The southern cross : $b A play in four acts — John Shaqi
The southern cross : $b A play in four actsDaingerfield, Foxhall
History
The southern cross : $b A play in four acts
Daingerfield, Foxhall
American drama -- 20th century; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Drama
Cupid. And dars Mars Bev, most pester his mar to def ter let him
go; but cose dat chile he too young; he ant more'n fou'teen. But den I'm
frade he gwine: fer ef dat chile set his head on er thing, he good es
got it.
Marthy. Go on wid you! Dat chile ant no mo' gwine in de army dan
what I is. He know hit all but kill Ole Mistis when she let Mars George
and Old Marster go; and den--(her voice grows soft, she looks over
toward the gate (Right)--dar's Mars Phil's grave over dar. She ant neber
bin quite de same since dat ambulance wagen turn in at de gate.
Cupid. Hits bin more'n two years ago; but sometimes hit 'pears
like hit was only yestidy. (Marthy starts toward the gate). Whar you
gwine wid dem flowers?
Marthy. Deys fer Miss Charlotte; she love ter hab um on de table.
'Pears like hit mek hit sorter brighter fer um.
[Cupid goes to gate at back and stands looking anxiously off
down the road (Right).
Cupid. I'm gettin' mighty oneasy 'bout dem chullen. Dey's terbil
careless 'bout demselves.
Marthy (stops on the steps and listens). 'Pears like I hears a hoss.
Cupid. Go on, nigger! Didn't I tell you dey walked to de mill?
[A horse's hoofs are heard.
Marthy (laughs). I hears hit all de same.
Cupid (drops hat in astonishment). Hi! ef dey ant not one er my
kerrige hosses! Hi, dar! Mars Bev! Mars Bev!
[Enter at the back by the road Fair and Bev. She is riding on
a big brown horse with a bag of meal before her. She is
a beautiful young girl of about eighteen, simply dressed
in a pink cotton gown; her hair hangs in loose curls about
her face: her hat is carried loosely in one hand; with the
other she is guiding the old horse. Bev walks at her side,
with one hand on the bridle. He is a very handsome boy of
about fourteen, with a gay, happy manner. He is barefoot,
dressed in a soft white cotton shirt and blue homespun
trousers. He is without hat or coat, and seems in the best
of spirits. They stop at the gate, laughing.
Fair (from her place on the horse). Take me down, Bev. Here,
Cupid, you take the meal.
[Cupid comes forward too surprised to speak, lifts down the bag,
then Bev takes her hands and lifts her to the ground.
Cupid. Whar you git dis hoss?
Bev (laughs and winks at Fair). Why, out of the second stall near
the door. Where'd you think?
[Marthy and Fair laugh.
Cupid. Dis hoss ant never pack no meal fo' in his life; he's er
kerrige hoss.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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