Emma: There was Melissa, who was by me through so much, who turned from me at the last like the others. I should have known. I remember how she was that night….
SCENE: (Emma, alone, sitting at a desk, reading a letter.)
Emma: “Dear Emma: I am very much resigned to my lot, knowing I am justified and have done the best thing that could be done. Give my love to the children and to my friends, Mr. Brewer, and all who inquire after me; and as for treason, I know that I have not committed any, and they cannot prove an appearance of anything of the kind, so you need not have any fears that any harm can happen to us on that score. May God bless you all.”
I don’t know why I keep reading this, unless it is to find some key word that will set my mind at rest. Well, I must keep cheerful. It has been dark before. (Goes to window.) But, perhaps not so early in June, nor so chill on a summer evening. (Pulls bell cord and Melissa enters.) Melissa, I’d like a fire laid in here.
Melissa: A fire?
Emma: Yes, there’s a horrid chill….
Melissa: Oh, Sister Smith, I’ve had the most horrid feeling.
Emma: Well, don’t tell me about it. (Catches herself) I’m sorry, but let’s think hopefully, if you don’t mind.
Melissa: Yes, M’am.
(Melissa exits and Mother Smith enters.)
Mother Smith: Do you remember Calvery?
Emma: What?
Mother Smith: Do you remember Calvery, how it was dark at noon? It’s only five o’clock and look outside.
Emma: Don’t talk like that, Mother. It’s just a freak of the weather. It’s been cloudy all day. Listen to his letter… “and as for treason, I know that I have not committed any, and they cannot prove an appearance of anything of the kind, so you need not have any fears that any harm can happen to us on that score. May God bless you all.” Now doesn’t that sound like he is coming back? We…. “need not have any fears…”
Mother Smith: He said that if they were taken again they should be slaughtered. “I go like a lamb to the slaughter”, he said to me when he left for Carthage.
Emma: The Governor has promised.
Mother Smith: Joseph is a prophet. How he wept before he left us. And Hyrum knew, too.
Emma: Mother, don’t speak of them like that. Oh, it is so cold.
Mother Smith: It will be dark soon. Dark at quarter after five.
Emma: Oh, Mother, I’m afraid (She goes to window.) Oh, Joseph. Please, Oh, God, don’t let anything happen to him…Mother, my prayers have brought me no peace.
Mother Smith: I feel very tired right now. I’ve lost a number of sons. I’m very old. Yes, it is suddenly very cold.
Melissa: (Rushes in) Sister Smith! (Nearly shouts) I’m afraid! I can’t keep wandering around. The house seems all empty. Let me stay in here a while. Oh, Mother Smith.
Mother Smith: (Puts her arm around Melissa) (Tears begin to leave her eyes) We need some fire in here. Did you call for a fire, Melissa?
Melissa: It’s June, Mother Smith, we shouldn’t need a fire, but someone’s gone for the wood.
Mother Smith: Well, take me to my room. I need to lie down. I feel very sad and tired. I’ll have a fire in there, too. (Melissa takes her out.)
Emma: I’ve let an old woman unnerve me. I’ll go have my supper and find my shawl.
Eliza Snow:
The clouds have gathered and yet the winds wait before releasing heaven’s tears.
I hear the hoof beats of the dark angel riding to scream the news
I must run to meet him, out into the breathless night.
Oh, take me, too!
Why should I feel such doom? He will not die!
Yet, Oh, my dear Father, I thought I saw his death ride with him to Carthage.
I saw the demons of Hell gather there for one triumphant moment with men,
And now I stand my watch, my widows watch, waiting for them to come for my wake.
Melissa:
(A strong spot shines on Melissa downstage. A weaker one on Eliza up stage, who looks out a window away from the audience.)
(Melissa stands looking at Joseph’s portrait and quietly wiping her eyes. She brings a ring on a ribbon from inside her dress and slips her finger through it. She sings softly through her crying. She bows her head. Eliza kneels and begins to hum the familiar tune to ‘Oh My Father’. Melissa, unaware of her, joins in the humming. Eliza begins again and sings these words brokenly. Melissa hums.)
Oh My Father
Thou that dwellest
In that high and glorious place
When shall I regain they presence
And again behold thy face?
Oh My Father, Oh My Father
I have wandered far you see
In thy mercy take my hand
And bring me home to dwell with thee….
(Eliza’s singing fades and Melissa looks up at the portrait again and hums, ‘A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief’. Eliza may hum in harmony.)
(Melissa covers her face and sobs silently. Eliza stands grief stricken and immobile.)
The humming fades off. The light on Eliza fades and the light on Emma’s room rises. Melissa seems to hear something and goes anxiously to the window. The light on her fades and Emma enters.)
Emma: I’ve lost all appetite for food. (She sits at desk and looks at odds and ends.) If he should die now, with all these old questions unresolved, with rebellious words still echoing back and forth…Oh, no, the Lord would not do that to me. I must speak with him once more….(She finds blessing and unfolds it.) I’ve nearly forgotten this blessing. (She reads it.)
These desires of my heart were called forth by Joseph sending me word that he had not time to write as he would like, but I could write out the best blessing I could think of and he would sign the same on his return. I must remember to show it to him as soon as he comes home.
“First of all that I would crave as the richest of heaven’s blessings would be wisdom from my Heavenly Father bestowed daily. I desire the Spirit of God to know and understand myself, that I desire a fruitful, active mind, that I may be able to comprehend the designs of God, when revealed through his servants without doubting. I desire the spirit of discernment, which is one of the promised blessings of the Holy Spirit.
I particularly desire wisdom to bring up all the children that are, or may be, committed to my charge in such a manner that they will be useful ornaments in the kingdom of God, and in a coming day arise and call me blessed.
I desire prudence that I may not, through ambition, abuse my body and cause it to become prematurely old and care-worn, but that I may wear a cheerful countenance, live to perform all the work that I covenanted to perform in the spirit world and be a blessing to all who in any wise need aught at my hands.
I desire with all my heart to honor and respect my husband as my head, ever to believe in his confidence and by acting in unison with him, retain the place which God has given me by his side; and I ask my Heavenly Father that through humility, I may be enabled to overcome that curse that was pronounced upon the daughters of Eve. I desire to see that I may rejoice with them in the blessings which God has in store for all who are willing to be obedient to his requirements. Finally, I desire that whatever may be my lot through life I may be enabled to acknowledge the hand of God in all things.”
Oh, that he may know how I mean it…
(A murmur rises off stage.)
Melissa: (off stage) What’s the news, Mr. Wasson?
Wasson: Where’s Aunt Emma? (enters) Aunt Emma?
Emma: Yes?
Wasson: Uncle Joseph and Brother Hyrum are shot and killed at Carthage.
(Melissa rushes in, speechless. She goes to Emma, who turns away.)
Emma: You must tell Mary. (Lorenzo and Melissa exit) Joseph! Oh, My God! I can’t believe it. Oh, Joseph, then this blackness is real. I have waited in dread so many nights…but it never came before. Oh, Joseph (She puts her hands on her throat.) Something in me is dying. All those struggles have come to this and my life lies dead. Oh, perhaps it is all a mistake – no, I knew it when I saw his mother’s face. We are all finished, I am a dead woman…my Joseph!
Young Joseph: (Enters) Did you call me, Mother?
Emma: (Takes him in her arms.) Oh, Joseph. Oh, my son. Your father is dead.
(She cries. Melissa comes in and stands in the doorway. She looks dazed)
(Scene comes back to present. Emma is alone.)
Emma: When my inner heart is quiet from fear to move, and my mind is still in the protective moment before believing, I sit with my hands quiet in my lap, not daring a smile or a frown. There is not room for one word of consolation or my soul will spill over in my eyes. I must be alone until my own sighs can lull my soul to sleep.
(Melissa enters)
Emma: Melissa.
Melissa: Sister Smith. (They clasp hands.) I’m so sorry to be leaving you.
Emma: I’ll miss you and so will the children.
Melissa: Oh, I’ll miss them, too. Little David is so sweet.
Emma: Yes.
Melissa: I remember how it was, so soon before he was born. I was afraid you would die.
Emma: (Protesting against the memory.) No!
(Melissa starts scene, Emma exits)
SCENE: (In front of the curtain, in the Mansion House. Melissa is on stage. Eliza Snow comes in. Melissa takes her arm – she is near tears. Eliza is stone-faced and can hardly walk.)
Melissa: Oh, Sister Snow.
Eliza: How is Emma, Melissa?
Melissa: Not so good. She can’t contain her grief. Mr. Greene was here praying for her, but she keeps groaning so and sobbing…I’m afraid she’s going to die.
Eliza: Poor Soul. Poor Melissa…many widows were made last night. (Melissa nods) I look only to my grave. I can’t live without him.
Melissa: Oh, Sister Snow.
(From off stage)
Emma: (Crying out) Why, Oh God, am I thus afflicted? Why am I a widow, and my children orphaned? Thou knowest I have always trusted in thy law.
Mr. Greene: Oh, Sister Smith, this affliction will be a crown of life to you.
Emma: (Quickly) My husband was my crown. For him I have suffered the loss of all things. Why, Oh God, am I thus deserted, and my bosom torn from this ten fold anguish.
(She can be heard sobbing)
Melissa: (Crying herself) It’s been like this…I just can’t keep it up. How are we going to be when they let us in to see them?
(Mother Smith enters and takes Eliza’s outstretched hands.)
Eliza: Mother Smith.
Mother Smith: Why have they shot my dear children, Sister Snow? Why have they shot my boys?
Eliza: There is murder all around us, Mother. The world is lost to the good.
Mother Smith: My boys! My little boys. They were always good boys.
(Mary Smith enters. The women greet her silently. Nothing is said.)
(Man enters)
Man: They’re nicely laid out. If you’ll tell Mrs. Smith.
(All exit except Eliza)
Eliza: Let me die. Let me die or give me tears. What is my loss? I never held him all to myself. Yet, my world is gone. I am done with the world of others. I cannot bear to live within myself. I have done this and it is a double loneliness. He was my only love, and then I was always second unto many. Oh, my Dear God, if thou would answer my prayer I have thought to thee, let me be the first to join him. I am bold, but not bold enough to live.
(She exits and the curtain opens to show the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum laid out in white shrouds. Their feet are toward the audience so they are not really visible. Enter Mary F. Smith, Mother Smith, Hyrum’s children, Joseph and Julia, Eliza and Melissa. Emma with two attendants.)
Mother Smith: (Standing between her sons.) My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken this family?
(Emma swoons and is carried out)
(Mary stately walks up to Hyrum, kneels, takes his head in her arms. Her children stand around her. Some are crying.)
Mary: Oh! Hyrum, Hyrum. Have they shot you? Are you dead? I cannot think you are dead, my dear husband.
(She kisses him, brushes back his hair, looks up around her, too grief stricken to speak.)
Young Joseph: (kneels at Joseph’s side and puts his face up close to his.) Oh, my Father, my Father!
(Julia comes up and takes him away. She is crying.)
(Eliza approaches with Melissa at her back. She moves as if to embrace Joseph, but looking up she catches the eyes of Mother Smith and Joseph. She gazes at Joseph for a moment, then shakes her head and turns away.)
(Emma enters again, nearly fainting. She moves as if to embrace Hyrum and places her hand on his head. She seems to gain strength, murmurs something.)
Emma: Now I can see him. I am strong now. (Leaves her aids and goes to him. Clasps him around the face.) Oh, Joseph – Joseph (Softer) speak to me once more…say you forgive me…Oh, my husband, my husband, have they taken you away from me at last? (Softer) I love you…can you hear me, oh, my darling? I’ve written my blessing…Oh, I would be a good wife…Now that I see you, I can’t believe that your great heart is still. Rise and speak to me. Oh, this is the saddest of all, to see you strong and young, but cold and so quiet. (Throws herself on his body) Why, Oh my God, why?
(The Scene changes back to the present. Emma and Melissa on stage.)
Melissa: (Goes to Emma) The night before he left for Carthage, he came to say good-bye to me and he said, “If anything should happen to me, Melissa, help Emma and the children all you can. Stand by her. Remember that I would have. Always love her. I always will. And forgive her, forgive her. I do.”
We all loved him so much and my love was a young love. He was such a Prince to me. I fancied for awhile that he loved me best. He always liked, so much, to hear me sing. But that night I knew what the others knew, his sorrow was for you.
I love him so much, but he’ll never be happy in heaven or anywhere else without you. Please come with us. Please be one of us now that we are alone. I’ll go with you and help you with the children. I’ll help you when we get there.
Please, Emma, don’t forsake the church. Remember the covenants you’ve made. You’ve got to be with him.
Emma: Melissa, I….
Melissa: Oh, please, Emma.
Emma: He promised me. I know I’ll be there. He promised.
Melissa: Then come.
Emma: Sometimes I am afraid. I feel the blackness of Missouri. Oh! the cold. It comes upon me in the night. I cannot bear thought of another night in the rain. I cannot go and see them die on the prairie…or the savages…I have had enough of savages. They’ll wander out there alone in the wilderness, for what? He’s dead.
Melissa: For the Lord, Sister Smith, and for the Church.
Emma: Joseph is dead, Melissa. I’ll stay here with his memory.
Melissa: Please.
Emma: I can’t, I can’t. No! God bless you. You’ve been good to me.
Melissa: Oh, Emma, you’ve been so wonderful to me. I pray I’ll see you again.
Emma: So do I, Melissa.
Melissa: Good-bye, Emma.
Emma: Melissa, here. (Hands her a book.) This was his. He loved to read it.
Melissa: Thank you.
Emma: Good-bye. (Melissa exits and Emma goes to an open window.) A certain softness, not cool, but like a lovers breath, moves across the garden in one slow whisper and warms remembered springs. There are the lilacs, expected once with impatient smiles now bare and bringing halted tears. Can it be these hands he held and loved to kiss, in which he laid blue lilacs with such a look of little boy?
Perhaps, when such hours have disappeared, I shall clothe myself in spring and sing some breeze blown song, alone. They shall pass and think me brave, as I watch something in the distance that isn’t there.
Good-bye. Follow your new star, if you will. My night is always black. Good-bye to you all. Don’t forget your Joseph. Don’t leave his dreams for you behind. Remember that one dark night a brilliant star plunged down from the sky for your sakes, and with it, my lamp went out.
End