ELIZABETH REEVE. NANCY LANDON. HULDA SHELDON. ROXANA BEECHER. AMANDA SMITH. MARY HUBBARD. ANABELLA REEVE. PLAYS BY MISS SARAH PIERCE. The following are some of the plays Miss Pierce wrote for the amusement and edification of her pupils. They were usually given at the end of the school term, and the young men of the town were often invited to take part. RUTH. [_From an unfinished manuscript in possession of the Litchfield Historical Society._] _Act 1st._ _Scene 1st._ NAOMI. RUTH. ORPHA. (N) The circling year once [illegible] The fatal day, which blasted all my joys Which banish’d hope, the wretches latest compact And black despair erect her empire here. My loved daughters, well may ye remember This fatal morn, black with impending woe Which hid forever, the last ray of comfort. Your hopes like mine fled like morning dew Before the scorching blast of dire disease. Then join with me once more, to weep this day Fatal to love, a too maternal fondness. (OR) My dearest mother why indulge this grief Can plaints unbar the gloomy caves of death? [illegible] prevail on that grim tyrant? [illegible] lives back, to realms of day Then dry thy tears and taste what happiness, Remains on earth, to soothe thy evening hours. Soon will the shades of night close on thy eyes Soon wilt thou meet those vows too long bemoan’d. Think of those friends those joys which fate has left And give thy sorrows to the oblivious gales Which waft o’er Leethe the souls to Pluto’s realms. (NA) On youthful hearts grief makes a slight impression But buries deep, within the breast of age Its barbed darts; yet sure thou hast not forgot That eventful day, big with impending woe When pestilence, sent by heaven [illegible] Walking in darkness, strew’d the [illegible] Then Mahlon fell, my first born son expir’d, My might, my glory, my defense lay low. His brother’s arms entwined the lifeless corse. He breath’d one sigh, cast one sad parting glance Then fled his spirit, forth to worlds unknown Your lives my sons, were transcripts of true faith Lovely in life, in death dissevered not.