^ PS 1378 jjo FLAYS EXCHAiraED, .C69 U6 Copy 1 [15 CENTS. \ THK ACTING DRAMA. l^o. 133. UICLE JACK. NEW YORK: HAPPY HOURS COMPANY No. 5 BEEKMAN STREET. Arnold's Dutch Recitations and Readings. Price, 15 Cents. The Amateur's Guide to Home Theatricals. Trice, 25 Cents. Arnold's Dialogues, Plays and Speeches. Price, 30 Cents. How we Managed our Private Theatricals; or, A Guide to the Amateur Stage Price, 25 Cents. Parlor Tableaux; or. Animated Pictures. Price, 25 Cents. Shadow Pantomimes; or, Harlequin in The Shade. Price, 25 Cents. RECITERS, GUIDE BOOiS, ETC. Actor's Art, The, Price 15 cts. Amateur's Guide, The, Price 25 cts. Arnold's Dialogues, Plays and Speeches, Price 30 cts. Arnold's Dutch Recitations and Readings, Price 15 cts. Art of Public Speaking, The, Price 25 cts. Darkey Plays, six parts, Price, per part 30 cts. Drawing Room Magic, Price 30 cts. Elocution Without a Master, Price 15 cts. Evening Entertainments, Price 15 cts. Hand-Book of Elocution and Oratory, Price 30 cts. Holiday Guest, The, Price 10 cts. How to Join a Circus, Price 25 cts. How we Managed Our Private Theatricals, Price 25 cts. Little Plays for Little People, Price 30 cts. McBride's Comic Speeches and Recitations, Price 30 cts. McBride's Humorous Dialogues, Price 30 cts. McBride's Temperance Dialogues, Price 30 cts. Minstrel Gags and End Men's Hand-Book, Price 30 cts. Parlor Amusements for the Young Folks, Price 30 cts. Parlor Tableaux, Price 25 cts. Plays for Young People, Price 30 cts. Punch and Judy, Price 25 cts. Shadow Pantomimes, Price 25 cts. Shakespeare Proverbs, Price 25 cts. Speechiana, Price 30 cts. Stump Speaker, The, Price 15 cts. Either of the above will be sent by mail, on receipt of price, by HAPPY HOURS COMPANY, No. 5 Beekman Street, New York. ■i UNCLE J ACK ; OE, TESTING HEAKTS, A COMEDIETTA, 3n Q>ne ^ct. BY / S . N . COOK, AUTHOR OF "the WANDERER'S RETURN," "BROKEN PROMISES," " OUT IN THE STREETS," ETC., ETC. COEBKCTLY PRINTED FROM THE PROMPTER'S COPT, WITH THE (^VST OF CHAKACTERS, COSTUMES, SCENE AND PROPERTY PLOTS, 1#ELA- TIVE POSITIONS OF TUJi: DRAMATIS PERSONiE, SIDES OF ENTRANCE AND EXIT, DISPOSITIONS OF CHARACTERS, ETC., ETC. NEW YORK : Copyright secured, 1879, by HAPPY HOURS COMPANY, No. 5 B K E K M A N STREET. 1 ^1 ^^fc^ UNCLE JACK; OB, TESTING HEAKTS. DRAMATIS PERSON .E. Mr, Charles Montgomery, ("A IVealthy Merchant). Jack Fenton, (Named Old Jack — From the IVestJ, . . Constable Stubbs Mrs. Charles Montgomery M A RTH A Bla ke, (Her Poor Sister) Widow McGill Nancy Mahoney • Children, &'c. COSTUMES. Mr. C. Montgomery. — Black frock coat, pants, and vest ; stiff white neckcloth. yack Fenton. — Large pea jacket; blue woolen shirt; red neckerchief; pants tucked into boots; large felt hat. Constable Stubbs. — Ordinary. Mrs. C. Montgomery. — Grey silk, high in the neck ; small collar ; cuffs. Martha Blake — Plain brown dress ; black shawl ; bonnet ; &c. Widow McGill — Flowered silk ; showy dress ; hat ; &c. Nancy Mahoney. — Servants' print dress, with sleeves roliCd up; apron; bonnet, and shawl, &c ; red shod wig ; cap. Children.—Poor dresses. UNCLE JACK. ill PROPERTIES Scene I. — Two tables, with covers on each, placed R. and L. of stage. Chairs. Carpet down. Large mirror on flat. Easy chairs R c. and l.C Books and lamps on R. table. Handbell on R. table. Long broom for Nancy. . An old-fashioned, and well-filled carpet-sack for Jack. Jiank-check. Thick cane for Jack. 'Large, well- filled pocket-book for Jack, SCE.ME II.— Nil Scene IlL — Plain table, i,.c. Five old chairs. One stool. Three or four odd plates (empty) on table. A pitcher, two glasses, (all empty) knives and forks. One or two old crusts of bread on table. Ladies' market-basket, covered over, supposed to be filled with provisions. Scene IV.— Nil. Scene V. — Furniture same as in Scene I. An old hair trunk for Nancy. Dis- tress paper for Stubbs. Scene I. — SCENES Interior Backing. O . Chair O I I o . Chair Centre iJoor Chair oCJo Chair Table Easy Chair OL Easy Chair Table Chair O. Chair i Centre-Door Chamber in third grooves, backed by interior. Doors S.E.R. and S.E.L. Scene II.— A Front Suect IV UNCLE JACK. Scene 111.— • Exterior Backing. o L 1 o i« Chair Door Chair VV indow :^ o o cCZUo Stool Chair Table Chair Kitchen in third grooves. Window, k.f., und door, L.F. ; both to open. Fire- place, U.E.R., with empty grate. Scene IV. — A Front Street — Same as Scene II. Scene V. — Same as Scene I. EXPLANATION OF THE STAGE DIRECTIONS. R., means first entrance right, and right. L., first entrance left, and left. S.E.R., second entrance right. S.E.L., second entrance left. T.E.R., third entrance right. T.E.L., third entrance left. F.E.R., fourth entrance right. F.E L., fourth entrance letft. U.E.R., upper entrance right. U.E.L., upper entrance left. R.F., right flat. I..F., left flat. R.C., right of centre. L.C., left of centre. C, centre. CD., centre doors. C.R.. centre towards right. C.L., centre towards left. Observing you are supposed to face the audience. UNCLE JACK; OB, TESTING HEARTS Scene I.—Cenlre-Door Chamher, backed by Lderior. Doors s.e.r and a.ii.L. Mks. Chaeles Montgomery discovered seeded B.C., reading. Mr. Chaeles Montgomeey sealed l.c. Mr. Montgomery. No, Mrs. Moutgomeiy, no, indeed. I wish you distiuctly to uudei-staud, luudaui, thiit I Ciiuuot comply with your repeated deiuauds for niouey. It is moustrous ! Five dollars here, ten dollars thei"e, twenty-five somewhere else, and now fifty for some other extravagance. Do yoa take me for a Rothschild ? Absurd! But I cannot— I repeat it, I cannot — and what's more, I— will— not! Mrs. Montgomery. ( Very coolly.) Charles Montgomery, you cer- tainly beard me ? Did you understand me ? I said I must have a check for fifty dollars to-day. Did you understand- to-day ! ( Continues re(idi)i(j. Mr. M. Ob, yes, I understand yon, Mrs. Montgomery, and 1 hope I expressed mysell with equal distinctness as not to be misunderstood by )-ou, madam ? Mrs. M. ( Angry and rising. ) It is useless, sir, to WiUite or bandy 6 UNCLE JACK ; OB, words with yon. (Going up lo him, c.) Yon will oblige me, sir, by giving me the check immediately. No more words, please, but— do you hear — obey ! Mr. M. I camiot, I am short. There are lieavy liabilities pressing upon our firm, and, for the present, am compelled to refuse. There- fore, I camioi 1 Mrs. M. But yon must ! M — u — s — t, must ! (Sits again, r.c, and reads. Mr. M. (Astonished, and looks at her.) And pray, what do you want with fifty dollars again to-day ? Mrs. M. I do not know that I am obliged to give a strict account to you, Mr. Montgomery — although you are my husband — of every cent I feel disposed to expend. It is sufficient for you io know, sir, that T »oaji< it. Mr. M. Very well, and it is sufficient for me to know, my dear, that you will not get it. ( Sir etches himself. Mrs. M, (Grxiffitj.) Mr. Montgomer}', what is the use of your arguing with me all day when I say that 1 am going to have it ? (Mr. Montgomery yawns — she 7'elaxes. and after a slight pause, speaks more plans ihly. ) Although I consider it to be none of your business so persistently to interfere with me in my little monetary arrangements, I conld inform you very quickly what I wanted to do with the money. (She rises, crosses to him, and wheedles.) The committee, dear, from our church are now soliciting money for the benefit of the poor and needy. Tliey will be here to-day, and I ex- pect, love, to give a larger amount than anyone else in the»church. You will not refuse me, I am sure !, (Places her arms round his neck.) You remember how beautifully the minister spoke last Sab- bath about it being the duty of the rich to administer to the wants of the poor, atid I think you should feel some pride in knowing that your own loving wife had given more than anyone else. Mr. M. (Disengages himself from heremhrace — he huighs heartily. ) Very worthy motives, indeed! /furnish the money, and yon get the credit for it ! Not bad ! Ha, ha ! If there is such a thing as buj'- ing up a good stock of religion, and keeping it on hand, wife, you would get it — that is, as long as my money lusted. But, I am afraid, yen possess but very little of that other kind of religion which, you seem to me, to affect to admire so much. Mrs. M. (Anyry, and walking r.c.) Yon are a good one to preach to me about religion, aren't you ? You, who never even read u prayer with me, in your life, in church. Mr. M. (Rises, and resumes his laughter. ) No, nor could I tell whether Flora McFlimsy, who sat immediately in front of both of us, wore a new bonnet every Sunday, or not ! Oh, wile, there are many little short-comings of that kind that I am guilty of. ( Going to doo7\ s.E.u) But I'll have the check ready for you*. It would be perfectly awful to interfere with purposes so noble. (Exit s. e.l. Mrs. M. When one tries to do a good act, they never get any TESTING HEARTS, ? /- credit for it. (Sits at R.c. table — rings bell and calls.) Bridget Bridget ! Nancy. ( Without, c.) Comin', mam, comin' ! Mrs. M. Well, then, come directly, I waut you. Enter Nancy Mahoney. c. door — she yawns and stretches herself— she carries a broom in her hand, Mrs. M. Bridget, I want you. Nancy. Stop, mam, if you plaze. I've been here wid you now jis' one wake, and you will allers after callin' me names. Sbnre, my name ain't, Bridget. I don't come from that part of Ireland at all. My name's Nancy, mam, Nancy Mahoney, and more power to ye ! Mrs. M. Well, Bridget, or Nancy— it's all the same, so that I can make you understand — what is wanted from you ? Nancy. What, mam ! Shure, it's not for the likes o' me to hear mysel' called a Bridget, when I'm a full-blooded Nancy. Nancy Mahoney from Bulibriggan, descended from the ancient Balibriggaus of dear ould Ireland — my native country, and it's my native name, and mj' native Mrs. M, (Slops her.) Be quiet ! Nancy, then Nancy. Yes, mam, I'll be quiet, and I won't spake another woidl Not another word— not one more, if I die for it, for I'm a Mahoney from Balibriggan. M7S. M. Nanc5% do be quiet, will you ? You have no idea how trying it is to one's nerves to have a voluble servant. Nancy. Valuable servant, is it? ( Pleased— strxds. ) Shure, and I am! It's Nancy that allers tries to make herself valuable to them she works for, and Nancy Mahoney of Balibriggan, descended from the ancient Balibriggaus of dear ould— (Mrs. Montgomery stops her) — well, mam, is a girl as works, and does her work well, and more power to ye ; and she don't hevno cousins nor other fellersa folleriu' her, an' a eatiu' up the preserves when the family's a-bed an' asleep. No, no, you bet! And though Nancy Mahoney is a servant, an' does her work well when she begins at it, an' goes on at it, an' after- wards fiiiisheg it, Nancy Mahoney ain't no nigger for all that, you bet ! (Stamps her foot down, Mrs. M. Can I have your attention for a few moments ? Nancy. Shure, you can, mam, if you axes for it, and so perlitel)', and I won't say another word. Mrs. M. Nancy, I said voluble servant, not valuable. And you will plense remember that you are here to obey my orders, not to talk me to death. Nancy. Dear, oh, dear, you are the first lady, mam, that ever said that Nancy Mahoney from Balibriggan was a talker, or any of her family before her, for the Mahoueys of Balibriggan, fair, dear, ould Mrs. M. Never mind, Balibriggan, but listen to me I (Sees tli^ 8 tNCLE JACK ; OR, hroom in her hand.) What are you doing with that broom? Snrely you have fiuished your sweeping ? It ia late. Have you been lazy? You are not afraid of work, Nancy? Nancy. Afraid, is it? Div — (checks herself )—son'y a bit, mara. I'm so much afraid of it, I'd lay me dowu aud slape alougside of it. Mrs. M. Well, get you work 'fiuished, aud put that broom away, and dou't be flourishing it about iu that absurd mauuer. You may take my head off. (Nancy stops.) That's right, rest quiet, Nancy, for you are a woman of peace. Nancy, Pace, is it? Badses! (Aside.) If any man only called me a woman of pace, I'd— d murder him ! Mrs. M. (Rising ayid going u. ) Now, Nauc3% I want you to be very particular whom you admit to-day. Onr church committee will call, aud it is only out cliurch committee I will see. Therefore, when they come you wtU admit them, but I will not be at home to callers. ( Exit 9,.^E..^^. Nancy. Not at home to callers, is it ? Aud it's Nancy Mahoney that can do the lyiu' for her, is it? Well, well, we'll see! 1 was never raised to do other people's lyin' for them. It's agaiusi toa blood of the Mahoney's of Balibriggau! All of us has got enough to do to do our own. Well, now, before the committee come, I'll sit me dowu here, aud rade the love-letter I jus' got from my married sister, Piitsie, all across the big salt water ocean, from Balibriggau, in ould Ireland. (Sits, takes out letter, reads.) "My dear Naucy — Moiher sends you six sovereigns to help you along in a strange country, wid- out my knowledge ; but, for fear you might not use it wisely — being so young and inexperienced — I have kept back half for me own use, and only send you three!" (Speaks.) Och, what a blessing it is to have a mother, and a dear sister, who troubles herself about the absent one. (Reads.) ''Your mother and I are quite well, except that your little sister has got the measles, whicli we think would spread among the other Mahoney girls and the pigs, if Jim had not had it before, aud he is the only one left. Father says if you don't get along iu America, you are an ass ; and your mother and myself remain, your affectionate parentp, the Mahoneys." Enter Martha. Blake, c. door. Nancy. Power of love, who is this ? (Curtsies.) Are you one of the committe, mam ? Martha, (l.) One of the committee? I do not understand you. Nancy, (r.) Why, there's a committee to get money for the poor a-coniin' here to-day. Martha. I have come to- get money for the poor. Nancy. Oh, yes, that's it. The madam, she's lookin' for you, mam. Excuse me, but I'll go and get her. Nancy Mahoney is a TESTING HEARTS. 9 girl of experience as understands her business, and there's no one calls here to-day, not a blessed one, only iheui us is ou the coni- xnittee. ( Ki- it s.K.ii. Martha. I fear the poor girl does not understand. She does not know that the poor that I seek aid for are the little children belong- ing to my o\vu family. Elder Mrs. Montgomery, s.E.B.,/oZ/oioed by Nancy. Martha. Sister ! (liims to embrace Mrs. Montgomery, but stops suddeyily, as Mrs. Montgomery luryis aside from her. Nancy. (Aside.) She don't seem to know the committee! Afrs. M. (Aside.) Martha BluUe ! What brings her here, I M'onder? Money, I suppose? (Whispering awjrily to Nancy.) Nancy! (Nancy starts.) I thought you told ma the committee were waiting here ? Nancy. Well, there's your committee ! ( Points to 'Mns. Blk^^e.) TJgh, it's no use you a tossing your head up and down like that. If that committee isn't good enough for you, I suppose you want me for to go and make you one? Mrs. M. (A)i(pily.) Leave the room, girl. Nancy. (Aside.) Pugh ! Puttiu' on style and airs, and tryin* to Bliow off afore the committee ! (Bounces out c. door. Mrs. M. Martha, why do you persist in coming here? Are you not aware that your presence is embarrassing to me, particularly if any of my friends were to come, and wisness our interview ? Martha. (Sighs.) I remember when my presence did not em- barrass you, my only sister. I dislike to speak of it, because it seems selfish in me, but I cannot help doing so. Oh, sister, dear sister, think of the days when we were girls, playing together in the old homestead, and of the time when you were sick so long, and the sister, whom you now seem to despise, was the only one that could cool the brow so fevered. During all the days and nights that I sat at your bedside, watching over you and administering to your com- forts, you did then —no — not once complain that my presence em- barrassed you there ! Mrs. M. (Coldly.) You have said enough, Martha. That stor.v, I guess, is simply a prelude to your usual request, or, I may saj', equal to a demand — it is the old tale, I suppose — money ! Martha. (Struggling with her feelings.) I must confess, I have come to solicit aid, for you must know how desperate are my needs. That I should come to the sister who despises me, to ask for money is revolting to my feelings, but I have to do it, for the sake of my dear little ones ! (EatreatingJy. ) Oh, a little money to keep my children from suffering for food ? Mrs. M. I am sorry that encb is the case. Believe me, but Mr. Montgomery, my husband, complains of hard time^ ajid -it is with difficulty I can get enough to supply my own" wants. 10 UNCLE JACK ; OB, Martha. But yon can spare nie a trifle ? Jn«t Ibis once, and I will never — no, never— ask yon niore ! One dollar only! Think how little sncli a sum would be to yon, and think how many little nourishments it would purchase for my little oiies? Oh, sisttr, you won't refuse. I pray you ! ( Weeping. Mrs. M. There, there ! I do not want a scene here. I am not in the habit of shedding tears myself, and I do not consider it much of an accomplishment. ( Uses smeUhuj s