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The Ten Commandments. In the old parish register, in Nottinghamshire, England, of date 1809, is the following: Have no other Gods but me— Unto no image bow the knee— Take not the name of God in vain Do not the Sabbath day profane— Honor thy father and mother too— And see that thou no murder do— From vile adultery keep thou clean— And steal not, though thy state be mean— Dear no false witness, shun the blot— What is thy neighbor’s covet not. - Written for Burke’s Weekly, THE SLEEPING BEAUTY. DRAMATIZED FROM MISS MULOCH’S VERSION For Children and Young Ladies and Gentlemen. Characters. —King and Queen, Little Princess, seven Young Fairies, one Old Fairy, a Young Prince, an Old Woman, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court. Scene Ist. —A room where the Old Fairy, (who must be represented by a little girl fantastically dressed, with wrinkles painted on her face, and a wand in her hand,) is talking to herself. Old Fairy. —And so the King has for gotten to invite me to this christening just because I hav.e not been to Court for fifty years! And what is more, when he in vited the other fairies to dinner, and I came in unexpectedly, he gave me a delf plate to eat on, while all the others were served in gold! But I will teach him to insult so powerful a Fairy as lam ! I will go to the christening without an in vitation, and if I don’t wish the little Princess something dreadful, may I never ride on a sunbeam again. lie has asked all the other Fairies to bo god-mothers, because he knows their good wishes will come true, but my bad wish will come true, too, and then we shall see if he does not repent of having forgotten me. Yes, we shall see! Scene 2d. —King and Queen —Little Princess, beautifully dressed, lying on a couch, (which is rery pretty if it can be arranged with curtains,) — Attendants. Enter the seven young Fairy god mothers, dressed in white, with wands in their hands. They approach and pay their respects to the King and Queen. While they are doing so, the old Fairy enters. The King and Queen look horrified, but one of the young Fairies makes a sign to the Queen unperceived by the old Fairy, and slips quickly behind a curtain. Each one ot the remaining young Fairies approaches, in turn, to the little Princess, kisses her ami utters a wish. Ist Fairy. —As a lily shalt thou be fair, With heavenly eyes and golden hair. Fairy. —As an angel, lovely child, Thy temper shall be sweet and mild, ■‘d Fairy. —Graceful, gracious, shalt thou be, All the world adoring thee. 4th Fairy. —Like the nightingale’s, thy singing Joy to mortals ever bringing. BURKE’S WEEKLY. sth Fairy. —Like a leaf in summer wind, No lighter dancer shalt thou find. Cth Fairy. —All accomplishments uniting, Every one near thee delighting. [Now the old Fairy approaches and speaks in a sharp shrill voice.] Old Fairy. —And I wish that when you grow to be a young lady, and learn to spin, you will prick your finger with the spindle and die of the wound! [Exit old Fairy. [The Queen begins to weep, and all the Attend ants look shocked. Then the young Fairy comes from behind the curtain and goes up to the Queen.] Young Fairy. —Comfort yourself, gra cious Queen, the Princess shall not die. It is true her finger must bo pierced, ac cording to the wish of the Ancient Fairy, but, instead of dying, she shall sink into a sleep that shall last one hundred years, and at the end of that time the sod of a King will find her, awaken her, and mar ry her. [The Queen and Attendants look comforted and take their handkerchiefs from their eyes.] Curtain drops. Scene 8d. — Chorus —[A young girl, dressed in white, with a crown made of green leaves on her head. She recites, very distinctly,] Fifteen years have passed away Swiftly as a summer’s day. Many a pleasure, many a sorrow Has dawned and faded with each morrow. No longer does the lovely child Join in sport and frolic wild ; Blushing maiden is she now, With “heavenly eyes” and snowy brow. You shall see her, good and gay, Happy all the livelong day. Lo ! the iovely maid appears, See what charming smiles she wears. Curtain drops. Scene 4th.— An old woman spinning, enter Princess, now a young maiden of fifteen. Princess. —Wliat are you doing, good old woman ? Old Woman.-—I am spinning, my pret ty child. Princess. —Ah, how charming! Let me try if I can spin also. [She attempts to spin, and striking her hand against the spindle, utters a cry and sinks lifeless on the floor. The old woman calls loudly for help. The Attendants rush in, and finally the King and Queen. The Queen exclaims distractedly, “My child ! my child !” ] , Curtain drops. Scene stii. — I The young Princess laid on a beau tiful couch, sleeping sweetly— King, Queen and Attendants— Queen and some of the Attendants weeping. Enter the young Faiiy.] Fairy. —It is useless weeping, afflicted parents. Leave her to sleep in peace un til her lover comes to awaken her. But, in order that she may see some familiar faces around her when she awakes, 1 will charm some of her attendants to sleep also. [She touches them with her wand, and each one drops into a profound sleep in the attitude in which they are sitting or standing, and which they must take care shall be a graceful one. The Queen kisses the Princess sorrowfully, and leaves the room with King and Fairy.] Curtain drops. Scene Gtii. — Chorus —Young girl, dressed in white, &c., recites,] A hundred years have passed away Swiftly as a summer’s day. Long has ceased the mother’s weeping, Yet the Princess still is sleeping, Waiting for her love's appearing. He the castle gate is nearing. See the Beauty, rosy red, Though a hundred years have fled. Curtain drops. Scene 7th. —Princess still asleep and attend ants all as we last saw them in Scene sth. Enter young Prince. He looks around with a bewilder ed air, then catches sight of the Sleeping Beauty, starts with astonishment and admiration, ap proaches, and kneeling by the couch, takes her hand. She opens her eyes, and gazes at him drowsily.] Princess. —Is it you, my Prince ? I have waited for you very long. Prince. —Yes, my beautiful bride. I have come to conduct you to my king dom, where all honors await you, and the whole kingdom will be filled with rejoi cing that I have at last delivered from the enchantment of the wicked Fairy' my charming Sleeping Beauty. Curtain drops. Scene Btii.— Chorus— Young girl, etc., recites, Full many a year has passed away, Swiftly as a summer’s day, Since the Prince the enchantment broke,- And the Sleeping Beauty woke, Yet the story, though so old, Seemeth ever new when told, And we all know well to-day, As in times long passed away, That, stronger than th' enchanter’s wand And all the spells of Fairy Land. Every other charm above The mightiest magic still is—Love. ♦♦♦ Wanting Friends. “ I wish that I had some good friend to help me on in life?” cred idle Dennis. “Good friends! Why you have ten ! replied his master. “ I’m sure I haven’t half so many, and those I have are too poor to help me.” “ Count your fingers, my boy.” Dennis looked at his large, hands. “Count thumbs and all.” “ 1 have ; there are ten,” said the lad. “ Then never say that you have not got ten good friends, able to help you on in life. Try what those true friends can do before you begin grumbling and fretting because you do not get help from others.’ 99