MRS. B. What do you mean, woman? We have nothing of yours. MRS. C. I mean that the business your husband is in, together with the temptation of his place, have taken everything from us,-home, reputation, everything; and while you have plenty, we are in great need. MRS. B. I presume you mean that you want some provision and clothes from me. Well, if that is all, I will have Bridget fill a basket for you, and give you some clothes. I guess we have some we do not need. Lizzie, ring for Bridget. MRS. C. Don't, Mrs. Blake; I am not begging, that is, not for bread or clothes; but I am begging, oh, so earnestly begging, that you will try and have your husband stop his dreadful business before he ruins any more families, or kills my loved ones, body and soul. If you will not do that, at least persuade him to keep it from my husband. You were kind and good at school; won't you do something now for fallen humanity? Your daughters will help you, thousands will bless you, and God will reward you. Oh, may I hope that your influence will be for good? LIZZIE. Well, ma, I think I would send her away. I think pa can attend to his own business. MRS. B. I make no rash promises, madam. As my daughter has said, Mr. Blake is capable of attending to his own affairs. I will have Bridget show you the door. HELEN. Don't call Bridget; I will show this lady out, and promise her to do what I can for her family. (Exit Helen and Mrs. Clayton.) LIZZIE. Just like Helen,-she is so very pious. If pa would do as she wishes him to, I am sorry for all the clothes we would have. Enter Helen. HELEN. Mother, is it not as this woman says? Are we not living at our ease, while the business which furnishes the money is breaking hearts, destroying homes, and filling drunkard's graves? I will not be a party to such work any longer. Henceforth I am with the temperance people. Exit Helen.) LIZZIE. What foolishness! She's crazy! MRS. B. Yes, but I fear she'll do as she says! SCENE V.-Room in the Clayton home. Mrs. Clayton reclining in chair, Clara in attendance. MRS. C. (feebly.) Ciara, when was your father home last? CLARA. Not since day before yesterday. He was so much as he used to be, mamma; so careful and attentive to you while you were unconscious, and watched carefully until one of those terrible spells came on; then he left, and I have not seen him since. I am so uneasy. Mamma, through all these long and weary years, hasn't your faith in God ever wavered? MRS. C. Never; my prayers will be answered. It may not be while I am in the body, but I think you will live to see them answered. CLARA. I hope so, but sometimes I am tempted to doubt it. MRS. C. Where is Mary? CLARA. She is at the temperance meeting, but will soon be home now. MRS. C. When did you hear from Walter? CLARA. Not since before you became sick. I presume he has not had time to answer. noise she is making. There comes Mary. What a Enter Mary. MARY. O mamma! Clara! look at my card,-mine and papa's! mine and papa's! See the name! papa's name is under mine! I couldn't wait until they were ready. I hurried on to tell you. MARY. Here's our dear papa,-sober,-our own papa! O mamma, aren't we glad? Clara, you ought to have been at the temperance meeting. Helen Blake brought papa to the desk. (Enter Helen Blake.) Here she is; come and see mamma, Helen. Ah, but you are a good girl! I wouldn't let papa sign any other card until he signed mine. I have kept it for a long, long while. Mine and papa's! mine and papa's! CLARA. Be quiet, Mary; there is some one coming. (Enter Walter.) Walter! but we are glad to see you; papa has signed the pledge! he- Who is that? (Enter Edward., Edward! Mamma, here is Edward! EDWARD. Yes, I have my card, too, mother. Father, forgive your prodigal! MRS. C. Once more a united family; and may these pledges, with all that have been signed in our city, be faithfully kept, "God helping us!" All unite in singing a temperance song, as curtain falls. LESSONS FROM SCRIPTURE FLOWERS.-M. B. C. SLADE. The Lily of the Field. FIRST BOY.* This flower that Jesus bids us consider was the Chalcedonian Lily, very common in Palestine, with scarlet flowers, like those that grow wild in our pastures. FIRST GIRL. In upland meadows bright flowers I see, Like lilies that blossomed in Galilee; When I see them, shining in gold and red, I think of the words that Jesus said: TWO IN CONCERT. Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; and yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.-[ Matt. vi: 28, 29. The Rose of Sharon. SECOND B. This flower was not a rose, but the narcissus, like our white flowers of that name. This is the flower of which Solomon speaks when he says, "I am the Rose of Sharon." SECOND G. In garden-borders, in rows of white, The promise of old still seems to repeat: TWO IN CON. The desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. [Isa. xxxv: 2. *The assignment of parts here given can be changed to suit different cases, and such other classifications adopted as may seem best. Singing could also be introduced very effectively, especially in connection with "The Rose of Sharon," by the use of H. R. Palmer's hymn by that name, found in "The Choral Union" collection. The True Rose. THIRD B. This grows in Palestine. The hills of Jerusalem are covered with beautiful pink, white, and yellow roses. THIRD G. When lovely roses, in colors fair, Are budding and blossoming everywhere, By the brook of the fields in the bright June day, TWO IN CON. Harken unto me, ye children, and bud forth as a rose, growing by the brook of the fields.-[Ecclesiasticus xxxix: 13. The Almond Tree. FOURTH B. This is the wakeful tree, because it is the first to awake from winter's sleep and put on its beautiful garment of rose-colored blossoms. FOURTH G. The flowering almond, we call it now; Spring's brightest, earliest blooming bough. TWO IN CON. That God would hasten his work to do. And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen, for I will hasten my word to perform it.—[Jer. i: 11, 12. FIFTH B. Mint, Anise, Cummin. These plants had small fragrant seeds, and were those that we now call by the same name. FIFTH G. In fragrant gardens I love to go, Where mint and anise and cummin grow; Such words as these from the Master dear: TWO IN CON. Ye pay tithe of mint, and anise, and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law,judgment, mercy, and faith.- [Matt. xxiii: 23. The Mustard Tree. SIXTH B. This was not our common mustard plant. It is a shrub, still found by the sea of Galilee. The seed is small, but the shrub grows so large that birds can, and do, lodge in the branches. SIXTH G. Sometimes I stop by the way to heed TWO IN CON. The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of all seeds; but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof [Matt. xiii: 31, 32. SEVENTH G. When winter goes by and spring is here, While birds are singing and breezes play, TWO IN CON. For lo! the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. EIGHTH G. ALL IN CON. The time of When spring and summer have hastened on, The grass withereth, the flower fadetb, but the Word of the Lord endureth for ever!—[Isa. xl: 8. |