The Colleen Bawn. Dion Boucicault

the kettle all night, not to let it off the boil? – there now.

      Myles [Quarreling with Sheelah.] No, you didn’t, etc.

      Sheelah [Quarreling.] Yes, I did, etc.

      Eily No, no; I’ll make it, and nobody else.

      Father T Aisy now, ye becauns, and whist; Myles shall put in the whisky, Sheelah shall put in the hot water, and Eily, my Colleen, shall put the sugar in the cruiskeen. A blessin’ on ye all three that loves the ould man. [Myles takes off hat– Women curtsey – they make punch.] See now, my children, there’s a moral in everthing, e’en in a jug of punch. There’s the sperrit, which is the sowl and strength of the man. [Myles pours spirit from keg.] That’s the whisky. There’s the sugar, which is the smile of woman; [Eily puts sugar.] without that life is without taste or sweetness. Then there’s the lemon, [Eily puts lemon.] which is love; a squeeze now and again does a boy no harm; but not too much. And the hot water [Sheelah pours water.] which is adversity – as little as possible if ye plaze – that makes the good things better still.