. THE END. -••^■11 ^i- i^UNGRpC mmmi 0016102 887 3