I take it from your last letter, that the folks are out of place in the city and discontented. I’m not surprised—in fact I looked for you to write and tell me before, but I suppose you thought I couldn’t do anything. But listen, I can and I am. I have it all planned. Just across the road on the south quarter there is a piece of a building spot. I was talking with the carpenters yesterday and they said they would be able to start building the house next week. I have let them suffer as long as I can. Out here they won’t have anything to do but to look after themselves and enjoy life where they know how. MR. BENSON By jingo and jumpin’ John Rogers, I’m goin’ to-morrow. _Curtain._ ACT II _Scene_: _Picnic grounds in the country near Harry Benson’s farm. Scene is at dinner-time on the picnic grounds. The band is heard playing in the distance. Ethel, Jennie, and Mrs. Benson are busy taking food from a large box. Mr. Benson is sitting on a spring buggy seat at one side of the stage. Toy balloon whistles can be heard at different intervals, some louder than others. Also auto horns tooting occasionally._ MRS. BENSON _While working._ Ethel, I thought the pageant went just fine. Didn’t you, Jennie? JENNIE I certainly did. Ethel makes a mighty good milk-maid. That fellow in love with her seemed to think the same thing. MR. BENSON By jinks, it did me a lot of good to see her snub that city feller. ETHEL I’m glad you all enjoyed it. It went better than we thought it would. MRS. BENSON How did you train that dog to walk across the stage like he did? ETHEL We didn’t—he walked across of his own accord. It fitted in the scene fine, but I could hardly keep from laughing. MRS. BENSON Well, I declare, it looked just like he was supposed to do it. (_Looking in box_) I can’t find any salt or pepper. _Auto horns toot in the distance._ JENNIE They’re wrapped up in some white paper in one corner. MRS. BENSON Here they are. _Unwraps and puts on table._ JENNIE Wonder what’s keeping Harry. I saw him right after the game, and he said he’d be down in a little while. Which dish is the salad in, Ethel? ETHEL It’s in that large oval dish. _Auto horn toots._ JENNIE Do you know what we forgot? We forgot the sugar for the lemonade. MRS. BENSON Dear me, now what are we to do? ETHEL Do you remember I started to get it this morning when you asked me to whip the cream for the cake? I never thought of it again.