The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-02-05


amidst clapping of hands and stamping
of feet there was buzz OF 4" his Is the
song," The waiter called loudly, " any
more orlers!" and these being taken
and duly executed, all seemed to settle
down quietly to listen to the song. There
was the symphony, and another buzz OF
"This is it !" and we began to feel
anxious. Presently q female came in
front of the curtain, amidst great applause,
and commenced ';Father, dear father
&c. Every word was distinct, and she
sang the ballad with great feeling. In
order, however, TO fully describe the
scene which followed each verse, it Is
necessary to give little Mary's song:-
Father. dear father come horne with me now,
The clock in the steeple strikes one
(gorgl
Yen promiscl dear father, that you would come home
As soon as your days work was done.
Our fire has gone out-our house is all dark,
And mothers been watching since tea,
With poor little Benny so sick in her arms,
With no one to help her but me.
Come home, come home, come home,
Please father, dear father, come home.'
At the conclusion Of the last line the
drop scene drew up, disclosing the father
sitting at the door of public house, in
a drunken, bemuddled state, with pipe
and a pot before him. Little Mary was
trying to drag him from his seat, at the
same time pointed to a curtain behind
as she took up the refrain from the lady,
and touchngy sang " Come home, &c
This other curtain was now drawn aside,
disclosing a wretched room in which was
the mother with the poor, sickly-looking
boy in her lap, and in the act Of feeding
him with a spoon. simultaneously with
the drawing Of the curtain, the lime light
was brought to bear upon the tableaux,
giving them truly startling effect
After n moment or two the act drop
came down, and the lady proceeded -
"Father dear father, como home vita me now,
The clock in the steeple strikes Two
(gong, gong)
The night has grown colder and Benny is worse
But he has been calling for yOu.
Indeed he is worse, mother says he will die,
Perhaps before morning shall dawn,
And thi, was the message he sent me to bring
Come quickly, or he will be gone.
Come home. come home, come home,
Please father, dear father, come homc.'
The act drop rises again, and now the
child has hold of the pewter pot, trying
to take it from the drunken parent, and,
as she continues the last two lines
" Come homc,' &c, the other curtain is
drawn aside, and we next see the child
stretched out on its mothers lap, and as
it lust raises its little head and falls back
with grasp, with the lime light reflect
ing strongly upon it, there was reality
about the whole, terrible to view. Sobs
were heard coming from all parts of the
hall, coming from the female portion of
the audience, while tears trickled down
many a male cheek. We have seen
"Susan Hoploy," "The Stranger"
"Jane Shore,"' East Lynne" and other
effective pieces played, but never before
did we witness such a scene Of general
crying The principal feature called to
mind the picture OF the 8 Sister Of Mercy"
with the dying child in her lap, and
death was tearfully natural Even the
lady who sang the song was affected, and
could scarcely proceed with the third
verse:
"Father, dear father, come home with me now,
The clock in the steople strikes Three
(gung, gong, gong)
The house is so lonely, the hours are so long,
For poor weeping mother and me
Yes, we are alone-pOOr Benny is dead,
And gone with tho angels Of light,
And these are the very last words that he said
want to kiss papa goodnight"
Come home, come homec come home,
Please father. dear father, come home"
Again the drop rose, disclosing little
Mary on her knees appealing to her
father, who, with the pot elevated, is in
the act of striking her with it, as she
sings '' Come home" and then the back
curtain draws aside, showing the mother
PRAYING over a childs coffin. But now
the sobs burst still more freely, and two
females were carried out fainting The
scene was truly narrowing, and we
gladly turned our eyes away.
An additional verse sung jabout Poor
Benny" being with the angels above
The drop rose; the father, sober now, il