Three Female and Three Male Figures.
A representation of a young recruit, about to leave his country home
for the first time to join the army. In the background is to be seen a
cottage, with trellised vines running over the door. The young soldier
is standing in front of the cottage, bidding farewell to his young
bride, who stands at his side. They both face the audience. She has
her right arm around his neck, and is looking into his face. The
soldier rests his left arm on her shoulder, and points to the side of
the stage with the right hand. His eyes are fixed on the face of his
bride. Near the doorstep stands a gray-haired old man, the father of
the soldier; he faces the audience, and is holding a musket, the lock
of which he is examining. At the left of the soldier stands a young
maiden, in a position that exhibits a side view of the body. She is
looking to the two figures in front of her, and holds a sword and
belt. In the doorway is seen the mother of the soldier, holding a
handkerchief to her eyes. A little boy stands at the right of the
door, with a tin sword fastened about his waist, a paper cap on his
head, and is engaged in blowing on a tin trumpet. The cottage can be
framed of wood, covered with cloth, and painted in showy colors; body
of the house light brown, frames, cornice, and door green, roof red,
and window panes black. The cottage stands in the centre of the stage,
with the space on the sides filled up with a small white fence and two
spruce trees. The vines over the door can be painted on the house, or
made of evergreens and flowers, and tacked to the frame. The soldier's
costume consists of a continental uniform--blue coat, faced with buff,
buff vest and breeches, white hose, knee and shoe buckles, low shoes,
white breast belts, and chapeau. The wife is costumed in a blue dress,
cut very short, and high at the top, white apron, white hose, small
handkerchief tied about the neck, hair arranged to suit the taste of
the performer. The young lady should be costumed in a white dress,
green apron, and straw hat, hair hanging in curls, and ornamented with
red ribbons. The old gentleman's costume consists of a long gray or
drab coat, light vest and breeches, black hose, knee and shoe buckles,
low shoes, ruffled bosom, and chapeau. The aged matron is costumed in
a light brown dress, calico apron, white cap, black collar. The boy
can be attired in any costume that has a variety of colors. Cover the
floor of the stage with green bocking, and light the tableau from the
left side. A tenor drum should be beaten in the ante-room while the
curtain is raised.