IKE PARTINGTON'S GHOST.
Reading edition
Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damned, Bringing with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, Be thy intents wicked or charitable? Thou com'st in such a questionable shape That I will speak to thee. Shakspeare.
One Female and One Male Figure.
This tableau represents Ike seated on the top of a pump in the front yard of his mother's cottage, while the old lady is seen in the background, peeping over the fence with looks of horror and astonishment. The person who represents Ike should be of medium height and youthful looking. Costume consists of an old military coat and hat, large sword attached to a belt about the waist, light pants with red stripe, and large boots. The old lady is dressed in a cheap calico dress and white cap. The pump can be made of wood, covered with light brown cambric, the handle painted black. A rough representation of a house should be painted on cloth, and placed at the rear of the stage. A few feet from the house, erect a low white slat fence, with a gate in the centre; a wheelbarrow, shovel, hoe, broom, and water bucket are scattered about the stage. Ike sits on the pump, and faces the audience. His head is drawn down within the coat collar, hands placed on his knees, and eyes rolled up into his head. Light the stage very little, and produce discordant sounds on a melodeon in the ante-room.
