Magic lantern - Live model series- How Jane Conquest rang the Bell 3

How Jane Conquest rang the Bell. (A Christmas Story)

*** NOTE - This poem can be illustrated both on the STAGE as a DRAMATIC INTERLUDE, or on the DISC, or both. If it be represented on the stage, the following characters will be required: -- JANE CONQUEST (Cottager's dress). HARRY CONQUEST (Sailor's dress, ragged and scorched). SEXTON (Workman's dress). THE CHILD (Nightdress).	The STAGE DIRECTIONS are printed in ITALICS. The Figures refer to the Slides only. ¶ Indicates both Stage and Disc. The "Cues" are underlined.
	SCENE -- A fisherman's Cottage, Interior -- R., a fireplace, the fire out -- R.C., a table with a candle -- C., a window l., a child's cot, curtained at the back -l., a door -- Jane Conquest with her sick child on her lap, discovered seated at he table in front of fireplace, -- Storm sounds -- wind. 'Twas about the time of Christmas, and many years ago, When the sky was black with wrath and rack, and the earth was white with snow, When loudly rang the tumult of winds and waves at strife ---
Curtain rises - Slide No. 1.	In her home by the sea with her child on her knee, sat Harry Conquest's wife. And he was on the waters, she knew not, knew not where, For never a lip could tell of the ship to lighten her heart's despair. And her child was dying, dying the pulse in the tiny wrist Was almost still, and the brow was chill, and pale as the white sea mist. Jane Conquest's heart was hopeless, she could only weep and pray That the Shepherd mild would take the child painlessly away.
¶ Storm sound increase.	The night grew deeper and deeper, and the storm had a stronger will, And buried in deep and dreamless sleep, lay the hamlet under the hill. And the fire was dead on the hearthstone within Jane Conquest's room, And still sat she with her child on her knee, at prayer amid the gloom,
¶ Music -- A weird chord.	When, borne above the tempest, a sound fell on her ear, Thrilling her through, for well she knew 'twas a cry of mortal fear,
Red light through window. Effect, lantern.	And a light leapt in at the lattice, sudden and swift and red, Crimsoning all the cottage wall, and the floor and the roof o'erhead. It shone with a radiant glory on the face of the dying child. Like a fair first ray of the shadowless day of the land of the undefiled; And it lit up the mother's features with a glow so strange and new, That the white despair that had gathered there seemed changed to hope's own hue. For one brief moment, heedless of the child upon her knee,
Flash on No. 2. Jane starts up and goes to window.	With the frenzied start of a frighted heart up to her feet rose she ; And thro' the quaint old casement she looked upon the sea ; Thank God that the sight she saw that night so rare a sight should be ! Hemmed in by hungry billows, whose madness foamed at lip,
No. 3. Wall of Cottage opens and discovers a ship in flames rocking on the waves.	Half a mile from the shore, or hardly more, she saw a gallant ship , Aflame from deck to topmast, aflame from stem to stern, For there seemed no speck on all the wreck where the fierce fire did not burn. And the night was like a sunset, and the sea like a sea of blood, And the rocks and the shore were bathed all o'er as by some gory flood. She looked and looked, till the terror crept cold thro' every limb. Her breath came quick, and her heart turned sick, and her sight grew dizzy and dim, And her lips had lost their utterance; tho' she strove she could not speak, For her feeling found no channel of sound in prayer, or sob or shriek. Silent she stood and rigid, her child to her bosom prest, Like a woman of stone with stiff arms thrown round a stony babe at breast.
¶ Music -- A weird chord.	Till once more that cry of anguish thrill'd thro' the tempest's strife, And stirred again in her heart and brain the active, thinking life ; And the light of an inspiration leapt to her brightened eye, And on lip and brow was written now a purpose pure and high. Swiftly she turn'd and softly she crossed the chamber floor, And faltering not, in his little cot, she laid the child she bore;
No.4. Kneels.	And then with a holy impulse she sank to her knees and made A lowly prayer in the silence there, and this was the prayer she prayed :
¶ Organ or harmonium during the prayer, plays softly "Abide with me" (Hymn 14, Ancient and Modern.)	"Thou badest me love and cherish the child Thou gavest me, And I have kept Thy word, nor stept aside from following Thee ; And lo! my boy is dying, and vain is all my care, And my burden's weight is very great, yea! greater than I can bear. And oh! Thou know'st what peril doth threat these poor men's lives, I, a lone woman, most weak and human, plead for their waiting wives. Thou wilt not let them perish ; up, up in Thy strength and save From the scorching breath of this terrible death on the cruel winter wave.
No. 5. Here an angel appears beside the bed as an effect. Angel disappears. Jane bows her head.	Take thou my boy and watch him, no care is like to Thine, STAGE-- The curtains at the back of bed are drawn and an angel is seen watching the child- a lime light from the front is at the moment of appearance thrown upon the angel. And let Thy power, in this perilous hour, supply what lack is mine!"
	Aye! pray good woman, send up prayer with fervour from your breast! For whilst your child, your suffering child, yields to unquiet rest, Your husband too, amidst his toil, prays on that scorching deck That Heav'n will save his comrades brave from sea and burning wreck!
Jane rises.	And so her prayer she ended, and rising to her feet, Turned one fond look to the silent nook where the child's faint pulses beat ; And then with softest footsteps retrod the chamber floor, And noiselessly groped for the latch, and oped and crossed the cottage door.
Exit Jane. No. 6.	The snow lay deep and drifted as far as sight could reach, Save where alone the dank weed strewn mapp'd out the sloping beach. But whether 'twas land or ocean, or rock, or sand, or snow, Or sky o'erhead, on all was shed the same fierce fatal glow. Still thro' the tempest bravely Jane Conquest fought her way, By snowy deep and slippery steep to where the old church lay. And she gained it, pale and breathless, and weary, and sore, and faint, But with soul possess'd with the strength and zest, and ardour of a saint. Stood -- silent and weird, and lonely amid its countless graves,
No. 7.	The old grey church on its tall rock perch, secure from treachrous waves. And beneath its sacred shadow lay the hamlet safe and still, For however the sea and the wind might be, 'twas quiet under the hill. Jane Conquest reached the church yard and stood by the old church door, But the oak was tough, and had bolts enough, and her strength was frail and poor. So she crept through a narrow window and climbed the belfry stair,
No. 8.	And grasped the rope, sole cord of hope, for the mariners in despair. And the wild wind help'd her bravely, and she wrought with an earnest will,
¶ Bell rings.	And the clamorous bell spake out right well to the hamlet under the hill. And it roused the slumb'ring fishers, not its warning task gave o'er Till a hundred fleet and eager feet were hurrying to the shore ;
¶ Bell stops. No.9.	And then it ceased its ringing, for the woman's work was done. And many a boat that was now afloat, showed man's work was begun.
No. 10.	And the lifeboat midst the breakers with a brave and gallant few, O'ercame each check and reached the wreck. and saved the hapless crew ! But the ringer in the belfry lay motionless and cold, With the cord of hope, the church bell-rope, still in her frozen hold.
No. 11.	Saved from the wreck,with feeble step, his strength well nigh outspent, With weary pace and pallid face, with clothes all scorched and rent, Poor Harry Conquest seeks his home and gains his cottage door. But ah ! nor light nor faces bright to welcome him once more!
No. 12	The fire is dead upon the hearth, gloom reigns on ev'ry side, And all is chill and drear and still save for the roaring tide !
No. 13.	Within the silent darken'd room, trembling, he gazes round, And then with sense of dread suspense sinks fainting on the ground.
No. 14.	Meanwhile the sexton -curious- has climbed the belfry stair, And O, the fright when cold and white he finds Jane lying there !
No. 15.	With kindly aid the old man leads the wanderer home again, The home she left with heart bereft of hope, and wrung with pain. With feeble hand the latch is raised, and by the lantern’s light, To their amaze attracts the gaze an unexpected sight ! Upon the ground exhausted rests with face all pale and wan, With sailor's dress, in deep distress, a faint and haggard man.
Jane and Harry embrace.	'Tis Harry Conquest, long time mourn'd, sav'd in that fearful hour By his wife's brave deed and trust in need in Heaven's all gracious power !
No. 16. Jane suddenly remembering the child points to cradle and whispers Harry.	But soft! the mother's joy is brief! The child lies in its bed-- The child she left of hope bereft! -- 'Twas dying ! -- Is it dead ?
Harry and Jane approach cradle. Jane turns the bed-clothes; child opens eyes and stretches out arms. - picture. No. 16.	But who shall tell Heav'n's marvelous love to those who do its will; The suff’ring boy -- her darling boy -- whom Jane had left so ill, Is found within his little cot in quiet slumber laid, And a peaceful smile on his lips the while, and the wasting sickness stay'd.
¶ Angel effect (No. 5 repeated). Curtain.	And this is the Christmas story that still the children tell Of the fearful sight that winter night, and the ringing of the bell.
More about Jane....