;' & fc 5 
 
 THE LITTLE CHRISTIAN, 
 
 A DRAMA IN ONE ACT. 
 
 By Dr. Albert Carr- 
 
THE LITTLE CHRISTM. 
 
 A DRAMA IN ONE ACT. 
 
 I 
 
 By Dr. Albert Carr. 
 
 Ms. Copyright by the author, 
 July 3, 1911. 
 
 Copyright, 1911 by Albert Carr. 
 All rights reserved. 
 
 CAUTION. The presentation of this drama for 
 profit without the permission of it's proprietor 
 i§.. strictly forbidden. Managers desiring to 
 produce this drama are respectfully requeeted 
 to Communicate with the author. 
 
 HILL (;ITy S. D. 
 1911 
 
CAST OF CHARACTERS. 
 
 EGGSHEL1.S. 
 
 A tramp. Pornaerly, the Rev. 
 James WardweU. 
 
 TESSIE JORDAN. 
 
 The little Christian. 
 AMELIA JORDAN. 
 
 Her aunty. 
 
 SCEN E. In the sitting-room of the 
 Jordan home. 
 
 PEANUTS. 
 
 The Bulldog. 
 
 Duration of drama, forty miouts. 
 
 ©aD 25220 
 
THE LITTLE CHRISTIAN. 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 SCENE. Sitting-room in the 
 Jordan home. Door in left of rear 
 scene. Large open windoiv looking 
 out on landscape, right of this door. 
 Curtained door leading into hall, in 
 extreme right of rear scene. Table 
 and chiffonier, R. 
 
 Discovered : Amelia Jordan 
 seated at table, R. , sewing. 
 Tessie Jordan seated in little 
 rocking-chair, LC, Near her, 
 toy cradle with doll-baby in it; 
 black Topsy-doll in toy chair^ 
 and Teddy-bear on floor. 
 
 Tessie. Topey, if >ou don't behave, 
 I'll lav you down on the floor, and put 
 Teddy in the chair. (Bends over cradle.) 
 Oh, you sweet dear! come to your little 
 mama. {Takes doll-baby out <f cradle. 
 It hat long baby dress. Makes baby 
 cry.) There, there, don't cry! {Futit 
 
4. THE LITTLE CHRISTIAN. 
 
 baby back in cradle, and rocks it, sing 
 iag, Byby Shakes finger nt Topsy.) 
 Topsy, now >ou behave, and BU<p 
 makiog faces at Teddy. {To Ainelin.) 
 Say, aunty, did you like dollies when 
 you were a little tfirl? 
 
 A.melia. Yes, Tessie. 
 
 Tessie. Did you have a leddy-bear? 
 
 Amelia. No, dear. There were do 
 Teddy-bears when I was a little girl. 
 
 Tessie. {Taking up Teddy-bear.) 
 Poor Teddy! you've been lying on the 
 floor all the time. Aunty, mama bought 
 Teddy for me, just a little while before 
 she died [Wipes eyes.) Poor mama! 
 She is in heaven with the good angels, 
 ain't she, aunty? 
 
 Amelia. Yee, dear. 
 
 Tessie. When mama died, paj)a aaid, 
 h» would never get me another mama. 
 
 Amelia. 1 do not think your father, 
 my brother, will ever marry again. He 
 loved your mother too much. 
 
 Tessie. When mama died, papa cried, 
 and cried, and cried. Then he sent for 
 yoa, and you came and took care of us. 
 {Rising, and dropping Teddy in chair.) 
 It was real good of yon, aunty. 
 
 Amelia. Are you glad, aunty came to 
 live with vou, di»ur? 
 
 m 
 
THE l^ITTLE CHRISTIAN. 5 
 
 Tessie. {Crossiyig to Amelia.) Yes, oh' 
 yes! Papa is too. He says, you are the 
 dearest sister in the world. 
 
 Amelia. When your papa and I were 
 little children together, we were always 
 very fond of each other. 
 
 Tessie. Did papa play with dolls? 
 
 Amelia. No; he had a hobby-horse; a 
 box of blocks, and a little hammer. 
 
 Tessie. Which did he like best? 
 
 Amelia, The little hammer. 
 
 Tessie. Did he drive nails with it? 
 
 Amelia. Yes, dear. He struck his 
 finger with it, one day. 
 
 Tessie. Did he cry? 
 
 Amelia. Yes, he cried so loud, your 
 grandma took the little hammer away 
 from him and put it on the shelf. 
 
 Tessie. What did papa do then? 
 
 Amelia. He told your grandma, he 
 would stop crying, if she would give 
 him back his hammer. 
 
 Tessie. Did grandma give it back to 
 him? 
 
 Amelia. Yes, dear. 
 
 Tessie. Were you sorry, when papa 
 went away and married mama? 
 
 Amelia. Oh, no! Your mama was 
 my dearest friend. 
 
 Tessie. Did you ever get married, 
 
i; THE LITTLE CHRISTIAN. 
 
 aunty? 
 
 Amelia. No, TeBsie. 
 
 Tessie. But you might. And then, 
 you would go away, and leave papa and 
 me, all alone. 
 
 Amelia. No, Tessie, aunty will never 
 get married — no, never. 
 
 Tessie. Did you ever love a nice 
 man, like poor mama Jo^^ed papa? 
 
 Amelia. (After a tnomenfs hesitancy.) 
 Yes, child, I did, 
 
 Tessie. Did he die? 
 
 Amelia, Not that I know. 
 
 Teseie. Did he go away? 
 
 Amelia. Yes, he went away. 
 
 Teseie. Do you know where ho went? 
 
 Amelia. No, dear, I have never eoen, 
 nor heard of him since he left. 
 
 Tessie. Why did he go away, and 
 leave you all alone? 
 
 Amelia. Because your grandpa struck 
 him with his cane, and drove him from 
 the house. 
 
 Tessie. Why did grandpa do that? 
 
 Amelia. Because he wanted me to 
 marry a rich banker. 
 
 Tessie. Wasn't the nice young man 
 you loved, rich? 
 
 Amelia. No. He was a poor young 
 minister. 
 
T H E LITTLE HRIS'i IAN. 7 
 
 Tesgie. Was grandpa a bad man? 
 
 Amelia. No, Tessie, but he was proud 
 and high-tempered. He was an Eng- 
 lishman. 
 
 Tessie. Didn't grandpa like minis- 
 ters? 
 
 Amelia. No, dear, no. He said, they 
 were lazy, idle, fellows. 
 
 Tessie. Did grandpa go to heaven 
 when he died? {Amelia does not 
 arifiwer. Quite a long pause.) Did he go 
 to the bad place? 
 
 [Another pause, then — 
 
 Amelia. I don't know, dear! 
 
 Tessie. What if the poor young 
 minister should come back? Would 
 you marry him, aunty, and go away? 
 
 Amelia. He will never come back. 
 It 18 ten years since he went away. He 
 left the parsonage two weeks after your 
 grandfather struck him, ana no one has 
 ever heard of him since. It was a 
 strange disappearance {Rising, and 
 placing sewing on table.) I am going 
 over to Mrs. Morton's for awhile. Do 
 you want to come, or stay and play with 
 your dolls? 
 
 Tessie. I'll stay, aunty. I must mend 
 Topsy's dresB, 
 
 Amelia. You will be all alone in the 
 
8 THE L.ITTLE CHKISTIAN. 
 
 house. Katy ,and cook have gone dowo 
 towD. Will you be afraid, dear? 
 Tessie. No, not if you leave, Peanuts, 
 Amelia. I shall make him stay. Juet 
 the eight of a bulldog is enough for a 
 tramp. Peanuts will keep them away. 
 I'll not be gone long. Go get aunty's 
 shawl. 
 Tessie. Yes, aunty. 
 
 [Exit at door, R.R. Amelia hurries 
 
 to chiffonier. Opens drawer, and 
 
 draws out locket attached to gold 
 
 chain. Opens locket and gazea into 
 
 it. 
 
 Amelia. Ah! here is his dear face. 
 
 Oh, will he ever come back to me I 
 
 James, James! {Kisses locket) The 
 
 noble, gentle, pious, James Wardwell. 
 
 Ah, if I could only know whether you 
 
 are dead or a!ive. 
 
 [Hurriedly puts locket in chiffonier 
 and closes drawer. 
 
 Enter Tessie at door, R.R. with 
 shawl. 
 
 Tessie. Here is your shawl, aunty. 
 Amelia. (Putting on shawl and 
 going.) Thank you, dear! 
 Tessie. Kiss me, aunty. 
 Amelia. Why, dearie, aunty almost 
 
THE LITTLE CHRISTIAX. 9 
 
 forjfot. {Kisfies Tessie.) If you want a 
 cooky, they are io the jar in the lower 
 part of the cupboard, {Going, then 
 turning.) If you are afraid, you better 
 come. 
 
 Tessie. No, aunty. No one wilJ bother 
 me, while Peanuts is around. 
 Amelia. Very well, dear. 
 
 [Exit at door, L.R. 
 TesBie. {At window, waving hand.) 
 Good -by, aunty! 
 
 Amelia. {Outside.) Good-by, dear! I'll 
 not be gone long. {Dog barks, outside.) 
 Go back. Peanuts! Do you hear! 
 
 [Tessie returns to dolls, 
 Tessie. Baby is sound asleep. Teddy 
 looks sleepy, too. I'll put him in the 
 cradle with baby. {Puts Teddy in cradle 
 with baby.) Baby loves Teddy. But 
 Topsy don't like Teddy. Teddy don't 
 like Topsy. I know he'd bite her, if he 
 could get hie mouth open. Now, Topsy, 
 let me see your dress. You wear out, 
 clothes, so fast! {Takes off Topsy's dress, 
 and lays her down on chair.) There, 
 now, you stay there, and be ashamed 
 of yourself, until I get your dress 
 fixed. {Cro.sses to table, R. Gets up 
 on chair and sits. Takes needle from 
 cuahion on table, and sews Topsy' s 
 
10 THE IiITTIiE CHRISTIAN. 
 
 dress.) Peanuts and I went down town 
 one day, and we met a tramp. Peanuts 
 jumped up and bit him in the pants. 
 The tramp hollored iawful. The marshal 
 had to come and choke Peanuts to get 
 him off. Peanuts is a bulldotj, and 
 bulldogs don't like tramps. 
 
 [Load growling and barking out- 
 side. 
 
 Eggshells, the tramp, springs up 
 into open window, and tumbles into 
 room. 
 
 Eggshells. {Sitting up on floor.) That 
 bulldog's the worst, I ever saw. 
 
 Tessie. {Jumping down from chair, 
 and facing trafnp.) Are you a tramp? 
 
 Eggshells. Well, I'm not the census- 
 taker. 
 
 Teesie. Did Peanuts get you? 
 
 Eggshells. Who's Peanuts? 
 
 Tessie. Our bulldog. 
 
 Eggshells. No, he didn't get me. 
 But it wasn't his fault. Why do you 
 call him, Peanuts? 
 
 Tessie. Because he likes peanuts. 
 He can eat ten cents worth, all at once. 
 But someone has to shell them for him. 
 
 Eggshells. Is that so! How nice! 
 Shelling peanuts for Peanuts. 
 
THE 1.ITTL.E CHRISTIAN. 11 
 
 [Laughs, and rises tp feet. 
 
 Teesie. {Sharply.) Why didn't you 
 ring the door-bell, find come in the door 
 like other people? 
 
 ^^ggshells. The dog wouldn'd stand 
 for it, and I couldn't stand the dog, so 1 
 jumped into the window. 
 
 TeBsie. What do you want? 
 
 EggehellB. Something to eat. 
 
 Teesie.^ Are you very hungry? 
 
 Eggshells. The last I had to eat was 
 a crust of mouldy bread. A nice woman 
 gave me thai. She said. Her heart 
 ached for poor wandering tramps, and 
 then sicked the dog on me. 
 
 lessie. Was it a bulldog? 
 
 Eggshells. No, it was a flop-ear. 
 
 llmitates flop-earts with hands. 
 
 Tessie. Did he bite you? 
 
 Eggshells. No, I stepped on his face, 
 and he hiked back to the chicken coop. 
 
 T^seie. What's your name? 
 
 Eggshells. My name? 
 
 Tessie. Yes, your name. 
 
 Eggshell. They call me Eggshells. 
 
 Tessie. Eggshells! Pooh! that's not 
 your name. {Goes to door, L.R,) Tell me 
 your name, or I'll open the door, and let 
 in Peanuts. 
 
 Eggshells. {Alarmed.) No— no— don't I 
 
12 THE LITTLE CHRISTIAN. 
 
 My name used to bf», James. 
 
 Tessie. {Advuncing artd pointing to 
 chair at table, R.) Very well, Mr. James, 
 you 8it down in that chair, and I'll get 
 you something to ©at. 
 
 [Eggshells advances to chair at 
 table, R. 
 
 Eggshells. Don't let that dog in, and 
 I'll do anything. 
 
 Tessie. I am all alone in the house. 
 
 Eggshells. I know it. 
 
 Tessie. Do you like cookies? 
 
 Eggshells. No. I want some meat. 
 
 Tessie. I know where the cookies are. 
 
 Eggshells. If you can't find the meat, 
 I'll take a look for myself. 
 
 Tessie. You better stay where you 
 are. If aunty should come and find 
 you rummaging around in the safe and 
 cupboard, she'd sick Peanuts on you and 
 telephone for thoj marshal. 
 
 Eggshells. But aunty isn't here. 
 
 Tessie. Well, I am. 
 
 Eggshells. {Moving towards door, R. 
 R.) I'm going to have some meat. 
 
 Tessie. [Pointing to chair at table, R. 
 and backing towards, L.R.) Sit down in 
 that chair, or I'll open the door and let 
 in .Peanuts. 
 
 Eggshells. {Alarmed.) Yes— yes~-I'l] 
 
. THE LITTLE CtlRlSTIAN. 13 
 
 be good. {Sits down in chair at table, 
 R. Gives a yell; jumps up and grabs 
 himself.) Oh, what's that? 
 
 [Takes Topsy's dress with needle 
 from behind him. 
 Tessie. It is Topsy's dress. There is 
 a Deedle in it. 
 Eggshells. I thought so. 
 Tessie. Give it to me. 
 
 [Eggshells gives Tessie Topsy's 
 dress. She throws it in little 
 racking -chair. Trump feels chair 
 for more needles, then sits down in 
 chair cautiously. 
 Eggshells. I am waitiDg for those 
 nookies. 
 Tessie. {Going ) Very well. 
 Eggshells. If you can flad a little 
 piece of meat, or a chicken, bring it 
 along. 
 
 Tessie. If you open that door, 
 {Points to door, L.R.) while I am 
 gone, Peanuts will come in. 
 
 Eggshells. I'll not open that door. 
 [Tessie gazes at tramp, and then 
 bursts out laughing 
 Tessie. You look like a scare-crow. 
 Eggshells. I wish, I could scare a 
 bulldog 
 Tessie. {Going.) Now, behave until I 
 
14 THE L.ITTI.E CHRISTIAN. 
 
 come back. 
 
 Eggshells. I will. If you fiod any 
 meat, a boiled ham, or seven or eight 
 feet of wiener wurst, bring it along with 
 the cookies. 
 
 Tessie. I know where there's a pie. 
 
 Eggshells. Do you! 
 
 Tessie. Yes. Do you like pie? 
 
 Eggshells. Well,--ye8. 
 
 Tessie. I'll bring you a piece. 
 
 Eggshells. Bring me the whole pie. 
 
 Tessie. What a pig! 
 
 [Exit at door, R.R. 
 
 Eggshells. This is a risky rush. But 
 I've got to eat to live, if I am caught 
 here, I am good for five years. The 
 bulldog drove me in. The window was 
 my only escape. I waited until the lady 
 was clean out of sight. That little girl 
 seems like a good kid. I'll ma^ friends 
 with her, and maybe I can induce her to 
 call off the dog, and let me out. 
 
 Enter Tesfiie at door, R.H. 
 luggirig a large meat pie. 
 
 Tessie. Here's the pie. 
 Eggshells. What kind of pie is it? 
 Tessie. It is a meat pie.- 
 Eggshells. Give it to me. {Grabs 
 pie.) Thank heaven, I am saved! 
 
THE L.ITTLE CHRIST! AX. 15 
 
 [Sits down in chair at table, R. andi 
 until pie in lap, eats greedily, 
 scouping out pie witlt fingers. 
 
 Teesie. Don't you ever say anything, 
 when someone gives you something 
 good ? 
 
 Eggshells. I am so hungry, I forgot 
 my manners. Thaiik you, little lady. 
 
 lessie. You are awful hungry, ain't 
 you? 
 
 Eggshells. Yes. I wish, I had a 
 mouth like Peanuts. 
 
 Tessie. Why? 
 
 Eggshells. 1 could eat this pie faster. 
 
 Tessie. Were you ever in jail? 
 
 Eggshells. No, but I may get there 
 this time, if you don't help me. 
 
 Tessie, Do you think, 1 will help you? 
 
 Eggshells. I am sure of it. 
 
 Tessie.- Why are you so sure? 
 
 Eggshe Is. Because you are a little 
 angel. 
 
 Tessie. My mama's an angel. 
 
 Eggshells. Where is your mother? 
 
 Tessie. She is in heayen. 
 
 Eggshells. In heaven! 
 
 Tessie. Yes, sho' died. 
 
 Eggshells. {Wiping eyes on sleeve.) 
 You poor little orphan! 
 
 [Eats pie ravenously with fingers. 
 
16 THE LITTLE CHRISTIAN. 
 
 Tessie. Do you believe in God? 
 
 Eggshells. {Startled.) Yes! 
 
 Tessie. Do you love Jesus? 
 
 Eggshells. [Staring at her for a 
 moment.) Yes, little one, but I fear 
 Jesus has forgotten me. 
 
 Tessie. My Sunday school teacher 
 told me last Sunday, that Jesus said, 
 be would never leave, nor forsake those 
 who loved him. 
 
 Eggshells. {With a kindhj smile.) 
 That's so, be did say that. 
 
 Tessie. If you love Jesus, I love you, 
 and I will help you. 
 
 Eggshells. You are a little Christian. 
 
 Tessie. Are you a Christian? 
 
 Eggshells. J am a sinner. 
 
 Tessie. But you are going to be a 
 good man. God sent you here to me, 
 and a little child shall lead you. 
 [Eggshelh gazes at Tessie, then drops 
 head on arm down on table, and bawls. 
 Then raises up. and eats pie with 
 fingers, ravenously.) Poor man! 
 
 [Eggshells drops head on arm down, 
 on table, and cries and moans. 
 
 Eggshells. {Raising head.) Here, take 
 this pie. 
 
 lessie. Don't you want it? 
 
 Eggehejls. No, give it to Peanuts 
 
THE L.ITTL.E CHRISTIAN. 17 
 
 Tessie. All right. 
 
 Takes pie. Goes to ivindow. Pea- 
 nuts barks outside. She empties pie 
 out of ivindow. Sets pan in window, 
 and returns to Eggshelln. 
 
 Eggshells, ( Wiping eyes, and rising 
 from chair.) I must be going. 
 
 Tessie. Where are you going? 
 
 Eggshells. Out— out, in the street. 
 
 Tessie. Peanuts will get you. 
 
 Eggshells. You call him, and keep 
 him at this window, while I steal out 
 the other way. 
 
 Tessie. Very well! But 1 am sorry 
 to have you go so soon. Have you any 
 money? 
 
 Eggshells. {Startled.) No. 
 
 Tessie. Aunty has a whole lot of 
 silver money in the second drawer. 
 {Points to chiffonier.) Take some of 
 that. 
 
 Eggshells. {Aside, with a gasp.) The 
 devil and temptation again! I need the 
 money. I -I — 1 must have it! 
 
 ( Tukes out red bundanna, 
 
 Tessie. Aunty's wat.ch, and chain and 
 locket, are in there, too, I saw her put 
 them in there, this morning. But you 
 mustn't take them. 
 
 Eggshells. {Eager, but agitated.) 
 
18 THE LITTr.E CHRISTIAN. 
 
 No— I mustn't— but I — Turn your face 
 away, little one. {Tessie turns her hack 
 to him.) Tho curse of sin is upon me. 
 I am going: to lake that money I need 
 it. I need it. God knows, I need it. 
 (Spreads red bandanna out on table, h. 
 Rushes to chiffonier and, pulls out 
 drawer. Takes out money and puts it 
 on bandanna on table. Takes gold 
 watch, chain and locket out of drawer. 
 Struggles with feelings for a moment. 
 Puts watch, chain and locket, back in 
 drawer. Changes mind, and takes them 
 out again. Places them with money on 
 bandanna on table. After a fearful 
 mental struggle, he says:) Please, little 
 girl, call off the dog. I am going 
 
 Tessie. {Turning and facing him.) 
 Have you got the money? 
 
 Eggshells. (Tying up bandanna.) Yes. 
 
 Tessie. You didn't take aunty's 
 watch and locketj' 
 
 Eggshells. I've got it all. 
 [Tessie hurries to table and opens 
 bandanna. 
 
 Tessie. You mustn't^ take aunty's 
 watch, chain and locket. 
 
 Eggshells. (Fiimbling at bandanna.) 
 I might as well lake all as part of it. 
 
 Tessie. No; aunty always worried 
 
THE LITTJLE CHR ISTIAN. 19 
 
 about her locket. Was always afraid 
 she might lose it. I don't know why. 
 She has pleuty of money, and could buy 
 another. Maybe there is something in 
 it. A picture of some one, she dearly 
 loves, or-or a lock of hair. Let me 
 look. [Tessie opens locket and looks 
 into it.) Why! it's the picture ol a 
 young man. Look! 
 
 ^Eggshells looks down at picture in 
 
 locket. Snatches locket from Tessie, 
 
 and looks at picture more closely. 
 
 Eggshells. My God! (Aside.) It is 
 
 my own picture. She is here. Perhaps, 
 
 married. I — 1- 
 
 [Picks up bandanna with con- 
 tents and empties it into chiffo- 
 nier drawer. Throws bandanna 
 on table. 
 Tessie. What's the matter? 
 Eggshells. {With excitement.) Call 
 otf the dog. I'm going.— Call off the 
 dog. I'm going— going right now. 
 
 [Rushes off at door, R.R. Tessie 
 
 goes to laindoin. 
 
 Tessio. {Calling off the dog.) Here, 
 
 Peanuts, here! Now, sir, you etny right 
 
 here under the window. Peanuts! 
 
 Come back, sir! 
 
20 THE LITTfiE CHRISTIAN. 
 
 Enter Eggshells at door, R.R. 
 
 Egffshelis. The marshal is walkiDg 
 up and down on that side of the house. 
 {Points to R.) I guess he is waiting for 
 me, 
 
 Tessie. With Peanuts at this d©or» 
 {Points to door, L.R.) and the marshal 
 at that door, {Points to R.) I don't see 
 how, you will get out. And, if aunty 
 comes, and finds you here — 
 
 Eggshells. God help me! 
 
 Tessie. God will help you, and I will 
 help you, because you are a Christain. 
 
 Eggshells. How do you know, I am a 
 Christian? 
 
 Tessie. Because you wouldn't take 
 the money, nor the watch, nor the chain, 
 nor aunty's locket. Satan tempted you 
 as he did our dear Saviour up on the 
 mountain, and like him, you resisted 
 the temptation 
 
 Eggshells. Well — what next, little 
 one? 
 
 Tessie. Listen. There is a bath-room 
 up-stairs. Papa's razor and shaving-cup 
 are in the bath-room. In the room off 
 the bath-room is a bureau. In this 
 bureau are papa's clean underclothes, 
 shirts and collars. Aunty laid papa's 
 new suit out on the bed this morning 
 
THK L.ITTLE CHRISTIAN. 21 
 
 She was going to brush It, and bang it 
 away. The closet is full of papa's shoes. 
 You go up stairs, take a bath, shave, and 
 put on papa's clean clothes. Then come 
 down, and you can walk out of the 
 house, and the marshal won't know you 
 are a tramp, nor Peanuts neither. 
 
 Eggshells. {Holding up edge of 
 ragged coat.) What shall I do with iheEe 
 clothes. 
 
 Tessie. Throw them out the window 
 to Peanuts. He'll think he has a real 
 tramp, and be awfully tickled. 
 
 Eggshells. The marshal might see me 
 throw them out. 
 
 Tessie. Perhaps, he'll be gone by that 
 time 
 
 Eggshells. (Going.) Very well! (2\rn- 
 ing.) But I hate to take your father's 
 clothes. 
 
 Tessie. My father is a Christian. 
 
 Eggshells. {Suddenly.) God bless your 
 father! Yon said up-stairs? {Goes 
 towards door, R.R. Returns to Tessie.) 
 Throw these clothes out the window^ 
 hey? 
 
 Tessie. Yes, out the window. 
 
 Eggshells. That's the proper thing. 
 They are a perfect menagerie of microbes. 
 
 Tessie. They must be awful. 
 
22 THE L.1TT1.E CHRISTIAN. 
 
 Eggshells. It'll be quit,e a joke on 
 Peanuts. 
 
 Tessie. Well, I should say! 
 
 [Laughfi and slaps her knees. Egg- 
 shells cheers up. Laughs and slaps 
 his knees . 
 
 Eggshells. (Going.) I don't like to 
 take your father's clothes. 
 
 Tessie. Then the marshal will take 
 you. 
 
 Eggshells. There is no other way. 
 I must accept the inevitable. 
 
 [Exit at door, R.R. 
 
 Tessie. Oh, dear! what if aunty 
 should come before the poor tramp g«ts 
 papa's clothes on. I'd have to tell her, 
 he was up-stairs, for it would scare her 
 to death, to go up there and find him. 
 And to think, he is a real Christian, So 
 hungry, all rags, and yet wouldn't take 
 the money, nor the watch, nor the chain, 
 nor the locket. And, besides, to return 
 good for evil, he gave Peanuts most of 
 the pie. I nm going to get Peanuts, take 
 him down stRirs, and lock him up in the 
 kitchen. (Goes out door, L.li. Calls 
 Peanuti', outside. Enter at door, L.Ji'. 
 leading Peanuts by collar. Leads him 
 across to II) Now, come, Peanuts, I've' 
 Bom© nice cookies for you down in the 
 
THE i^ITTLE CHRISTIAN. 23 
 
 kitchen. 
 
 {Exit, R, ivith dog. 
 Enter Eggshells, R.R. heard off, 
 razor in hand. 
 
 Eggshells. I don't like to take those 
 clothes. Amelia is here. Maybe thie is 
 her house—her husband's house. I 
 better cut my throat! {Raises razor.) 
 Amelia will find my body here, {Notices 
 door open, L.R.) What, the door open! 
 {Rushes to window.) No dog! The way 
 out may be clear. If th^ dog attacks 
 me, I can cut his throat with the razor. 
 [Goes towards door, L. R. 
 Enter Tessie, R. 
 
 Tessie. I've shut him up. {Sees 
 Eggshells.) Stop! Where are you going? 
 
 Eggshells. Where's the dog? 
 
 Tessie. If you go out there, {Points 
 to door, L.R.) you'll find out. 
 
 Eggshells. Is he out there? 
 
 [Slams L.R. door to^ 
 
 Tessie. You better hurry up, and 
 change your clothes. If aunty comes 
 and finds you here, I'm afraid, I can't 
 help you. She is just terrible on tramps. 
 
 Eggshells. Who is your aunty? 
 
 Tessie. Why papa's sister, of course. 
 
 Eggshells. Is she married? 
 
 Tessie. No. She loved a nice young 
 
24 THE L.ITTI.E CHRISTIAN. 
 
 minister, but he went away, she doesn^t 
 know where. She loved him so, she'll 
 never marry anyone. 
 
 Eggshells. What is your father's 
 name? 
 
 Tessie. David Jordan. 
 
 Eggshells. (Aside.) I must see her— 
 but DO — the wreck I am — the degraded — 
 
 Tessie. You better hurry up, and 
 change your clothes. 
 
 Eggshells. {Bewildered.) Yes— yeB— 
 I — yes — Well, I've shaved. 
 
 Tessie. {Noticing his face.) Why, your 
 face looks just like the young man's face 
 in the locket. 
 
 Eggshells. Does it! 
 
 [Dashes off at door^ B.R, 
 
 Tessie. How queer he acts. He 
 doesn't like to take papa's clothes. 
 Maybe aunty will be good to him, 
 because be looks like the young man in 
 her locket. {Listens,) I think, I hear her 
 now. 
 
 Enter Amelia at door, L.R. 
 
 Amelia. Are you all right, Tessie? 
 
 Tessie. Yes, aunty. 
 
 Amelia. Did you get lonesome for 
 aunty, dear? 
 
 Tessie. No, I bav«n't been lonesome^ 
 at all, 
 
THE LITTJL.E UttRISTIAN. 25 
 
 Amelia. Where is Peanuts? 
 
 Teesie. I put him down in the 
 kitchen. He barked so. 
 
 [Amelia notices pie pan in window. 
 
 Amelia. How did this pie pan come 
 up here in the window? 
 
 Teesie. I put it there. 
 
 Amelia. That is the large pan, the 
 cook baked the meat pie in. Surely, 
 dear, you didn't eat that whole meat pie? 
 
 Tessie. I didn't eat any of it. 
 
 Amelia. What did you do with it? 
 
 Tessie. I gave it to a tramp. 
 
 Amelia. To a tramp! 
 
 Tessie. Yes, aunty. He was very 
 hungry. He said he loved Jesus. He 
 was a real good tramp. 
 
 Amelia. How did he escape, Peanuts? 
 
 Tessie. He gave Peanuts some of the 
 pie. 
 
 Amelia. Weren't you afraid of him? 
 
 Tessie. No, aunty. He called me a 
 
 little angel. I am glad when anyone 
 
 calls me an angel, because mama's one. 
 
 [Amelia notices bandanna on table ^ 
 
 Amelia. What is this! A filthy red 
 handkerchief! Where did this come 
 from? 
 
 Tessie. It is the tramp's handkerchief. 
 
 Anieliy. And what are you doing 
 
li'J THE L,1TTI.E CHRISTIAN. 
 
 with it? 
 
 Tessie. I am going to wash it, and 
 give it to him, nice and clean. 
 
 Amelia, Why is it on the table? It 
 is too filthy to touch, 
 
 Tessie. He put it on the table. 
 
 Amelia. Was the tramp in the house? 
 
 Tessie. Yes. He laid the handker- 
 chief on the table to put the money in. 
 
 Amelia. The money! What money? 
 
 Tessie. Your money in the chiffonier. 
 
 Amelia. Did he take it? 
 
 [Rushes to chiffonier 
 
 Tessie. No, he put it back, with your 
 watch, aud chain, and locket. Look, if 
 you want to, aunty. Everything is in 
 the drawer, just as you left it. 
 
 Amelia. I am astonished! 
 
 ■^ressie. Don't scold, aunty. Lazarus 
 was a poor tramp, but Jesus loved him. 
 
 Amelia. Child, you are a wonder. 
 
 Tessie. Mama is m heaven with 
 Jesus, aunty, and I know she has told 
 dear Jesus all about her litllo girl down 
 here, and I'd be ashamed not to be good 
 and kind to anyone, who loved thn* 
 good Siviour, even if it was a 
 poor — {Sobs) poor tramp-with— with — 
 a dirty red handkerchief. 
 
 {Amelia takes Tessie in her armsy 
 
THK JL.ITTL.E CHRISTIAN. 27 
 
 and sits in chair at table, R. 
 Amelia. Why, my dear, dear, darling, 
 baby girl, you shall feed all the tramps, 
 and do just whatever your bleeeed 
 little soul wants to do. 
 
 Teesie. {Still sobbing and -crying.) 
 I — 1 — don't want mama to think she has 
 a bad, seltish, baby down here on earth, 
 I— I — want to do everything kind and 
 good, and right, so some day I can be 
 wiLh mama in heaven. 
 
 [Amelia bursts into tears, and 
 weeps with Tessie. 
 
 Enter Eggshells, the Rev. James 
 Wardwell at door, R.R. Hair 
 combed, and in new and clean 
 clothes. Shoes blacked. 
 
 Amelia. You are an angel, indeed. 
 
 Tessie. I asked the tramp his name, 
 aunty. 
 
 Amelia, Did you, dear? 
 
 Tessie. Yes, and he said it was James 
 
 Amelia. James! James what? 
 
 Tessie. He didn't tell mo his other 
 name. When I showed him the picture 
 in your locket, he put the money, and 
 the watch, and the chain an(^ locket, all 
 back in the chiffonier drawer. 
 
 Amelia. Was he going to take them? 
 
28 THE LITTLE CHRISTIAN. 
 
 Tossie. Yes, he was, but he didn't. 
 Thai IS how, I knew he was a Christian. 
 
 Amelia. You puzzle me, dear. 
 
 Tessie. He went up stairs in the 
 bath-room and shaved, and when he 
 came down with his whiskers oflF, his 
 face looked just like the young man's 
 face in your locket. 
 
 Amelia. (Excited.) It cannot be, 
 this tramp, you have fed, is James 
 Wardweli. 
 
 [Rev. James Wardweli, Eggshells, 
 advances. 
 
 James. .Yes, Amelia, it is James 
 Wardweli 
 
 [Amelia drops Tessie, springs to her 
 feet, turns, sees James, and 
 screams 
 
 Amelia. {Rushing into his arms.) 
 James! 
 
 James. Ah, Amelia, can you thus 
 welcome a poor, unworthy, tramp? 
 
 Amelia. Why did you forsake me, 
 James? 
 
 James. That blow on my head 
 I changed after that somehow mentally. 
 I wanted to drink liquor, to gamble, to 
 wander, to— Well, I sank lower and 
 lower after I left. At last, I became a 
 tramp. 
 
THE i^ITTLE CHRISTIAN. 29 
 
 Amelia. {Stepping hack from him 
 and looking at him.) You don't look 
 like a tramp, James. 
 
 James. No, Lot in your brother's 
 clothes. 
 
 Amelia. All that I have, all that my 
 brother has, cannot compensate for the 
 blow my father struck you. 
 
 James. Is your father living? 
 
 Amelia. No; he died seven years ago. 
 
 James. Look at my face; my story is 
 written there. But I always loved 
 you -never married. I thought, at 
 times, that somehow God would bring 
 us together again. 
 
 Amelia. You shall never leave me 
 more. My father left me many 
 thousands of dollars. And, if it takes 
 every penny of it, it shall be used to 
 recover you from the blow he struck 
 you. 
 
 James. That little angel yonder 
 struck a tender chord in my soul, long 
 dead, and woke it again to life. The 
 mists and fogs are drifting away. 
 A new life of love and sunshine is 
 opening before me, I feel like a new 
 man. I am a new man. 
 
 Amelia. {Winding arms about hitt 
 neck.) Ah, dear, you will soon be again 
 
30 THE L.ITTI.E CHRISTIAN. 
 
 as you were. 
 
 James. Can you look upon my 
 furrowed and vice-etained face with 
 affection? 
 
 Amelia. I see you, James, not ae you 
 are, but as I saw you in the past. 
 
 [Tessie crosses to toy cradle, sits in 
 little rocking-chair and rocks 
 . cradle. 
 
 James. Amelia, I love you as I ever 
 loved you. May I hope, when I have 
 recovered myself to decency and 
 respectability to make you my wife? 
 
 Amelia. Why should you ask? I 
 have found you, and I will oaever 
 willingly part with you again. 
 
 James. It seHms like some strange 
 providence led me here I must thank 
 the little angel, that met me— at— at — 
 at the window, 1 believe you call her, 
 Teseie? 
 
 Amelia. Yes, Tessie, is her name. 
 
 James. Tessie, come here. {Tessie 
 rises and crosses to him.) Give me 
 your hand, little one. {Tessie gives 
 hand. Amelia, R.C.) This is the little 
 hand that led me~led me back to 
 God and manhood. 
 
 [Kneels and bows head on Tessie'' s 
 hand. Tessie wipes her eyes with 
 
THE JL.ITTL.E CHRISTIAN. 31 
 
 apron. Amelia wipes her eyes 
 with handkerchief. 
 
 [Tableau. 
 
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