Micah Hawkins, the Pied Piper of Catherine Slip [ 157 ] kins by Richard Smith of Setauket, the plot is laid in northwestern New York State during the building of the Great Western Canal.35 Replete with stereotyped characters and situations—disguises, three sets of separated but eventually reunited lovers, a supercilious fortune hunter (expressively named "Count Phlegm"), a gullible patroon, and a liberal assortment of heavily-accented ethnic characters (New York Dutch)—The Saw-MiU nevertheless possesses an engaging vitality not found in many of its musical-comedy descendants of the later nineteenth century. Adding a dimension of murkiness to its intrinsically none-too-lucid plot, the Mirror gave the following capsule synopsis: The new opera of the "Saw-Mill; or a Yankee Trick"; by Micah Hawkins Esq. of this city, was presented for the first time on this evening [November 29, 1824] to the most crowded audience which has ever thronged this Theatre. The plot is very simple. Baron Schaffderduval advertises for a person to erect a Saw-Mill on his plantation. Mr. Bloom, who is in love with the Baron's daughter, disguises himself, and, with his friend Herman, who has been unfortunate, and left Louisa, goes to the Baron, and is engaged to build the Mill on Lot No. 10 of his ground, which comprises his dwelling and other valuable property. The Baron pledges his daughter as security for the performance of his promise. The Mill is completed. Mr. Bloom chooses Lot. 10—and the Baron is reduced to the necessity of resigning his daughter, or his immense possessions. According to his daughter's wish he chooses the former, and the piece is concluded with the union of all parries. The reviewer hoped that his "rude sketch of this little piece" would sufficiently whet the public's curiosity so that they would not "be satisfied but by witnessing the representation" apparently an elaborate one. Lauding the scenic effects he wrote: "To Mr. Reinagle all praise is due. The scenery is most beautiful, particulary that of the grand Western Canal, and the Baron's house and farm, in the glow of sunset.36 The talents of Mr. Reinagle, as a scene painter, are of a superior 33 Wegelin, "Micah Hawkins and The Saw-MiU* 154. 36 In the libretto, the elaborate stage directions for scene two call for "... Baron Schaff- derduval's house, which is of Holland architecture and very magnificent. Through the wall of the garden a little distance from the house, and forming considerable of a Cascade, rolls a stream of water; separating itself, at the bottom of a fall, into many branches, which meander their way through the buildings. .. " The finale discloses the saw-mill in full operation, complete with a "mill-dam, over part of which the water from the mill-pond tumbles in great luxury!' A bridge spans this aqueous prodigality to provide an entrance route for the actors.