Transcriber’s Note Italic text displayed as: _italic_ CAPTAIN MARY MILLER. A Drama BY HARRIET H. ROBINSON. “But, if you ask me what offices women may fill, I reply—any. I do not care what case you put; let them be sea-captains if you will.”—MARGARET FULLER (in 1844). BOSTON: [Illustration: Decoration] CHARACTERS: NATHAN GANDY _A retired sea-captain._ WILLIAM MILLER _A down-East skipper, afterwards captain of the Creole Bride._ MR. ROMBERG _A ship-owner._ HANK (or Henry) MUDGETT _The cook, a Nantucket boy._ PATSY HEFRON _Mate of the Creole Bride._ JOSEPHUS HERODOTUS, called PHUS[1] _The Captain’s boy._ LORANY GANDY _Wife of Captain Gandy._ MARY GANDY _Daughter of Capt. and Mrs. Gandy._ LEAFY JANE GANDY } JOHN QUINCY ADAMS GANDY } _Children of Capt. and Mrs. Gandy._ [1] This part may be changed to that of a girl, named PHUSEPHONY (PERSEPHONE) HERODIAS. COPYRIGHT, 1887, BY GEORGE M. BAKER. CAPTAIN MARY MILLER. ACT I. NATHAN GANDY’S _house, near the wharf in Annisport. Living-room. Fireplace_, R. _Doors_, R. _and_ L. _and back. Table_, R. C., _on which is a braided-rag mat, partly done. Chairs, pictures of ships, a mourning piece (weeping willow hanging over a tomb)_ MRS. GANDY _with a broom. She sweeps carefully away from the middle of the room._ MRS. G. There! there’s that plaguy money for me to sweep raound agin! I’m tired to death on it, I be; an’ that’s a fac’, I can’t half sweep my floor! But, I snum, I won’t pick it up! I told Nathan I wouldn’t, an’ I won’t! (_Enter_ CAPTAIN GANDY, L., _singing_.) “On Springfield’s maountins there did dwell A lovelye youth, an’ known full well, Leftenant Carter’s onlie son, A galliant youth, nigh twenty-one.” (_Sees his wife, who does not look up._) CAPT. G. Hullo, Lorany! didn’t know yer was thar. What makes yer so glum? (_Aside_) Oh, the caarf, I bet! Say, Lorany, I’m plaguy sorry I sold the caarf. I’d buy her back, but the fellers ’d laf at me. I told some on ’em haow bad yer felt, daown to the store. And old Pete Rosson, he was a-sittin’ on a kintle o’ salt fish; he said: “Wimmin’s rights! I s’pose Mis’ Gandy went ter the meetin’ and heerd the lectur’-woman. I guess Mis’ Rosson wouldn’t dare ter complain ef I sold one o’ her caarfs. I’d let her know they was _mine_, double quick.” Won’t yer take up yer money, Lorany?