KASKASKIA 
 
; 
 
J^ASKASKIA: A TALE 
 iVOF BORDER WARFARE 
 IN ILLINOIS. WRITTEN IN 
 DRAMATIC FORM BY 
 
 Laura Dayton Fessenden 
 
 HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS; 
 
 THE CANTERBVRY PRESS 
 MDCCCCV 
 
^'X 
 
 t\v6 
 
 ^v^ 
 
 aopr s. 
 
 Copyright, 1 905, 
 ^y Laura Dayton Fessenden 
 
Affectionately dedicated to 
 MRS. MATTHEW T. SCOTT 
 
 of Bloomington^ Illinois 
 
Instrumental Music Suggested 
 
 First Act 
 Overture — ** Departed Days " Lewis 
 
 q — The Chief for Answer Says — ** Oh why does the, etc.*' 
 
 ** Warblings at Eve " Richards 
 
 q — ''Attention ! Soldiers, Fortune on us Smiles," &c. 
 
 Midnight Hour Quick Step 
 
 Act Second 
 q — The Curtain rises upon the town or village of, &c. 
 
 ** White Cockade " 
 q — ** Oh ! 'tis but foolish news trappers tell," &c. 
 
 Malbrooke 
 q — **This chain I gave him on the day," &c. 
 
 '* Monastery Bells" 
 
 Act Third 
 q — The heart of a forest, &c. 
 
 Hiemiweich 
 q — Black Bear goes to the tent door, &c. 
 
 Le Fleurs du pretemps 
 q — ** The din and confusion grows louder," &c. 
 
 ** Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching " 
 q — ''Among thy friends, sweet maid," &c. 
 
 ** Home Sweet Home " 
 
 Act Fourth 
 q — Curtain rises upon the village of Kaskaskia, &c. 
 
 ** Long, long ago " 
 q — ** Talk not of soldier men to me, &c." 
 
 ** The Captain with His Whiskers" 
 q — ** They pause ! in startled fashion," &c. 
 
 Bugle Call 
 q — *< But soldiers first with reverent care," &c. 
 
 «*Rule Brittania" 
 
Music Suggested for Songs 
 
 ** Gently the Shadows Fold Us Now " 
 
 ** Tired" By Lindley 
 
 "Love is the Soldiers' Guiding Star" 
 
 **I Love My Love" 
 
 "With Brain and Sword" 
 
 ** Wait for the Wagon" 
 
 " On the Wings of Love I Fly " 
 
 ** When the Swallows Homeward Fly" 
 
 "The Little Pappoose in Her Linden Bed" 
 
 ** Araby's Daughter" (preferred) or ** Old Oaken Bucket" 
 
 ''Take Me Home, Oh My Father" 
 
 ** In the Gloaming" 
 
 • * Come, Comrades, Let us Join and Sing " 
 
 ** Come, Landlord, Fill Your Flowing Bowl" 
 
 " A and B and C and D " 
 
 " Where, Oh Where, are the Hebrew Children" 
 
 " Yankee Doodle Tired Got " 
 
 ** Yankee Doodle" 
 
 " She Was Sweet Fair Annette" 
 
 "Soft and Low" 
 
 ** Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Hurrah ! " 
 
 "Hail Columbia" 
 
Kaskaskia 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The border warfare of the American Revolution is a 
 chapter in our national history full of romance and adven- 
 ture. The Indian tribes of North America had been (in 
 1778) for more than a century fighting constantly (and 
 to no purpose save defeat) against British invasion. Then 
 suddenly — unaccountably to the Indians — the white men 
 in the colonies divided themselves into two "tribes," one 
 retaining the much abhorred "red coat," the others don- 
 ning buff and blue, and marking this division to many 
 "wise men" of many "nations" came the "Spirit of Pon- 
 tiac" and counciled a return to the relentless energy of 
 the past. So the broken tribes — from Lake Superior to 
 Maine, from Virginia to the Gulf of Mexico — took 
 courage to do and to dare; and savage cruelty by fire 
 and poisoned arrow, by scalping knife and torture inde- 
 scribable, took tribute for many wrongs! And yet, what 
 "scalp taker" in the wilderness will balance in atrocity 
 with the scalp-buyer, Hamilton? What massacre ever 
 perpetrated by the red men can be placed beside that of the 
 Moravians ? 
 
 To really understand this border war of the American 
 Revolution, one must know something of the Indian tribes 
 and of their attitude for or against the Continentals in 
 that memorable struggle. In the remote Northeast, were 
 the Penobscots and their kindred ; in the primeval region 
 through which Benedict Arnold passed on his journey 
 to Quebec, we find the Nantics and the Norridgewocks ; 
 
 7] 
 
in New Hampshire, the Penacooks; in Massachusetts, 
 the Mohegans and the Narragansetts. New York held 
 the United Six Nations known as the Iroquois, a great 
 body of savages allied to England by long service and 
 strong ties. To the south were the Delawares (by far 
 the noblest type of red man). In what is now the state 
 of Ohio were the Shawnees, a fierce, bold and desper- 
 ately cruel tribe ; also the Wyandottes, who were so swift 
 of foot and so crafty and cunning that it is said not one 
 was ever taken alive. Further south were the Miamis, 
 the painted Ottawas and the Chippeways; to the extreme 
 south, the Cherokees, Catawbas and Seminoles. 
 
 Did you ever realize how completely the American col- 
 onies were surrounded by red men? Did it ever occur 
 to you that if in those years (when freedom was being 
 evolved through a universal spirit of self-sacrifice we of 
 today can but faintly comprehend), Tecumseh had been 
 a full grown man, or Brand more of a real Indian and 
 less of a half-breed, that the story of the American Rev- 
 olution would in all probability have ended in defeat, 
 rather than victory? But such was not the will of the 
 Arbiter of this nation's destiny. For at this time there 
 was found no great warrior leader — no Hiawatha — who 
 had come *'To live and toil and suffer for the good of 
 all his people, that the tribes of men might prosper." No 
 brave in the North, South, East or West stood forth to be 
 the Joshua, and so among the Indian nations there was 
 diversity of opinion and divided interests. 
 
 Thus had matters stood as far back as 1775, when 
 General Washington wrote to General Schuyler, "Never 
 take your eyes from the Indians." So matters stood in 
 1776 when our congress, wise in their knowledge of 
 Wood-craft, decided to send "messengers of good will" to 
 the tribes. Among the men selected we find the names 
 
 [8 
 
of Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry and Oliver Wol- 
 cott. 
 
 I cannot linger in this introduction to follow with you 
 the red stream of this border warfare, but for its ro- 
 mantic interest, if nothing more, I would urge you to 
 make yourselves conversant with its history; and nowhere 
 is the story more interesting than in that portion which 
 had its enactment on the soil of our own Illinois. And in 
 the form of a melodrama I present to you that which I 
 name Kaskaskia. 
 
 You recall that the capture of Kaskaskia, in southern 
 Illinois, was made just two years after the signing of the 
 Declaration of Independence. And that Clark's victory 
 was the first step in the onward march that in the fullness 
 of time was to place Illinois in the front rank of the 
 states of our Union. The history of this march through 
 the primeval forests by a dauntless band of American 
 patriots is familiar to the majority. We know that within 
 a year of the capture of Kaskaskia, Clark took Vincennes 
 from the "hair-buyer" Hamilton and this victory added 
 the Northwestern territory to the colonial possessions. 
 
 And after the war was over it was the great North- 
 western territory, with its broad acres of fertile lands, 
 that gave to our congress a source of income through 
 which the war debts were paid and the new government 
 saved from bankruptcy and possibly dissolution. You will 
 also remember that Clark began this march across the 
 country from Fort Massac, a spot sacred to every daughter 
 of the American Revolution in Illinois. 
 
 As all staged dramatic performances are introduced by 
 appropriate music, we will listen to a prelude. 
 PRELUDE. 
 
 The time is July ist, 1778. The scene, a glade in a 
 forest in southern Illinois. The men belonging to the 
 
 9] 
 
regiment of Colonel George Rogers Clark are grouped 
 about the dying embers of camp fires. As the curtain 
 rises they are singing in full chorus. 
 
 ACT FIRST— SCENE FIRST. 
 
 Gently the shadows fold us now 
 
 In this fair twilight hour; 
 The birds have ceased their warblings sweet 
 
 And closed is each bud and flower. 
 Night bids all her children sink to rest, 
 
 She takes away the light. 
 On the soft breast of Mother Earth 
 
 We'll rest till day is bright. 
 
 Then the soldiers lay themselves down to rest (their 
 "flintlocks" beside them) and amid fragrant silence day 
 fades. 
 
 Suddenly the sentry's voice rings out: "Halt! Who 
 comes here?" Another voice answers: "Thy friends. 
 What cheer?" 
 
 Meanwhile the soldiers have risen and stand at atten- 
 tion. One man whispers to his neighbor, "Aye! Here the 
 British come!" to which his comrade replies, "Zounds! I 
 hear an Indian drum!" An officer says sternly: "Silence! 
 No false alarm, lest we do some friend a harm.." 
 
 The sentry speaks again : "Well, come this way. Your 
 flag, 'tis true, admits you to an interview." Then, in 
 the red sunset light through an opening among the trees, 
 come a company of hunters, traders and Indians. An 
 Indian chief steps forward and holds out his hand to 
 Colonel Clark, saying: "How! How! How! Friend we 
 now to Yankee man! He no take land like red-coat do! 
 How! How! How! We friend to you! Smoke pipe? 
 Have peace! Border war all cease! No scalp! No pil- 
 
 [10 
 
lage! No burn Blue Coats' village! How! How! How! 
 We friends now!" At the conclusion of the chief's ad- 
 dress, a young hunter (Saunders by name) salutes Colonel 
 Clark and says: *'Sir, three days since, our savings spent 
 we left the thrifty settlement to which you now are on 
 your way, the town that's called Kaskaskia." 
 
 Colonel Clark: "Well met, my friend, if it prove true 
 we find no English spy with you, then by good fortune 
 are you sent to tell us of yon settlement. You honest 
 seem, but should present some token for my sure content; 
 and so, good sir, I fain would know from whence you 
 came, and when you go." 
 
 Saunders: "Before we left Virginia I did not fail me 
 to supply a letter from his Excellence (taking from the 
 breast of his hunting jacket a parchment sheet, which he 
 holds out to Colonel Clark). See, sir, this is no pretense." 
 
 Colonel Clark takes the paper, unfolds it, slowly reads 
 it to himself, and then says : " 'Tis Patrick Henry's hand ; 
 I know it well. Virginia schoolmasters can finely 
 spell!" Then, turning to the Indian chief: "Now, 
 brother dark, in trappings gay, I pray thee, what hast thou 
 to say?" 
 
 The chief for answer says: "Oh, why does the white 
 man follow our path like a hound on the hunter's track? 
 Does the tint of our dark skin waken his wrath? Does 
 he covet the bow at our back? He has rivers and seas 
 where the billows and breeze hold riches for him alone, 
 and the sons of the wood never plunge in the flood that 
 the white man calls his own. Ah ! why should he come 
 to the streams where none but the red men fish and swim ? 
 Ah ! why should he wrong the hunter man who never did 
 wrong to him? The Father above thought fit to give to 
 the white man corn and wine — there are golden fields 
 where he may live, but the forest shades are mine! The 
 
 "J 
 
eagle hath its place of rest and the wild horse where to 
 dwell; but the Spirit that gave the bird its nest gave us 
 a home as well. Then, go back, go back from the red 
 man's track, for the red man's eyes are dim. Ah! surely 
 the white man wrongs the one who never did wrong to 
 him."* 
 
 Colonel Clark says, thoughtfully: ''My brother of the 
 wood, your words are understood, and when the war shall 
 cease and o'er our land sweet peace shall welcome liberty, 
 surely for thee and thine, oh, dark-faced brother mine, 
 these hunting grounds shall be." 
 
 Then, turning to Saunders: "What hast thou, my 
 friend, to say? Wilt turn thee back and lead the 
 v»^ay that brings one to Kaskaskia?" 
 
 As Colonel Clark makes this suggestion to Saunders 
 the Indians say in chorus, in a tone like unto a solemn 
 chant, the while touching each other gravely with their 
 elbows: "How! How! How! We know now why he 
 go! Yes, we know!" Then Rolfe (one of the trappers) 
 steps forward and sings: 
 
 SONG. 
 
 Love is the soldier's guiding star, 
 
 Love leads o'er all the way. 
 
 Love's eyes can see as well at night 
 
 As in the brightest day, as in the brightest day. 
 
 Love is the soldier's guide and guard. 
 
 Love is the sailor's star. 
 
 Three cheers for love, fair lady love, 
 Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Hurrah ! 
 *This speech of the Indian chief is not the author's 
 composition. It is an Indian song that with its music was 
 extremely popular at the beginning of the nineteenth cen- 
 tury and, as it seemed appropriate, it has been intro- 
 duced. 
 
Three cheers for love, 
 Fair lady love, 
 Three cheers for love. 
 Fair lady love. 
 
 Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! 
 Three cheers for love, 
 Fair lady love, 
 Three cheers for love, 
 
 Hurrah ! Hurrah ! 
 
 Colonel Clark: "The song is pretty and the subject, 
 too; but trapper (turning to Saunders), I would hear 
 from you about the man they Rochblave call, and what 
 trained soldiers guard the wall?" 
 
 Then, eagerly, one and another of the trappers and 
 hunters say: "Kaskaskia lies upon the bank of the Missis- 
 sippi shore." ''The town is built in a stockade." "And 
 soldiers guard the door." "The governor a Frenchman 
 is." "But English is the law." "If you sail a boat, or 
 row, or float, it will bring you safely o'er." 
 
 Colonel Clark: "Soldiers, fortune on us smiles. Ere 
 sunrise, we'll be many miles nearer to our journey's end. 
 We are ready, (to Saunders) lead thou, friend." 
 
 ACT SECOND— SCENE FIRST. 
 
 The curtain rises upon the village of Kaskaskia. 
 Within the wooden stockade fifty or seventy-five block- 
 houses are grouped in horseshoe fashion upon a central 
 plat or field of green. In the center of this esplanade 
 stands a tall flag pole on whose summit floats the English 
 "ensign." All about this huge lawn are strolling the 
 inhabitants of Kaskaskia, men, women and children, 
 French soldiers in British uniforms, hunters, trappers, 
 while here and there among the happy throng one catches 
 
 i3l 
 
a glimpse of priestly vestments (for one must not forget 
 that in 1778 there was an established Jesuit college in 
 Kaskaskia) . 
 
 The curtain rises to the music of a French dancing 
 tune. On one side of the stage a number of lads and 
 maidens are going through the figures of the "Boulau- 
 gier," a diversion not at all unlike the "Virginia reel." 
 At the very front of the stage (supposed to be the back- 
 ground, or at all events leading into the distance) and 
 hiding behind a clump of forest trees, stands a young 
 Indian brave. While he is making every effort to avoid 
 being noticed by the villagers, he is trying to attract the 
 attention of one of the dancers — a young girl. Her name 
 is Annette and she is the beauty of the settlement. The 
 Indian finally succeeds in his purpose. The girl recognizes 
 him and he, by a series of motions, conveys to her his 
 desire to speak privately w^ith her. She in like manner 
 makes him understand that she will come to him when 
 the dance is over, but the opportunity is delayed by the 
 governor (whose name is Rochblave) and the command- 
 ing officer of the garrison. They come to the foreground 
 and the governor says: 
 
 "Oh, 'tis but foolish news these trappers tell! I know 
 the romance of all woodsmen well. Bah! Each rustle 
 of a leaf they do to omen swell; the whirr of a bat's 
 wing bad tidings bring. So have no fear, Sir Captain, 
 we do stand invulnerable in this finest land, shut in by 
 woods girded about by stream.s. Bah! Danger only 
 lurketh in the dream of priest and peasant! Such brave 
 men as we in idle chatter only folly see." Then they 
 shake hands enthusiastically and sing: 
 
 I. 
 With brain and sword we two do lord 
 It bravely here, you see! 
 
 [14 
 
For governor and soldier man, 
 We two do monarchs be. 
 
 Tra la la la la, 
 
 Tra la la la la, 
 
 Tra la la la la, 
 We two do monarchs be. 
 
 2. 
 
 Governor, pompously: 
 
 I make each sturdy settler 
 
 Pay tribute to the king! 
 Captain, strutting about: 
 
 I in my scarlet uniform 
 
 My sabre proudly swing. 
 
 And as there is no fighting here. 
 
 My leisure to employ, 
 
 I tell how brave I used to be. 
 'Tis jolly fun, old boy. 
 
 Both: 
 
 Tra la la la la, 
 Tra la la la la, 
 Tra la la la la, 
 'Tis jolly fun, old boy. 
 
 While the captain and the governor are singing, An- 
 nette, having finished her dance and dismissed her part- 
 ner, makes her way cautiously to where the Indian is 
 lurking. The governor and captain, as their song pro- 
 gresses, move toward the background, and as the song 
 concludes mingle with the throng of villagers and are 
 lost to sight. Then the Indian comes out of hiding and 
 Annette joins him. 
 
 Annette: "Well, what wouldst thou?" 
 
 Indian: "How! How! How!" 
 
 15] 
 
Annette (pettishly) : "Have done, I pray. Thy silly 
 way of saying 'How' provokes me. Now, what wouldst 
 thou say? I must away, lest some one spy out me and 
 cry, 'See, yon's Annette, our village pet! Why has she 
 scowling Black Bear met?' " 
 
 Indian (drawing close to her) : *' 'Tis not the first 
 time, Star of Day, that Black Bear thus has paused to pay 
 his homage to thy lily face, thy sk5^-blue eye, thy winning 
 grace." 
 
 Annette (interrupting) : "Cease, Crow, thy tongue was 
 never set to flatter y 's key ! What brings you here ? Come, 
 tell it me." 
 
 For answer the Indian takes a bit of paper from the 
 breast of his hunting jacket and hands it to Annette, 
 saying: "The White Rose open this and see." 
 
 Annette (unfolding the paper and finding therein a 
 lock of hair) : "Mon dieu! Dear Jesus, pity me!" 
 
 Indian: "Nay, Saunders is not dead. I have no scalp 
 from thy love's head. This curl he sent thee; he doth 
 lie all fever stricken and he fain must die! Sweet, he 
 would say to thee a last goodbye." 
 
 Annette: "Where is he? Speak!" 
 
 Indian : "Where none can seek and hope to find unless 
 she be to Black Bear kind. White Rose, I pray let us 
 away! He is thy lover and I am his friend. Say, wilt 
 thou let his young life end in longing for a last goodbye?" 
 
 Annette: "Oh, no, not I! (hesitating) Still I am not 
 sure your words are true." 
 
 Indian (holding up a golden chain before her) : "He 
 sent this amulet to you." 
 
 Annette (sadly) : "This chain I gave him on the day 
 we crowned our Ladywith the May. (The church bells 
 begin to ring.) Hark! Let us kneel, the vesper ringeth! 
 May its sweet tones tell to my soul that all is well." 
 
 [^6 
 
Then a stillness falls; men, women and children kneel, 
 and through the silence the bells ring out a pieludn to 
 the evening hymn. 
 
 HYMN (Sung by All). 
 Over the blue sky fast do creep 
 
 All the gray shades of evening now, 
 While through the twilight call the bells 
 
 And low in prayer our souls we bow 
 Softly; we ask in Mary's name 
 
 That the bright angels guard our rest, 
 Keeping us safe from every harm. 
 
 Making our hours of slumber blest. 
 Father above, hear thou our cry; 
 
 Give to us slumber, sweet and deep; 
 Guard us until the golden morn. 
 
 Call us to wake from a blessed sleep. 
 Amen ! Amen ! Amen ! 
 With the last note of the hymn the villagers rise and 
 slowly disappear, leaving Annette and the Indian alone. 
 
 Annette (going close to the Indian) : "Which is the 
 way? Quick! Tell me, pray!" 
 
 Indian: "Some ten miles yonder in the wood an In- 
 dian village long hath stood ; there lies thy love ! Come, 
 maiden, prove thy troth to him whose eyes, alas! are 
 growing dim. Our women have, with kindly skill, done 
 everything his pain to still; but the great Manitou above 
 calleth him. 'Tis but his love for thee, oh ! maiden young 
 and fair, that keeps him from the land up there." Then 
 Annette and the Indian sing: 
 
 On the wings of love I fly — 
 
 Fly, my dearest love, to thee — 
 For thou art my heaven and earth, 
 Yea, thou art all things to me. 
 
 i7| 
 
Yea, to thee, my love, I come, 
 Naught my courage can dismay. 
 Hope sends a star, a star to lead me on. 
 Love, I come. I come, beloved, to thee; 
 I come to thee, yea, love, I come. 
 
 With the last words of the song the curtain falls. 
 
 ACT THIRD— SCENE FIRST. 
 
 The heart of a forest; in its midst a clearing in which 
 is set an Indian village. Warriors in the background 
 are seated in groups and solemnly smoking. Squaws and 
 children are about the camp fires. In the near foreground 
 a company of Indian maidens are interestedly watching 
 Annette, who is seated at the doorway of a tent, her atti- 
 tude proclaiming hopeless despair. 
 
 As the curtain rises, one of the Indian maidens says: 
 "I cannot any beauty see in her pale face. She mindeth 
 me of those flowers that grow in clusters by the pool 
 below." Another girl replies: "Aye, worthless blossoms, 
 white alway; they bloom and fade in one short day." 
 
 Indian maiden: *'So will she perish, yon white girl 
 that Black Bear calls his 'rose' and 'pearl.' " 
 
 Indian girl: "His pearl? She scorns his very glance. 
 She sits there like one in a trance, moving her lips in con- 
 stant prayer. Aye, that is why our young brave dare not 
 force her to become his wife, for saith our wise men, yon 
 maid's life is guarded by a spirit band. They circle her 
 by the command of the great power that sends the rain, 
 the sun, the tempest, and all pain on those who work His 
 children ill! She is His child; He guards her still! A 
 captive in the forest wild. She is the King of Heaven's 
 child!" 
 
 Indian maiden: "But Black Bear is a noble youth, 
 
worthy a maiden's love. In sooth, what can she more 
 desire than he? I would that he would smile on me." 
 
 The Indian girls then sing together the following 
 song: 
 
 The little pappoose in her linden bed 
 
 Is told in a song, "When the years are sped 
 
 How from afar there will come along 
 
 A gallant young brave, a-singing this song: 
 "I love you, dear, I love you, pet. 
 
 Yes, I do, darling ; I tell you most true 
 There never was man since the world began 
 
 That loved as I do when I love you." < 
 
 2. 
 
 The maiden slim bending over the stream 
 That mirrors her face, sees her dark eyes gleam 
 And her brown cheek flushes to wild rose bloom 
 While her heart keeps time to this lilting tune : 
 
 "I love you dear, I love you, pet, 
 Yes, I do, darling ; I tell you most true 
 There never was man since the world began 
 That loved as I do when I love you." 
 
 3. 
 The old squaw wife by the embers' side 
 Dreams when the wings of the darkness bide ; 
 
 Her chieftain has gone, yet she makes no moan 
 
 As she softly croons in a monotone: 
 "Oh, love! I list for the boatman's oar. 
 That I may drift back to your love once more, 
 
 My warrior brave, my chieftain true. 
 
 As you loved me, so I love you." 
 
 When the song is finished, the girls resume their talk, 
 but in kindlier mood. "I would she were not pale and 
 
 19] 
 
sad." " 'Tis said she loved a trapper lad." "Would I 
 could help her to be free!" "Hist! Yon comes Black 
 Bear. Let us silent be." 
 
 Black Bear goes to the tent door before which Annette 
 is sitting. He pauses for a moment and regards her si- 
 lently. She does not seem conscious of his presence. At 
 last he says: 
 
 "Come sweet, white dove! My lily love! I am not 
 glad to see thee sad. I would beguile thy lips to smile. 
 (Kneels beside her.) I will to you be kind and true if 
 you will bide and be my bride." 
 
 Annette lifts her face to the sky and says softly: "Oh, 
 Angel Guard, keep watch and ward! Draw close and 
 near and hold his fear, lest in his power I fall this hour!" 
 
 Black Bear leans forward and says: "Thy words I 
 cannot hear. Sweet maiden, have no fear; I dare not 
 touch thy hand save by that dear command. Now, let 
 me plead my love! Do thou my suit approve?" 
 
 Annette (rising): "False, cruel man! No love of 
 thine can soothe this broken heart of mine. Take quick 
 an arrow, then, swift sped, give me the peace that holds 
 the dead." 
 
 Black Bear: "Nay, love, not so! Thou shalt not go 
 into the shade a spirit maid." 
 
 Annette (slowly and sadly) : "My soul is dead — I cast 
 away. No living maid am I today. Hark!" 
 
 The Indians snatch up their guns and tomahawks and 
 with wild war cries rush into the forest. Annette clasps 
 her hands and sings softly: 
 
 Take me home, oh ! my Father, 
 
 I am tired and long for rest; 
 Call my sad soul to thy heaven, 
 
 Let my body seek earth's breast ; 
 
 [20 
 
For all darkness is my portion 
 
 And most cruel sin is near. 
 Hear the cry I send Thee, Father, 
 
 Father, up in heaven, hear. 
 Jesus, in thy mercy save, 
 
 Mother Mary, bend thine ear. 
 
 2. 
 Take me home, oh! my Father, 
 
 To where there is no more night; 
 Let me hear the songs of heaven, 
 
 Speed my soul from dark to light. 
 For all bitter is my portion. 
 
 And most cruel sin is near. 
 Hear the cry I send Thee, Father, 
 
 Jesus, up in heaven, hear. 
 Jesus, in thy mercy save. 
 
 Mother Mary, bend thine ear. 
 
 She covers her face with her hands and slowly sinks 
 upon the ground. The din and confusion grow louder. 
 There are shouts of officers calling on men to "load," 
 *'fire," "charge!" There are Indian war cries. Then 
 comes the whizzing of arrows and the snapping of bullets. 
 Then a brief silence. The underbrush that edges the hem 
 of the Indian village parts and from out the wood comes 
 Colonel George Rogers Clark's regiment, followed by 
 the hunters, trappers and friendly Indians. There is a 
 halt and Saunders advances, salutes Colonel Clark and 
 says: "Sir, some squaws are left and some pappooses, too; 
 what is your pleasure, sir, that we shall do?" 
 
 Colonel Clark (interrupting) : "Guard them with 
 care. Speak no uncivil words (turning to the friendly 
 Indians). Aye, ye have heard! But (to Saunders) 
 what's that lying yonder? Do thou see?" 
 
Saunders (bending over Annette) : "A captive woman! 
 Nay! it cannot be my fair Annette! Alas! 'tis she!" 
 
 Indian girl steps forward and says to Colonel Clark: 
 "White warrior, yonder maid has had all honor paid to 
 her here. Brave Black Bear, lying dead (his heart by 
 bullet sped to happier hunting grounds), he stole yon maid 
 away from out Kaskaskia." (To Saunders) "He told 
 her you did lie as one about to die in our village here. He 
 stole from you in sleep such tokens as did keep her from 
 all thoughts of fear! Then Black Bear much did sue, 
 but true she was to you, and now that you have come, 
 alas! she lieth dumb! I fear me she is dead!" 
 
 Saunders (bending over Annette) : **Nay, not dead, 
 but swooned away! Annette! Annette! Awaken, 
 pray!" 
 
 Annette slowly raises herself and with Saunders' assist- 
 ance staggers to her feet. Then, with her head on Saun- 
 ders' breast, she says, like one scarce awakened from a 
 dream: "Oh, dear! Come near, and bend thine ear, for 
 I would have thee quickly hear of vision strange that 
 came to me." 
 
 Saunders (tenderly) : "Aye, love, I'll list to thee." 
 
 Annette (nestling closer) : "I dreamed that I was 
 stole away!" 
 
 Saunders: "Nay, love! Nay!" 
 
 Annette (lifting herself from Saunders' embrace and 
 looking wonderingly about her) : "Where am I, pray?" 
 
 Colonel Clark (coming forward) : "Among thy 
 friends, sweet maid, and with thy lover's aid we shall 
 with all our might get thee safe home by candle light. 
 Attention! Fall in! Shoulder arms! March on! Lean 
 on thy lover, pretty one. Thus after six days' march, 
 all worn and spent, come we to yonder settlement, bring- 
 ing with us not war but fair content! Come, comrades, 
 
 ^ [22 
 
raise your voices in a merry song. 'Twill cheer our tired 
 spirits as we march along." 
 
 Come, comrades, let us join and sing 
 
 A roaring, rousing chorus, 
 For storm hath passed, success doth bring 
 
 Kaskaskia before us. 
 And when we reach that little town, 
 We'll victory in bumpers drown. 
 And down will fall King George's crown 
 
 And the Yankee flag float o'er us. 
 
 2. 
 
 We'll tell the Frenchman governor 
 
 To strike up Yankee Doodle! 
 And teach the red coat officers 
 
 Our Washington's no noodle; 
 We'll hasten to yon little town. 
 We'll victory with bumpers drown, 
 And off will come King George's crown 
 When the Yankee flag flies o'er us. 
 
 As the soldiers sing they march into the distance and 
 the music fades and fades until its faintest echo is lost. 
 Curtain. 
 
 ACT FOURTH— SCENE FIRST. 
 
 The curtain rises upon the village of Kaskaskia. It is 
 a fair twilight time. Governor Rochblave and the cap- 
 tain commanding the little garrison are walking up and 
 down in restless fashion. Enter Annette's mother. She 
 rushes up to the governor, kneels at his feet, clasps her 
 hands in supplication and cries out: "Sire! keep me no 
 longer in despair, but tell me how and when and where 
 my child was spirited away!" 
 
 ^3] 
 
Governor Rochblave (moodily) : "Cease, woman! 
 Cease thy clatter! Pray, how should I know which way 
 she went? I do not guard the settlement to such a point 
 that I can say which way thy wandering child doth stray!" 
 
 Mother: "But, Sire, thy soldiers guard the gate, and 
 surely with some red coat mate she fled away ! A-lack 
 a-day! that I this of my child can say" (falls to sobbing). 
 
 Governor (angrily) : "Talk not of soldier men to 
 me ! Ask of yonder captain ! It is he to whom thy plaints 
 should all be made. Go tell thy woe and ask his aid !" 
 
 Mother (turning her supplications to the captain) : 
 "Good captain, where's my child? With loss and fear 
 I'm wild. My darling girl Annette! My precious, 
 precious pet!" 
 
 Captain (interrupting her) : "Well, do not fret, for 
 there's nothing to worry about anyway! Don't worry, 
 don't worry, good woman, I pray, for this big world 
 wasn't built in a day. It's worry and flurry that makes 
 such confusion, you know; and it's sure, my good friend, 
 to bring wrinkles and it causes the white hair to grow! 
 So I wouldn't worry, you know; for what I have told you 
 is so: you will surely grow old if you fret and 5^ou scold, 
 and that is not charming, you know." 
 
 Mother (frantically): "I shall go wild! Where is 
 my child!" 
 
 Governor Rochblave: "Now, there's nothing to worry 
 about anyway! Don't worry, don't worry, good woman, 
 I pray; for worry can't bring the girl back, or point out 
 a probable track! So I would not worry, you know; 
 for what he (pointing to the captain) has told you is so. 
 You are sure to grow old if you fret and you scold, and 
 that is not charming, you know." 
 
 Annette's mother, with her apron over her head, rises 
 and departs sobbing. Then the governor, with intent to 
 
 [^4 
 
change the subject, says: "Those Yankees mad seem, very, 
 still." And the captain replies, with a laugh: "Perhaps 
 by now they've had their fill of playing buzz-saw with 
 their betters!" 
 
 The Governor: "To learn to read one must know let- 
 ters." Then they sing. 
 
 A and B and C and D 
 A and B and C and D 
 Got to raising Cain, you see; 
 Wouldn't pay for paint or tea! 
 Naughty, naughty A and B, 
 Likewise naughty C and D, 
 Wouldn't pay for paint or tea! 
 Had to be chastized, you see. 
 
 2. 
 
 E and F and G and H 
 
 Up and got their red coats on ; 
 I and J and K and L 
 
 Likewise British coats did don. 
 Naughty, naughty A and B, 
 Likewise naughty C and D, 
 Wouldn't pay for paint and tea. 
 Had to be chastized, you see. 
 
 3. 
 M and N and O and P 
 
 Proudly said in parliament. 
 You shall drink that cup of tea 
 
 Or to bed at once be sent. 
 Naughty, naughty A and B, 
 Likewise naughty C and D, 
 Wouldn't pay for paint and tea, 
 Had to be chastized, you see. 
 
4. 
 Q and R and S and T 
 
 Said ''such sentiments were fine." 
 U and V and W 
 
 Shook their fists across the brine 
 At poor X and Y and Z, 
 Who refused to drink their tea 
 And who were chastized, you see. 
 Also naughty A and B. 
 
 Scarcely have the last words of this song been finished 
 when there falls upon the ear a bugle call. The men, 
 women and children of Kaskaskia rush from their homes. 
 A silence follows, and then nearer and ever nearer there 
 comes floating in on the evening breezes the stirring 
 strains of "Yankee Doodle." This air was the favorite 
 tune during the Revolutionary struggle. The words varied 
 to fit local occasions and passing events, but the refrain, 
 with its graceful compliments to the gentler sex, was 
 never altered. 
 
 Yankee Doodle tired got 
 
 Of John's tarnation bluster, 
 So when he taxed our paint and tea 
 
 Wc just got up and cussed, sir. 
 It was not just the most polite 
 
 To cuss so loudly, maybe, 
 But then we've dropped our swaddling clothes 
 
 And ain't no toddlin' baby. 
 So Yankee Doodle, keep it up, 
 
 Yankee Doodle, dandy! 
 Mind the music and the step 
 
 And with the girls be handy. 
 
 [26 
 
Yankee Doodle's tired out 
 
 Of George's pesterin' 'round him, 
 And so he's turned his shirt sleeves up 
 
 To lick the king, confound him! 
 We never flinched on Bunker's Hill, 
 
 An' fit 'til all our powder 
 Was clean gin out; but still we kep' 
 
 A shoutin' ''Freedom!" louder. 
 Yankee Doodle, etc. 
 
 An' Yankee Doodle's goin' to win. 
 
 You bet your bottom dollar! 
 An' sure as you'r a livin' man 
 
 Some day red coats will holler, 
 "Little brother Jonathan, come and kiss your brother, 
 
 For John and Jonathan is twins 
 In lovin' one another. 
 Yankee Doodle, keep it up, etc. 
 
 Enter Colonel George Rogers Clark and his regiment. 
 
 Colonel Clark: "In the name of the United States 
 of America, I bid you surrender!" 
 
 Governor and Captain (putting their hands on their 
 swords); "Surrender!" 
 
 Soldiers (in full chdrus) : "Yes, to 
 
 Yankee Doodle, doodle doo, 
 
 To Yankee Doodle, Dandy, 
 The man that gave the sea your tea, 
 
 This Yankee Doodle, Dandy." 
 
 *7] 
 
Governor Rochblave: "Sir, what is the meaning of 
 this ruffian band? And who are you that do command? 
 This is no time, it seems to me, to play at masque or 
 comedy!" 
 
 Colonel Clark: "In all soberness and truth, I claim 
 your sword and the surrender must be done in the great 
 name of Washington." 
 
 Annette's mother forces her way through the throng 
 and falls at Clark's feet. 
 
 Mother: "Good sir, in yonder wild alone did stray my 
 child." 
 
 Then, as she pauses, the villagers in full chorus sing: 
 
 She was fair, sweet Annette, 
 
 She was fair as dawn; 
 She was fair, sweet Annette, 
 
 As the rose of morn. 
 Tell us whither did she go; 
 Have you seen her? Yes, or no? 
 Tell us of fair Annette? 
 Tell us. Sire, oh, pray! 
 
 Colonel Clark: "Good woman, yon's thy child 
 (mother and daughter embrace). Soldiers, attention! 
 Let your ranks divide to search this town on every side. 
 Enter each house and seek with care for every implement 
 of warfare there." (Turning to the governor and the 
 captain.) "Your swords 'twere needless to restore; you 
 will not need them any more; but, soldiers, first, with 
 reverent care we'll take the mother flag that flutters there 
 and lay it reverently to rest; its sepulchre should be the 
 best. (As the flag is slowly lowered the men raise their 
 hats and the women bow their heads.) "Now take this 
 
 ^ [28 
 
flag — red, white and blue — and to the breeze its colors 
 fling, a*nd as it flutters to and fro let every free man 
 gladly sing: 
 
 Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! 
 
 For the red, the white, the blue! 
 The bravest flag that ever waved 
 
 Since this old world of ours was new; 
 The bravest flag that ever waved 
 
 Since this old world of ours was new; 
 'Tis the flag that makes us free, 
 'Tis the flag for you and me, 
 'Tis the flag of liberty. 
 
 The red, the red, the white, the blue. 
 
 29] 
 
31212 SEP 27 iSO