From Nevada; or, The Lost Mine, A Drama in Three Acts by George M. (George Melville) Baker

Don't believe it any longer: it's a blamed lie. (MOTHER: Vermont!) That's me, and here's the truth. I was diggin' in Goblin Gulch in them days; and one night a woman, with a child in her arms, came to my ranch. Poor thing! she was all used up with tramping. She was looking for a miner,--her husband, she said. She told me his name; and when she found I didn't know him, she jest dropped on the ground, and died there. I was alone with a dead woman and a live child, and not another soul within five miles. Well, widder, I was skeered. If I was found with them, as likely as not I'd been lynched for murder. So I jest buried the mother, and brought the child to you. (WIDOW: What was the name of her husband?) Widder, that's the mischief. Blame my old wooden head, I couldn't remember. That's why I brought Mosey to you with a lie. If I'd told the truth, that would have been the first question you'd have asked me. If I could only remember that,--if I could only hear it again.

Vermont Monologue from Nevada; or, The Lost Mine, A Drama in Three Acts

Rehearse Vermont's monologue