THE WAY OF LIFE: A MORAL AND ALLEGORICAL IN TEN SCENES. > T . LOUIS: JIISSOURI DEWOCEAT BOOK AND JOB OFFICT. 1867 . E. IP. O-I^/.A.'Z', (THE WOODWARD BOOKSTORE,) WHOLESALE AND RETAIL BOOKSELLER S, STATIONER, 503 FOURTH STREET, (In Veranda Row.) SCHOOL, MISCELLANEOUS, MEDICAL, LAW, -AND bl^istk: book:s Writing Paper & Envelopes of the Best Quality, ASV A COMPLETE ASSORTMEXT OF PLAIN AND FANCY STATIONERY. PLAIN AND COLORED INITIAL AND MONOGRAM STAMPING IN THE BEST AND LATEST STYLES, AT EASTERN PRICES (jyALL ARE INVITED TO CALL.'=^311 THE WAY OF LIFE A MORAL AND ALLEGORICAL FAIEY SPISTAGI. IN TEN SCENES. BY JNO ">Vi^>^ SCENE 1. ijfFANCY. SCENE 2. Childhood. SCENE 3. Youth. SCENE 4. First Love. SCENE 5. Manhood. SCENE 6. Vy'OJXAXHOOD . SCENE 7. Marriage. SCENE 8. Separation. SCENE 9. Death. SCENE 10. Life AND Reunion. -wf Entered, according to Act of CorigTess, in the year 1SG7, by Jno. Jay Bailey, in the Clerk's Office, of the U. S. District Court of the Eastei-n District of Missouri . ^ DRAMATIS PERSON.E sum A- MO RIALS . LiLYBELL, Queen of the Flower Fairies. Oakball, Lender of the Elves of the AVoods. Puck, Attendant on the Former. Attendant Fairies and Elves. KoBALT, An Evil Spirit ihhabiting Mines. -Imps, Attendant on Kobalt. MORTALS. Max and AVomax, represented in the successive stages ol Life, from the Cradle to the Grave, and bej'ond it. Parents, relatives, companions, mourners, a Priest, etc THE WAY OF LIFE: A MORAL AND ALLEGORICAL FAIRY SPECTACLE, IN TEN SCENES. SCENE I.— Infancy. A domestic inte7'io7\ The Infant in its cradle. Its parents sitting 7iear it. Fairi s and Eiocs grouped about. FAIRY CHORUS. Lullaby, lullaby, sleep, baby, sleep, Fairies a watch o'er thy slumbers shall keep, In their fond music thy senses to steep, Lullaby, lullaby, soft be thy d ream! ufji:. Lonf^ ?is thy life shall their iruanlianship be, Keeping- thy soul from tlie evil one free, Guiding thy steps till thy spirit they see Safe where the portals ol" Heaven are gleaming. Enter PuCK. Lilybell marshals her atte7idants to the front of the stage. Song -and Chorus. LiLYBELL. Fays of the flowers! Sprites of the bowers! Kobalt is near witli all his powers; Guard we to-niglit, lest, through his might, Evil befall this child of ours. Chorus . Elves and Fairies. With double care, tliis Inlant fair, Protect we tliroiip^h the night; For safe he'll be, from Kobalt free, When the first rosy beams of the morning's light Every spirit of evil shall put to flight. LiLYBELL . Kobalt is here! Enter KoBA'LT and Imps. Kobalt. From hidden mines, where sun ne'er shines, Kobalt is come to claim his own; Yield then to me, my slave to be, This child ye guard, he's mine alone. Chorus of Imps. Midsummer's eve beheld his birth, When 'tis the foiries' right To seize whate'er is born on earth. But your choice, which was first, ye saw fit to slight, So v>^e claim him our own this midsummer's night. Chorus. Elves and FAmiES. No, ne'er we'll yield this precious child To Kobalt's imps, so grim and wild; We'll keep him pure and undefiled Against everj^ assault of your evil powers. For till manhood he readies he shall be ours. KOBALT AND ImPS. To be our slave then yield this child, Or let him reap our vengeance wild, With broken spirit, sin defiled, He shall yet fall a prey to our subtle powers, And ere manhood he reaches he shall be ours. Tableau. SCENE II.— Childhood. Same. Children and their Parents; Fairies, Elves ^ and Imps . LiLYBELL. Seize your good sv/ords, merry sprites of the wildwocKl, Boldly to face wicked Kobalt to-night; Into the presence of innocent childhood Ne'er let him conie to envenom and blight. Elves. Eesolutely, Weapon in hand, Kobalt we'll face and defeat absolutely; 'Gainst the speUs of his wicked band. Here, the defenders of childhood, we stand. LiLYBELL, Childhood! O innocent age of affection, Pure as the opening leaflets of spring- Promise of growth unto human perfection — O that thy pleasures might never take wing! Elves and Fairies. Innocently, Merrily play ; Life at your age should llow evenly, gently i Fear no foes while God you obey — Trust {their \ aOod swords to keep Kobalt away. Duet and Chorus. Kobalt. Innocence is lleeting; Guilt and pleasure meeting, Join in youth's completing; Kobalt bides liis time ! LiLYBELL. Prompter to crime! Truth and virtue liave power to defend. Kobalt. Cunning arts are stronger than they. LiLYBELL. Arts shall fail when truth lights the way. Choeus. Vice and Virtue contending — Tempting, protecting, assaulting, defending— Vice and Virtue contending, Time must decide how this conllict shall end. Elves. Innocence is cheerful, It is sin that's tearful. Guilt alone is fearful. Let us still be gay. Kobalt. Brats! bi'agaway, Idle ^vords cannot Kobalt oflend. LiLYBELL. Valiant deeds shall put him to flight! Kobalt. Fools, beware! Ye trifle with might. Chorus. Vice and virtue contending, Etc., etc. Pantomiine — PuCK makes wschief ainong the children. Imps set theyn fighting . Tableau. SCENE III.— Youth. Same. A Youth, his patents and sisters. Characters ^ oth- erioise^ as in last scene. Elves and Fairies. Behold what shinhig graces Adorn the brow of youth, "Where every virtue places The signet of its truth. LiLYBELL. My heart is filled with fears, "Weighed down with apprehension. What trials, what contention. Await his coming years. The world claims him to-day, What if its guilty pleasures. With Kobalt's evil measures, Should lead his soul astray? KOBALT. Imps. KOBALT . Imps. Solo and Semi- Chorus. 'Tis Kobalt-s hour is come at last; Temptations now shall follow fast, And he shall fall— shall fall ! As forth into the world he goes, We'll taint its joys, make full its woes; His cup we'll fill with gall! Elves and Fairies. Dear Lilybell , from danger Their \ swords shall guard him still. We'll keep his heart a stranger To every form of ill. LiLYBELL. I trust 5'ou all, my friends, Secure, your faith possessing; May God bestow bis blessing-, From llim rJi strength descends. Elves and FAmiES. Ay, trust us, Lily1)ell, Our Fathei 's aid imploring, His sov'reign name adoring, In Him our hopes shall dwell. Pantomir}ie — The Youth receives the paternal blessing, and takes leave of his parents and sisters . He turns to de- part. Puck leads the way. Tableau. SCENE IV — FiiisT Love. Garden. Lilybell reclining upon a green mound. Faii'- ies groiiped around. One of the Faikies. Now gentle Spring advances, With buds and blossoms gay; Come greet with songs and dances The merry montli of May. Fairy Chooms. Sing tra, la, la, la. Come, with merry songs anil dances, Sing tra, la, la, la, Let us greet the return of the May . They dance. So)7(/ and Chorus. While Lil3'bell reposes, For her, our gentle Queen, We '11 weave a wreath of roses To deck her brow serene; Sing' tra, la, la, la. Come, we' 11 weave a wreath of roses. Sing tra, la, la, la, To adorn the fair bron- of our Queen. They dance. Enter FuCK, foUcwed by a youthful Maiden, who seats herself in an attitude of dejection upon the mound from %okich LiLYBELL has risen. Exit PuCK. Song and Chorus. LiLYBELL. Alas, with these poor mortals, What griefs their loves beget; O Love ! thy golden portals \Yith bitter tears are wet. Fairy Chorus. Sing tra, la, la, la. For this drooping, love-lorn maiden; Sing tra, la, la, la. Who shall comfort this love-stricken maid? LiLYBELL. Our darling youtli approaches — He'll cheer this drooping fair; In mutual, fond reproaches Shall pass their deep despair. Chorus. Sing tra, la, la, la. He shall soothe this love-lorn maiden ; Sing tra, la, la, la. He shall comfort this love-stricken maid. 10 During the last ntanza PuCK has re-entered^ followed hy a Young Man, who walks hesitatingly to the mound^ and kneels at the Maidkn's feet. Pantomime, expressive of reconciliation. Kobalt ayid Imps entering, are faced hy the Elves, sword in hand, who have followed the Young Man upon his entrance. Tableau. SCENE v.— MANnooD. A gainhling-house. Gambling -table; sideboard, with wine and fruit. The Man, xoith his com,panions , at the table ^ ga7nbling. KoBALT at his side; Imps surrounding him. LiLYBELL at R. H., weeping. Kobalt and iMrs, Drink and play, He's a fool that yields to sorrow; Lose to-day, Ball! you'll make it up to-morrow. Ever <^ay, Ruin comes, then turn and borrow. Never pay. All's fair at play. They drink. Lilybell, Solo. Lost ! Lost ! Lost I O Father in Heaven , For this have we striven — In a^i^onj'" striven — With Evil's dark host? O Heavenly host. When foes are assailing, Are prayers unavailing ? O hear us bewailing He is lost ! he is lost ! The players resume their places at the table. 11 KOBALT AND ImPS. Loaded dice, jNLike this little game more charming; Cheat him twice, Cheat him thrice; Hal the wine their blood is warming; In a trice. To the figlit j'-ou'll see them arming; Dear is vice. Souls pay the price. They fight . The Man stabs his o-pponeni , and is seized by the Imps. Eloes entering^ are faced by Imps, spear in hand. Tableau. N. B. — Daring this scene^ PuCK, seated under the table, rises now and then to steal or displace the cards — making tnischief generally. SCENE VI.— Womanhood. A forest. The Man sits upon a moimd, a prisoner to Ko- balt ayid Imps, loho surround him. Song and Chorus. KoBALT. The victory's won, Lilybell is defeated! Imps. Huzza! Huzza! KoBALT. Exult we now in our vengeance completed. Imps . Huzza ! Huzza ! Chorus. Long, long in vain for this end have we striven: He's ours at last; No rescue now: against earth, air, and Heaven, We'll hold him fast! 12 Enter Lilybell. KoBALT. Ha! Liiybell, here thy claties are over. Lilybell. That we'll disprove. KoBALT. Thy lost control, say, wliat art shall recover? Lilybell. A woman ' s love ! Chorus. No rescue now; vice and o'lillt, the red-lianded^ Have sealed the doom! [branded llemorse and death claim the soul that is Enter Woman, led by Puck and followed by Fairies. She holds out to the Man a Bible, and points above. He breaks from KoBALT and kneels at her feet. Eloes rush in and dr'ive ont Imps . So?ig and Chorus. Lilybell. Eejoice! rejoice! the light is breaking", The niglit of death is passed away; The soul from lurid dreams awaking, Restored to freedom, hails the day. Redeemed, baptised in woman's love. Chorus. New born from above, Lilybell. Anew to serve the Heavenly King. Chorus. His praise let us sing, Jn joy and peace we'll merrily sing! Lilybell. O pure woman's love. Blest boon from above ! Chorus. Kedeemed, baptised in woman's love,. Etc., etc. Tableau, 13 SCENE \ll . — Makriage . A street. A bridal procession. Orchestra iplays a wedding march. Scene changes to a church. Priest at the altar, to ivhich the 'procession advances., u-hile Lilybell aiid Fairies sing. ' Song and Cho7'us. Lilybell. blessed day that joins tvv'o hearts In faithful love forever I Tlie blended hopes thy bliss imparts Nor time nor death shall sever. Chorus. Take, Oh, take thy virgin bride, Thine in love forever; Take, Oh, take thy virgin bride, Thine, thj'' love, thj'^ hope, thy pride. KOBALT a7id his Imps having entered the church after the processioti, rush out iii terror. SCENE VIII.— Separation. An interior. A bier covered by a xchite sheet. The Man {now iniddle-aged) kneels by it. Mourners., Fairies., Lnps, etc.^ Lilybell c??jc? KoB ALT. Fairy Chorus. Sad spirit weeping Life's hopes all fled; Thy lone watch keeping Beside the dead . Oh , raise thy vision To scenes above : In fields elysian There waits thee thy love. 11 KOBALT, Recitative. Come, come, this won't do; Man, beo^in life anew. Now tlie old love is dead, Soon a younger we'll wed; Now we're free, in full measures \7e'll drink deep of life's pleasures. The Man ivaves him away . KoBALT, aaide. I'll chanp^e my tactics and my son<^; Indulge he but one thought of Avrong, And he is mine once more. To the Man Solo. Bright hopes of love laid low in dust, O cruel blow! O God unjust! Unpitying Heaven, relentless, fell! Now trust, allegiance, faith, farewell! (Aside) ». He heeds me not, my game is o'er. Exeunt Kobalt ayid Im-ps. Fairy Chorus. Weep, weep, O stricken, Tears heal the heart. Then thoughts that quicken Solace impart. In Heaven above thee. Eternal shrine. She lives to love thee, - Forever thine. Tableau. 15 SCENE IX.— Death. Same, The Man [very old) reclines upon a couch. Attend- ants, Fairies, etc. Kobalt and Imps. Song and Choinis. Kobalt. Eally, man, rally, Death draweth near; Lo! the Clark valley, Dismal and drear; Thither descendino^, Life hath its eiidino-. Quenched as a spark in the infinite gloom; Enter the broad way, But, ah, no roadway Leads out beyond from the heart of the tomb. Chorus of Imps. Lo! the dark valley. Death draweth near; Eally, man, rally, Sink not in fear. LiLYBELL and Fairies {unscen) . Dread not the shadowy valley of Death; LivinIVIDl^\L INSTRUCTION, and the branches taught are: Book-keeping. Biisnuss Arithmetic, Commercial Law, Practical Pen- manship, Bu^in( ss Correspondence, Telegraphing, etc.; also, the common English l)ranches, Modern Languages, and Higher Mathe- matics. Pujiils who are attending the public schools, and are too young to entei- ujion the commercial studies, can, by purchasing a scholarship, join the Writing Classes, and acquire an'excellent hand before pursuing the regular business course. For further information, call at the otlice, over the Public School Library, or send for College Paper. Address M. W. CARPENTER, Frinciiml. STEiWWAY TRIUMPHANT! FIRST GOLD MEDAL awarded by the Supreme Jury to Steinway & Sons for Grand, Square, & Upright Pianos. Sheet I\Ii!sic: Instruction Books; Collections of Vocal and Instrumental ]Music; Juvenile and Young Ladies' Vocal Class Books, and other Musical AVorks, in endless variety, at the lowest trade rates. BALMER, WEBER & CO.'s PREMIUM PIANOS, PRINCE & Co. 's AUTOMATIC OR(iANS and MELODEONS, and Mu- sical Instruments of every descrijition, at reduced prices. Usual discount to Teachers and the trade. Satisfaction guaranteed. 13 ^^ •^A7":E]:B:BI^, ^<^reet, Sole Agents. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir 015 785 378 8