THE POOR OLD SLAVE,ORPlantation Life before the War.SCENE 1-- Interior of PETE'S cabin, in 2d grooves. PETE discovered by fire with banjo: SUSAN making bread. As curtain rises, PETE sing "Old Kentucky Home" voices outside singing the Chorus.

Voices Outside. Good mornin'. Uncle Pete good mornin'

Pete Mornin', boys; gwine ter work

Voice. Yes, we're off. Mornin', Uncle Pete.

Pete. Mornin', boys. Bress deir light hearts; dey'se good boys, every one ob 'um. Dey nebber goes ter work 'thout saying' 'mornin" ter ole Uncle Pete, and allus stops when dey'se going' ter deir cabins at night.

Susan. Dat's so, Pete, but dey'se got a hard time ob it now under young Massa Tom's rule ( sets pan of bread near the fire ).

Pete. Dey has many tribberlations t'rough him, honey, an' no mistake. He ain't much like de ole massa his fader. Ole massa neber struck one ob his darkies. De ole oberseer, Massa Blackthrone used the whip pretty freely, but massa didn't know it. But young massa was wid Massa Blackthrone a great deal, honey, an larned to handle de whip ( raises his foot and accidentally sets it in the dough ). Lord-a-massy! I'se done it now! ( cross to L.)

Susan. Yes dere's hardly a day dat some one of de darkies does not receive his punishment by de fearful lash. It's lucky dat you an' I'se old, or we might feel by bitter teachings de suffering of slavery. ( looking at Pete) W'y, wit's de matter wid you, Peter? Suthin's up! Crosses to the fire and starts.] Pete, you ole villain! have you bean gone an' set your foot in my pan of bread, wot I sot to do de fire to raise? Ah! you have, then. Sot dat gunboat ob yours right in de middle ob de bread. You brack fool!

Pete. Now looka here, Susan, I'se sorry I put my foot in de bread, but I don't want you to talk to me like dat. I don't like it; an' lemme tell ye, Susan, dat if I am ole an' feeble, I am de man in my own house.

Sus. Man! In you' own house! A pooty man, indeed! Lame an' pooty near blind; can't do nuffin' but swaller hog an' hominy an' be allus in de way. Man ob de house! Ha! ha!

Pete. Now look here, ole woman, I likes ye well. But I don't like yer language, an' I won't have ye talking that way to me. So keep still. D'ye hear?

Sus. You'll order me, will you! Take that-an' that ( hitting him over the head with pan of bread ).

Pete. I surrender! Don't yer see I hang out de wite flag?

Sus. Ye'd better do it. Ye're in a pooty state now; all ober flour f'um head to foot. Here, turn 'round an' let me wash yer face an' dust yer clothes. ( re-blacks his face )

Pete. ( aside ) Golly! she's mighty obstropolus w'en she's 'cited. I doesn't stan' no chance wid her!

Sus. You good-fur-nuffin' lazy feller, sittin' down by de fire an' doin' nuffin at all. Ain't ye 'shamed ob yersef? Eh?

Pete. Why, honey, what would yer have me do? I ain't worked worked in de fiel' fur many years. Dere isn't enough strenght in dese ole arms even ter tote de wood an' water fur ye, honey. Wot kin I do?

Sus. Do? I'll tell ye wot ye shall do; ye shall larn ter knit. Dat ye shall!

Pete. Knit! me knit! Susan, ye doesn't want me ter do wench's work like dat, does ye?

Sus. I does mean it, ebery word ob it. I won't hab no more ob dis laziness. I'll go right ober ter Aunt Chloe's an' git de needles, and you set down dere by de fire till I git back. ( exit C.D.)

Pete. Gwine ter make me larn ter knit! Yah! yah! Guess not, Pete, ye mustn't low dat. I know I'se got too ole ter be much good, an' am' 'siddable trubble to de ole woman, bress her heart, 00055but I can't come down to de knittin' business. She'll make me, dough, ef I stay here, so while she's gone, I'll jes' slip out an' go down to de boys. Me larn ter knit! Yah! yah--dar she comes. [ exit hurriedly,] L.E.Re-enter Susan, C.D.Sus. Here dey is Pete. Now, set down an' I'll gib ye yer fust les--Why, whar am de darkey? Pete! You, Pete, I say! Don' ye come no tricks on me. Pete! ( goes to C.D.) As I'm a livin' sinner, dar he goes down de lane to de cotton press! Runnin' away fum me, eh? I'll settle wid you, sah! Pete! You, Pete! [ exit C.D.

SCENE II.-- Interior of and old Cotton Shed.Whipping-Post left. Darkies lying around, resting. Enter Uncle Pete, R.E., laughing.Sam. Why! what's de matter, Uncle Pete? What's struck you dat's so terrible funny?

Pete. Yah! yah! You'll laugh, too, when I tell yer, honey. It's rich, honey, its rich. Oh how, I did fool dat ole woman!

SAM. What! Ole Aunt Susan? Tell us 'bout it. Uncle Pete.

Pete. Well, I done gone an' tell yer. But lem me sit down fust. I run all de way from de cottage, an' my ole bones don't stan' much ob it, yer know,honey ( sits ). Dere, dat's better ( looks around ). What you got in dat jug dere, honey, eh?

Sam. Why, dat's some good ole apple-jack. Want some, Uncle Pete?

Pete. Well, yes yer might gim'me a trifle jes'ter ile de j'int ob dis ole troat. It am too dry fer talking. ( drinks )

Sam. Say, Uncle Pete, stop drinking. Ye'r taking too much. It'll hurt yer.

Pete. Not a bit of it, honey. Yer see my j'ints is ole an rusty. an' needs more ile dan yours.

Pete. I will, Sam. Say, boys, yer all know how helpless I hev been gitting fer some time pas', an' losing all strenght in my arms an' legs? Well, of course, when I found I was a gittin' dat way I had ter leave off chopping wood an' totin' water fur de ole woman; an' kase I couldn't do nuffin', I used ter set down by de fire an' play de ole banjo. Dat kinder riled de ole woman. She's like massa; she don't like ter see a darkey doing nuffin' so she goes off an' gets a great big ball ob yarn an' knittin'-needles, an' she says now, Pete, jes as soon as I gets my cookin' done an' de house cleaned up, you's got ter take lesson." "What fer, honey," sez I,

"What yer done gwine ter do?" "I'se gwine ter larn yer ter knit," sez she. "Ter knit," sez I, "what yer gwine ter do dat fer, honey?" "Ter gib yer suffin' ter do, Pete, so dat yer shan't be sittin' moping by de fire all de day, doin' nuffin' but pick dat ole banjo." "You'se gwine ter make me knit?" "Yes," sez she. "You," sez I? "Yes, I." sez she. "Look yere, ole woman," sez I, "I'se a man, I is, an' I don't do no sech wench's work like dat. No, Sir!" "Pete," sez she, "you'se gwine ter do dat an' I'm gwine ter make yer." "All right, ole woman," sez I, "you jes' try it on, dat's all." An' bi'meby, when she went out ter git de needles, I jes slid out ob de door an' come down here ter see de boys.

All. An' we're all glad ter see yer, Uncle Pete.

Pete. Oh, how de ole woman 'll rare when she finds out I'se gone. Yah! Yah! I tell yer, boys, it'll be de funniest sight. Yah! Yah! I can't 'gin ter 'spressify myself in words; boys, its too much.Sam. Den, sing it, Uncle Pete.

All. Yes, sing it, Uncle Pete.

Pete. Well, boys, I'll try fer yer. ( laughing ad libitum.)

SONG.W'en I got too ole to tote de wood an' water, ha! ha! And I like ter sit down always by de fire, ha! ha!Den ole Susan try ter make me larn ter knit, ha! ha!But she couldn't fool dis good ole darkey so.So I stole out an' come down here to de boys,Fer I lubs ter see dem dance an' hear dem sing.An' ole Susan made de cabin mos' too hotWhen she wouldn't lem'me make do banjo ring.Ole Susan, she'll git ravin', tarin' mad, ha! ha!When she fin's I'se run away an' left her so, ha! ha!An' she's sure ter hunt me up, an' make me wuk, ha! ha!At de bery ting I doesn't want ter do.But I'd radder come right down here to de boys,Fer I lubs, etc.00078(speaks ) Ole Susan, she's raving, tearing--Enter Susan, r. 1 e

Susan. Oh, dar yer is, is yer. Well, jes' yer quit de company ob dese yere niggers an' come home wid me. Come home, I say!

Pete. Honey, I feels puffec'ly jes' what I want ter be here, an I guess I'll stay a while.

Sus. Pete, ef yer don't come, I'll gib yer one ob de greatest trashings yer eber had in yer life.

Pete. Keep her off, boys, she's gittin' desperate. ( crowd interposes )

Sus. Now, Pete, wha's de use acting dat way? Ain't I a good wife, and don't I try do de best I can fer yer all de time? Ef yer doesn't want ter knit, yer shan't, dere now, only come home wid me.

Pete. Ole woman, g'way, I'se afeard. I dassn't trust yer. Yer jes' want ter git me 'way from de boys, an' den yer'll drap all yer sof' words. keep her off, boys. (Susan struggles, and reaches Pete whom she commences to beat. Pete yells, the boys interfere, and take her half across the stage.)

Sus. Oh, you ole villun, how dar ye stan' thar' an' see yer wife abused in dis way. ( struggles )

Pete. Guess when der's any 'busin' ter be done, honey, yer ken do yer share.

Sus. Lem'me go, I say. Lem'me go! Oh, 'when I ketch yer home, won't I--

Pete. Say, boys, I don't want ter see no trouble here. Guess yer better jes' take her down to de house. ( Exit boys with Susan. Pete laughs, heartily, when she has gone.)

Sam. Aunt Susan's gittin' a leetle too heavy fer ye, ain't she, Uncle Pete?

Pete. 'Tell de troof, honey, she do kinder wear de trouserloons now, 'deed she does. But, Lor' bress ye, honey, she's a good ole woman, for all ob dat. But whar's Jake? I want ter see him dance a little. 00089

Sam. Jake can't dance any more for you, Uncle Pete.

Pete. Jake can't dance? Sho! G'way, chile! don't talk ter de ole man dat way. Ye'se jes' tryin' ter fool me. Jake can't dance! Wha's de reason Jake can't dance?

Sam. Why, ye see, massa got vexed at him fer suthin' dis mornin', an' Jake answered massa back, an' dat set massa ravin', an' he ordered Jake ter be triced up and Brack Tom ter gib him seventy-five lashes. De pore boy's back's furrered f'um one end to t'oder, Uncle Pete. He can't dance fer yer any more, poor feller!

Pete. Jake whipped! Oh, massa massa! you'se gittin' mighty bad. Boys, it's awful.

Bill. It's too much, an'I, fer one, am ready ter end it. Ef enny thing happens ter him because of what he's done, we're not ter blame. Ef he will treat us like dogs, let him take de consequences.

All. Yes, we'll settle accounts wid massa pooty soon.

Pete. Boys, don' ye talk like dat! It don' do no good. It on'y makes tings wuss. I knows massa is a hard massa; he aint't like ole massa used ter be!

All. No, dat he ain't!

Pete. He am ha'sh an' unreasonable, but its de drink dat does it, boys. Massa's got a good heart, an' mebbe he do better bimeby.

Sam. Not much chance ob it, Uncle Pete. He ain't a bit like his fader. Ole massa was a mighty good massa to de boys. Say, boys, can't we sing suthin about ole massa!

Bill. Yes, let Uncle Pete sing it--he knowed massa best--an' we'll jine in on de chorus.

Pete. Tank ye, boys, I'll do de best I can.SONG--Uncle Pete."Massa's in de cold, cold ground."Enter Larue, l.Lar. What are you all lazing around here for? Why don't you go to work--to work, I say! Scatter, or I'll tighten my whip over your lazy hides! And you( to Pete), you useless old grinning ape! What do you mean by keeping the niggers from their work with 000910your infernal whining and howling? Clear for your cabin. D'ye hear me?

Pete. ( going ). Yes, massa.

Lar. Stay. You may go down into the fields with other hands, and see that you pick your stint, if you don't want stirring up.

Pete. Massa, I can't pick de cotton. I'se too ole, an' my pore ole fingers won't do my biddin', deed dey won't!

Lar. What, you lazy rascals!! Rebel, will you? Tom, come here.

Tom. Yes, massa.

Lar. Trice up Pete to the whipping-post and give him fifty lashes!

All. Shame! For shame, massa!

Lar. Hold your tongues, you rebellious rascals! The first one who murmurs gets fifty lashes!All shrink back. Tom leads Pete to the Whipping-Post, and Scene closes in 1 on Tableau.ENTRE-SCENE.-- In 1. Enter Bill L. Sam and darkies E.

Bill. How does de ole man seem now, Sam?

Sam. Bad, Bill, fer dough his pore ole back am commencin' ter heal, 'pears as if dere was some deeper sore. De ole man seems ter be broken-hearted. Yet 'trough it all he wouldn't 'low no one ter say a word 'gin Massa Larue.

Bill. Boys, we've been patient long 'nough waiting fer a change. It won't come till we makes it ourselves. Let's do it now. Are ye wid me, boys?

All. Yes! yes! We're wid yer, Bill.

Sam. We'll do jes' as you say, Bill.

Bill. Den meet me in half an hour down by de ole cotton-shed. Be quick 'bout it, fer to-night we must settle 'counts wid massa. But don't none ob yer say a word ter ole Uncle Pete 'bout dis. It 'ud do no good, an' his kind ole heart mought leads him ter warn massa. Now 'way wid yer, an' don't fergit--in half an hour, at de ole cotton-shed.

All. All right, Bill, we'll be dar. [ Exeunt omnes R. and L.SCENE III.-- Full stage--wood. Set house, with balcony, L. 3 E. Darkies with weapons discovered. Stage dark.Enter Bill cautiously.

Bill. Now, boys, are we all here? Quietly, fur we must not be discovered too quickly; it's as much as our lives are worth. An' besides, we must not be balked in our purpose. You, Sam, must tend to de torches. De rest ob yer stay wid me.Enter Uncle Pete.

Pete. Boys, boys, wha'dat I hear yer's gwine ter do? Oh, don't do it, boys, don't do it! Tain't right.

Bill. Who tole yer 'bout dis, Uncle Pete? We meant ter keep it from yer. Dere's gwine ter be trubble here, an' yer mought git hurt. So go back ter de ole cabin, Uncle Pete. Don't stay here!

Pete. Boys, I can't g'way an' know you'se gwine ter do v'ilence ter massa. I know he's hard massa; no one knows it better dan me.

Sam. Dat yer does, Uncle Pete, an'I shed tink yer trashing last week wud hev knocked all soft feeling fer massa out ob yer heart.

Pete. Sam, I members what de "Good Book" sez, an' I tries ter bear no malice; dough it's mighty hard some times. But don't do it, boys. Do go home.

Bill.( aside to Sam.) You jes go an' set de house afire as I tole yer. We'll keep Uncle Pete talking here, an' it'll be blazing before he ken prevent it.

Sam. All right. ( Exit Sam near house.)

Pete. Boys, don't go fer ter do it. It ain't right; don't do it. ( flames blaze out.) Ah! too late! I must save massa. ( calls ) Massa! massa! wake!

Larue. What's the matter? Ah! ( jumps from window.)

Bill. Now, boys, we've got him. ( they rush for Larue, whom 001012they seize, and a struggle ensues. Larue finally frees himself and takes the stage to the extreme Left.)

Lar. Back, dogs! Would you murder a man in cold blood? Oh! if I but had some weapon!

Pete. No, massa, dey shan't murder yer! Oh, boys, tink ob what yer's a doing! Don't hurt massa!

Bill. Uncle Pete, you stand out ob de way. We's gwine ter settle dis wid massa, an' yer mustn't interfere. We don't want ter hurt yer, so stand aside. As for you, Massa Larue, we tell yer dat every blow, yer struck us, has been remembered, an' now we's ready to pay dem back wid interest. Stand back, Pete.

Pete. I won't stand back, boys, an' ef yer will so far forgit yerselves as ter kill de massa, yer must kill me fust. Yer shan't touch him w'ile dis yere ole nig's alive.

Bill. Well, if yer will interfere, yer must take de consequences. ( Rushes to strike Larue, and hits Pete, who staggers and is caught by Larue-- Slow music to end scene.)

Pete. Massa, I'se done for. Dey strikes berry hard, massa. Pore ole Pete's dying, massa. Oh, massa, promise me dat you'll fergive de boys fer dis. Dey didn't know what dey was a doing, massa. Dere wrongs had e'en-a-most made them crazy; fergive dem, massa. Boys, when I'm gone, don't let no sech trouble rise agen. 'Bey yer massa, boys, fer pore ole Pete's sake. An'ef it makes you an' massa friends, ole Pete's done gone bin glad ter die fer yer. Good-bye--boys! Good-bye--mas--! ( dies )

Lar. He's dead! Boys, here over the dead body of poor old Uncle Pete, I vow to you never to use the whip again. I'll leave off drinking, and, please God, will prove a kind and faithful master to you. CURTAIN.