University of Virginia Library

THE GOLDEN WEDDING.

A MASQUE,

Performed at Cedarcroft, Chester County, Pennsylvania, October 15, 1868.

CHARACTERS.

• The Fairy of Domestic Life Miss S. P. Chambers.
• Attendant Fairy Lilian Taylor.
• Attendant Fairy Percy H. Taylor.
• Truth Miss Annie E. Gause.
• Charity Miss S. Stubbs.
• Temperance Miss Sue Taylor.
• America Miss Ellen Taylor.
• Africa Miss Susan Goodwin.
• Switzerland Miss Helen Marshall.
• Germany Mrs. Eva G. White.

THE FAIRY OF DOMESTIC LIFE.

[Goes forward, with the two attendant fairies.
THE BOY
(to the Bride).
Accept and wear the ring, I pray;
And let us crown you for the day!

[The Fairy puts upon the Bride's head a crown of golden myrtle, and a ring on her finger.
THE GIRL
(to the Bridegroom).
Accept the bridegroom's golden ring,
And wear the golden wreath I bring!

[The Fairy puts on the ring, and attaches the wreath.
THE FAIRY.
And now, the day to celebrate,
A host of grateful spirits wait.
The nymphs of virtues and of lands,
They all appear at my commands:
They all obey the golden spell,
And are to-day made visible.
The Virtues that have followed you
Must first come forth, in order due,
Acknowledging the merit won
By will to serve, and service done.
Your guide in age, as first in youth,
I summon forth: her name is Truth!

TRUTH.
[Comes forward, with a wreath of amaranth in her hand.
I greet you, who have watched your ways
In troubled as in prosperous days;
And in the lapse of fifty years
No single act or word appears
That is not honest, clear, and true.
None ever were misled by you:
Your path was open to the light;
Your skirts are clear, your souls are white;
Your honor in the land shall be
A sign and evidence of me.
I give the garland that endures:
My crown of amaranth is yours.

[Lays down the wreath, and retires.
THE FAIRY.
Chief Spirit of the Holy Three,
Come thou and greet them, Charity!

CHARITY.
[With a wreath of cedar in her hand.
By giving, man takes hold on Heaven.
I measure not how much is given:
The smallest is the greatest part,
When with it goes the generous heart.
The wish, alone, is counted good:
You gave and helped whene'er you could,
And I, who watch o'er all distress,
The measure of your will can guess.
I will not praise in studied words:
The tree that feeds the winter birds
Must give the wreath that tells of me;
And green as is that kindly tree,
In loving hearts your memory be!

[Lays down the wreath, and retires.
THE FAIRY.
Thou, with pure brow and steady glance,
Come forth, the nymph of Temperance!

TEMPERANCE.
[With a goblet of water in her hand.
Within my crystal flood behold
The charm that brought this day of gold!
The peace that comes of self-control,
Untroubled brain and quiet soul,
Attended you in every stage,
And give you, now, a green old age.
Not in the tide that brings excess,
But in the fount whose waters bless,
I drink to you, whose lives have shown
The strength that comes from me alone!

[Drinks of the water, and retires.
THE FAIRY.
Come, and among thy people stand,
Thou Goddess of our Native Land!

AMERICA.
[With a wreath of laurel in her hand.
With head and hand, with heart and breath,
You helped me in the days of death.
You heard my call among the first,
You kept your courage at the worst,
And when my final triumph rang,
You shared the joy, and hid the pang.
With hearts your faith to me made brave,
You stood beside your hero's grave,
Nor grudged the sacrifice you gave.
No laurel's green enough to crown
Your lives and his with fit renown;
But take this garland as a sign
Of grief and glory, blent with mine,
And think, that, with her tried and true,
Your country thanks and blesses you!

[Lays down the wreath, and retires.
THE FAIRY.
Come, with new hope upon thy face,—
Come, Africa: speak for thy race!

AFRICA.
[With a wreath of ferns and tropical flowers
I speak my people's gratitude.
For thirty years by me you stood,
When every word that helped my race
Brought scorn, or pity, or disgrace.
O long ago, among the few
Who plead my cause, I counted you:
Through years of gloom you led the way
To this young dawn of Freedom's day.
When, all your hopes fulfilled, I stand
And lift to heaven my chainless hand.
So take my garland with the rest;
The grateful thanks of the oppressed
Go with its leaves, and make you blest!

[Lays down the wreath, and retires.
THE FAIRY.
I call a stranger to our band:
Come forth and greet them, Switzerland!

SWITZERLAND.
[With a wreath of life-everlasting, representing the “edelweiss” of the Alps.
I come from lake and mountain old
To hail this wedding-day of gold;
And, stranger though I be, demand
The right among your ranks to stand.
I sent my son across the wave,
And you to him the daughter gave
Whom now I keep, and call her mine,
Among my sunny hills of vine.
A precious gift it was—and so
This hoary garland I bestow,
Made of the flower that highest grows
Beneath my fields of Alpine snows.
It gives content and household peace;
And may its magic never cease!

[Lays down the wreath, and retires.
THE FAIRY.
Another, from beyond the sea;
I bid thee welcome, Germany!

GERMANY.
[With a wreath of oak-leaves.
Children of mine, though wandered far
To dwell beneath the western star,
Yet still my blood is in your veins,—
Mine ancient life with you remains.
The links between our lands, through you
Are closer drawn, and bound anew,
And German hearts are with you here,
Making the ties of blood more dear.
Let this, my garland, for you be
The type of strength and honesty,—
By sun unscorched, by storm unbroke:
Your age be sturdy, like the oak!

[She lays down the wreath.
(All the characters, who had retired a few paces, now form a circle, and unite in singing the Song.)
SONG.