[Transcriber's Note: The songs in this book were set with the lyrics interlinear with the sheet music. These have been put into lyric form in the text for legibility. A table of contents has been added for convenience.]

The RESCUE
of the
PRINCESS
WINSOME

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The RESCUE
OF THE
PRINCESS
WINSOME

A FAIRY PLAY FOR OLD AND YOUNG

BY
ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON

Author of "The Little Colonel Series,"
"Big Brother," "Joel: A Boy of Galilee,"
"In the Desert of Waiting," etc.

MUSIC BY
ALBION FELLOWS BACON

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BOSTON
L. C. PAGE & COMPANY
1908

1902
By L. C. Page & Company
(INCORPORATED)

1908
By L. C. Page & Company
(INCORPORATED)

First Impression, August, 1908

COLONIAL PRESS

Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co.
Boston, U.S.A.

Contents

[ACT I.]

[ACT II.]

[ACT III.]

Songs

[Spinning Wheel Song ]

[The Dove Song ]

[Spin, Wheel, Reel Out Thy Golden Thread ]

[Fairy Chorus ]

PUBLISHERS' NOTE

The Princess Winsome, the part taken by the "Little Colonel" in the play called "The Rescue of Princess Winsome" in "The Little Colonel's Hero," has shared the popularity of the creator of the rôle.

Appealing to children because of its association with their favorite heroine, and to their parents because of its high moral tone and the beauty of its lines, the play has found great favor among children's clubs for their private theatricals, in many cases rivalling the success of the "Little Colonel" and her friends in obtaining funds for charitable purposes.

In response to repeated requests, the publishers are glad to present the play in separate form, making it more easily accessible to young amateur actors and actresses.

"THE RESCUE OF THE PRINCESS WINSOME"

"THE RESCUE OF THE PRINCESS WINSOME"

ACT I.

Scene I. In the Witch's Orchard. Frog-eye Fearsome drags the captive Prince and Princess to the Ogre's tower. At Ogre's command Witch brews spell to change Prince Hero into a dog.

Scene II. In front of Witch's Orchard. King and Queen bewail their loss. The Godmother of Princess promises aid. The Knight starts in quest of the South Wind's silver flute with which to summon the Fairies to his help.

ACT II.

Scene I. In the Tower Room. Princess Winsome and Hero. Godmother brings spinning-wheel on which Princess is to spin Love's golden thread that shall rescue her brother. Dove comes with letter from Knight. Flower messengers in turn report his progress. Counting the Daisy's petals the Princess learns that her true Knight has found the flute.

ACT III.

Scene I. In Witch's Orchard. Knight returns from quest. Blows the flute and summons Titania and her train. They bind the Ogre and Witch in the golden thread the Princess spun. Knight demands the spell that binds the Prince and plucks the seven golden plums from the silver apple-tree. Prince becomes a prince again, and King gives the Knight the hand of the Princess and half of his Kingdom. Chorus of Fairies.

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"THE RESCUE OF THE PRINCESS WINSOME"

ACT I.

Scene I. Witch bends over fire in middle of orchard, brewing a charm in her caldron. Ogre stalks in, grinning frightfully, swinging his bludgeon in triumph.

Ogre

Ha, old witch, it is done at last!

I have broken the King's stronghold!

I have stolen away his children twain

From the clutch of their guardsmen bold.

I have dragged them here to my castle tower.

Prince Hero is strong and fair.

But he and his sister shall rue my power,

When once up yon winding stair.

Witch

Now why didst thou plot such a wicked thing?

The children no harm have done.

Ogre

But I have a grudge 'gainst their father, the King,

A grudge that is old as the sun.

And hark ye, old hag, I must have thy aid

Before the new moon be risen.

Now brew me a charm in thy caldron black,

That shall keep them fast in their prison!

Witch

I'll brew thee no charm, thou Ogre dread!

Knowest thou not full well

The Princess thou hast stolen away

Is guarded by Fairy spell?

Her godmother over her cradle bent.

"O Princess Winsome," she said,

"I give thee this gift: thou shalt deftly spin,

As thou wishest, Love's golden thread."

So I dare not brew thee a spell 'gainst her.

My caldron would grow acold

And never again would bubble up,

If touched by her thread of gold.

Ogre

Then give me a charm to bind the prince.

Thou canst do that much at least.

I'll give thee more gold than hands can hold,

If thou'lt change him into some beast.

Witch

I have need of gold—so on the fire

I'll pile my fagots higher and higher,

And in the bubbling water stir

This hank of hair, this patch of fur

This feather and this flapping fin,

This claw, this bone, this dried snake skin!

Bubble and boil

And snake skin coil,

This charm shall all plans

But the Ogre's foil.

[As Witch stirs and sings, the Ogre, stalking to the side, calls.

Ogre

Ho, Frog-eye Fearsome, let the sport begin!

Hence to the tower! Drag the captives in!

[Frog-eye Fearsome drags Prince Hero and Princess Winsome across the stage, and into the door leading up the tower stair. They are bound by ropes. Prince tries to reach his sword. Princess shrieks.

Princess

Oh, save us, good, wise witch,

In pity, save us, pray.

The King, our royal father,

Thy goodness will repay.

[Pulls back, wringing hand.

Oh, I cannot, cannot mount the tower!

Oh, save us from the bloody Ogre's power!

[They are dragged into the tower, door bangs and Ogre locks it with key a yard long. Goes back to Witch, who hands him vial filled from caldron with black mixture.

Witch

Pour drop by drop upon Prince Hero's tongue.

First he will bark. His hands and feet

Will turn to paws, and he will seem a dog.

Seven drops will make the change complete.

The poison has no antidote save one,

And he a prince again can never be,

Unless seven silver plums he eats,

Plucked from my golden apple-tree.

Ogre

Revenge is sweet,

And soon 'twill be complete!

Then to my den I'll haste for gold to delve.

I'll bring it at the black, bleak hour of twelve!

Witch

And I upon my broomstick now must fly

To woodland tryst. Come, Hornèd Owl

And Venomed Toad! Now play the spy!

Let no one through my orchard prowl.

[Exit Witch and Ogre to dirge music.

Scene II. Enter King and Queen weeping. They pace up and down, wringing hands, and showing great signs of grief. Godmother enters from opposite side. King speaks.

King

Good dame, Godmother of our daughter dear,

Perhaps thou'st heard our tale of woe.

Our children twain are stolen away

By Ogre Grim, mine ancient foe.

All up and down the land we've sought

For help to break into his tower.

And now, our searching all for nought,

We've come to beg the Witch's power.

[Godmother springs forward, finger to lip, and anxiously waves them away from orchard.

Godmother

Nay! Nay! Your Majesty, go not

Within that orchard, now I pray!

The Witch and Ogre are in league.

They've wrought you fearful harm this day.

She brewed a draught to change the prince

Into a dog! Oh, woe is me!

I passed the tower and heard him bark:

Alack! That I must tell it thee!

[Queen shrieks and falls back in the King's arms, then recovering falls to wailing.

Queen

My noble son a dog? A beast?

It cannot, must not, shall not be!

I'll brave the Ogre in his den,

And plead upon my bended knee!

Godmother

Thou couldst not touch his heart of stone.

He'd keep thee captive in his lair.

The Princess Winsome can alone

Remove the cause of thy despair.

And I unto the tower will climb,

And ere is gone the sunset's red,

Shall bid her spin a counter charm—

A skein of Love's own Golden Thread.

Take heart, O mother Queen! Be brave!

Take heart, O gracious King, I pray!

Well can she spin Love's Golden Thread,

And Love can always find a way!

[Exit Godmother.

Queen

She's gone, good dame. But what if she

Has made mistake, and thread of gold

Is not enough to draw our son

From out the Ogre's cruel hold?

Canst think of nought, your Majesty?

Of nothing else? Must we stand here

And powerless lift no hand to speed

The rescue of our children dear?

[King clasps hand to his head in thought, then starts forward.

King

I have it now! This hour I'll send

Swift heralds through my wide domains,

To say the knight who rescues them

Shall wed the Princess for his pains.

Queen

Quick! Let us fly! I hear the sound of feet,

As if some horseman were approaching nigher.

'Twould not be seemly should he meet

Our royal selves so near the Witch's fire.

[They start to run, but are met by Knight on horseback in centre of stage. He dismounts and drops to one knee.

King

Tis Feal the Faithful! Rise, Sir Knight,

And tell us what thou doest here!

Knight

O Sire, I know your children's plight.

I go to ease your royal fear.

Queen

Now if thou bringst them back to us,

A thousand blessings on thy head.

King

Ay, half my kingdom shall be thine.

The Princess Winsome thou shalt wed.

Queen

But tell us, how dost thou think to cope

With the Ogre so dread and grim?

What is the charm that bids thee hope

Thou canst rout and vanquish him?

Knight

My faithful heart is my only charm,

But my good broadsword is keen,

And love for the princess nerves my arm

With the strength of ten, I ween.

Come weal, come woe, no knight can fail

Who goes at Love's behest.

Long ere one moon shall wax and wane,

I shall be back from my quest.

I have only to find the South Wind's flute.

In the Land of Summer it lies.

It can awaken the echoes mute,

With answering replies.

And it can summon the fairy folk

Who never have said me nay.

They'll come to my aid at the flute's clear call.

Love always can find a way.

King

Go, Feal the Faithful. It is well!

Successful mayst thou be,

And all the way that thou dost ride,

Our blessings follow thee.

[Curtain.

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ACT II.

Scene. Room in Ogre's tower. Princess Winsome kneeling with arm around Dog's neck.

Princess

Art thou my brother? Can it be

That thou hast taken such shape?

Oh turn those sad eyes not on me!

There must be some escape.

And yet our parents think us dead.

No doubt they weep this very hour,

For no one ever has escaped,

Ere this, the Ogre's power.

Oh cruel fate! We can but die!

Each moment seems a week.

Is there no hope? Oh, Hero dear,

If thou couldst only speak!

But no! Within this tower room

We're captive, and despair

Must settle on us. 'Tis the doom

Of all dragged up yon winding stair.

[Drops her head and weeps. Enter Godmother, who waves wand and throwing back curtain, displays a spinning-wheel.

Godmother

Rise, Princess Winsome,

Dry your weeping eyes.

The way of escape

Within your own hand lies.

Waste no time in sorrow,

Spin and sing instead.

Spin for thy brother's sake,

A skein of golden thread.

Question not the future,

Mourn not the past,

But keep thy wheel a-turning,

Spinning well and fast.

All the world helps gladly

Those who help themselves,

And the thread thou spinnest,

Shall be woven by elves.

All good things shall speed thee!

Thy knight, the Faithful Feal,