Patriotic Plays and Pageants for Young PeopleMackay, Constance D'Arcy
History
Patriotic Plays and Pageants for Young People
Mackay, Constance D'Arcy
Pageants; Patriotic plays, American
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
NANCY LINCOLN
JOHN LINCOLN
AMY ROBY
TOM BUSH
FRANCOIS, a young French-Canadian
ANDREW SMITH, a fiddler
RED PLUME, the chieftain of a small Indian tribe
DARK CLOUD, an Indian brave
SKY-OF-DAWN, an Indian maiden
Other young people, friends of Lincoln, Indian braves, Indian maidens
SCENE: A clearing beyond the Lincoln cabin, Little Creek, Indiana,
1823.
When the boys and girls who are to take part in the outdoor merrymaking
begin to appear, it is seen that the boys wear moccasins, and buckskin
is bound in strappings to their knees. They wear, for the most part,
dark knee-breeches. Their shirts are dark-blue, dark-red, and dark-plum
flannel--any dark flannel shirt will do. These shirts are open at the
neck, and a gay handkerchief is twisted about them, tied with loose
ends. Francois betrays his French ancestry by a red sash tied at the
side.
The girls wear short dark calico, homespun, or woollen dresses of solid
color, dark-blue, dark-brown, dark-gray. These dresses should have
square necks, which show the throat. The dresses themselves are not
much seen, because each girl wears an old-fashioned cloak, gathered at
the neck, and falling to the edge of the dress. The cloaks are gay in
color--forest-green, red, bright blue; in shape something like the
well-known "Shaker" cloaks. Some of the cloaks have hoods that lend an
air of quaintness. Several of the girls wear bead chains, evidently the
work of their own fingers.
The scene opens with the entrance of Nancy and John Lincoln, and Tom
Bush. The rest follow from background. It is evident from their attire
and smiling faces that this is a gala occasion. Tom Bush carries a
kettle to right, near a fallen log. Then he and the other boys kindle a
fire, erect a rude tripod, and swing the kettle not far from where the
log lies. Much business of blowing, lighting, etc. A battered tin
coffee-pot is produced, ready for making the coffee.
TOM BUSH
(calling back over his shoulder, as the preparations begin).
Come, Nancy, we've found a fine place to swing the kettle.
AMY ROBY
(at right, stooping over basket).
And here's a splendid spot for unpacking the baskets!
[Nancy Lincoln runs first to the fire, to see how the work is going
forward, and then returns to Amy, who is busily unpacking baskets, with
the assistance of the other girls. Nancy takes some of the contents of
the baskets, and then hurries to Tom Bush with them.
NANCY LINCOLN.
Here are some potatoes and corn-dodgers to put on the ashes.
FRANCOIS
(to Andrew Smith).
It is mos' time that you had better be tuning up your fiddle, Andrew!
AMY ROBY
(to Nancy, who stands center, shielding her eyes, and looking towards
background).
Isn't Abe coming?
NANCY LINCOLN
(shaking her head).
No, Abe isn't even in sight yet. But he'll surely be here as soon as he
has finished splitting those rails.
ONE OF THE LITTLE GIRLS
(joyfully).
Andrew is beginning to play!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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