The Parent's Assistant; Or, Stories for Children

  SCENE I.

  _The House of Justice Headstrong_—_a hall_—_Lucy watering somemyrtles_—_A servant behind the scenes is heard to say_—

  I TELL you my master is not up. You can’t see him, so go about yourbusiness, I say.

  _Lucy_. To whom are you speaking, William? Who’s that?

  _Will._ Only an old man, miss, with a complaint for my master.

  _Lucy_. Oh, then, don’t send him away—don’t send him away.

  _Will._ But master has not had his chocolate, ma’am. He won’t ever seeanybody before he drinks his chocolate, you know, ma’am.

  _Lucy_. But let the old man, then, come in here. Perhaps he can wait alittle while. Call him.

  (_Exit Servant_.)

  (_Lucy sings_, _and goes on watering her myrtles_; _the servant shows in the Old Man_.)

  _Will._ You can’t see my master this hour; but miss will let you stayhere.

  _Lucy_ (_aside_). Poor old man! how he trembles as he walks. (_Aloud_.)Sit down, sit down. My father will see you soon; pray sit down.

  (_He hesitates_; _she pushes a chair towards him_.)

  _Lucy_. Pray sit down.

  (_He sits down_.)

  _Old Man_. You are very good, miss; very good. (Lucy goes to hermyrtles again.)

  _Lucy_. Ah! I’m afraid this poor myrtle is quite dead—quite dead.

  (_The Old Man sighs_, _and she turns round_.)

  _Lucy_ (_aside_). I wonder what can make him sigh so! (_Aloud_.) Myfather won’t make you wait long.

  _Old M._ Oh, ma’am, as long as he pleases. I’m in no haste—no haste.It’s only a small matter.

  _Lucy_. But does a small matter make you sigh so?

  _Old M._ Ah, miss; because, though it is a small matter in itself, it isnot a small matter to me (_sighing again_); it was my all, and I’ve lostit.

  _Lucy_. What do you mean? What have you lost?

  _Old M._ Why, miss—but I won’t trouble you about it.

  _Lucy_. But it won’t trouble me at all—I mean, I wish to hear it; sotell it me.

  _Old M._ Why, miss, I slept last night at the inn here, in town—the“Saracen’s Head”—

  _Lucy_ (_interrupts him_). Hark! there is my father coming downstairs;follow me. You may tell me your story as we go along.

  _Old M._ I slept at the “Saracen’s Head,” miss, and—

  (_Exit_, _talking_.)