_Mary._ (_Outside._) O, father! mother! (_Runs in, L., with jug, followed by SALLY._) The jug! the jug! It’s heaped full of bank notes. (_Emptying it upon table._)
_John._ Bank notes, and--What’s this? (_Takes up check._) A check! “Pay to William Nutter, or order, one thousand dollars.” Signed, “Jarius Jordan.” Jordan, is this your work?
_John._ (_Reads._) “William Nutter.” My son!
_Hannah._ Our Will! My boy! O, Jarius Jordan! what does this mean?
_Jarius._ It means glory! Halleluyah! Fourth of July! Kingdom come! It’s a grand emancipation jubilee. The boy I’ve been telling you about is the same boy that villain, Henry Douglas, led into temptation, whom he charged with forgery, whom I took in hand, set straight, and who to-day is a man indeed--your son Will, Mrs. Nutter.
_Hannah._ I know it, I know it. He’s saved us, he’s saved us! O, where is he? Where is my boy?
_Will._ Here, mother, here’s your own boy again.
_Hannah._ (_Screams._) O, Will! Will! I knew you’d come! I knew you’d come! (_Runs into his arms._)
_John._ Will, welcome home! (_Takes his hand._) Everything is forgotten and forgiven. I’m proud to welcome my son home again.
_Will._ Home, father, spite of the craft of that man whom I once called friend. It is ours still.--Mary, sister!
_Mary._ Dear, dear Will, a thousand times welcome! (_Clasps his hand._)
_Will._ Ah, sister, I have missed you all. Thank Heaven, I am once more able to meet you without a blush of shame.
_Ned._ Here’s your old chum, Will; can you spare a hand for him?
_Will._ (_Giving both hands to NED. MARY leads her mother to lounge._) Ah, Ned, you have much to forgive. That cruel blow with the little brown jug!
_Ned._ Don’t speak of it. You don’t know how much good it did me. Does he, Mary?
_Jarius._ Jes’ so. If it did you any good, give the credit where it belongs--to Henry Douglas, for he struck the blow.
_Jarius._ It’s the truth, for I saw the act. I didn’t tell on it, for I wanted a p’int agin Douglas. To-morrow I shall make a charge of assault with intent to kill. It’s hung two years, but I guess it’s strong enough to do some execution.
_Douglas._ You have no witnesses. Your charge will fall to the ground, Mr. Jarius Jordan. You have outwitted me, but you must confess I have plotted safely. There’s not a point you’ve found to convict me of crime. You are rather keen. Try it. If I have failed in my attempt to ruin the family of the renowned shoemaker, John Nutter, I have still the satisfaction of retiring from the field with a very handsome profit in the shape of your check for a thousand dollars, which I shall expect to receive before night. Good day, all. Nutter, I leave you to join the hands of your daughter and her accomplished lover. Give them your blessing, and send me a card. (_At door._) Ha, ha, farewell to Cobbler’s Paradise! (_Exit, C._)