Mary's Uncle Benjamin tries to talk sense to the town elders. Abrahm, the ranking elder sees no hope for the girl, but thinking he might actually have the power to commute the girl's condemnation, allows Benjamin time to find the girl a husband and put Herod in a position to be generous. This was only after much persuasion from Benjamin, as no man in his right brain would want to marry such a condemned person, even if she does come from good stock. It's too risky; one could lose all their property or their life, so Abrahm considers it a fool's errand to let Benjamin try and save the girl. All the elders even offer a few silvers to get her out of town. Benjamin meets with smart alec youngsters who want a large dowery. His best friend, Joseph, is a repairman, a kind of Mr. Fixit in town, and being a widower, is eligible as a bachelor, but it never came to mind until he explained the tragedy to his friend that Joseph could be a suitor. So, not too excited about it, and with Benjamin calling in some former huge favors, Joseph agrees to a meeting with the girl, and not expecting much from that. In the next scene, Mary is on the roof of the house, praying under a starlit sky. She sings her prayer of panic and love to her deceased parents and perhaps to God.
<center><table border=1><tr><td>My Father -- with lyrics -improved from prior postings
My Father.mid (16.2 k)</td></tr></table></center>