Children's plays; Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870 -- Juvenile literature
LEE--I thank you comrade, but I'm glad to tell you I am not in need. But
there are plenty of poor fellows over at the hospital who would be only
too glad to get food from so generous a foe.
PAT--Just as you say, sir, but if ever you are in need just let Pat
Murphy know, that's all. (_Exit._)
(_Enter MRS. JACKSON._)
LEE--How do you do, Mrs. Jackson.
MRS. JACKSON--Good morning General, and how are all the family?
LEE--We are all as usual, the women of the family very fierce and the
men very mild.
MRS. JACKSON--I think every woman of the South is fierce now. I am
bringing up all my sons to hate the Yankees.
LEE--Madam, don't bring up your sons to detest the United States
Government. Recollect that we form one country now. Abandon all this
local hatred and make your sons Americans.
MRS. JACKSON--How can you talk that way after the way you have been
treated.
LEE--General Grant has acted with magnanimity.
MRS. JACKSON--If there ever was a saint on earth, you are one. Now I
must go upstairs and tell your wife so, but I reckon she knows it. Good
morning. (_Exit MRS. JACKSON. Enter JACK SHARPE dressed in ragged
clothes, he looks all around, then goes up to Lee and salutes._)
SHARPE--General, I'm one of your soldiers, and I've come here as the
representative of four of my comrades who are too ragged and dirty to
venture to see you. We are all Virginians, General, from Roanoke County,
and they sent me here to see you on a little business.
They've got our President in prison and
now--they--talk--about--arresting--you. And, General, we can't
stand--we'll never stand and see that.
Now, General, we five men have got about two hundred and fifty acres of
land in Roanoke--very good land, too, it is, sir--and if you'll come up
there and live, I've come to offer you our land, all of it and we five
men will work as your field hands, and you'll have very little trouble
in managing it with us to help you.
And, General, there are near about a hundred of us left in old Roanoke,
and they could never take you there, for we could hide you in the
hollows of the mountains, and the last man of us would die in your
defense.
LEE--I thank you and your friends, but my place is among the people of
Virginia. If ever they needed me, it is now. (_He goes to the door and
calls SAM. Enter SAM._)
LEE--Sam I want you to find all the clothes I can do without and give
them to this soldier for his friends.
SHARPE--I thank you general, and if ever you change your mind, just let
Jack Sharpe hear from you. (_Exit JACK and SAM. Enter Lee's oldest son,
G. W. CUSTIS LEE._)
G. W. LEE--Well, Father, hard at work entertaining visitors as usual, I
suppose.
LEE--Yes, I don't see how so many find the time to come here.
G. W. C. LEE--Lots of the poor soldiers are out of work.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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