French's International Copyrighted (in England, her Col-
onies, and the United States) Edition of the
Works of the Best Authors
i
No. 408
The
BROWN MOUSE
A ilIRAL PLAY IN FOUR ACTS
By
MABEL B. STEVENSON
Based on the Novel of the same name by
HERBERT QUICK
Copyright, 1921, by Samuel French
^
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A comedy in 3 acts, by F. Tennison Jesse and H. Harwood. 4 m?
5 females. One easy interior scene. A charming comedy, constru'
with uncommon skill, and abounds with clever lines. Margaret Ang
big success. Amateurs will find this comedy easy to produce and pop
with all audiences. Price, 60 Ce
NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.
A comedy in 3-acts. By James Montgomer3\ 5 males, 6 females. (
tumes; modern. Two interior scenes. Plays 2>< hours.
Is it possible to tell the absolute truth— even I'or twenty -four hours? It
at least Bob Bennett, the hero of "Nothing But the Truth," accomplished
feat. The bet he made with his business partners, and the trouble he got in;
with his partners, his friends, and his fiancee— this is the subject of Willj
rdlier's tremendous comedy hit. "Nothing But the Truth" can "be whole-hearti]
recommended as one of ±he most sprightly, amusing and popular comedies
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IN WALKED JIMMY.
A comedy in 4 acts, by Minnie Z. Jafta. 10 males. 2 females (althoi
any number of males and females may be used as clerks, etc.) 1
interior scenes. Costumes, m!odern. Plays 2^ hours. The thing i
which Jimmy walked was a broken-down shoe factory, when the cle
had all been fired, and when the proprietor was in serious contemplat
of suicide.
Jimmy, nothing else but plain Jimmy, would have been a mysterious fi^
had it not been for his matter-of-fact manner, his smile and his everlasi
Innnanness. He put the shoe business on its feet, won the heart of the
clerk, saved her erring brother from jail, escaped that place as a perman
boarding house himself, and foiled the villain.
Clean, wholesome comedy with just a touch of human nature, just a dasli
excitement and more than a little bit of true philosophy make "In Walked Jimr
one of the most delightful of plays. Jimmy is full of the religion of life, |
religion of happiness and the religion of helpfulness, and he so perm.eates |
atmosphere with his "religion'* that everyone is happy. The spirit of optimij
good cheer, and hearty laughter dominates the play. There is not a dull morr
in any of tlie four acts. We strongly recommend it. Price, 60 Ce
MARTHA BY-THE:DAY.
An optimistic comedy in three acts, by Julie M. Lippmann, author
the "Martha" stories. 5 males, 5 females. Three interior scenes,
tumes modern. Plays 2J/< hours.
It is altogether a gentle thing, thir> play. It is full of quaint hunior,
fashioned, homely sentiment, the kind that people who see the play will d
and chuckle over tomorrow and the next day. j
Miss Lippmann has herself adapted her very successful book for stage serj
and in doing this has selected from her novel the most telling incidents, infect)
comedy and homely sentiment for the play, and the result is thoroughly deligh
Price, 60 C^
(The Above Are Subject to Royalty When Produced)
/
THE BROWiN MOUSE
A RURAL PLAY IN
FOUR ACTS
By
MABEL B. STEVENSON
BASED ON THE NOVEL OF THE SAME NAME BY
HERBERT QUICK
Copyright, 1921, by Samuel French
All Rights Reserved
New York
SAMUEL FRENCH
Publisher
28-30 West 38th Street
London
Samuel French, Ltd.
Publisher
26 Southampton St., Strand
"5
■7?
«<g4''
"THE B'ROWN MOUSE" is fully protected
by copyright, and all rights are reserved.
Permission to act, read publicly, or to make
any use of it must be obtained from Samuel
French, 28-30 West 38th Street, New York.
It may be presented by amateurs upon pay-
ment of royalty of ten dollars each perfor-
mance, payable to Samuel French one week
before the date when the play is given.
Professional rights quoted on application.
Whenever this play is produced the following
notice must appear on all programs, print-
ing and advertising for the play: Produced
by special arrangement with Samuel French
of New York.
TMP96-00T164
©C1.D S^7a70
SUGGESTIONS FOR CANADIAN PRODUCTION
According to Herbert Quick's novel, "The Brown Mouse,"
on which the play is based. Colonel Woodruff's daughter
Jennie has been elected County Superintendent of Schools,
and in her official capacity has to consider the complaints of
the trustees regarding the way in which Jim Irwin is con-
ducting his school. In Canada, however, the County Super-
intendent is known as an "Inspector." Inspectors in Canada^
are not elected, and as a usual thing the office is not held by a
woman. In order to adapt the play for use in Canada, there-
fore, the following changes should be made in the text:
Substitute the word "section" for "district" throughout the
play.
Substitute the word "inspector" for "superintendent"
throughout the play.
Substitute the name of any well-known agricultural college
in Canada for "Ames."
Page 9. Omit Jim's speech beginning "I came in just
now ," and Jennie's speech down to "winning promotion."
Page 19. Omit last sentence of Colonel W.'s speech, "They
will probably ask you as Superintendent . . . action."
Page 20. Omit last part of Jennie's speech "not in my
official capacity, but as an old friend."
Page 32. Change Jennie's speech, "They are going to pe-
tition me as Superintendent" to "They are going to petition the
Inspector"; and "my decision" to "the Inspector's decision."
Page 34. Change Colonel W.'s speech, "ask Jennie, as super-
intendent, to come" to "ask the Inspector to come."
Page 36. In this scene have the Inspector take Jennie's
part — and have Jennie as a spectator.
Page 41. Change Jennie's speech, "Proceedings before me."
to "Proceedings before the Inspector"; and her speech, "I
found," etc., to "The Inspector found."
Page 43. In Bonner's speech change "Republican" and
"Democrat" to "Grit" and "Tory."
CHARACTERS
In the order of their appearance.
Jennie Woodruff, Colonel Woodruff's daughter.
Jim Irwin, the Brozvn Mouse.
Colonel Woodruff, a prosperous farmer.
Ezra Bronson ) t- . x ^i riz j jx
Cornelius Bonner I ^"'^'^^^ ."f ft ^."^''"9
Haakon Peterson J school dtstnct.
Raymond Simms ) ^ i u
Newt. Bronson \ ^«"' -schoolboys.
Mrs. Ezra Bronson.
Mrs. Cornelius Bonner.
Mrs. Haakon Peterson.
Professor Withers.
Fanny Bronson.
The Doctor.
Mr. Simms.
GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR
PERFORMERS
Jim Irwin: Shoidd he dressed in rough, plain
clothes during the first part of the play and
should move with some awkzvardness. As the
play progresses he should show a gain in ease
of manner and in self-confidence, and on his
return from Ames should show a quiet sense of
having made good. In Acts III and IV his
dress may show signs of improvement, such,
for instance, as in zvearing a more up-to-date
collar and tie; hut he should not, at any time,
appear as a dude. In his speech at the school
meeting in Act I, and in his final speech at the
school meeting in Act IV, he must speak zvith
all the enthusiasm and force of an eager ideal-
ist zvho is pleading for hetter things.
Colonel Woodruff : A prosperous farmer, who in
early life had served in the army. He is influ-
ential in the community hy reason of his force
of character. He is, in his own mind, conser-
vative hy nature, hut in reality he is progressive
and is one of the first to support the new idea
of hetter rural schools. Dressed as a well-to-do
farmer.
Jennie Woodruff : Any suitable costume for wear
in her home, with something different for wear
at the school meeting, and a street suit for her
appearance on her return from Ames.
3
4 THE BROWN MOUSE
Ezra Bronson : A middle-aged man. His costume
should be that of a partly dressed-up farmer;
i.e., he may zvear a tweed or a serge suit, hut
should not he in white linen collars or cuffs
such as Col. Woodruff might wear. In Act I,
Scene III, he should shozv a fairly good-hu-
mored toleration of Jim's speech, hut should
show no real interest in it. In Act II, Scene
II, he need not show the vehemence of Bonner,
but rather a milder manner of protest. His
son has been kept at school by Jim's methods,
and Mr. Bronson shoidd not shozv his oppo-
sition as strongly as Bonner.
Cornelius Bonner: Should talk zmth Irish accent
and he a more fiery type of man than Bronson.
Should shozv persistent opposition to Jim Irwin
throughout the play until the last Act, zvhen his
speech should shozv that he is as enthusiastic
for Jim as he zvas against him previously. He
has then made up his mind to make Jim's pop-
ularity a political asset for himself in county
politics.
Haakon Peterson : A mild-spoken, soft-voiced
Scandinavian zvho has learned English, but zvho
still pronounces his initial "j" as if it zvere ''y!'
He at no time expresses his opposition to Jim
Irwin zvith any vehemence. He opposes him
out of a sense of loyalty to the school hoard.
Mrs. Bronson : A good motherly zvoman, noted for
her housekeeping. As the flay progresses, site
shozvs that she is pleased thai her boy has be-
come a better boy under Jim's teaching and that
she would like to come out as one of Jim's
supporters hut for her previous attitude of
criticism.
Mrs. Bonner : The most voluble of the three wo-
men. Shozvs censorious spirit. Acts as real
THE BROWN MOUSE 5
commander of the fault-finding visit to the
school.
Mrs. Peterson : Slow-spoken and dignified. A
farm woman who prizes refinement, hut zvho
thinks that the finer things of life can be found
only in tozvn. Her gentle hut firm character is
a strong contrast to Mrs. Bonner^s spiteful-
ness. Accent like her husband's.
Newt. Bronson and Raymond Simms: Where
they appear together in the play the schoolboys
should furnish amusement, hut they must he
careful not to allozu their performance to di-
vert the attention of the audience from the
more serious action.
Prof. Withers and The Doctor: // there is dif-
ficulty in securing performers for all the parts,
these two characters may be played by the same
person by using different make-up.
Fanny Bronson : This part should be played by a
little girl zvho zvill look smaller and younger
than Newt. Bronson.
STAGE-SETTING
Act I. Scene I
Sitting room in Colonel Woodruff's house.
Use chairs, table, and such fittings as zvill give
the effect of a comfortable but not elaborate
sitting-room, such as might be found in any
prosperous farm home. Use articles of furni-
ture such as can be easily removed, in order to
change to the follozving scene.
Scene II
A Bare Room.
If this can, conveniently, be made to give the
effect of a bare schoolroom, so much the better.
A map may be hung on the wall, a teacher's
6 THE BROWN MOUSE
desk and tivo or three school desks, arranged
to give the schoolroom effect. But these are
not necessary. A table without a cloth and a
feiv chairs zvould suffice. If schoolroom effect
is produced, use an empty chalk box for the
ballots; otherzvise, a hat.
Scene III
Same as Scene I
Act II. Scenes I, II and III
The Schoolroom.
Blackboard with following problem in Arith-
metic and folloiving spelling list:
"If in each 250 grains of wheat in Mr. Bron-
son's bins, jo are cracked, dead, or otherwise
not capable of sprouting, what per cent, of the
seed sozvn zvill grozv?"
''Fertiliser, Potash^ Nitrogen, Kernel, Loam,
Moisture."
Market reports pinned to the zvall. A rack of
agricultural bttllefins. Farm papers piled about.
Have copies of zvhatever farm papers are best
knozvn in your locality. If possible, have a
typezvriter, a sezving machine and a Babcock
milk tester in evidence. Use every means avail-
able to indicate that this is very different from
the average schoolroom. This setting remains
unchanged throughout the Act, except that in
the final scene a poster plainly lettered, "Wel-
come to Woodruff School Fair," is prominently
placed and zvomen's zirraps and baskets are
about, indicating progress of fair out of doors.
Act til Scene I.
Sitting-room in the home of Mr. Bronson.
For this, make such changes in the setting for
THE BROWN MOUSE 7
Col. Woodruff's sitting-room as zvill indicate
a slightly different type of farm home. This
may be a combined kitchen and living-room. A
line zvith socks and other garments pinned to
it may be stretched across one corner. Have a
shabby old lounge placed well toward the centre
so that Newt/s speeches from the lounge may
be heard by the audience.
Scene II.
Sitting-room in the home of Col. Woodruff.
Same as in Act I.
Act IV.
Schoolroom as in Act II.
It will not be necessary to bring back all the
equipment shown in Act II. The teacher's desk,
children's desks, blackboard and maps will be
sufficient to indicate a schoolroom if too much
time zvoiild be required to reset the stage as
before.
THE BROWN MOUSE
ACT I
Scene I
Sitting-room of Col. Woodruff's farmhouse.
Jennie \A^oodruff — busied zvitJi needlework or ar-
rangement of flowers.
{Enter Jim Irwin, zvearing dirty overalls and
jnuddy shoes, awkzvard in appearance and man-
ner.)
Jennie. Hello, Jim ! What have you been busy
at?
Jim. Oh, I've been feeding the soil — putting- on
manure. I didn't get it done yesterday on account
of the roadv^ork. I came in just now to congratu-
late you upon your new position. Miss Woodruff,
County Superintendent of Schools. (Bows deeply)
Jennie. Thanks, Jim. I am glad I've got the
position. I worked hard for it. It will be ever so
much easier than teaching. And I like to feel that
I am getting on — vv^inning promotion.
(A few moments of silence.)
Jennie. Look here, Jim. Don't you think you
9
10 THE BROWN MOUSE
should be at least preparing to be something better
than a hired man?
Jim. What can I do? I'm tied hand and foot.
I might have. . . .
Jennie. You might have, but, Jim, 3^ou haven't
. . . and I don't see any prospects. . . .
Jim. I've been writing for the farm papers, but — •
Jennie. But that doesn't get you anywhere, you
know. You're a great deal more able and intelli-
gent than Ed Smith, and see what a fine position
he has in Chicago.
Jim. There's Mother, you know.
Jennie. You can't do anything here. You've
been a hired man for fifteen years . . . and you al-
ways will be unless you pull yourself loose. Even
a girl can make a place for herself if she leaves
the farm and doesn't marry. You're twenty-eight
years old.
Jim. It's all wrong! The farm ought to be the
place for the best sort of career — I love the soil !
Mother and I can live on my wages — and the garden
and chickens and the cow. After I received my
teacher's certificate, I tried to work out some way
of doing the same thing on a country teacher's wages.
I couldn't. It doesn't seem right.
Jennie. Well, v/hether it's right or not, it's so.
You can't do anything as long as you stay on the
farm.
Jim. But it ought to be possible for a man to do
work on the farm, or in the rural schools, that
would make him a living. If he is only a teacher
in a country school, it ought to be possible for him
to save money and buy a farm.
Jennie. Dad's land is worth two hundred dol-
lars an acre. A teacher would be a long time saving
up money to buy a farm like his.
Jim. No, it can't be done. But there ought to
THE BROWN MOUSE ii
be such conditions that a teacher could make a Hv-
ing.
Jennie. They do, if they can Hve at home dur-
ing vacations. I do.
Jim. But a man teaching in the country ought
to be able to marry.
Jennie. Marry !
Jim. Yes. A country teacher ought to be able
to marry.
Jennie. Marry! A country teacher marry ! You
marry ! (Laughs) You marry ! Humph !
Jim. (Stares a moincnt in surprise) Oh! Good-
day! (Turns away — shozvs he is insulted)
Jennie. (Very coolly) Good-day.
(Jim goes out. Jennie looks after him a moment
in disgust, then resumes her zvork. Enter Col.
Woodruff. Looks for a hook or paper, or
busies himself in some zvay for a few moments
before speaking.)
Col. W. : I thought I saw Jim going down the
lane, Jennie. Was he here?
Jennie. Yes, father.
Col. W. Did he say whether he really intends to
go to the school board meeting to-night ?
Jennie. No, he didn't mention it. Why, what
would he go to the meeting for?
Col. W.: Oh! You know the deadlock is still
on about engaging a new teacher. Bronson says
he will have Mary Foster again or he'll give the
school a darned long holiday. Bonner won't vote
for anyone but Maggie Gilmartin— and Peterson
says he'll stick to Herman Paulson until the Niagara
Falls freeze over. It seems that yesterday, when
the men were at the roadwork, they began jollying
Jim, telling him he was the man to break the dead-
12 THE BROWN MOUSE
lock. Jim retorted that he'd like to tell the whole
board what he thought of them as public servants.
"xA.ll right," said Bonner. "Come to the meeting to-
morrow night and tell us. We've lacked brains on
the board, that's clear. They ain't a man on the
board that iver studied algebra. Come down to the
meetin' and we'll have a hired man address the
school board — an' begosh ! I'll move we hire you as
teacher!" Jim got kind of red, but told them he'd
go down and tell them a few things.
Jennie. How silly of him ! He's better edu-
cated and smarter than any of them — but what good
will it do for him to go to the meeting? They'll
only make fun of him !
Col. W. I'm not so sure of that. He surprised
some of them yesterday by knocking a strange man
down!
Jennie. Knocked a man down ! Never !
Col. W. Yes. It was all over Newt. Bronson.
The little, undersized harum-scarum ! Always up to
tricks! Well, he was working at the grading on
the road, with the men, yesterday. Towards noon
an auto came along. Newt, planted himself on
some loose earth that was lying in the middle of
the road, and waved to the driver to stop. The
driver had got up speed so as to go over the pile,
but he stopped and asked Newt, what he wanted.
"Oh," says Newt., "I just wanted to ask you the
correct time." The stranger Jumped out of the
car and was just going to strike the boy, when Jirn
caught his fist. "You're too angry to punish that
boy just now," says Jim. But the driver turned on
Jim and struck at him. Jim swung back with a blow
that sent the man topnh'ng over the pile of earth.
"We got up, picked im his sfojrele!^. and climbed into
the cnr. Tim seemed ashnmed of having hit a man.
THE BROWN MOUSE 13
But he always seems to like that boy Newt, and to
stand up for him.
Jennie. I don't see how he can. The boy is
going to the bad. He swears like a trooper, and is
soaked with tobacco.
Col. W. Jim always seems to find something to
talk to him about. I heard him telling Newt, the
other day all about nitrates in the soil, and showing
him clover roots with the white specks on, and the
boy seemed quite interested.
Jennie. Oh, agriculture! Jim's always reading
up about agriculture, but I don't see what good it
does him. It's nothing but agriculture, agriculture,
agriculture ! I'm sick and tired of it ! (Gets up
and makes her way toward the door during this
speech)
Curtain
SCENE II
A bare room with a table and some chairs. The
three school trustees, Jim Irwin, and a few
spectators, including Newt. Bronson and Ray-
mond Sim MS, present. Bronson presiding
over the meeting.
Bronson. Is there any further discussion?
Bonner. (Rising and addressing the Chair) Mr.
Chairman, we have wid us to-night a young man
who nades no introduction to an audience in this
place, Mr. Jim Irwin. He thinks we're bullheaded
mules, and that all the schools are bad. At the
proper time I shall move that we hire him for
teacher ; and pinding that motion, I move that he
be given the floor. YeVe all heard of Mr. Irwin's
ability as a white hope, and I know he'll be listened
to wid respect.
Jim. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the Board,
I'm not going to tell you anything that you don't
know about yourselves. You are simply making a
farce of the matter of hiring a teacher for this
school. It is not as if any of you had a theory
that the teaching methods of one of these teachers
would be any better than those of the others. You
know, and I know, that whichever is finally en-
gaged, or even if your silly deadlock is broken by
employing a new teacher, the school will be the
same old story. It will still be the school it was
when I came into it, a little ragged boy. In all the
14
THE BROWN MOUSE 15
years I attended this school I never did a bit of
work in school which was economically useful. No
other pupil ever did any real work of the sort farm-
ers' boys and girls should do. We copied city
schools and the schools we copied were poor schools.
We made bad copies of them, too. If any of you
three men were making a fight for a new kind of
rural school, I'd say fight. But you aren't. You're
just making individual fights for your favorite
teachers. You will want to know what I mean by
a new kind of rural school. By that I mean a
school in which the work will be connected with
the life of the farm homes of the children. I want
the school to take into account the interests of
country children. I want the children to have arith-
metic problems based on such home interests as
records of laying hens and the prices of cream and
butter. I want them to have spelling lessons on
words that grow out of other studies, not on lists
of isolated, meaningless words. I want the boys
given manual training, and taught soil management
and seed testing, dairying, corn growing. I'd have
the children measure things and weigh things and
apply what they learn. I'd connect up the school
with life in every possible way.. And the children
would get culture out of my kind of school — true
culture. Around the kind of school I want would
grow up a social life that would make the school
the social as well as the educational centre of the
countryside. But I'd keep you here all night if I
were to try to picture to you fully the kind of coun-
try school I want. I'm not asking you to appoint
me as teacher — but if I were teacher here, that's the
kind of school I'd want to keep.
(Jim sits dozvn, embarrassed. Faint applause from
audience, chiefly from Newt, and Ray-
mond.)
i6 THE BROWN MOUSE
Bonner. We have had the privilege of Hst'nin' to
a great spache, Mr. Chairman. We should be proud
to have a horned orator like this in the agricultural
population of the district. A reg'lar William Jen-
nin's Bryan. (Striking the table) I don't under-
stand what he was trying to tell us, but sometimes
I've had the same difficulty with the spaches of
other orators. Makin' a good spache is one thing
and teaching a good school is another. T ought to
know, for my missus was a school-teacher. But in
order to bring this matter before the board, I nomi-
nate Mr. James E. Irwin, the Boy Orator of the
Woodruff District, and the new white hope, f'r the
job of teacher of this school, and I move that if
he receives a majority of the votes of this board,
the secretary and prisident be insthructed to enter
into a contract wid him f'r the comin' year.
Chairman. If there's no objection it will be so
ordered. The Chair hears no objection — and it is
so ordered. Prepare the ballots for a vote on the
election of teacher, Mr. Secretary. Each votes his
preference for teacher. A majority elects.
(Members of the board vote, place ballots in hat.
Boys peek over Bonner's shoulder to see how
he marks his ballot. At first the trustees ap-
pear quite indifferent. Peterson unrolls the
ballots and reads them with difficulty by the
light of the coal-oil lamp. As he reads thei
second ballot he shozvs surprise; and when it is
announced, Bronson, who has been tilted back
in his chair, takes his feet off the table and
straightens up in evident surprise.)
Secretary (Peterson). (Draws out first ballot)
James E. Irwin — one. (Draws out second ballot)
THE BROWN MOUSE t;
James E. Irwin, two. (Draws out third ballot)
James E. Irwin, three.
Chairman. (Choking and stammering) The
ballot having shown the unanimous election of James
E. Irwin, I declare him elected.
(The Trustees look at one another in consternation,
and act as if they do not know zvhat to do
next.)
Peterson. (Suddenly) I move v/e adjourn.
Chairman. If there*s no objection, it's so or-
dered.
(Jim and the spectators go out.)
Bonner. What the divil — what for did you vote
for that dub, Ez ?
Bronson. I voted for him because he fought for
my boy yesterday. I didn't want it stuck into him
too hard. I wanted him to have one vote.
Bonner. An' I wanted him to have wan vote,
too. I thought meself the only dang fool on the
board, an' he made a spache that aimed wan vote —
but for the love of hivin', that dub f'r a teacher!
What came over you, Haak? You voted for him,
too!
Peterson. Ay vanted him to haf von vote, too !
(Strikes a match and lights his pipe as the curtain
falls)
Curtain
SCENE III
(Room as in Scene I. Jennie seated by tabic, occu-
pied with some work.)
(Enter Colonel. Hunts for his slippers, seats him-
self heavily as if very stiff and tired, and begins
to take off his shoes. In the course of the con-
versation lie gets up, gets the newspaper and
prepares to read.)
Col. W. Jennie, Jim Irwin was the best farm
hand I ever had, and I'm sorry I've lost him.
Jennie. I'm glad he's left you. He ought to
be something better than a hired man.
Col. W. I've no idea he can make good as a
teacher — and what is there in it if he does?
Jennie. What has he lost if he doesn't? And
why can't he make good?
CoL. W. The school board's against him, for one
thing. They'll fire him if they get a chance. I
was talking to two of the trustees, Bronson and
Bonner, to-day. They visited the school the other
day. Bonner says Jim will never do. Says he had
the children working at corn that day. They had
all brought seed-corn, and were having a sort of
corn show. The little chaps were learning to count
by counting kernels and ears of corn and the Third
Class was calculating percentage problems in arith-
metic by making up what percentage of the ears
were first-class. Bonner says it was the noisiest
i8
THE BROWN MOUSE 19
school he ever saw. Bronson says : "My boy Newt, is
as tickled as a colt and says he is going regular this
winter." "Huh," says Bonner. "That's because
Jim lets Newt, do as he darn pleases." "Well,"
says Bronson, "it's the first time he's ever pleased
to do anything but deviltry." Both Bonner and Bron-
son admit that the attendance is larger than it ever
was, and that the children can't be kept home, they're
so crazy to go.
Jennie. Yes, the attendance is larger. Even the
children from that Simms family are attending
regularly now, and they always hated school before.
What sort of people are they?
Col. W. They're a shiftless family. Don't know
much about farming. And the soil is so poor on
that farm they are on that they'd need to know a
good deal about farming to make anything out of
it. But Jim's doing everything he can to help them.
He has the two boys, young Newt, and Raymond
Simms, out at the barn now picking out specimens
of different grain seeds for their class to-morrow.
Jennie. But, Father, how did Jim get Raymond
Simms to come to school ? He's very shy and back-
ward, isn't he?
CoL. W. Oh, he has visited the family and has got
on good terms with old man Simms. For that matter,
he has visited every family in the neighborhood.
He has a notebook with all sorts of facts about
every family in the section — how many acres each
has, what kind of farming they are doing — livestock,
grain, or mixed — whether they have a mortgage,
whether the children are wayward, how far they are
on in school, what they like to read, what they like
to play. But the trustees don't like it. They want
to fire Jim because he is not using the regular text-
books. They will probably ask you, as superin-
tendent, to take some action.
20 THE BROWN MOUSE
Jennie. Well, why doesn't Jim do as other
teachers do? I met Haakon Peterson to-day. He
was talking about Jim, too, and says some one
ought to "line him up," as he calls it. "The way
Jim is doing- in the school is all wrong." He says :
"Some one must line him up and make him do right.
If some one does not line him up, he will have his
certificate taken away." (Pauses, resumes her
work: gets up, and speaks rather hesitatingly )
Father, do you think I might speak to Jim and see
if I can talk him out of some of his foolishness? —
not in my official capacity, but as an old friend.
Col. W. (Looks surprised, winks tozvards the
audience) Line him up, eh? Well, that's a good
plan, and besides, you may get some good ideas out
of Jim. (Makes his way towards the door)
Jennie. Not likely.
Col. W. I don't know about that. I begin to
"think that Jim's a Brown Mouse.
Jennie. A Brown Mouse? Whatever do you
mean, father?
Col. W. (Turns and faces the audience, and
speaks half jokingly. This speech must be spoken
very distinctly and zmth some deliberation^ so that
the meaning of the Brown Mouse may be made clear
to the audience) A fellow in Edinburgh crossed the
Japanese waltzing mouse with the common white
mouse. Every once in a while he got from his
waltzing and white cross a brown mouse — not a
common house mouse — but a wild mouse different
from any he had ever seen. It ran away — it bit
and gnawed — and raised hob. It was what we
breeders call a Mendelian segregation of factors
that had been in the waltzers and the white mice
all the time. Now, Jim's father was a peddler
— a sort of waltzing mouse, no good except to jump
from one spot to another for no good reason. Jim's
THE BROWN MOUSE 21
mother is a white mouse of a woman — all the color
washed out in one way or another. Jim may turn
out to be a brown mouse, and if he does, he may
be a bigger man than any of us. Anyhow, I'm for
him !
Jennie. He'll have to be a big man to make any-
thing out of the job of a country school-teacher.
If he'd only go to the city
Col. W. (Pauses as he' is going out of the room,
and speaks emphatically) Any job's as big as the
man who holds it down.
(Jennie sits down and resumes her work, but
throws it down as if unable to keep her mind
on it. Knock at the door. Enter Jim. He is
dressed in coarse, ill-fitting clothes and seems
doubtful at first as to hozv Jennie will receive
him. But she speaks cordially.)
Jennie. Hello, Jim! You're just the person I
was wishing to see. Sit down. It's nice to see
one's old friends.
Jim. (Brightens up) Yes, we are old friends,
aren't we, Jennie?
Jennie. Yes, we are, Jim. But everything is
different now and getting more different all the
time. Your new w^ork, you know — I've been want-
ing to speak to you about that. Don't you think it
would be better just to teach like other teachers
do?
(Jim draws his chair close to Jennie and fakes her
hand — points out a tiny scar.)
Jim. Do you remember how you got that scar?
Jennie. Why, I don't believe I do.
Jim. I do. We — you and I and Mary Forsythe
22 THE BROWN MOUSE
— were playing mumble-peg, and you put your hand
on the grass just as I threw the knife. It cut you
and left that scar.
Jennie. I remember now ! How such things
come back to one. And did it leave a scar when I
pushed you toward the red-hot stove in the school-
house one bHzzardy day ? The skin peeled off your
wrist where it struck the stove.
Jim. Look at it! Right there!
Jennie. Jim, do you know what I wish? I wish
yt)U wouldn't try to follow your own fads and fan-
cies in your teaching. I'm afraid
Jim. (Who has been looking absent-minded,
speaks dreamily) And do you remember the day
I carried you across the slew when it had been
flooded by a big rain, and you couldn't get home
from school ?
Jennie. Yes, I remember, Jim. But about the
way you are teaching
Jim. And do you remember that time the tornado
just missed the schoolhouse and frightened every-
body in school nearly to death?
Jennie. Everybody but you, Jim. You looked
out of the window and told the teacher that the
twister was going north of us, and would kill some-
body else.
Jim. Did I?
Jennie. Yes, and when the teacher asked us to
kneel and thank God, you said, "Why should we
thank God that somebody else is blowed away?"
She was greatly shocked.
Jim. And do you remember? . . . (Takes Jen-
nie^s hand)
Jennie. (Pulling azvay her hand) You can't
find any more scars on it. Seriously, Jim, there
isn't any use of your going on with your queer way
THE BROWN MOUSE 23
of teaching. Tve taught a country school — and
know
Jim. Let me see how much your hand has
changed since I stuck the knife in it. It's longer
and slenderer and whiter, and even more beautiful
than the child hand 1 cut ; but it was then the most
beautiful in the world to me — and still is
(Towards the end of the conversation Newt, and
Raymond are peeking in at the door, trying to
listen, and evidently enjoying the fun. Sud-
denly in the midst of Jim's speech, Raymond
pushes Newt, into the room and he sprazids on
the floor. Jim makes a dash after him and
follows him off the stage. A moment later the
Colonel enters, and looks knowingly at Jen-
nie as he speaks.)
CoL. W. Well, Jennie, did you give Jim a good
talking to about his wild methods of teaching? Did
you Hne him up?
Jennie. (Starting and looking uncomfortable
on her zvay tozvards the door) I — I — I — I'm afraid
I didn't, Father.
CoL. W. Ha! Ha! These Brown Mice are the
devil and all to control !
Curtain
ACT II
Scene I
(Schoolroom, as described in Stage Directions, page
6. Newt. Bronson and Raymond Simms —
sweeping and dusting school.)
Newt. I wouldn't go back on a friend the way
you're going back on me.
Raymond. You got no call to talk that way.
How'm I goin' back on you?
Newt. We was goin' to trap all winter, and next
winter we were goin' up in the north woods to-
gether.
Raymond. You know that we cain't run any
trap line and keep on at school.
(Newt, looks glum; makes no reply.)
Raymond. Mr. Irwin needs all the he'p every kid
in this settlement kin give him. He's the best friend
I ever had. He teaches me how to do things that
will make me something.
Newt. Darn it all !
Raymond. You know that you'd think maghty
small of me if I'd desert the teacher now.
Newt. Well, then! What'U we do when the
trustees get the superintendent to take away his
certificate and make him quit teachin', hey ?
24
THE BROWN MOUSE 25
Raymond. Nobody'll eveh do that. I'd set in
the schoolhouse do' with my rifle and shoot anybody
that'd come to th'ow Mr. Jim outen the school.
Newt. Not in this country. This ain't a gun
country.
Raymond. But it orto be either a justice kentry
or a gun kentry. It stands to reason it must be one
or the otheh, Newton.
Newt. No, it don't, either.
Raymond. Why should they th'ow Mr. Irwin
outen the school ? Ain't he teachin' us right ?
Newt. I told you before how my father, and
Con. Bonner, and Haak Peterson didn't mean to
hire Jim Irwin at all. They each voted for him so's
he'd have one vote ! They were all agaiiist him from
the first, but they didn't know how to get rid of
him. But now he's done so many things that a
teacher ain't supposed to do, and he ain't done what
a teacher is supposed to do, — so they have made up
their minds to ask him to resign. If he don't re-
sign, they will turn him out some way or other.
They think they'll get the superintendent to have his
certificate taken away.
Raymond. What wrong's he done? I don't know
what teachers air supposed to do in this kentry, but
Mr. Jim seems to be the only sure-enough teacher I
ever had!
Newt. He don't teach out of the books the school
board adopted.
Raymond. But he makes up better lessons. An'
all the things we do in school he'ps us one way or
another.
Newt. He begins at eight in the mornin' an' he
has some of us there till half-past five, and comes
back in the evening. And every Saturday some of
the kids are doin' something at the schoolhouse.
Raymond. They don't pay him for overtime, do
26 THE BROWN MOUSE
they? Well, then, they orto instid of turnin' him
out!
Newt. Well, they'll turn him out! I'm havin*
more fun in school than I ever had, an' that's why
I'm with you on this quittin' trapping — but they'll
get Jim, all right.
Raymond. I'm having something betteh'n fun.
My pap has never understood this kentry, an' we-all
has had bad times hyeh; but Mr. Jim an' I have
studied out how I can make a betteh livin' next year.
It seems we didn't do our work right last year, but
in a couple of years we'll get on our feet.
(Jim enters. He has various sorts of dishes con--
taining specimens of grain and grass seeds.)
Jim. Newton, make out percentage problems for
Class B, in arithmetic, for to-morrow. Make them
plain, and be sure that you name the farm every
time. Here's the records of the seeds we examined
yesterday.
(Few moments of activity.)
Jim. (To Newt, j It's ten minutes to five. Have
you the problems ready?
(Knock at door. Newt, goes to door. Enter Mrs.
Peterson, Mrs. Bonner, Mrs. Bronson. Jim
shakes hands with them and gives them chairs.)
Mrs. Bonner. We'd like to speak to you, teacher,
without the children here.
(Jim dismisses boys.)
Mrs. Bonner. You may think it strange of us
coming at such an hour.
THE BROWN MOUSE 27
Jim. I wish more of the parents would call — at
any hour of the day.
Mrs. Bonner. Or night either, I dare say. I
hear youVe the scholars here at all hours, Jim. ( Jtm
smiles)
Jim. We do break the union rules, I guess, Mrs.
Bonner. There seems to be more to do than we can
get done during school hours.
Mrs. Bonner. What right have ye to be burning
the district's fuel, and wearing out the school's prop-
erty out of hours like that? — Not that it's any of
my business. I just thought of it, that's all. What
we came for, Mr. Irwin, is to object to the way the
teachin's being done — corn and wheat, and hogs and
the like, instead of the learnin' schools was made to
teach.
Jim. Schools were made to prepare children for
life, weren't they, Mrs. Bonner ?
Mrs. Bonner. To be sure. I can see, an' the
whole district can see, that it's easier for a man that's
been a farmhand to teach farmhand knowledge than
the learnin' schools was set up to teach, but if so be
he hasn't the book education to do the right thing,
we think he should get out and give a real teacher a
chance.
Jim. What am I neglecting?
(Mrs. Bonner seems unprepared for the question,
and sits for an instant imite. Mrs. Peterson
interposes her attack while Mrs. Bonner is re-
covering her zmnd.)
Mrs. Peterson. (In a precise way which seems
to show that she knows exactly what she wants)
We people that have had a hard time want to give
our boys and girls a chance to live easier lives than
2^ THE BROWN MOUSE
we lived. We don't want our children taught about
nothing but work. We want higher things.
Jim. Mrs. Peterson, we must have first things
first. Making a living is the first thing.
Mrs. Peterson. Haakon and I will look after
making a living for our family. We want our chil-
dren to learn nice things, and go to high school, and
after a while to the juniversity.
Jim. And I will send out from this school, if
you will let me, pupils better prepared for higher
schools than have ever gone from it — because they
will be trained to think in terms of action. They
will go knowing that thoughts must always be linked
with things. Aren't your children happy in school,
Mrs. Peterson?
Mrs. Peterson. I don't send them to school to
be happy, Yim. I send them to learn to be higher
people than their father and mother.
Jim. They'll be higher people — ^higher than their
parents — higher than their teacher. They'll be effi-
cient farmers, and efficient farmers' wives. They'll
be happy, because they will know how to use as
much brains in farming as any lawyer or doctor or
merchant can possibly use in his business. I'm edu-
cating them to find an outlet for genius in farming.
Mrs. Bonner. It's a fine thing to work hard for
a lifetime, an' raise n.othing but a family of farm-
ers ! A fine thing !
Jim. They will be farmers anyhow, in spite of
your efforts — ninety out of every hundred of them!
And of the other ten, nine will be wage-earners in
the cities, and wish to God they were back on the
farm ; and the hundredth one will succeed in the city.
Shall we educate the ninety and nine to fail, that
the hundredth, instead of enriching the rural life
with his talents, may steal them away to make the
city stronger? It is already too strong for us farm-
THE BROWN MOUSE 29
ers. Shall we drive our best away to make it
stronger?
(Mrs. Bonner and Mrs. Peterson, silenced for a
moment, and Mrs. Bronson_, zvho has been gaz-
ing about at the typeivriter, the hectograph, the
exhibits of zveed seeds, the Babcock milk-tester,
and the other unscholastic equipment, points to
the lists of words and the arithmetic problems
on the board.)
Mrs. Bronson. Did you get them words from
the speller ?
Jim. No, we got them from a lesson on seed
wheat.
Mrs. Bronson. Did them examples come^out of
an arithmetic book?
Jim. No, we used problems we made ourselves.
We are figuring profits and losses on your cows,
Mrs. Bronson.
Mrs. Bronson. Ezra Bronson don't need any
help in telling what's a good cow. He was farming
before you was born.
Newt. (Sticking his head in the door) Like fun,
he don't need help ! He's going to dry old Cherry
off and fatten her for beef ; and he can make more
money of¥ the cream by beefing about three more of
'em. The Babcock test shows they're just boarding
on us without paying their board !
(Women become ruffled.)
Mrs. Bronson. Newton, don't interrupt me wnen
I'm talking to the teacher !
Newt. Well, then, don't tell the teacher that pa
knows which cows were good and which were poor.
If any one in this district wants to know about their
30 THE BROWN MOUSE
cows, it'll ])ay them to step around to this joint.
They'll have to come, too, if they're going to make
anything selling cream. Wait until we get out our
reports on the herds, Ma !
Mrs. Peterson. Cows! If we leave you in this
yob, Mr. Irwin, our children will know nothing but
cows and hens, and soils and grains — and where will
the culture come in? How will our boys and girls
appear when we get fixed so we can move to town?
We won't have no culture at all, Yim !
Jim. Culture ! W^hy — why, after ten years of the
sort of school I would give you if I were a better
teacher, and could have my way, the people of the
cities would be begging to have their children ad-
mitted so that they might obtain real culture — cul-
ture fitting them for life in the twentieth century.
Mrs. Bonner. Don't bother to get ready for the
city children, Jim. You won't be teaching the Wood-
ruff school that long.
(The women have moved tozvard door during Mrs.
Bonner's last speech, and they go out as she
finishes. Jim turns grimly to blackboard and
begins writing exercises,)
(Knock at door. Enter Jennie.^
Jennie. How do you do, Mr. Irv\^in? I knew
I'd find you here long after school was dismissed.
Whatever do you do here every night until six
o'clock ?
Jim. Let me give you a chair?
Jennie. Oh, no, thank you. I'll just make my-
self at home. I knovv^ my way about in this school-
house, you know. Just you go on with your work.
(Jennie goes about the room, examining equipment)
Jennie. What are all these cards about, Jim?
Jim. Oh, we've been taking a cow census of the
neighborhood.
THE BROWN MOUSE 31
Jennie. A cow census? Well, what next ? What
is the idea?
Jim. Well, we've found that there are 138 cows
in the district, and over 600 within an hour's drive.
To-morrow, in the language class, Class Four is to
tell in three hundred words or less, whether there
are enough cows in the neighborhood to justify a
co-operative creamery, and give the reason. They are
to read articles in the farm papers on the subject.
I've just been making up some arithmetic problems
from prices given in the correspondence we have
had with creameries.
Jennie. Jim, do you know that you are facing
trouble ?
Jim. Trouble is the natural condition of a man
in my state of mind. But it is going to be a de-
licious sort of tribulation.
Jennie. I don't know what you mean.
Jim. Then I don't know what you mean.
Jennie. (Pleadingly) Jim, I want you to give
up this sort of teaching. Can't you see it's all
wrong?
Jim. No, I can't see that it's wrong. It's the
only sort I can do. What do you see wrong in it?
Jennie. Oh ! I can see some very wonderful
things in it, but it can't be done in this district. It
may be correct in theory, but it won't work in prac-
tice.
Jim. Jennie, when a thing won't work, it isn't
correct in theory.
Jennie. Well, then, Jim, why do you keep on
with it?
Jim. It works. Anything that's correct in theory
will work. If the theory seems correct, and yet
won't work, it's because something is wrong in an
unsuspected way with the theory. But my theory is
correct, and it works.
2,2 THE BROWN MOUSE
Jennie. But the district is against it.
Jim. Who are the district?
Jennie. The school board are against it.
Jim. The school board elected me after listening
to an explanation of my theories as to the new sort
of rural school in which I believe. I assume that
they commissioned me to carry out my ideas.
Jennie. Oh, Jim! That's sophistry! They all
voted for you so you wouldn't be without support.
Each wanted you to have just one vote. Nobody
wanted you elected. They were all surprised. You
know that!
Jim. They stood by and saw the contract signed,
and — yes, Jennie, I am dealing in sophistry. I got
the school by a sort of shell-game, which the board
worked on themselves. But that doesn't prove that
the district is against me. I believe the people are
for me now, Jennie. I really do!
Jennie. (Very decidedly) They are going to
petition me, as Superintendent, and ask to have you
removed on the ground that you are incompetent.
Jim. Has it come to that ? Well, to tell the truth,
I have rather expected it.
Jennie. (Coldly and stiffly) Well, if you won't
change your methods, I suggest that you resign.
Jim. Do you think that changing my methods
would appease the men who feel that they are made
laughing-stocks by having engaged me ? They would
never call off their dogs.
Jennie. But your methods would make a great
difference with my decision.
Jim. And do you think that my abandonment of
the things in which I beheve, because of this attack,
would prove that I am competent? Or would it
show me incompetent?
(Jennie silent.)
THE BROWN MOUSE 33
Jim. I guess tliat we'll have to stand or fall on
things as they are.
Jennie. You refuse to resign ?
Jim. Sometimes I think it's not worth while to
try any longer. And yet, I believe that in my way
I'm working on the question which must be solved
if the nation is to stand — the question of making
the farm and farm life what they should be and
may well be. At this moment I feel like surrender-
ing because you want me to — but I'll have to think
about it. Suppose I refuse to resign ?
Jennie. (Drawing on her gloves) Unless you
resign by the twenty-fifth, they will send in the
petition. The charge will be incompetency. I bid
you good-evening.
(Jennie goes out angrily. Jim sits down at desk
dejectedly, head in hands. After a fezv mo-
ments he straightens up and begins to write,
his lips set firmly. Tap at the door. Enter Col.
Woodruff, in hat and ulster, whip in hand.)
CoL. W. Hello, Jim !
Jim. How do you do, Colonel? Take a chair,
won't you? I've just written my resignation.
Col. W. Resignation ! Nonsense ! I came to
see if you and the boys at the schoolhouse can tell
me anything about the smut in my wheat. I heard
you were going to work on that to-night.
Jim. I had forgotten
Col. W. I'll come to-night, if you like. I'll give
the boys a chance to test the value of the formalin
treatment on my seed.
Jim. Thank you, Colonel. (Pause)
Col. W. Jim, can your school kids spell ?
Jim. I think that they can outspell any school
about here.
34 THE BROWN MOUSE
Col. W. Good ! How are they about reading
aloud ?
Jim. Better than they were when I took hold.
Col. W. How about arithmetic and other bran-
ches? Have you sort of kept them up to the course
of study?
Jim. I have carried them in a couise parallel to
the textbooks, and covering- the same ground. But
it has been vocational work, you know — related to
life.
Col. W. Well, if I were you, I'd put them over
a rapid review of the textbooks for a few days —
say between now and the twenty-fifth.
Jim. Why?
Col. W. Well, I wouldn't be surprised if the
trustees ask Jennie, as Superintendent, to come and
look you over and examine the school soon. And
say, Jim, just let me put that resignation of yours in
the waste-basket. (Reaches over to the desk and
picks Tip the sheet of paper and crnmples it in his
hand) Jim, I think I'll give myself the luxury of
being a wild-eyed reformer for once.
Jim. Yes?
Col. W. And if you think, Jim, that you've got
no friends, just remember that I'm for you.
Jim. Thank you, Colonel.
Col. W. And we'll show them they're in a horse-
race. (Cracks zvhip)
Jim. I don't see
Col. W. You're not supposed to see, but you can
bet that we'll be with them at the finish ; and by
thunder! (Cracks zvhip) while they're getting a full
meal, we'll get at least a lunch. See ?
Jim. But Jennie says
Col. W. (With growing excitement) Don't tell
me what she says. She's acting according to her
judgment — but she's only a woman ! But you go on
THE BROWN MOUSE 35
and review the common branches, and keep your
nerve. I haven't felt so much Hke a scrap since the
day we stormed Lookout Mountain! I kinder Hke
being a wild-eyed reformer, Jim ! Come on and I'll
give you a ride home now.
Curtain
SCENE 11
School room as in Scene I. (Jennie seated at the
desk. JiM^ Mr. and Mrs. Bonner, Mr, and Mrs.
Peterson,, Mr. and Mrs, Bronson, and as many
spectators as convenient, present.)
Jennie, (Rises) This is no formal proceeding- and
we shall dispense with red tape. I have here (holds
paper in hand) a petition for the removal of Mr. Irwin
as teacher of this school, on the ground of incompe-
tency. I have this morning examined the pupils of
this school, and now I should like to hear why Mr.
Bonner, Mr. Peterson, and Mr. Bronson think that
Mr. Irwin is not competent.
Mr. Bonner. (Rises eagerly) This teacher don't
pay any attention at all to the school books. He makes
up quistions of his own instead of givin' them young-
sters quistions out of the arithmetic. How can they do
sums when they haven't the answers in the back of
the book to look at? Then he gives them shpellings
that ain't in the shpeller an' they hardly iver open their
shpelling books at all !
Mr. Peterson. (Jumps up, gesticulating) And he
burns the fuel in Yanuary dat ve bought for all vinter
havin' fires more dan ve jused to. Yumpin' yiminy!
And de school furniture all vears out! Yust new-
fangled bunk, I tank !
Mr. Bronson. (Rising and speaking emphatically)
He teaches the children to test our cows for butterfat,
36
THE BROWN MOUSE 37
which isn't his business. They are spending their time
on weeds and seeds and carpentering and sewing when
they should be learnin' to parse and say off the rivers
and bays in all the continents and all such things.
Mrs. Peterson. (From her seat) We don't want
our children brought up to be yust farmers. What
will they do when we move to town?
Mr. Bronson. (Has remained standing during
Mrs. P.'s speech) And it ain't enough for him to
carry on the way he does, but I've heard tell that he
wants to have a blacksmith shop on the school grounds,
and a co-operative creamery nearby, an' a building to
have movin' pictures in an' concerts and all such non-
sense, and
Mr. Bonner. (Interrupting excitedly) An' worse
than that, he said wan day he'd like to have a room at
the school where the wimmin could leave their babies
whin they go to town, and have somebody here to
tache the girls how to take care of babies! An' I
say that we can rest our case right there. If that ain't
the limit, I don't know what is !
Jennie. Well, do you desire to rest your case right
there? (No reply) Then, Mr. Irwin, will you tell us,
please, what you have done in the way of teaching
the things called for by the course of study, while you
have been following out these very interesting and
original methods?
Jim. What is the course of study? Is it anything
more than an outline of the mental march the pupils
are ordered to make? Take reading: Does it give
the child any greater masteiy of the printed page to
read about Casabianca on the Burning Deck than to
read about the codling moth which makes the apple
wormy? And how can he be given better command
of language than by writing about things that he sees
round about him every day on the farm? Everything
they do runs into numbers, and we do more arithmetic
38 THE BROWN MOUSE
than the course requires. There isn't any branch of
study — not even poetry and art and music — that isn't
touched by hfe. If there is we haven't time for it in
the common schools.
Jennie. Then you mean to assert that while you
have been doing this work, which was not contem-
plated by those who made up the courses of study,
you have not neglected anything ?
Jim. I mean that I'm willing to stand or fall by
the examination which you made to-day of these chil-
dren in the very textbooks I am accused of neglecting.
At your request I was absent when you examined the
children. I know nothing of how they did. But I'm
willing to stand or fall by the results' of your exami-
nation.
Jennie. (Turning tozvards trustees, speaking very
deliberately) Gentlemen, I must inform you that I
found the pupils of this school in no respect behind
those of other schools in the mastery of the prescribed
course of study. Not only that, but they showed un-
mistakably their ability to do the work the textbooks
are supposed to fit them for, and I only wish the
average school could do as well under a similar test.
(Applause from some spectators) I therefore can see
no reason to comply with your petition for the re-
moval of this teacher. Have you anything further to
say?
Mr. Bonner. (Rising and shaking fist) Your ex-
aminations tind to show that in orrder to larn anything
you shud shtudy somethin' else ! (Stalks out angrily,
but turns when near the door) We're licked — but —
we'll git this guy yit !
(Mrs. Bonner is one of^ the first to flounce out of the
room, head held high and lips firmly set. The
others follow until only the Colonel and Jim re-
main.)
THE BROWN MOUSE 39
Col. W. Jim, the next heat is the school board elec-
tion. We must get the right trustees put on next year.
Jim. Is that a possibility? Aren't we sure to be
defeated at last? Shouldn't I quit at the end of my
contract? All I ever hoped for was to be allowed to
finish that. And is it worth the trouble?
Col. W. As for being worth while — why, this thing
is too big to drop. Look here, Jim. Your school fair
comes on next week, doesn't it? Well, go ahead.
Make it a good one. It will give you a chance to
show the folks what you're teaching their youngsters
besides readin' and writin' and 'rithmetic. I'm just
beginning to understand what you're driving at. — And
I like being a wild-eyed reformer more and more.
Curtain
SCENE III
Schoolroom as before, hut with poster lettered ''Wel-
come to Woodruff School Fair'' prominently
placed. Women's zvraps strewn over school desks.
Baskets here and there, and everything to indicate
that a school fair is in progress on the school
grounds.
Curtain rises on Jennie, in the act of pinning on hat
and making ready for the drive home.
(Enter Col. W. with Professor Withers of Ames
Agricultural College, zvho carries a traveling bag.)
Col. W. Jennie, this is Professor Withers of Ames
Agricultural College. Professor Withers, my daugh-.
ter. (Jennie and Prof. W. exchange the usual salu-
tations)
Col. W. ril be back in a few moments, Jennie.
(Goes out)
Jennie. What do you think of our school fair,
Prof. Withers? .
Prof. W. The exhibition of this rural school is the
best I ever saw. That's a clever man, that Irwin. It
dehghted me to see that class of children testing and
weighing milk, judging grain and livestock. I hear
Irwin has been having some trouble with his school
board.
Jennie. Yes, he has.
40
THE BROWN MOUSE 41
Prof. W. Wasn't there an effort made to remove
him from his position?
Jennie. Proceedings before me to revoke his certifi-
cate.
Prof. W. On what grounds?
Jennie. Incompetency. But I found that his pupils
were really doing very well in the regular course of
study which he seems to be neglecting.
Prof. W. I'm glad he came out so well.
Jennie. Yes, but what do you really think of his
notions ?
Prof. W. Very advanced. Indeed, he's wonderful !
He surprises me. I have invited him to make an
address at Ames during Farmers' Week.
Jennie. (Showing astonishment) He?
Prof. W. Yes, Miss Woodruf!. Mr. Irwin has
something that we need. Just how far he will go, just
what he will amount to, it is impossible to say. But
something must be done for the rural schools, some-
thing along the lines he is following. He is worth
encouraging. You won't make any mistake if you
make the most of Mr. Irwin. — Well, I must get along
if I am to catch that train. (They zvalk toward the
door together) Good-bye, Miss Woodruff. Hope you
will come, too, and hear Mr. Irwin, Farmers' Week.
I am sure he will make a hit. (They pass off the stage
together)
(Enter Mrs. Bonner and Mrs. Bronson in search of
their uraps and baskets.)
Mrs. Bonner. (Helping Mrs. Bronson on zvith her
coat) I don't see what there is in all this to set people
talking. Buttonholes ! Cookies ! Humph !
Mrs. Bronson. Well, then, I don't see anything to
laugh at when the young girls do the best they can to
make themselves capable housekeepers. I'd like to
see them taught how to keep house.
42 THE BROWN MOUSE
Mrs. Bonner. And quite right, too, in the proper
place and at the proper time. (They move up to front
of stage and speak clearly and distinctly while putting
on gloves, etc.)
Mrs. Bronson. Of course.
Mrs. Bonner. At home, now, and by their mothers.
Mrs. Bronson. But take them Simms girls, now.
They have to have help outside their home if they are
ever going to be like other folks.
Mrs. Bonner. Yes, and a lot more help than a
farmhand can give 'em in school. Pretty poor trash,
they, and I shouldn't wonder if there was a lot we
don't know about why they come here.
Mrs. Bronson. As far as that goes, I don't know
as it's any of my business so long as they behave them-
selves.
Mrs. Bonner. Isn't it some of your business? I
wonder now ! By the way Newtie keeps his eye on
that Simms girl, I shouldn't wonder if it might turn
out your business.
Mrs. Bronson. Pshaw ! Puppy love !
Mrs. Bonner. You can't tell how far it'll go. I
tell you these schools are getting to be nothing more
than sparkin' bees, from the teacher down.
Mrs. Bronson. That may be, but I don't see spark-
in' in everything boys and girls do as quick as some.
Mrs. Bonner. I wonder if Colonel Woodruff would
be as friendly to Jim Irwin if he knew that everybody
says Jennie did all she could to help Jim because she
wants him to get along in the world, so he can marry
her?
Mrs. Bronson. I don't know as she is so very
friendly to him. Howsomever, Jim and Jennie are
both of age, you know.
Mrs. Bonner. Yes, but how about our school's bein'
ruined by a love affair? Ain't that your business and
mine?
THE BROWN MOUSE 43
Mrs. Bronson. (Turning away) Well, Ezra will
have the team hitched by now. I mustn't keep him
waiting. (Mrs. Bronson passes off stage at side op-
posite from that by zuhich she entered. Mrs. Bonner
picks up basket or bog and follows at once, looking^
disgruntled)
(Enter Bonner, follozved at once by Bronson. j
Mr. Bronson. Looking for your missus, Con?
Mr. Bonner. Yes — but I wanted to see you, too.
(Enter Mr. Peterson. J
Mr. Peterson. Haf you seen my voman in here?
Mr. Bonner. No, Haak — but wait a minute. I
want to talk to you fellows. I'm a Republican and
you fellers are Democrats, and we've fought each other
about who we was to hire fer teacher. But my term
on the board is out this year — and when it comes to
electing my successor, I think we shouldn't divide on
party lines.
Mr. Peterson. The fight about the teacher is a
t'ing of the past. All our candidates got odder yobs
now.
Bronson. Yes, Prue Foster wouldn't take the school
now if she could get it.
Bonner. But, as I was sayin', I want to git this guy,
Jim Irwin. An' bein' the cause of his gittin' the
school, I'd like to be on the board to kick him off;
but if you fellers would like to have some one else,
I won't run, and if the right feller is named, I'll line
up what friends I got for him.
Peterson. You got no friend can git as many wotes
as you can. I tink you better run.
Bonner. What say, Ez?
Bronson. Suits me all right. I guess we three have
had our fight out and understand each other.
44 THE BROWN MOUSE
Bonner. All right, I'll take the office again. Let's
not start too soon, but say we begin to line up our
friends, to go to the school election and vote kind of
unanimous-like ?
Bronson. Suits me.
Peterson. Very well.
Bonner. I don't like the way Col. Woodruff acts.
He rounded up that hearing before the superintendent
that shot us all to pieces, didn't he?
Peterson. I tank not.
Bronson. Too small a matter for the Colonel to
monkey with. I reckon he was just interested in Jim's
dilemmer. Or he might have thought the decision was
right. Some people do, you know.
Bonner. Right ! In a pig's wrist ! I tell you, that
decision was crooked.
Peterson. Veil, talk of crookedness wit' Col. Wood-
ruff don't get very fur wit' me.
Bonner. Oh, I don't mean anything bad, Haakon,
but it wasn't an .all-right decision. (Walks toward
door) Well, anyway, we'll stick together, and if I git
on again we'll get rid of Jim Irwin, all right. (The
three go out together as if to continue conversation)
(Enter Jim. Walks up and down, looking thoughtful.)
CoL. W. (Speaking side stage, as if through open
'door) Hey, Jim — are you there?
Jim. Here, Colonel ! (Enter Col. W. in evident
good spirits)
Col. W. Your school fair's been a grand success,
my boy. And Jennie says the Professor from Ames is
bound to have you on the program at his college do-
ings ! — Good for you, Jim !
Jim. Oh, what's the good ? The trustees here don't
believe in me yet. Peterson and Bronson seem rather
encouraging — but Bonner — why, I met him just now —
and he scarcely spoke !
THE BROWN ?.IOUSE 45
Col. W. I saw him doing some campaigning to-
day. He expects to get on the school board again.
Jim. Oh, 'I suppose so.
Col. W. Well, what shall we do about it?
Jim. If the people want him
Col. W. The people must have a choice offered to
them, or how can you or any man tell what they want ?
How can they tell themselves? I think that it's up to
us to see that the people have a chance to decide. It's
really Bonner against Jim Irwin.
Jim. That's rather startling, but I suppose it's true.
And much chance Jim Irwin has !
Col. W. I calculate that what you need is a cham-
pion.
Jim. To do what?
Col. W. To take that office away from Bonner.
Jim. Who can do that?
Col. W. Well, I'm free to say I don't know that
any one can, but I'm willing to try. I think that in
about a week I shall pass the word around that I'd
like to serve my country on the school board. Who
wants to be school trustee? It's a post of no profit,
very little honor, and much vexation. And yet there
are always men who covet such positions. And gen-
erally they are men with no interest in education and
no fondness for it. I think I'll try for it, Jim.
Jim. Even then they'd be two to one, Colonel.
CoL. W. Maybe, and maybe not. That would have*
to be figured on. A cracked log splits easy.
Jim. Anyhow, what's the use? I shan't be disturbed
this year — and after that, what's the use?
Col. W. Why, Jim, you aren't getting short of
breath, are you? Do I see frost on your boots? I
thought you good for the mile, and you aren't turning
out a quarter-horse, are you? I don't know what all
it is you want to do, but I don't believe you can do
it in nine months, can you?
46 THE BROWN MOUSE
Jim. Not in nine years !
Col. W. Well, then, let's plan for ten years. I
ain't going to become a reformer at my time of life as
a temporary job. Will you stick if we can swing the
thing for you?
Jim. I will!
Col. W. All right. We'll keep quiet and see how
many votes we can muster up at the election. How
many can you speak for ?
(Jim thinks for a few minutes.)
Col. W. How many can you round up?
Jim. I think that I can speak for myself and old
man Simms.
(The Colonel laughs.)
Col. W. Fine politician ! Fine politician ! Well,
Jim, we may get beaten in this, but if we are, let's not
have them going away saying they've had no fight.
You round up yourself and old man Simms and I'll
see what I can do — I'll see what I can do ! Come on
and climb into my buggy. I've got the team and they're,
in fine trim. The next heat in the race is the school
election. We've got to control that board next year,
and we'll do it. I like being a wild-eyed reformer,
more and more.
Curtain
ACT III
Scene I
Sitting-room in Mr. Bronson's home, (See stage di-
rections, page 6.) Curtain rises on Mrs. Bron-
SON, darning socks, Fanny Bronson playing unth
doll. Enter Newt, looking sick.
Newt. I feel kind of funny, Mother. I think I'll
lie down a while.
Mrs. Bronson. All right, son. Stretch out on the
lounge there.
(Enter Mr. Bronson and stands at side of stage, shav-
ing-mug and brush in hand.)
Bronson. Fanny, tell Henry to get the horse out.
I'm going to the schoolhouse to the election. (With-
draws quickly. Fanny goes^out)
Mrs. Bronson. (Throzuing down needlework ab-
ruptly) Why, it's half -past three and the school elec-
tion is at four o'clock ! I must help to get your father
off in time. (Goes out)
Newt. (Raises himself up on his elbozv, and winks
at the audience) Here's where I put one over on Dad.
(Groans and acts as if in great pain. Enter FannyJ
Fanny. What's the matter, Newtie?
47
48 THE BROWN MOUSE
Newt. Run and tell them brother's dying.
(Fanny rushes to the door.)
Fanny. Mother, Dad, Newtie's awful sick! He
says he's dying!
(Mrs. Bronson rushes in, calls ner husband. Newt.
groans in convulsions, arms and legs drawn up,
muscles tense.)
Mrs. Bronson. What's the matter? What's the
matter, boy?
Newt. Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!
Mrs. Bronson. Newtie ! Newtie ! Where are you
in pain? Tell mother, Newtie.
Newt. Oh, I feel awful !
Mr. Bronson. What you been eating?
Newt. Nothing. (Convulses in strong spasms, and
groans)
Mr. Bronson. I saw you eating dinner.
Newt. That's all I've eaten except a few raisins.
I was putting strychnine in 'em for the rats
Mrs. Bronson. Oh, heavens ! He's poisoned !
Drive for the doctor, Ezra ! Drive !
(Mr. Bronson leaps toward the door, and as he passes
out he shouts, ''Gizre him mustard and water!" )
Mrs. Bronson. Fanny, run over for Mr. and Mrs.
Peterson. Tell them to come right away.
(Newt, groans and rolls about. Mrs. Bronson goes
to the kitchen — brings back mustard tin, glass,
etc.) Enter Mr. and Mrs. Peterson and Fanny.)
Mrs. Bronson. Just help me get him into the bed-
THE BROWN MOUSE 49
room, Mr. Peterson I've got mustard and water.
We're afraid he's poisoned.
(Mr. Peterson and Mrs. Bronson support Newt, and
they go off the stage. Mrs. Peterson and Fanny
cross the stage hurriedly several times, carrying
glasses of water, hot-zvater bags, basin, etc. Mr.
Peterson returns to the sitting-room, looking wor-
ried.)
,. Mr. Peterson. The school election vill be over, —
but I tank I can't leave that voman alone vith that
sick poy.
(Mr. Peterson walks up and down. Looks out of
door or windozv. Lights pipe. Fidgets about.)
Mr. Peterson. I vish that doctor vould come.
(Looks at watch.) Veil, it's too late for the school elec-
tion now.
{Enter Newt., supported by his mother and Mrs.
Peterson. J
Mrs. Bronson. He says he'd rather lie out here
now. He's very weak. I wish the doctor would come.
(Mrs. Bronson and Mrs. Peterson fuss about New-
tie, tucking him up zmth cushions and comforters.
Mr. Peterson paces up and dozmi uneasily,
Fanny hovers about excitedly.)
Fanny. There's the doctor! There's the doctor!
I hear him.
(Noise outside. Doors opening. Hurried footsteps.
Enter the doctor and Mr. Bronson.)
50 THE BROWN MOUSE
Doctor. What's all this? How are you feeling,
Newt.? Any pain?
Newt. I'm all right. Don't let Mother give me
any more of that nasty stuff !
Doctor. No, but if you don't tell me just what
you've been eating, and doing, and pulling off on us,
I'll use this ! (Shows huge stomach-pump)
Newt. {Faintly) What'll you do with that?
Doc. I'll put this down into your hold and unload
you — that's what I'll do.
Newt. Is the election over, Doc? (Rises to sitting
posture)
Doctor. Yes.
Newt. Who's elected?
Doctor. Colonel Woodruff. Vote was 12 to 11.
Newt. {Jumps iip)^ Hooray! Hooray! The
Colonel's elected ! The Colonel's elected ! Well, Dad,
I suppose you'll be sore, but the only way I could
see to get in half a vote for Col. Woodruff was to get
poisoned and send you after the doctor. If you'd
gone it would 'a' been a tie, anyhov/, and likely you'd
'a* persuaded somebody to change to Bonner. That's
what's the matter with me. I killed your vote. Now
you can do whatever you like to me — ^but Vm sorry I
scared mother.
(Bronson makes as if to seise Newt., who moves
away. Laughter and amusement on the part of
the others. Bronson follows Newt, up, and
takes him by the throat, but not roughly.)
Newt. Don't pinch. Dad! Tve been using that
neck and it's tired!
Bronson. (Shaking Newt.) Why, you darned
infernal little fool ! IVe a notion to take a hame-strap
to you! If one or both of them horses is hurt by
the run I gave them, I'll lick you within an inch of
THE BROWN MOUSE 51
your life! I wouldn't want to drive a good horse to
death for any young hoodlum like you! And you
scared your mother half to death.
(During this speech Mr. and Mrs. Peterson and the
Doctor show amusement, Fanny dances about,
wide-eyed. The Doctor picks up his hat, and
Bronson, seeing this, turns to him.)
Bronson. All right, Doc. How much do I owe
you? (They pass off the stage together)
(Newt, makes sign to Fanny, and they sneak off to-
gether. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson talk zvith Mrs.
Bronson. j
Peterson. Veil, I'm glad the Colonel vas elected.
Mrs. Bronson. So am I. Ez had promised he
would vote for Bonner, but I believe he'd rather have
the Colonel in. Bonner won't give in, but Ezra and
I are beginning to think that Jim's ideas may be all
right. I liked that there school fair.
Mrs. Peterson. Yes, and did you hear that Jim
is going to Ames next week ? That professor that was
judgin' is goin' to liaf Jim gif a speech before all
hands ! Veil, veil !
Mr. Peterson. Ve must get home now. The vife
left the churning ven Fanny called.
Mrs. Bronson. (Seeing them^ to the door) It was
good of you to come. I was scared ! That young
rascal !
Curtain
SCENE II
Colonel Woodruff's sitting-room.
Curtain rises on Colonel Woodruff, occupied in read-
ing or writing. Gets up — stretches arms — walks
about — goes to side of stage as if looking out of
the window. Looks at watch. Looks out several
times during next speech — and walks about impa-
tiently.
Col. W. Seems to me Jennie's had time to be here
now, unless that train's very late, I wonder how Jim
got along? I'd like to have been there myself. I'm
afraid poor old Jim would fall down on it. It's no
easy thing to talk to a big crowd at a college conven-
tion, but I hope he got his ideas over to them. I won-
der what's keeping Jennie, anyway? — Oh, here she is
at last!
(Enter Jennie in traveling attire, with bag.)
Col. W. Hello, Jennie, girl ! Tell us all about it.
Jennie. Well, when Jim began I thought he was
going to make a failure of it. He began the speech
he had committed to memory, and then he lost his
way, and couldn't remember it. He became so con-
fused and tried to find the pages he had written out.
He couldn't find the place in the pages, and for a
52
THE BROWN MOUSE 53
minute or two I thought he was swamped. I just felt
sick ! Then he straightened up, stuffed the paper into
his pocket, and began to talk just as if he were talking
to the people here at home. Everyone paid the closest
attention. You could have heard a pin drop ! And
when he finished there was a great burst of applause.
Ever so many people went forward to shake hands
with him. We all had dinner together afterwards —
Jim and I, and Professor Withers and the Principal
of the Normal School. An old man from Waterloo
County offered Jim a position to teach their school — a
two-roomed school. He wants Jim to be principal.
But there's Jim coming up the lane. He'll tell you
about it himself. I must go and get some supper.
(Jennie goes out. Enter Jim. Colonel shakes
hands.)
Colonel W. Well done, Jim ! Congratulations !
Good for you ! But what's this I've heard, young
man ? — Some old chap wanting to get you away from
us
Jim. (Laughing) Oh ! Mr. Hofmeyer. Well, he's
made me an offer.
Col. W. What'd he offer? Tell me what he said.
Jim. He came up to me after I had finished speak-
ing and said, "Do you teach the kind of school you lay
out in your talk?" I said, "I try to, sir." "Well,"
said he, "that's the kind of education I believe in. I
kep' school back in Pennsylvania, fifty years ago, and
I made the scholars measure things and weigh things,
and apply their studies as far as I could. I b'lieve
your idea of teaching would please our folks. What
d'ye say to comin' down and teachin' our school ? It's
a two-room affair, and I was made a committee of one
to find a teacher." He went on and told me they'd
give me $150 a month, and I'd be principal.
54 THE BROWN MOUSE
Col. W. (Eagerly and anxiously) Did you make
any deal with him ?
Jim. No, I told him I'd think it over. He said he'd
write me a formal offer and perhaps offer more sal-
ary.
Col. W. I wonder what Bonner and the others
will say?
Jim. Oh! The trustees were down at Ames. I
met Bonner afterwards. He surprised me.
CoL. W. You don't say so? What'd he say?
Jim. He asked me what kind of proposition Mr.
Hofmeyer made to me. He said Hofmeyer asked him
about me, and that he, Bonner, told him I was a crack-
erjack. Just imagine Bonner telling anyone that I
was a crackerjack!
CoL. W. He said he'd get you yet, Jim !
(Jim laughs. Col. W. rises and zvalks about ex-
citedly.)
Col. W. Jim, in my capacity of wild-eyed reformer,
I've made up my mind that the first four miles of the
trip is to make the country teacher's job bigger. It's
got to be a man's size, or we can't get real men and
women to stay at the work.
Jim. That's a statesman-like way of putting it.
Col. W. Well, don't you turn down the Waterloo
County job until we have a chance to see what we
can do. I'll get some kind of meeting together, and
what I want you to do is to use this offer as a club
over this helpless school district. What we need is
to be held up ! Hold us up, Jim I
Jim. T can't. Colonel.
Col. W. Yes, you can, too! Will you try It?
Jim. I want to treat everybody fairly, — Mr. Hof-
meyer included. I don't know what to do, hardly.
THE BROWN MOUSE 5^
Col. W. Well, I'll get the meeting together, and in
the meantime, think of what I've said, will you?
Jim. All right. Thank you, Colonel. I must get on
now. Mother'll be waiting for me. Good-night.
(Colonel sits down as if to zvrite out notices for the
meeting.)
Curtain.
ACT IV
Scene I
Schoolroom. Curtain rises on meeting in progress.
All the characters in the play present. As many
additional spectators as possible, to convey the idea
of a crowded schoolroom. Mr. Bronson presid-
ing, and standing speaking at rise of the curtain.
Mr. Bronson. All that has been said, so far, shows
that us folks has found out that this here school under
Jim Irwin is doing more for our youngsters — and for
all of us, for that matter — than it ever did before.
Now, the question is, can we do anything to meet the
offer he has got from Waterloo County? Is there
any one that's got anything further to say?
Mr. Simms. (Rising, and speaking zvith great lack
of confidence at first) Ah ain't no speaker, but Ah
cain't set here an' be quiet an' go home an' face my
ole woman an' my boys an' gyuls withouten sayin' a
word fo' the best friend any family evah had, Mr. Jim
Irwin. (Applause) Ah owe it to him that Ah've got
the right to speak in this m.eetin' at all. Gentlemen,
we all owe everything to Mr. Jim Irwin ! Maybe Ah'U
be thought forward to speak hyah, bein' as Ah ain't no
learnin' an' some may think Ah don't pay no taxes ;
but it will be overlooked. Ah reckon, seein' as how we've
took the Blanchard farm, a hunderd an' sixty acres,
for five yeahs, an' move in a week from Sat'day. We
pay taxes in our rent, Ah reckon, an' howsomever that
56
THE BROWN MOUSE 57
may be, AhVe come to feel that you all won't think
hard of me if Ah speak what we feel so strong about
Mr. Jim Irwin.
Voices. Go on ! You've got as good a right as any-
one. You're all right, old man!
SiMMS. Ah thank you all kindly. Gentlemen and
ladies, when Mr. Jim Irwin found us, we was scan-
dalous pore, an' we was wuss'n pore — we was low-
down. (Cries of ''No! No!'') Yes, we was, becauz
what's respectable where we come from is one thing,
whar all the folks is pore, but when a man gets in a
new place, he's got to lift hisself up to what folks does
where he's come to, or he'll fall to the bottom of what
there is in that there community — an' maybe he'll make
a place fer himse'f lower'n anybody else. Where we
come from, we was good people, becuz we done the
best we could an' the best any one done ; but hyah, we
was low-down people becuz we hated the people that
had mo' learnin', mo' land, mo' money, an' mo friends
than what we had. My little gyuhls wasn't respecta-
ble in their clothes. My children was ignerant, an'
triflin', but I was the most triflin' of all. Ah'll leave
it to Colonel W^oodrufif if I was good fer a plug of
terbacker, or a bakin' of flour, at any sto' in the county.
Was I, Colonel? Wasn't I perfectly wuthless and tri-
flin'?
Col. W. I guess you were, Mr. Simms. I guess
you were, but
Simms. Thankee. I sho' was! Thankee kindly.
An' now, what am I good fer? Cain't I get anything
I want at the stores? Cain't I git a little money at
the bank, if I got to have it?
CoL. W. You're just as good as any man in the
district. You don't ask for more than you can pay,
and you can get all you ask.
Simms. Thankee. What Ah tell you is right, ladies
and gentlemen. An' what has made the change in us,
58 THE BROWN MOUSE
ladies and gentlemen? It's the wuk of Mr. Jim Irwin
with my boy Raymond, the best boy any man evah had,
and my gyuhl, Calista, an' Buddy an' Jinnie, an' with
me an' my ole woman. He showed us how to get a
toe-holt into this new kentry. He teached the children
what orto be did by a renting farmer. He done lifted
us up, an' made people of us. He done showed us
that you all is good people an' not what we thought
you was. Outen what he learned in school, my boy
Raymond an' me made as good crops as we could last
summer, an' done right much wuk outside. We got
the name of bein' good farmers and good wukkers, an'
when Mr. Blanchard moved to town, he said he was
glad to give us his fine farm for five yeahs. Now, see
what Mr. Jim Irwin has done for us ! We are livin'
in a house with two chimleys an' a swimmin' tub made
outen crock'ryware. We'll be in debt a whole lot —
on'y we owe it to Mr. Jim Irwin that we got the credit
to go in debt, with, an' the courage to go on and git
out ag'in! (Applause) Ah could afford to pay Mr.
Jim Irwin's salary myse'f if Ah could. An' there's
enough men hyah to-night that say they've been money-
•he'ped by his teachin' the school, to make up mo'
than his wages. Let's not let Mr. Jim Irwin go, neigh-
bors ! Let's not let him go !
(Colonel Woodruff rises.)
Col. W. Mr. Irwin is here, ladies and gentlemen,
and I move that we hear from him as to what we can
do to meet the offer of our friends in Waterloo County,
who have heard of his good work, and want him to
work for them; but before I yield the floor I want
to say that this meeting has been worth while just
to have been the occasion of our all becoming better
acquainted with our friend and neighbor, Mr. Simms.
Whatever may have been the lack of understanding.
THE BROWN MOUSE 59
on our part, of his qualities, they were all cleared up
by that speech of his — the best I have ever heard in
this neighborhood. (Applause) Mr. Chairman, if
there is no objection, we will hear from our well-
known citizen, whose growing fame is more remark-
able for the fact that it has been gained as a country
schoolmaster. I need not add that I refer to Mr.
James E. Irwin. (Applause)
Jim. Friends and neighbors, you ask me to say to
you what I want you to do. I want you to do what
you want to do — nothing more nor less. Last year I
was glad to be tolerated here; and the only change
in the situation lies in the fact that I have another
place offered me — unless there has been a change in
your feelings toward me and my work. I hope there
has been ; for I know my work is good now, whereas
I only hoped it w^as then.
Bonner. Sure it is ! Tell us what you want, Jim !
Jim. What do I want ? More than anything else, I
want such meetings as this — often — and a place to hold
them. If I stay in the Woodruff district, I want this
meeting to effect a permanent organization to work
with me. You are gathered here to decide what you'll
do about the small matter of keeping me at work as
your hired man. If I'm to be your hired man, I want
a boss in the shape of a civic organization the object
of which shall be to put the whole community at school
and to boss me in my work for the w^hole community.
Peterson. Dat sounds good ! W^e'U do that !
Jim. Then I want you to work out a building scheme
for the school. I want you to build as freely for your
school, for your children, as for your cattle and horses
and hogs. I want some manual training equipment
for wood-working and metal-working, with a black-
smith shop and wagon shop, in which the boys may
learn to shoe horses and repair tools. I want a place
where the girls can learn to cook, keep house, take
6o THE BROWN MOUSE
care of babies, sew, and learn to be wives and mothers.
I want to do work in poultry according to the most
modern breeding discoveries, and I want your co-
operation in that, and a poultry plant somewhere in
the district. I want a small laboratory in which we
can work on seeds, pests, sprays, soils, feeds, and the
like ; for the education of your children must come
out of these things. I want some land for actual farm-
ing, and a house on it in which your teacher may live.
And I want a physician here once in a while to ex-
amine the children as to their health, and a dentist to
look after their teeth and teach them how to care for
them. Also an oculist to examine their eyes. And
when Bettina Hansen comes home from the hospital
as a trained nurse, I want her to have a job as visiting
nurse right here in the Woodruff district. And I
want a first-class phonograph with records of the
world's best music — and a moving-picture machine —
everything to make this school the social centre as well
as the educational centre of the countryside. I want
all these things, and more. But I don't expect them all
at once. I know that this district is too small to do
all of these things, and therefore I am going to tell
you of another want which will tempt you to think
that I am crazy. I want a bigger district — one that
will give us the financial strength to carry out the
program I have sketched. Let us consolidate several
of our small districts into a big one; and the taxes it
will require from you will make each of you more
money than if invested in farm equipment. This may
be a presumptuous thing for me to propose ; but the
whole situation here to-night is presumptuous on my
part, I fear. If 3^ou think so, let me go ; but if you
don't, please keep this meeting together in a permanent
organization of grown-up members of the Woodruff
School, and by pulling together, you can do these
things — all of them, and many more — and you'll make
THE BROWN MOUSE 6r
the Woodruff district a good place to live in and die
in — and I shall be proud to live and die in it at your
service, as the neighborhood's hired man !
(A long hush. Applause started by Jennie. Storm
of applause.)
Curtain
SCENE II
Schoolroom, just after meeting is over. Colonel,
Jennie and Jim.
Col. W. Well, Jim, you've carried the day. It's
been a great meeting. They can't do all you ask just
right away — but they'll do just as you want finally. I
am proud that we're to be Consolidated School Dis-
trict Number One. Well, I'll get the horses ready.
You'll drive home with us, Jim. (Colonel goes out)
Jennie. You silly boy ! You talked about the good
of the school all of the time, and never said a word
about your own salary !
Jim. Oh! I forgot all about it! I haven't thought
about that at all, Jennie.
Jennie. Jim, you need a guardian !
Jim. I know it, Jennie. And I know whom I
want.
(Jennie looks uneasy, etc.)
Jim. (Earnestly, taking Jennie's hands) Jennie,
you told me I must try to be something better than a
hired man, but I'm still that, the neighborhood's hired
man. But you see, don't you, that it's a man's job,
and more than a man's job? I'll have salary enough
now to be able to marry. I've loved you since we were
children at school. Could you, oh, could you, Jennie
— marry me — a hired man — the neighborhood's hired
man?
62
THE BROWN MOUSE 63
Jennie. I'm proud of you, Jim, and I'd like to help
— and — and Yes — I could marry a hired man
when the hired man's you !
(Enter the Colonel. Stands a motnent, and stares as
Jim holds Jennie^'s hands.)
Col. W. Jennie ! Jennie ! so you've lined Jim up,
have you? Well, don't forget he's a Broivn Mouse —
and these Brown Mice are the very devil to control !
CURTAIN.
THE REJUVENATION OF AUNT MARY.
The famous comedy in three acts, b}- Anne Warner. T males, 6
females. Three interior scenes. Costumes modern. Plays 2^4 hours.
This is a genuinely funny comedy with splendid parts for "Aunt Mary,"
"Jade," her lively nephew; "Lucinda," a New England ancient maid of all work;
"Jack's" three chums; the Girl "Jack" loves; "Joshua," Aunt Mary's hired
man, etc.
"Aunt Mary" was played by May Robson in New York and on tour for over
two years, and it is sure to be a big success wherever produced. We stronely
recommend it. Price, 60 Cents.
MRS. BUMSTEAD-LEIGH.
A pleasing comedy, in three acts, by Harry James Smith, author of
"The Tailor-Made Man." 6 males. 6 females. One interior scene. Cos-
tumes modern. Plays 2}^ hours.
Mr. Smith chose for his initial comedy the complications arising from the
ndeavors of a social climber to land herself in the altitude peopled by hyphenated
ames— a theme permitting innumerable com.plications, according to the spirit of
ithe writer.
\ This mosf successful comedy was toured for several season? by Mrs. Fiske
with enormous success. Price, 60 Cents.
MRS. TEMPLE'S TELEGRAM.
^ A most successful farce in three acts, by Frank Wyatt and William
^Morris. 5 males, 4 females. One interior scene stands throughout the
^hree acts. Costumes modern. Plays 3^^ hours.
f "Mrs. Temple's Telegram" is a sprightly farce in which there is an abund-
"ance of fun without any taint of impropriety or any element of offence. As
'noticed by Sir Walter Scott, "'Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we
practice to deceive!"
: There is not a dull moment in the entire farce, and from the time the curtain
irises until it makes the final drop tlie fun is fast and furious. A very exceptional
=farce. Price, 60 Cents.
THE NEW CO-ED.
A comedy in four acts^ by Marie Doran, author of "Tempest and
Sunshine," etc. Characters, 4 males, 7 females, though any number of
bo3'S and girls can be introduced in the action of the play. One interior
and one exterior scene, but can be easily played in one interior scene.
Costumes modern. Time, al^out 2 hours.
The theme of tbis play is the comincr ot n new student to the college, her
reception by the scholars, her trialr- and final triumph.
There are three especially good girl.^' parts, Letty, Madge and Estelle, but
the others have plenty to do. "Punch" DooHttle and George Washington Watts,
a gentleman of color, are two particularly good comedy characters. We can
strongly recommend "The New Co- Ed" to high schools' and amateurs.
Price, 30 Cents.
(The Above Are Subject to Royalty When Produced)
2
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
The Bro^\
016 103 754
A STORY OP
RURAL LIFE AND' EDUCATION
By HERBERT QUICK
rHE BROWN MOUSE, the novel from which the
■lay is adapted, Hghts up the whole field of rural
Miiication as nothing else can do.
M. J. ABBEY, Professor of Agricultural Education, West Virginia
University, says of it:
"Few men are able to write a book which makes its appeal from
two standpoints — the novel and informational. To the person who is
interested in 'tracing the success of an interesting character, The
Brown Mouse will appeal strongly. The book is of particular
interest to me from its educational standpoint."
DR. W. J. BLACK, President of the Manitoba Agricultural College,
Winnipeg, Canada:
"The Brown Mouse is one of the best combinations of good humor
and common sense I have examined for some time. Every one in
Canada and the United States interested in the question of better
education for the open country should read it."
F. B. JENKS, Professor of Agricultural Education, University of
Vermont:
"It shows so clearly what a person with even limited education can
do when he believes in farming, has a vision of what coui)try life
ought to be and recognizes the opportunities which the rural school
presents."
ROBERT H. WILSON, State Superintendent of School*, Oklahoma
City, Okla.:
"Every teacher in the state of Oklahoma ought to read The. Brown
Mouse. It comes nearer to presenting a new education, together
with the needs of the rhral schools, than any book I have ever
rea'd. Nothing will do more to help bring about the rural school
conditions which wc are scekinrf than for the teachers to read thi
vohiim-."
Illustrated. Price, $1.7S
THE BOBBS.MERRTLL COMPANY
PUBI.TSHERS INDIANAPOLIS