POVERTY.

The sun is bright and glad, but not for me; My heart is dead to all but pain and sorrow; No care nor hope have I in all I see, Save from the fear that I may starve to-morrow. Alas, for you, poor famishing, patient wife, And pale-faced little ones! Your feeble cries Torture my soul; worse than a blank is life Beggared of all that makes that life a prize: Yet one thing cheers me,—is not life the door To that rich world where no one can be poor? Tupper.

Three Female and Two Male Figures.

This tableau represents the interior of one of the homes of the starving poor, such as are found in all large towns, where vice and intemperance go hand in hand. To make the scene look as natural as possible, a partition should be made to fill up the back of the stage, covered with cheap room paper. Two old window sashes should be inserted in it, with the glass partially broken out, and filled up with old hats and articles of clothing. The furniture of the room consists of an old and broken table, a large chest, three or four old and broken chairs, a few pieces of broken crockery on the table, a black bottle, a candlestick, a bundle of straw, with a few ragged bed clothes, and a few cheap prints hanging from the wall. The table is placed at the back part of the room, and supports the crockery, bottle, and candlestick. The bed is at the left side of the room, and on it reclines a female dressed in dirty and ragged clothing; her hair hangs loosely over her shoulders; right hand supporting her head, and eyes directed to a group of children in the foreground of the picture; the face should be made as white as possible; a small quantity of dark paint about the eyes will give a haggard and sickly look to the features. On the opposite side of the room, seated on the old chest, is the woman's husband. He is dozing in a drunken slumber; his clothes hang about him in tatters; his hat is partially drawn down over his forehead, his matted hair protruding through a hole in the crown; face bloated, from the effects of liquor. By the use of water colors, the face can be made to assume the above description. His position is such that a partial front view is had of the body, the arms hanging carelessly at his side, feet crossed and stretched out on the floor. Seated at the table, and sewing by the light of the candle, is a young girl. She is dressed in dirty and ragged clothes; her hair is tied up in a rough manner; the body bent forward, and eyes cast down upon her work; her face should be made white; the eyes slightly shaded with dark paint, to give a haggard look to the features. In the centre of the room are grouped three small children; they are engaged in eating crusts of bread from a broken plate. Their costume may be varied, and of cheap material. The light for this piece should come from the side on which the man is sitting. The front of the scene must be quite light, while the background is thrown in shadow. Music of a mournful order.