stranger digging away at Cox! (while they are fighting, Boys are heard cheering at intervals; scuffling and voices in the street, some cry, "A ring!""Make a ring!" "Stand Back!" Hurray!" "Go it little 'un!")

Cox. (outside) Take that! hah! (cheer outside)

Box. Bravo! Cox has given him a topper: hah! there again, oh lord he's got Cox's head in Chancery and is hammering at it with persevering diligence, hah!—there they go, both down together,-Cox uppermost-give it him, Cox,give it him, my boy,--two to one on Cox.-Now they're at it again-steady Cox. Hold up your head and fight low. Oh lord, there's a smasher on his nose-never mind it, Cox-go in and win, my boy.--Holloa, foul blow,-(comes down)—foul blow, I say,-stop the fight !-help!-murder!-police! (vehehement cheers outside) (Mrs. Cox and Mrs. Box rush out of their rooms, each carrying a baby)

Mrs. C. What's the matter, Mr. Box?

Mrs. B. For heaven's sake, what has happened? (together.) Box. Oh-oh, poor Cox. He's engaged in a fearful pugilistic combat in the street.

Mrs. C. Oh! heavens-he'll be murdered--oh, pray hold my baby. (she places the baby in Box's arms)

Mrs. B. Oh! we must protect him-here, Box, take the child-(she places her baby in his arms—both ladies rush out 3 E. L., crying "Police." Box stands at c. of stage, holding a baby on each arm)

Box. Holloa!-here-gracious goodness! here's a picture! I should like to ask any unprejudiced lady what I am to do with this double responsibility, which has been imposed upon me. I don't feel at all competent to the duty, and it strikes me forcibly that if I had been the happy father of twins, I could not have been placed in a more embarassing situation. (a cheer heard in the street) Hah! that cheer proclaims that a decisive blow has been struck; somebody has had enough of it. (voices, and steps of persons approaching door, L.) Hab; here they come!

Enter Cox, 3 E. L, followed by MRS. Cox, and MRS. Box-he has a bloody nose-his clothes are torn and covered with mud; his hat crushed over his eyes-he brandishes a broken umbrella--the ladies take the children off, R. and L., and re-enter immediately.

Cox. (R. c) Victory! Hurray! that last round settled the

rascal-and I've recovered my umbrella, though we have both been slightly damaged in the conflict-bere it is I could have sworn to it at any distance-even though J. C." for James Cox, had not been engraved on the handle, (examines the handle of the umbrella) Eh! bless me! these are not my initials-now that I examine it closely, it's not a bit like my umbrella.

Mrs. B. (L.) Not like yours?

Cox. Quite an inferior article, Mrs Box-but. good gracious, what have I done?-committed highway robbery, with violence, upon the unoffending proprietor of the umbrellalord! I shall be taken up, and very likely transported for the crime. Dear me, how could I have made such a mistake? Why, instead of the letters J. C.," here are the initials "J. B." on the handle.

6.

Box. (c.) "J. B." allow me to inspect them--(Cox holds the umbrella to his nose)--let me see (looks at the handle of the umbrella) Cox, my dear boy, let your mind recover its wonted tranquillity--it's all serene-the umbrella is mine. I lost it twelve months ago in a penny omnibus.

Cox. Hah! then I've not committed a highway robbery. Embrace me, my preserver-yet-no-stand off-there's still a deadly feud between us.

Box About "Little Charley "-eh? I'll explain all that directly. (MRS. Box speaks apart to MR. Cox-Box goes to door. 3 E. L., and calls) Mrs. Bouncer, have the goodness to bring up little Charley's remains.

Cox. I must tell you, that after what I have heard I'm not to be satisfied with less than a full explanation.

Box. Don't make yourself ridiculous.

Enter MRS. BOUNCER 3 E. L. carrying a stuffed dog fixed to a board; a cloth thrown over it. (MRS. Box and MRS. Cox come down on either side)

Box. There are the remains of "Little Charley."

Cox A stuffed dog!

Mrs. C. My darling Charley; how beautiful he looks, (takes the dog and kisses him)

Mrs. Boun. A nasty brute that I've had on my shelf in the kitchen ever so long.

Cox. Hem! ha! I begin to doubt my own extraordinary sagacity--but how was it that you and my wife appeared not to know each other when you met?

Mrs. B. Oh, my dear Cox, I know how that happened. Fanny has explained all to me, and I'm satisfied.

Cox. Oh, very well, if you're satisfied.

I suppose

duty to be content. so give me your hand, Box.

it's my

Box. Take it. Cox. (grasp each other's hands, warmly) Hold! I've an idea of something looming in the future. Cox Speak, what is it?

Box. Your child is a girl?

Cox. Yes, of the female sex.

Box. Mine is a male boy--what if we should unite the houses of Box and Cox by a future marriage between our infant heirs?

Cox Hah! a family compact--good.

Box A contract sociale!

Mrs. B. How delightful!

Mrs. C. How charming!

Cox. Box, my dear fellow, we'll drink the health of the young couple to-day, in a glass of champague.

Box. So we will, my boy, and let us hope that the popu larity which Box and Cox enjoyed in their bachelor stateCox. May not be withdrawn from them when they are Mrs. C.

WITH THE STAGE BUSINESS, CASTS OF CHARACTERS, COSTUMES, RELATIVE POSITIONS, ETC.

NEW YORK:

WM. TAYLOR & CO.

151 NASSAU STREET, CORNER OF SPRUCE.