The Canadian Elocutionist / Designed for the Use of Colleges, Schools and Self Instruction, Together with a Copious Selection in Prose and Poetry of Pieces Adapted for Reading, Recitation and Practice

by Anna K. Howard

Child comes to doorway from house.

Fear not, little one, come hither.

CHILD.—(coming towards her). Is it you? Father seeks you.

LEAH.—His very image. (kisses her,) What is your name, my darling?

CHILD.—Leah.

LEAH.—What say you? Leah?

CHILD.—Did you know the other Leah?—she whom mother and father speak of so often, and for whom every night I must pray?

LEAH.—(With emotion, kissing her, and giving her a withered rose- wreath, which she takes from inside her dress) Take this, my pretty one.

CHILD.—A rose-wreath?

LEAH—Take it, and give it your father. Say to him your little prayer has been heard, and that Leah—(emotion)—Leah forgives. (going, returns again, kisses child, and with extended arms and choking voice.) Bless, you, darling! (extending arms to house.) And you, and you— and all—and all'. (goes to fence, totters, and sinks down, endeavoring to exit.)