ISAAC (_jumping up_): Lo, father, a ram is there, caught in the thicket. Lo, I shall fetch the ram for sacrifice. (_He runs out._) MESSENGER: Moreover, thus saith the Lord God: "In blessing, I will bless thee, and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, for I have PROVED thee." (_The_ MESSENGER _goes out._) (ISAAC _runs in with great excitement._) ISAAC: My father, the ram is caught; I will carry the wood yonder. (_Runs out._) ABRAHAM: O God, thou hast tried me and known me. O see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (_Goes with arms upraised._) (_The_ SERVANT _or_ EPILOGUE _advances._) EPILOGUE: Mark the perfect man, and behold the up-right: for the end of that man is peace. (_He goes out._) [Illustration: MOSES IN THE BULRUSHES] MOSES IN THE BULRUSHES THE PEOPLE PROLOGUE and EPILOGUE. (The Prologue is introduced for clarity, where there is no scenery or program.) THE BABY MOSES. (Have a real, live baby.) THE LITTLE SISTER OF MOSES. THE MOTHER OF MOSES. THE DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH. FIRST SLAVE. SECOND SLAVE. SOLDIERS. THE PLACE A marshy place by a river. If a little scenery is desired, take an old window-shade, sketch upon it reeds and cat-tails, and cut it so that when the little sister hides behind it she may appear to be looking through the reeds. The Prologue may unfold this as she speaks, and then hold it up so as to conceal herself. THE PROPERTIES A curtain of reeds (if desired). An ark (a basket bound with reeds or raffia). A piece of gold. Two fans. Spears for soldiers. MOSES IN THE BULRUSHES (_The_ PROLOGUE _advances. She unfolds the curtain of reeds as she speaks._) PROLOGUE: This is Egypt. The wicked Pharaoh holds the children of Israel in bondage; but they are grown so many that he fears them. Therefore he has commanded that all boy babies be taken from their mothers' arms and put to death. But the mothers seek to hide their babies. Look and behold the marshy waters of the River Nile; tall reeds grow here; it is the hiding place one mother has chosen. See, she and the sister of the babe come now to hide him from the soldiers of Pharaoh. (_She raises the curtain of reeds above her head, or passes out._) (_Enter the little_ SISTER _bearing the ark of bulrushes. She looks this way and that way; then she calls softly._) SISTER: Mother, this way! The wicked soldiers will not find him here. (_The_ MOTHER _enters bearing the_ BABY.) MOTHER: Is there no one in sight? (_She looks anxiously about._) SISTER: No one! MOTHER (_embracing the child_): O my son, the cruel Pharaoh would slay thee, but the Lord is gracious; he will save. SISTER: Here is the ark of bulrushes; I have daubed it well with pitch. Shall I lay it among the flags at the river's brink? (_The_ MOTHER _nods. The_ SISTER _arranges the coverings in the basket. The_ MOTHER _hugs the child._)