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John F. Poole [1858], Ye Comedie of Errours: a glorius uproarous burlesque Not Indecorous nor Censorous, with many a Chorus, Warranted not to Bore us, now for the first time set before us written expressly for Charley White by John F. Poole, Esq (Samuel French & Son [etc.], New York) [word count] [S40400].
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ACT I. SCENE I. —Street in New York. Enter Andy Foolus and Dummy-O, of Ephesus R.

And. of E.
So, here we is at last, in New York city,
Famous for preachers dull and coroners witty;
For muddy streets and politic contractors,
Freatres good, and very best of actors;
A Common Council, full of naughty tricks,
A mayor of Wood, and aldermen—

Dum. of E.
All Sticks.
By golly! I tink we'd better staid at home
In ole Virginny, dan such a place to come,
Among dese knowing white folks, and sharp shooters,
The timble rigs, de safe games, and garrotters,
All de oder swindlums that infest a town.
Dis nigger's skeared.

And of E.
Dry up, and simmer down.
Hello, har comes old Bally Salter, dat's got my money.
I'se going to bone him for it.

Dum. of E.
Mine, honey! Enter Bally Salter, L.
How is you, Mister Bally Salter? Eh!

Bally.
I'm purty well, I thank ye. What brings you this way?

-- 4 --

And. of E.
Speculation. I want a job to pay;
I heard dere was a new post office wanted,
An' tinking my proposal might be granted,
I'be come to see if I can get de job.

Bally.
Are you, too, honest tax payers to rob?

And of E.
Honest? I is.

Bally.
Then you won't get the job, be sure.
No, the way is help the rich and da—

Dum. of E.
Ah!

Bally.
Well, bless the poor.

And. of E.
Talking of poor, I golly, puts me in mind
I'se rader short, just now. Leff all my cash behind.
You'se got some money b'longs to me, Old Top:
Its—leff me see.

Bally.
Arrah! let that subject dhrop.

And. of E.
I'm dam if I does. I tole you I want de-money.

Bally.
Well, if you want it badly, you must have it, honey.

And. of E.
Living in town puts on so much expense.

Bally.
How much do I owe you?

And. of E.
'Zackly fifty cents.

Bally.
Here it's for you. Look at that: a rowl of coppers (hands a cartridge of pennies)
Done up in paper, purtily an' proper.

And. of E.
T'anks, Bally Salter. Here, Dummy-O.
Take you dis cash, dis merchant did to me owe,
Go, put it in some bank, till I release it;
Dere, every year the int'rest will increase it,
Be very careful dat you doesn't lose it.

Dum. of E.
Lose it! By golly! I'd much rather use it
To buy slin ging, hot tods, clam soup, soft crabs etcetera,
Segars, pig's feet, hot cakes, and tings much bettera.

And. of E.
Begone and meet me in half an hour.
Mind, hurry up!

Dum. of E.
I'll run wid all my power,
To do your bidding. Where are we to meet?

And. of E.
At de hotel, in Cross, near Baxter street.
Begone!

Dum. of E.
I'll fly. True as dis ground I stand on,
Great Branch himself slew not so quick to Brandon. (exit Dum. R).

Bally.
That's a smart chap, that sarvint, I can tell ye.

And. of E.
He is an honest and a worthy fellow,

-- 5 --


He's been with me since I was but a babby;
I've never found him doing an'thing shabby.

Bally.
Since you wor a babby. There's a recollection.

And. of E.
I'll tell a story to you; on reflection,
I find you're friendly, so ‘I will a tale unfold’
Whose lightest word would freeze thy young blood cold;
Plough, dig, and harrow up thy very soul,
And make each hair stick strait out on your poll,
Jess like de quill pens on de porkampine.

Bally.
Bedad! what is it?

And. of E.
This: once on a time, there was a man.

Bally.
There was! I wonder will there ever be again?

And. of E.
There was a woman, too; she was my moder,
The moder of twins, 'cause I had a broder.
Anoder woman, too, had twins,—

Bally.
They'd lots of childher.

And. of E.
Each pair so much alike it would bewilder
De debbil himseff, to tell one from de oder,
Or which was me, or which one was my broder.
One day, my fader, at policy being lucky,
Made up his mind to trabel from Kentucky,
On board a steamboat put his picaninnys,
His wife, his woman, furniture and ginnies,
Well, de ingine bust! de passengers was drown'd,
'Cept me, and dis yar noder picaninny.
We boff was found by a man in ole Virginny:
He brought us up, until de oder day,
Longing to trabel north, we run'd away;
De abolitionist at work we found,—
Dey put us frough, at two forty, underground.
Dis is my tale,—to you I've made it known.

Bally.
Your tale's so short, it can't be called full grown.
At any rate, I must be off; good-bye:
Take care of yourself. D'ye mind?

And. of E.
I'll try. (exit Bally R).
Now, what am I to do to get a living?
Shall I, like Thalberg, matinees be giving,
Or shall I come the fugitive slave game,
And gull de Norff wid tales of Southern shame?
Give lectures at the Tabernacle freely.
Led on de stand by Beecher, Stowe, an' Greely.
Den, when I'd set all sorts of stories rife,
Like Burns, Barnum, and Bennett publish my life;
Or get subscriptions first, like Stephen Branch,
And when I've had the dimes, ‘Vamose de ranche?’

-- 6 --


But p'raps when I should tink myself on dry land,
I'd get pull'd down and sent to Blackwell's Island. Enter Dummy of Syracuse, R.
How now; what brings you back?

Dum. of S.
I've come to bring you home:
De dinner's cold a-waiting for you to come.
De goose is burnt, de clam soup gone to pot,
De pepaters spoiled, an' such a putty lot,
De eberyting is nosing.

And. of E.
Sir, stop your fun,
And tell me, what have you with my money done?

Dum. of S.
What money?

And. of E.
I gave it to you to-day. Do you forget so soon?

Dum. of S.
Oh, yes, I remember. Two cents to get de tribune.

And. of E.
Two cents! two devils! Dummy-O, don't jest,
If you have spent two cents, where's all de rest?

Dum. of S.
I didn't hab no more as I'm a sinner,
Look yar! I tink! you'd better trabel home to dinner—
Your old woman's mad; by golly, she's mos' crazy,
To tink you'd stop out dis way. You's rader lazy.

And. of E.
Old woman! who, which? What ole woman?

Dum. of S.
Would you deny your wife? I golly, you's no man.

And. of E.
Wife, wife! You black skunk, upon my life
I'll give you fits if you say I've a wife.

Dum. of S.
I say you have!


DUET. Air—Villikens and Dinah Dummy.
I tell you, you're married to a very nice gal.
Her name is Adry Anny, and you know her well;
She's got a long tongue, as you'll find when she'll scold
You for staying out late, till the dinner is cold.
    Ri too ral, etc.
Andy.
As Adam was sleeping in the garden one day,
He woke up and found his rib stolen away,
And a wife stood beside him. He took her to keep;

-- 7 --


So I must, like him have been married in my sleep.
    Ri too, ral, etc. Air—Pop goes the weasel Dum. of S.
Are you coming home to dine,
  I can't go without you,
Missee'l break dis head of mine;
  She's fretting now about you.
And. of E.
Dummy-O, you're crazy, quite,
  To make me whip and rout you;
If you don't do the thing wot's right,
  I'll lay this cane about you.
Both.
Oh, what a plague a darkey is,
  When he's cross or teazin';
Wiz a wiz, wiz a wiz,
  Pop, goes the weazel.
(Andy beats Dummy-O off L) SCENE 2. —Room belonging to Andy of Syracuse. Adry Anny and Lucy Anny discovered.—Table set for dinner

Adry.

Dar, by golly! 'taint no use in talkin'; dar's beaufulum pertaters and eberyting spiled, and my Andy not coming home to dinner. I spose he's off wid some oder wench.

Lucy.

Mebbe he's delayed wid business. You don't know, dese men am so varous in deir pussoots. He might be doin' some whitewashin' job, or sumsin'.

Enter Dummy-O of Syracuse.

Adry.

Well, is your massa coming?

Dum. of S.
No; I'm dam if he is.

Adry.
Say, did you find him?

Dum. of S.
Yes; he's got his dander riz;
I tole him come to dinner. He said, ‘No.’
I said I'd wait for him; den he tole me go;
Says I; ‘My missee wants you home,’ ‘Get out,’ says he;
‘I neber was married, and don't intend to be.’

Adry.
De brute, de catamount,; oh, de assassinator.
How can I fix him off?

Dum. of S. (taking a potato).
Choke him wid a tater.

Lucy.
Didn't you tell him dat his dinner's ready!

Dum. of S.
I did; he wouldn't come.

Adry.
Dummy-O! does he walk steady?

Dum. of S.
Steady! what does you mean?

Adry.
Has he been drinking?

-- 8 --

Dum. of S. Drinking.
No! nary drop. He's crazy, to my thinking;
He tole me dat he guv me a lot of money,
To put in bank. I golly, he talk'd so funny,
He made me laugh. Den, when I laugh'd he beat me,
I don't know why it am he'd so ill-treat me,

Lucy.
Dummy-O, you're drunk or else you're toling lies;
You didn't meet wid Andy. Let me see your eyes. (looks at him).
You're gone to the gin bottle; you've been makin' love.

Adry. (tragically).
Go fetch my Andy. By de stars above—
By all de little fishes in de sea,
If you don't bring my Andy back to me
I'll strangle you. Ha! ha! I'm in a rage.
Matilda Heron, Rachael, take me off de stage.

Lucy.
Go, Dummy-O. Make yourself scarce.

Dum. of S.
I'm gone. (exit Dum. of S. L).

Adry.
Lucy, that fellow's false. I know he's shamming.

Lucy.
Then, ‘go in, lemons,’ give him a good lamming,
Or, like the Randall's Island school teachers,
Put his tongue on the stove, and hold it till he screeches.

Adry. (suddenly).
Lucy, have you ever seen Mrs McMahon play Lady Macbeth?
How, she rages, tears, swears, flares, raves, goes it to the death.
That's how I feel now. I'm all on fire,
My dander's rising. Soon I can go no higher;
My rage is so great that out I cannot bring it. (to musician).
Will you accompany me? (he nods).
All right; I'll sing it.


SONG.—Adry. I Dreamt I Dwelt.
I dreamt that I dwelt in Tammany Hall,
  Wid sachems, and such by my side;
I thought that the place was prepared for a ball.
  And I had to let it all slide;
I had riches too great to—
      Hey, diddle, diddle,
      The cat's in the fiddle,
    The cow jumped over the moon;
      The little dog laughed

-- 9 --


      To see the sport,
    The dish ran away with the spoon.
My father he was such a fine big man,
  He beat a big drum with a rataplan,
But he and Horace Greely could never agree.
  For the white coated editor he made love to me;
But he had to steer,
  For the fun was too dear,
So he had to trabel off on de bold privateer.

Lucy.

See! there goes Andy, and Dummy with him; they're passing by us. What de debbil does dey mean?

Adry.

I'll fetch 'em in, I'll bet a cookey (runs out).

Re-enter with Andy Foolus and Dummy-O of E.

Adry.
What does you mean by dis yar conduct, say?
Dere you was passing by. Is dat de way
To treat your wife?

And. of E.
My wife! I have none.

Adry.
Oh, you, you, you'U!
I can't speak.

Dum. of E.
No, don't.

Adry.
I will!

Dum. of E.
Yes, do, do.

Lucy.
Andy Foolus.

And. of E.
That's me.

Lucy.
How you have altered!
Go kiss your wife.

And of E.
My wife be ha—I mean haltered.

Lucy.
We sent Dummy-O to bring you home to dinner.

Dum. of E.
If eber I saw de wench before, den I'm a sinner.

And. of E.
Ah, now I see it, 'tis you dat done it.
How can dis end, when dus you have begun it?
To-day I gave you money. Off you walked—
But scarce free minutes wid a friend I talked,
When back you come to tole me dinner's ready,
You had no coin from me—you seemed unsteady,
You talked of missee, wife, and such. I beat you off;
You even laughed and met me with a scoff.
Back you come again to our hotel,
Told me you leff de money, all was well,
And now you say, you neber saw dis wench.

Dum. of E.
I neber did by golly; neber, neber.

Adry.
Oh! you pair of deceibers. Aint you cleber?
To fool a woman in dis way. Come deary, dear,
My Andy Foolus, we'll not quarrel here;
Let's supper take, and den we'll go to bed.

And. of E.
I'se bewitched, I is; I feel it in my head.

-- 10 --


At any rate, I'se bound to take my ease.
I'll do whateber you like, just say what you please.

Lucy.
Ah! dat's de way; hab sense, an' jaw no more;
To grub, to grub. Dummy-O, shut de door.
(Dummy-O does so.—They sit and eat).

Adry.

There, I know you're fond of mashed potatoes; let me help you.

And. of E.

I doesn't like 'em.

Adry.

Why, den you've changed. You used to like 'em.

And. of E. (aside).

Dey's all crazy. (Dummy-O, watching his opportunity, keeps taking eatables off table.—A loud knocking at door).

Adry.

Who's dere?

And. of S. (without).

Me! me!

Dum. of E.

Who's you?

Dum. of S.

Andy Foolus and Dummy-O.

And. of E.

Clear away. Andy Foolus and Dummy-O are here.

Adry.

Who is you out dar, dat spoke like Andy Foolus?

And. of S.

I'se you husband, Andy Foolus. Is you going to luff me in?

Dum. of E.

No: clar away, or I'll frow de hot ashes ober you.

And. of S.

Look a har! I'se going for de police if you don't open de door.

Dum. of E.

No, no, no, no, no.

Dum. of S.

We're going for de police.


CHORUS.—Outside. ‘The Other Side of Jordan.’
  Is you gwine to let us in?
  Now we's axin you agin;
We's waitin' for our lodging an' our boardin',
  As we tole you before,
  We'll smash in de door,
An' drive you to de oder side ob Jordan. ChorusOmnes.
—Roll up your coat, etc.
Inside.
  Oh, you'd better go away,
  For if dere you try to stay,
A threatenin' for to break de door down,
  We'll send for de police,
  Dat'll make you keep de peace,
Or dey'll take you to de oder side ob Jordan. Chorus—Omnes.
—Roll up your coat, etc.

-- 11 --

SCENE III. —Street. Enter Andy Foolus and Dummy-O of Syr., R.

And. of S.
What does dis mean? locked out of my own house;
Dey wouldn't serve a dog so bad.

Dum. of S.
No, not a mouse.

And. of S.
I hab it. Here, Dummy-O, go buy a rope;
I'll hang dem all. Dat'll cure dem, I hope.
(Gives him money).

Dum. of S.
I'll go. Say, let me leave it on 'em, won't you?

And. of S.
Fly!

Dum. of S.
I shan't be long.

And. of S.
Don't you. (Exit Dummy of S., L).
I'll settle wid dem, 'fore long.
Enter Angle-O, R.

Ang.
Well met, Mr Andy Foolus.

And. of S.
How does you know me?

Ang.
I've brought you a chain.

And. of S.
A chain for me! jiss show me.

Ang.
Here you is; you told me bring it.

And. of S.
Did I? When?

Ang.
Dis morning when you left it with me. Then
I thought by meeting you 'twould save me walking.
There it is, well mended. But I've no time for talking.
(gives gold chain).

And. of S.
Aint dat putty?

Ang.
Good bye!

And. of S.
Oh, fare you well. (Exit Angle-O, R).
Well, dis am curious. A gold chain for me.
I aint no loser, anyhow, dat I can see;
I never seed a place like dis afore,
De spirits surely must be around, if nothing more.
Ah, here comes dat Dummy-O again.
Enter Dummy-O of E., L.

Dum. of E.
De bootmaker says dey'll be done to-night.

And. of S.
What'll be done?

Dum. of E.
Your boots. You know. All right.

And. of S.
All right? All wrong! Where's de rope you bought?

-- 12 --

Dum. of E.
I bought! I bought no rope.

And. of S.
You know you ought,
I gave you money for it.

Dum. of E.
Not a cent;
To de bootmaker's, in Chatham Street, I went.

And. of S. (beating him).
Take that and go; don't show your face to-day.

Dum. of E.
Don't beat so hard. Well, so. I'll run away.
(Beats him off L). Enter Andy Foolus, of Eph., and Dummy-O, of Syr. R.

And. of E.
Why, what de debbil does you mean by dis?
Fotch me a rope.

Dum. of S.
I'se sure dat aint amiss;
Dat's what you tole me fetch, to beat your wife,
Dat locked us out to-day, and made such strife.

And. of E.
Locked out? Dummy-O, I sent you for my boots.
(Catches him by the hair).

Dum. of S.
Don't, don't. You'll pull my wool out by de roots.
(Beats him) Enter Angle-O, R.

Ang.
Mr Andy Foolus, I'se back about the chain;
I made a mistake. I'll take it back again.

And. of E.
Take back? You haven't brought it to me yet.

Ang.
This one is yours.

And. of E.
So it is. On dat I'll bet.

Ang.
Give me de oder.

And. of E.
What oder? You gave me none.

Ang.
Come, come; no fooling. For de police I'll run;
Ah! ah! here comes one. So I won't go far. Enter Snyder-O, R.
Here took dis feller up, mister star.

Dum. of S.
Oh! leff us go home at once to his wife,
She'll make tings right. She will, I'll bet my life.

Sny.
Vot ish de madder here?

Dum. of S.
We're in a fix.

And. of E.
This fellow charges falsely.

Sny.
Daus is nix.
You go mit me: dem troubles all ve'll mend,
Up to de Tombs for ten days you ve'll send,
You all is drunk.

Dum. of S.
We're sober, I assure ye.

Sny.
Don't shpoke a vord. I been de shudge un shury.

-- 13 --


QUARTETTE. Air—All the Blue Bonnets. Sny.
March! march! off to the station house,
  Von, two, togedder ve all go in order.
Andy and Dummy.
March! march! off to our dwelling house,
  Settle de question mit brandy and water.
Air—Yankee Doodle Dandy, oh! Omnes.
Now, as we go along, let us sing a jovial song,
  And let this be the chorus, neat and handy, O!
We'll settle our affairs, and we'll drive away our cares,
  By swigging off a jolly lot of brandy, O.
(exeunt Omnes, L) SCENE 4. —Same as second. Adry Anny, Lucy Anny, and Andy Foolus of Syracuse seated.—Dummy-O of Ephesus, standing

Adry.
I swar to golly! somefin ails you.

And. of S.
No!
I'll swar you kept me standing at de do',
I knock'd and kick'd, an' so did Dummy-O.

Dum. of E.
You'se mad: de spirits must have turned your brain,
We was in here to dinner; dat are plain.

Lucy.
'Tis so; you was. Law, wot a pretty chain!
(handles the chain which he has on his neck).

And. of S.
A man, a Jew man, said I bid him make it,
He guv it to me—so I had to take it.
Here, Adry Anny, put it on your neck,
So fair, so lily black, widout a speck.
(knocking at door).

Dum. of E.
Who's dere?

And. of E. (without).
'Tis me; Andy Foolus, me, me, me.

And. of S.
Open de door; who it is at once we'll see.
(Dummy of E. opens the door). Enter Angle-O, Andy Foolus of E., Dummy-O of S., and Snyder-O.

And. of S.
De Lor' a bress us! what am dat I see?
Anoder nigger looking juss like me.

-- 14 --

And. of E.
Does my ears deceibe me; or does I see
Anoder nigger looking juss like me.
(Dummy of E. beckons to Dummy of S. Both come down front).

Dum. of E.
Say; is I me, or is you you.

Dum. of S.
I tink you is you.

Dum. of E.
Dat'll do.

Adry.
What am de meaning of all dis?

Ang.
Luff me explain.
It am de custom, at the freatres I mean—
To end the tragemdy all well, dat's plain.
I'll do dat now. (To Andys). You two am broders, (to Dummys).
You am the same; but you aint got no moders.

Both Ands.
Am it so?

Ang.
It am. If in your mind, of doubt a shadow lurks,
Just read it all in Massa Shakespeare's works.

Both Dummy-O's.
Broder!

Ang.
And now, to please de wite folks here before us,
Lets wind de fun up wid a gineral chorus.


CHORUS.—Omnes. Root, Hog, or Die.
We're de greatest lot of darkies dat ever you did see,
We try to please our patrons, and let the world see
Dat fun without vulgarity, when prices aren't high,
Will fetch de Yankee Doodle boys, root, hog, or die.
      Chief cook, etc.

  Good people, if you'll call again,
    In the best way, we'll use you;
  With song and dance and lots of fun,
    We're bound to amuse you.
Finale—Pop goes the Weasel.
END OF ERROURS.
Previous section


John F. Poole [1858], Ye Comedie of Errours: a glorius uproarous burlesque Not Indecorous nor Censorous, with many a Chorus, Warranted not to Bore us, now for the first time set before us written expressly for Charley White by John F. Poole, Esq (Samuel French & Son [etc.], New York) [word count] [S40400].
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