Fun for Friday afternoons, for scholars of all ages

Preface

You find that many a boy and girl who dreads to ** speak a piece/' at the inevitable Friday afternoon rhetorieals^ will sustain a part in a little humorous dialogue with eagerness and pleasure. There is action, and someone to ** talk back/' It's different from standing up alone before your fellows and reciting. Children take to dialogue. Encourage them in it.

We have styled this collection of school dialogues ** Fun for Friday Afternoons." We believe scholars will agree that the title represents their sentiments exactly. It is ** fun " to learn a part and act it out, especially when the little play is cheerful and full of jollity, as those in this collection certainly are.

The teacher who finds himself and his pupils weary of the usual Friday afternoon sameness week after week will wish to make use of our dialogue book to infuse new interest into the occasion.

Contents

Fix

Fourth of July Oration, The

Gunntown Woman's Association, The

Scene I. — A Room. Entrances R. and L. Table and Chairs. Emma seated, C

Emma. What am I to do? Last week Augustus Lofty proposed to me, and then, before two days had passed^ and before I had quite recovered from the astonishment, John Monroe appeared and made a-proposition of the same kind. They both appeared to think a great deal of me; at least they talked in a manner to make me believe they loved me, but I certainly did not expect them to propose so soon, and I am quite at a loss what to say. I can't marry both of them, and I can't say that I have a very great desire to marry either of them. But I must marry, I suppose. I am in a measure dependent on my uncle, and I wish to retire from this mansion as soon as possible. My uncle is kind, but I am inclined to think that my aunt wants me to marry, and get out of the way of her own daughters. But which shall I marry? {Reflectively.) Augustus Lofty — John Monroe. Augustus is stylish, and seems to be wealthy. John is a mechanic, probably not very well off in this world's goods, and yet he may have more money than Augustus. But why do I talk in this way.^ I am ashamed of myself. Haven't I said again and again that I would not marry for money .^ Augustus does not seem quite so brave and noble as John —

Enter Jack Forrester, R.

Jack, Hello, Emma, all alone, are you.^ May I come in and talk to you.^

Emma, Certainly, certainly. I am always glad to see you. Jack. I'm in trouble now; perhaps you can help me out of it.

Jack, You in trouble?? Well, you are the last person I would suppose to be in trouble. Why, cousin Emma, you always seem happy and joyful. I wish I could be like you. But what is the matter? What cloud is now overshadowing you?

Emma, I'll tell you all; you have always been a true friend to me, and I'll give you my confidence. I have had two offers of marriage.

Jack. Two! why, you're lucky. A great many women pine all their lives and don't get one, " Full many a flower is born to blush unseen; " but that isn't

AWFUL BOOTS ST

your case^ for youVe been seen and appreciated. I like you a heap myself, cousin Emma, and if I was a bigger boy, or you were a smaller girl, I'd marry you myself. What do you think of that?

Emma, You startle me. But even if you were a larger boy, or I was a smaller girl, I might not want to marry you. You know it takes two to make a bargain.

Jack. Gracious ! I didn't think of that ! Well, there's no use in crying over spilled milk, and it is still worse to cry over milk that might be spilled, hut isn't, I have no crying to do, cousin Emma. Go on with your story, and I will help you out of your difficulty.

Emma, Well, as I said before, I have received two proposals of matrimony, from two persons.

Jack. Two persons ! I suppose they were men. If it isn't a secret, I'd like to know who they are, but if you don't want to tell me, and want me to guess, I'll show my ability in that line.

Emma, Let me hear you guess.

Jack, Mr. Augustus Lofty and Mr. John Monroe.

Emma, You are correct.

Jack, Well, you can do as you please, Emma; but if I was a woman, and that Mr. Lofty should come a courting me, I'd send him a skallyhooting.

Emma. What kind of a word is that?

Jack, Well, I can't tell whether it is Greek or Latin, but that's what the boys say when they mean that they will send something in a hurry. For instance, if a boy should hit me I'd hit him back again, and if I was able I'd send him a skallyhooting upon his head. Do you understand ?

Emma. Yes.

Jack, Well, I reiterate, as the preacher says ; I'd send Mr. Lofty a skallyhooting. I don't like him. He looks too much like a toad on springs.

Emma. But isn't he wealthy?

Jack. I have grave doubts on the subject. But didn't you say you would never marry for money?

Emma. Yes, and I don't expect to. But if I loved two men just the same, and one was wealthy and the other poor^ which should I marry?

Jack, Cousin Emma, that's all bosh about loving two men just the same. Aunt Margaret says it is, and she ought to know. Now I never liked two girls awful hard at the same time. I like one a spell, and then I like another a spell.

Emma, Yes, that's boy style.

Jack {straightening up). Cousin Emma, you don't call me a boy, do you.'^ I'm fifteen, and I'm studying algebra.

Emma. I know you are getting along very well, and I have no doubt you are beginning to think of marriage.

Jack, Why, I've been thinking of that for some time. Not thinking of marriage for myself, but trying to solve the question as to whether it is better to marry or to remain single. No, indeed, I am not thinking of marriage for myself. I have a work to do. I am going to astonish the world.

Emma, I shouldn't wonder.

Jack, Now, Cousin Emma, you are bent upon rushing into matrimony, and I shall not advise you on the subject; but as to your selection of a husband, I shall not hesitate to advise you. Don't have anything to do with Mr. Lofty — cut his acquaintance — set him adrift. He's a cowardly man and a spoon. I have found that out, and if you have no objection I'll prove it to you.

Emma, In what way?

Jack. The next time he comes I will place a pair of boots under the sofa in the next room, and then you must lead Mr. Lofty to believe that there is a blood-thirsty, murdering house-breaker there. If he will rush in and take hold of the boots and try to pull out a man, then I'm mistaken, and you may think seriously of accepting him for your lawful wedded husband; but if he gets frightened and runs away —

Emma, I'll reject him.

Jack. Sensible! When does he come again?

Emma. To-night.

Jack, And when does Mr. Monroe come.^

Emma, To-night or to-morrow night.

Jack, Hope he'll come to-night ; and if he does^ and if he gets frightened at the boots^ rej ect him too. I would have no man who is afraid of a pair of boots.

Emma, Nor I either. I thank you^ Jack^ for your suggestion_, and will act on it.

Jack, But remember to have a curtain around the sofa^ and don't have the boots sticking out too far. But I'll arrange that for you. I know how to place the boots so as to make them look life-like and awful, and I'll give Mr. Lofty an awful scare. Now I must go and tell Alice and Lucy to keep out of the way. I should like to see the exquisite Mr. Lofty shake and tremble and rush out of the house^ but I suppose it wouldn't be proper to listen nor hang around.

Emma, Certainly^ Jack^ you may listen.

Jack, May I ? Good ! Thank you. Oh^ it will be glorious fun ! Keep a cheerful hearty cousin mine, and you shall win a brave husband. {Exit Jack, R,^