new plays for every day the schools celebrate

Foreword

Children like plays. They like to act. They like to appear upon an improvised stage before admiring schoolmates and adoring parents. Besides, it gives the pupils just the sort of training they need most: cooperative effort, self-control, self-confidence and drill in oral English.

The dramatizations in this book were written not only to give children an opportunity to develop the play spirit, but also to celebrate the various important “Days” and “Festivals” from month to month and arouse something of the spirit that influenced the American people to set aside these holidays for special observance. Schools, Churches, Clubs, and Civic Organizations are constantly looking for new material for Assembly Programs and Public Performances to honor these National heroes and holidays. The author hopes that her humble efforts will help to fill this need.

Many of these plays might be used for silent reading, followed by spontaneous dramatization on the part of the pupils.

Each dramatization has been especially adapted to the limitations of School performances and the age and interest of children in the Elementary Schools. No elaborate stage settings are necessary; no unusual stage directions are given; no special lighting effects

lil

1v FOREWORD are required. On the contrary, the directions and suggestions have been reduced to a minimum in order that the imagination and creative ability of the children may be stimulated. The author has tried to use as many children as possible in each production, so that as large a number as possible may have the advantages of taking part in these dramatizations.

Mg Aeon:

CONTENTS OF PLAYS

NEW YEAR’S DAY

THE Joys oF THE NEW YEAR . 5 A New Play in One Act for New Year's Dis

LINCOLN’S BIRTHDAY

_ CHOOSING A STATUE FOR LINCOLN PARK . A New Play in One Act for Lincoln’s Birthday

VALENTINE’S DAY THE UNOPENED VALENTINE .

A New Play in Four Short Acts ce eke S Day WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY

WASHINGTON AT THE HELM OF STATE.

A New Play in One Act for Sa S Birthday

ST. PATRICK’S DAY St. Patrick’s DAY IN THE LAND OF THE WEST . A New Play in One Act for St. Patrick’s Day

EASTER THE MESSAGE OF EASTER A New Play in One Act for Paster

SPRING DAY JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT IS PREACHING TO-DAY A New Play in One Act for Spring Days

Vv vi CONTENTS OF PLAYS

ARBOR DAY

ArBoR Day or Birp DAy IN THE Woops . . 79 A New Play in Three Acts for either Arbor Day or

Bird Day MAY DAY

May Day IN OvR VILLAGE. . . osiptsoem OF A New Play in Three Acts for May Da

MOTHERS’ DAY

THE HOMEMAKER AND HER AIDS . . . . . 103 A New Play in Two Acts for Mothers’ Day

MEMORIAL DAY

THE VETERAN’S STORY . . esi, A New Play in One Act for M. ioe Dey

FLAG DAY Our Country’s FLAG. . ie oa OO A New Play in Two Acts for Flag Day

INDEPENDENCE DAY

THE ADOPTION OF THE DECLARATION . . 143 A New Play in Three Acts for Independence fie

LABOR DAY

THE MEANING oF LaBporR Day. . . of reer A New Play in Two Acts for Labor eves

CONSTITUTION DAY

THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION. . . . 476 A New Play in One Act for Constitution Day

CONTENTS OF PLAYS

COLUMBUS DAY THE Way To INDIA Ss ee a A New Play in Three Acts for Columbus Day THANKSGIVING THANKSGIVING TIME IN PLYMOUTH aap A New Play in Two Acts for Thanksgiving Day CHRISTMAS A VisiT FRoM Mr. AND Mrs. SANTA CLaAUs . A New Play in One Act for Christmas RED CROSS WEEK A Junior RED Cross PAGEANT A Pageant for Red Cross Week ROOSEVELT’S BIRTHDAY OnE Country, ONE Fiac, ONE LANGUAGE . A New Play in One Act for Roosevelt's Birthday

POETS’ BIRTHDAYS

A CALENDAR FOR POETS’ BIRTHDAYS . ‘ A New Play in One Act for Poets’ Birthdays

SEASONS THE QUARREL OF THE SEASONS.

GRADUATION PLAYS THe NEw PATRIOTISM TorcH BEARER OF YOUTH AMERICA’S GRADUATES OF TO-DAY .

Vil

. 243

Preah eect:

THE JOYS OF THE NEW YEAR A New Play in One Act for New Year's Day

January lst

THE JOYS OF THE NEW YEAR A New Play in One Act for New Year’s Day

This is a one-act play requiring about twenty-six children, boys and girls, or either.

Time—New Year's Day.

Place—The Hall of Time.

Properties.—A table, so placed as to permit the signers of the New Year’s resolutions to face the audience.

New Year's Day arrives and spreads her scroll in full view of mortals who place thereon their resolutions. Perseverance and Doubt, expressing widely different opinions, attend the ceremony. Gay little Everyday drops in unexpectedly and succeeds in giving everybody a stolen glimpse of the joys that each month of the year is preparing. The result is a gay little entertainment for all concerned.

(A little child, looking right and left, advances hesitatingly to the middle of the stage. A large girl of more assured bearing, walks closely behind her, holding the little one’s left hand backward and upward over her left shoulder in her own left hand. They are both dressed in white with touches of silver tinsel.)

Larce Girt (addressing the audience).—Good people all, with bell and horn, song and loud acclaims, this little child, New Year’s Day of the good Year 19—, was led to her high place in the Halls of Time. Know me for January, a busy month (turning to listen), I hear my days a-calling me. This child I leave with you till the earth spins round to greet the midnight stars.

New Year’s Day (looking confidingly into January's face).—Then shall I return to the happy days that are to be!

January (soothingly).—Return? Nay, my child. You can never turn back. Mind the scroll. (She hands the child a roll of very wide white paper.) And guard the key to the end of time. (She presses a large key into the child’s hand and closes her fingers on it as she warns her.) Mayhap the Year’s ventures will rest in the scroll or turn with the key. The coming days I must prepare. Adieu.

New Year’s Day.—Adieu, till we meet again in the land of Yesterdays. (She waves farewell, skips merrily over to a table and spreads out her scroll. She talks and smiles as she works.) Here 1 spread the scroll of the New Year in full view of mortals, young and old, that all may see and all may write thereon. (Reads as she traces with her finger.) “Resolved’”—a fair word! (She hears a sly, derisive laugh from the left, and turning ' sharply, discovers “Doubt,” a gray figure, convulsed with laughter as he points a finger of scorn at the scroll.)

New Year’s Day (indignantly).—What means this interruption of my work, Master Doubt?

Dovust (bending backward and forward and still pointing the finger) —New Year’s resolutions to be made and broken! Ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha! “

(This is interrupted by the voice of “Perseverance,” an erect, determined character, dressed in yellow and lavender.)

PERSEVERANCE (speaking softly but firmly, as he advances to a position on the other side of “New Year's Day”) .—Let me write on the scroll, dear child, a word to hearten all who sign here. (He writes.)

Doust (reading scornfully, as he watches the writer). —“Notice: If you break this resolution, try again.” That may be bad advice, very, very bad!

New Year’s Day (with a puzzled air)—Bad? Why?

Doust.—It may encourage mortals to break their resolutions. .

New Year’s Day.—Don’t you know (pointing to Perseverance) this is Master Perseverance? He always gives the same advice.

Doust.—Yes, I know, I know. What’s the use? What’s the use? Make resolutions and break them. Try again and break them.. Nothing done! Nothing sure! (He walks up and down as he talks, shaking his head in doubt.)

PERSEVERANCE (firmly, laying Mis hand on the scroll). —My new name is “Pick Yourself Up and Try Again.” Mortals like it.

Doust (throwing his hands up).—Worse and worse! Nothing good will come of it. Try again! Poor! Poor! (He continues to walk.)

PERSEVERANCE (to New Year's Day)—Let us stand aside and do you, New Year’s Day, send out the yearly call as is the custom.

(New Year's Day takes position directly back of the middle of the stage. Perseverance takes position at her right, and Doubt, shaking his head and muttering, at her left.)

|New Year’s Day (putting her hands to her mouth, one before the other, trumpet-style, and calling).—Ho, Mortals, young and old, all ages and occupations! Come! The first day of the New Year bids you come to write on the scroll of the year your resolutions, whatever they may be, to make this year better than any you have lived before. (This call must be given slowly, distinctly and impressively.)

PERSEVERANCE (joyfully)—They come!

(Enter line of boys and girls, old men, women, one very little girl, an old woman. Each repeats the resolution while apparently writing it. This musi all be done quickly.)

Boy.—I will play fair.

Girt.—I will remember the rules of grammar every time I speak.

GirL.—No more slang!

First Girt (shaking hands with the second girl). —I am glad to hear it!

Oxtp Man (very much bent).—I will repeat only the good I hear about people.

Woman.—lI will think kind thoughts about my neighbors.

LittLe Griri.—Milk three times a day!

LirtLte Boy.—I must tell the truth.

Oxtp Lapy (holding the little boy by the hand).—No more grumbling!

Boy.—I am a worker, not a shirker.

Boy.—No more dime novels. Books of travel for me! (As he follows the others off) 1f I start westward to-day, by next New Year’s Day, I'll be in Japan. Fine! Fine!

(A little girl, the size of “New Year's Day” dances in, daintily holding the sides of her dress out in each hand. She halts in front of “New VYear’s Day,” smiles and courtesies.)

Everypay.—I wish you success and joy of this, your day.

New Year’s Day (returning the courtesy).—The same to you, dear Cousin.

Everypay (whirling off with a merry laugh as she throws one arm upward and takes a few fancy steps) — Cousin, indeed! How like one of Shakespeare’s royal princesses you talk! Cousin, indeed! I am Everyday, a little nobody.

PERSEVERANCE (taking her hand).—A nobody! Dear child, it is the everyday of life that counts.

Dovust.—I don’t know about that. I think—

Everypay (pinching him)—Wake up! Who cares what you think, Master Doubt! You never accomplish anything.

New Year’s Day (going to Everyday, and taking her hand) .—It is a joy to hear your clear, crisp tones, Everyday. You speak from experience, I know.

EverypAy.—Experience? Oh, yes, I have had the experience that you special days can never have. (With a knowing look.) People are themselves with me but—l like them. (Earnestly) Folks are better than they think they are.

Dousr (with much hesitation) —W ell—I—think—a—a —most folks—that is—a—all folks—are—much worse than—a—they—think they are.

PERSEVERANCE (indignantly, pointing to Doubt).—New Year’s Day, why do you allow that time-waster to use your minutes?

Everypay.—Oh, let him alone! He always tries to be important on New Year’s Day.

PERSEVERANCE (with determination) —Here, Everyday, (holding out his hand) join hands with me. (They shake hands.) That’s right! You and I, Perseverance and Everyday, will run this fellow, Doubt, off the Earth.

(They take a step toward him and he walks with a long, gliding step to the nearest door where he lingers, half in, half out.)

New YeEar’s Day (joyfully clasping her hands over her heart).—Then shall mortals no longer doubt themselves. They will be strong to keep the resolutions on my scroll.

Everypay (jubilantly)—What a joyous year would this be—twelve months of hard work and joy—a happy, happy new year. Ah! (Stooping to pick up the key which New Year's Day dropped in her excitement) What is this? (Reads) Key to the Gateway of Joy. (Dancing back and forth in ecstasy across the stage) The year’s joy! Twelve months of joy! (She dances toward the door with the key held high above her head.)

New Year’s Day (in alarm).—The key! The key! I must guard the key!

PERSEVERANCE (in quiet tones).—It is ‘well. This is to’ be, that Everyday release the joys of the year.

(Doubt sneaks back only to be run off by Perseverance.)

Everypay (turning the key and opening the door)— Come forth! Come forth! Make glad the hearts of mortals with the joys stored by the year. Each in your appointed place come as if the year had rolled in its beaten path around the sun. Come! I claim the privilege of Everyday to behold the joys of the year. Then will I a promise give to this New Year’s Day, so fair and sweet. Come, let us see you at your work of preparation, Then shall we know, while the year is young, what to expect from you.

(The joys of the year, assigned to the different months, are told off by each month as it enters.)

(Enter—January Joy, a medium-sized girl, dressed in white, with tufts of cotton batting, resembling snow, sewed here and there on her costume. She wears a tightly fitted cap of the same. Balls of the batting are piled high on her left arm. As she skips in, she throws the balls right and left, laughing merrily.)

JANuARY Joy.—Here’s January’s Joy! I bring a right jolly time—snowballs and sleigh-rides, long winter evenings for bowling, for the opera and the theater, for a quiet nook with a likeable book. Who'll do more than that for you? (Going to New Year's Day) Why look so sad, little one?

New Year’s Day.—Sad, nay! ’Tis my business to be happy.

(Enter—February Joy, dressed in white with red and blue shoulder streamers. Her little blue pointed cap is dotied with white stars.)

(She walks in quickly, talking as she advances.)

Fepruary Joy.—Who doesn’t like a holiday? I bring you two, beloved days wherever the American Flag waves. ’Tis true, though, all States don’t celebrate them. (Turning sharply to Everyday) What are they?

Everypay (breathlessly).—Lincoln’s Birthday and Washington’s Birthday.

New Year’s Day (looking toward the next month) .— Oh, isn’t she pretty!

Marcu Joy. (Dressed in bright green, dances in. As she speaks, she continues to take the steps of the Irish lilt.) —I wanted to look like a marsh marigold. March is the time to pick them from the brookside.

PERSEVERANCE.—Why didn’t you keep at it? Just put on a yellow cap of five petals. Never stop halfway with good intentions.

Everypay (admiringly).—Your dress is beautiful! And do you know, dear March Joy, people all over America hold the most delightful parties on your seventeenth day?

Marcu (gayly).—And why not! (Dancing the Irish lilt again, then stopping) Sure, myself I borrowed the dress from the Emerald Isle where the grass is greener than the trees, where the salmon in the Shannon is well worth your hook and bait! (Drawing a streamer of red, white and blue ribbon from her pocket and waving it above her head) There’s a bit of color saved for the fourth day of that March when in Washington, the President takes his oath. (Running to meet April, catching her by both hands and whirling her forward) Ha, April, don’t you weep, don’t you weep! We're only the joyous parts of the months! You're a bold, brave lassie, April dear! You fired the shot heard around the world! A wonderful shot, my dear! (She releases April who stands off and looks at her, then laughs and points to March’s shoe.)

Aprit Joy (dressed in a green skirt with slashed tunic of gray).—Did you step into the muddy brook for marsh marigolds, yourself, dear March Joy?

Marcu Joy (looking down at her slippers with much concern).—Alas! Have I spoiled my slippers ? I do love them, truly love them!

A PLAY FOR NEW YEAR’S DAY II

Aprit (merrily) —April—

Everypay (hastily).—Say it not! I like not the word.

Apri_.—Have then your way, Everyday; but small boys delight in my first day and love the word. There is much else for me to talk about. (Quickly) How about the Battle of Lexington. (All clap.) Good! The Sons of Liberty always have a dance on the nineteenth. I can fill every heart in America with deep abiding joy on my thirtieth day—Ah! Yes! It was a great day in 17809.

PERSEVERANCE (smiling).—I remember, years ago, folks in America always reminded their boys, on April thirtieth, to study hard, to keep on trying, for every boy, born in America, had a chance to be President of the United States of America.

EvERYDAY.—Well, boys still have that opportunity.

New YEAr’s Day (gleefully)—So do the girls nowadays.

Ai.—Three cheers for the girls!

Aprit.—Every English heart swells with pride and joy on April twenty-third, Shakespeare’s Birthday, you remember.

Everypay.—Why, that’s a joyful day in the schools of America, too. Ah! Whom have we here?

(Enter May Joy, dressed in green with a wreath of » daisies on her head and a bunch of buttercups in her belt. She dances in, followed by a group of smaller children who are dressed in white and who carry a Maypole.)

’ May Joy—Daisies and buttercups, blue skies and soft winds, a carpet of green and maidens fair! Tis the month of May! Come, a dance on the green!

(Two girls hold the Maypole firmly grounded while the others dance around it as they sing “Johnny so long at the fair.’ -May beats time for them. At the end of the dance, they skip off, still singing the song.)

(June, holding high a spray of roses at which she 1s looking, glides in and speaks softly to the group on the stage.)

JunE Joy.—My roses are ever fair and fragrant. They are the joy of my days.

Everypay (gaily).—Cherries, cherries, red and white, tipen in the time of roses.

PERSEVERANCE.—Climb, climb to the top for the biggest, reddest cherries!

New YeEAr’s Day.—Do you know when ’tis cherrytime in Japan and when roses bloom in China?

Everypay.—Look it up in your geography.

(Enter July Joy dressed in White. She carries a large American Flag.)

Ho! Make room, make room for the Stars and Stripes !

ALL (saluting) —The Stars and Stripes forever!

Jury Joy.—The Glorious Fourth is here, the fourth day of July! Stop shooting your fire crackers, guns, and cannons that maim and kill the children.of the land! The Flag to the front! Illumine the heavens with its colors floating high. Bear it in your hearts and lift up your voices in its praise! I, July, claim the greatest American holiday of the year, a day of joy! Joy in Independence Day !

PERSEVERANCE (stepping beside July Joy and holding up r/ his right hand above his head) —Here’s to a safe and sane Fourth of July!

AtL.—A safe and sane Fourth!

(August, dressed in sport costume, skips in, tossing a tennis ball up and down with her tennis racket. She skips in and out among the others, playing with her ball and racket, while she keeps up her lively, running talk.)

Avucust Joy.—Ha, July, you’re nearby. I thought so. I can smell your new mown hay across my freshly cut meadows.

PERSEVERANCE.—Keep it up, keep it up, August! Don’t let your ball drop.

Aucust Joy.—I can’t, sir. I leave that for vacation folks to do. I have rowing, sailing, and motor boats, to see to. My August seas are bearing countless thousands to Europe, Alaska, Panama, even to Egypt and Jerusalem. I am a maker of outdoor joys.

(Enter September Joy, dressed in green with touches of brown and red. She slips in and takes August by the arm.)

SEPTEMBER Joy.—A business I share with you, Friend August. September hikes in the cool russet woods; the gathering of apples, pears and grapes keep folks joyously outdoors. Remember, too, that the silken tassels of the ripened corn wave in the September breeze. ‘Tis time then for husking bees with the good old barn dances all over the countryside. Labor far and wide throughout the land rejoices in a holiday.

(Enter October, dressed in brown, scarlet, yellow and green, dances merrily in to the middle of the stage. She courtesies right and left and talks in crisp, light tones.) :

Ocrozer Joy.—Here am I, October Joy, with my bright blue skies, my painted leaves, my crisp cool air, and my wayside asters and goldenrod. The races are on! The hunt is off and over the hills! Bait your hooks for the cod in the sea. Time boys, time for football and baseball! My air is good! Come out! Come out under the open sky and live! (Clapping.)

January Joy.—Good for you, October, you’ve a bit of us all in you!

OctosER Joy.—And a holiday, besides—October Twelfth.

Atit.—Columbus Day !

Everypay (running to October Joy) —Don’t forget, Oh, don’t forget to prepare for the joys of Hallowe’en!

OcrTosBER Joy (excitedly—seizing Everyday’s hand and jumping up and down with her).—With its Black Cats!

EverypAy.—Its Witches’ Caps!

OcrToBer Joy.—Bobbing for apples!

Everypay.—Jack-O-Lanterns made out of pumpkins!

(Enter November Joy, dressed in Pilgrim costume. She walks quietly in and courtesies sedately to the assembly on the stage.)

ALL (joyfully )—Welcome, welcome to November !

PERSEVERANCE.—I hope, dear lady, the turkeys are fattened and the pumpkin pies provided for.

NoveMBER Joy.—How like a mortal you are! November to you is but another name for Thanksgiving Day. Mark you now, I have other joys to think of. (She counts them off on her fingers) The joy of electioneering, plenty of good hunting and fishing, walks—wonderful walks, nutting—that’s fine sport. (She stops counting and speaks more gently) Home becomes a blessed spot, at eventide, of shaded lamps and quiet joys, shut from a world growing cold and gray.

(December Joy, dressed in gray and white, comes in, stamping, as tf knocking off the snow, and speaks ia strong, business-like tones.)

DEcEMBER Joy.—I’m to wake everybody up with a couple of good, thick snowstorms! Snow in December makes everybody happy and sets the blood a-tingling. I'll give them some snappy, cold weather, too, for sleds, skates, snowmen, and snowballs! Ha, those are the things with Christmas in the air and holidays ahead! Talk about joy! Why December finishes the joymaking of the year! Come, join hands, January! Good! The year is a circle of joy!

(Perseverance, Everyday, and New Year's Day form an inner circle. They all dance merrily around in two circles singing the chorus of “Jingle Bells.’ At the end of the chorus, December comes to a sudden stop, raises his right hand for attention and calls.)

December Joy.—Halt! I have discovered something! Perseverance has remained steadfast with us. It is a good sign—a very good sign! Everyday, you picked up the key to the joys of the year. Look now, the length of the year that is to be.

Everypay (shading her eyes with her hand and looking into the distance).

DECEMBER Joy.—What do you see?

Everypay.—Every man, woman, and child whose name is on the scroll of New Year’s Day will do well.

New Year’s Day (anxiously) —In what way?

Everypay.—I can see them trying, trying to keep their resolutions. They fail at times; but they try and become stronger. Some keep their resolutions all the time.

New Year’s Day.—Ah! My day is a happy New Year’s Day!

DeceMBER Joy.—Aye, a happy New Year’s year! These mortals shall have joy, yea, joy through the years of their endeavor.

Atit.—Come, to work, all of us, to prepare the joys we boast of. (They join hands once more, and dance off, singing: :

“Jingle bells, jingle bells,

We are off again!

We wish you all the best of health And a Happy New Year, too!”

Perseverance, Everyday, and New Year’s Day glide off in the opposite direction, singing and waving to the opposite group, until both groups disappear.

Doubt disappears entirely as he sees Perseverance coming his way with the others.

A New Play in oe

One Act for Lincoln’s B rthday

February 12th

A New Play in One Act for Lincoln’s Birthday

This is a one-act play requiring eleven boys and seven girls, All parts, however, with a little change in the wording, may be taken by boys.

Time.—Lincoln’s Birthday.

Place—Sculptor’s Studio.

Properties—Two screens, a box for a pedestal, eight chairs, moist clay, a board, urns, vases, plaster heads.

On Lincoln's Birthday, a delegation from the Town’s Improvement Association, accompanied by a number of schoolboys, calls on a sculptor to order a statue of Abraham Lincoln for the new Lincoln Park.

One after the other, the boys pose as statues, each recalling an episode in the life of Lincoln. Finally the simplest pose, the statue of “Lincoln the Man,” is accepted. :

The play ends with a tableau, arranged around the accepted statue; the boys in thts tableau recite an excerpt from Lowell's “Commemoration Ode.”

(A sculptor’s studio. Two screens arranged to shut off two corners of the stage. Urns, vases, plaster heads, etc—anything to suggest the character of the room.

The sculptor, wearing a large white apron or smock, is working beside a raised board where he is modeling a figure, not as yet quite distinct.

A boy enters from behind one of the screens. He is carrying a box, painted or covered to represent a pedestal.)

Boy.—My mother sent this box for the statues to stand on, Mr. Dorrington.

ScuLpTor (pausing in his work, one hand filled with moist clay).—Ah, the pedestal, very good.

Boy.—Where shall I put it, sir?

ScutptTor.—In the middle of the room. (Sharply) Are you one of the statues? (He drops the clay, takes off his apron, and throws it over his unfinished work.)

Boy.—No, sir. I’m John Allen. Mother said I was to fetch the boys in one at a time.

ScuLptor (as he arranges four chairs to the right of the pedestal and four to the left, half facing the audience, he speaks in quick, nervous tones).—One at a time? Very good. I don’t want that wild crowd let loose in here. (He looks anxiously around.)

Joun (shifting his weight from one foot to the other and speaking diffidently) —I think they’ll be quite tame, sir. Their mothers and aunts are the delegates.

ScuLpTor (going toward the door).—Here is the delegation now.

(As he ushers the ladies in, Mrs. Allen beckons to John, Stations him at the door, and joins the group around the pedestal in time to take part in the general discus- SiON.)

Miss Livincston (as she shakes hands with the sculp-

A PLAY FOR LINCOLN’S BIRTHDAY 21 tor).—What a delightful atmosphere of work your studio has, Mr. Dorrington.

Scutptor.—I trust, Miss Livingston, to-day’s work will add to it. (Greeting the next lady.) Your letter about the proposed statue of Abraham Lincoln was most interesting, Mrs. Allen.

Miss BRADLEY.—We have each brought three suggestions for the statue, Mr. Dorrington.

Scutptor.—Ah! Fine! Miss Bradley. I am keen to see and hear about them.

Miss Penn.—lIt is so difficult to decide.

ScuLpTor.—That is to be expected, Miss Penn. Lincoln was a many-sided character, a man of wonderfully varied experience.

Mrs. ALLEN.—Just what I said! (Striking an oratorical attitude) Why, Lincoln was

Miss Livincston (politely but firmly interrupting her). —Yes, yes, yes, my dear Mrs. Allen, sit down and we'll get to work. (Mrs, Allen sits down and arranges a handful of papers.)

Miss Morris.—Have you seen, Mr. Dorrington, where the town has set off the park acreage at the foot of Main Street? ;

ScuLpror.—No, but I know the spot. The very place for a park. The Lincoln Statue would look well on the little knoll north of the lake.

Miss Penn.—We all agreed on that instantly!

Miss Kinc.—And why not? They selected that location for the park because that knoll was a good place for the statue.

_ Miss Livineston (sighing).—Lincoln would have had his statue made and up by this time. Had he been the least bit like this committee, where would the Union be!

Mrs. ALLEN.—As I told you in my letter, Mr. Dorrington, our town improvement association listened to all our ideas. They could not agree any more than we could. Mr. Morris suggested that, as you had consented to make the statue, you were the one to decide.

Scutptor.—Mr. Morris does me great honor,

Miss Davis——We thought it best to place our ideas in chronological order.

Miss BraDLey.—That is the order in which the boys will pose.

Scutptor.—They will want to run back to school. Let us begin. (He motions to John who stands at the door.)

Miss Penn.—Oh, they have a holiday! Have you forgotten this is Lincoln’s Birthday?

Scu.ptor (bowing).—I am to be pardoned, ladies. In my home state, February twelfth is not a holiday.

Miss Livineston.—Your state needs some Lincoln statues.

(John admits the boys, one at atime. The first boy, carrying a long pole, mounts the pedestal and takes the pose of a flat-boat hand, bending slightly forward, and looking well to his work as he keeps his pole pressed backward into the water.)

Mrs. ALLEN (with a gesture toward the statue).—There you see Lincoln the flat-boat hand. It is true that it is a unique figure on a pedestal; but to me it is the embodiment of all that Lincoln was to be. His strength is to the pole; his eye is on the water. (Boy goes out.)

ScutprTor.—It is, as you say, unique.

Miss Morris (going to the second boy, who stands, one foot on a log, tilted on another log. The other foot is planted firmly backward and a long-handled ax is up-

A PLAY FOR LINCOLN’S BIRTHDAY 23 raised to strike the head of the tilted log. She adjusts the ax, bending his arm a litile backward and remains near him as she speaks.)—The rail-splitter did the duty close at hand and did it well. He was the backwoods youth who was to cleave his way by his own efforts to a high place in the land. The goal he could not see; but he worked and he won. (Boy goes out.)