Price, 25 Cents The Reunion at Pine Knot Ranch BY MARIE IRISH PAINE PUBLISHING CO. DAYTON, OHIO I t Song Specialties for Your Entertainments Teachers are discovering that no matter how much novelty there is in their entertain- ment, how well it is arranged, how thoroughly drilled, if they want to hold the active interest of the audience they must use the best of songa The songs must be real novelties. The words must be interesting as well as decidedly clever. The music must be catehy and abounding in rich melody. With these things in mind we have prepared this list of superior song novelties for our patrons. All are in regular sheet music form. Price, 3S cents each; S for $1.25 WELCOME SONGS We've Just Arrived from Bashful Town. We Hope YouVe Brought Your Smiles Along. Come and Partake of OurWelcome Cake. We're Very Glad to See You Here. With Quaking Hearts We Welcome You. CLOSING SONGS • ■ I Mr. Sun and Mrs. Moon. * t Now, Aren't You Glad You Came? We Do Not Like to Say Goodbye. We'll Now Have to Say Goodbye. The Reunion at Pine Knot Ranch By Marie Irish AUTHOR OF "Choice Christmas Entertainments'' "Primary Christmas Book'' "Best Christmas Pantomimes" "Snappy Humorous Dialogues" PAINE PUBLISHING COMPANY DAYTON, OHIO The Reunion at Pine Knot Ranch CHARACTERS ]\iB. Hall, owner of ranch. '-TP^li?*^-^ Mrs. Hall, his wife. . ^ *X3^ Hal, their son, . [^ ^ Mes. ELerr, cook at the ranch. Bill \ Pete > cowboys. Shorty ) Mrs. Becker, a neighbor. GE!NE \ Cecil \ Cirls of 8, 11 and 13 related to Mr. Becker. Jo \ Time of Plating — About thirty minutes. Copyright, 1922, by L. M. Paine SEP 29 '11 ©C1A687048 The Reunion at Pine Knot Ranch COSTUMES Mrs. Hall, stylish house dress, hair nicely done, jewels; Mrs. Kerr, Mrs. Becker and the girls, common house dresses; Mr. Hall, business suit; Hal, Bill, Pete and iSftiorty, corduroy trousers or overalls, colored shirts, belts, colored handkerchiefs knotted around the throat. STAGE ARRANGEMENT The living room at Pine Knot ranch should have rugs on the floor, guns and long knives hung on the wall, several furs on the wall and spread on chairs. In the third scene there should be trimmings of evergreen. In the second scene the stage is scantily furnished with table, chairs and some cheap pictures pinned to wall. If stage is wide enough, second scene can be played in front of first, by having curtain a few feet from back, to do away with moving furniture of first scene. SCENE I — Living ro'om at Pine Knot Ranch Discovered, Hal, Bill, Pete a7id Shorty; sitting about the roofii. BiLL: Seems to me, seein' as how Chris 'mns is most here, that we'd oughter be fixin' up some an' gittin' ready to celebrate. Pete: Sure thing. Wot's the use of settin' 'round like the most important day o' the year wasn't huslin' right long, gettin' nearer all the while? I say, le's do some- thin'. Hal: That's what I say, too. We ought to decorate an' make some pop com balls, an' some candy. Is Ma Kerr getting some Christmas baking done? Shorty : I 'spose she is, seein' as your pa an' ma is expectin' to be here for Chris 'mus. We'll find out. [Calls.] Oh, Ma Kerr. BiLL: Don't you know her left ear is deaf an' her right one don't hear good? [Calls loudly.] Mother Kekr. 3 4 THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH Pete: You fellers ain't got no lungs. You couldn't even call the cows home. [Yells very loud.] Oh-ee, Ma Kerr. Enter Mrs. Kerr Mrs. Kerr: Lan' sakes, what's all this noise? Is one of you sick, ot is the house on fire ? BILL: Worse 'n that. Ma. There's an awful big mus C'omin'. Mrs. Kerr : What kind of a mus' ? BILL: Chris 'mus — don't you know what date it's gettin' to be? Mrs. Kerr: Is that all you called me here to tell me? [Stands arms akimbo.] Don't I know it? Ain't I makin' pound cake an' mince pies an' plum puddin' an' snaps an' cookies, gittin' ready for Chris 'mus dinner? Ain't I been cleanin' up an' washin' tablecloths an' get- tin' the house ready? Chris 'mus — you make me tired! Shorty : Good for you, Ma Kerr. We want to have a big time on Chris 'mus day an' we're glad you've got thing's started. ■^to*^ Hal: Won't you let us fellows make some candy? I think that would be fun. Folks always have candy at Christmas time. Mrs. Kerr: No, I won't. If we're goin' to have candy I'll make it myself. You'd git to actin' up or throwin' each other down or somethin' an' let the candy burn. Hal: No, we wouldn't. Say, can) we make some popcorn balls? Mrs. Kerr: Popcorn balls? If you made some you'd throw 'em at each other. No sir, I'll tell you now, we're goin' to have a splendid Chris 'mus, 'cause Mr. an' Mis' Hall's goin' to be here, an' you fellows has to dress up an' behave yerselves. BiLL: Aw, dress up — nothin' doin'! THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH 5 pETE: I don't know how to act when I'm dressied up. HAL: I get enough of bein' dressed up when I'm in the city. Mrs. Kerr: Well, I've told you what's what, an' you'll have to do like I say. Now I ain't got no more time to spend on you. I'm busy. [Exit.] SHORTY: Now, ain't she fierce? I'll bet she does jus' like she says. PETE: So do I. She's an awful hand to boss. [Sighs.] BILL: If she tries to make me wear a biled shirt an' a standin' collar I'll play I'm sick an' stay in bed. I • hate to be dressed up. Enter Mrs. Kerr, carrying a telegram. Mrs. Kerr: Jake Crandall jes' went past an' left this telegram. I wonder what it says. I '11 bet it 's some bad news. [Shakes head.] Pete: Who's it for? Mrs. Kerr: It's for Hal. I s'pose mebbe it's from his folks. Dear me, I wonder what it says. I never did like telegramses. SHORTY: Well, if it's for Hal, why not let 'im read it an' see what's gone wrong. Mrs. Kerr : Oh, do you s 'pose somethin 's gone wrong. Oh, dear, dear! An' jes' when I was makin' so much good stuff fer Chris 'mus. I wonder WHAT it says. It looks awful sad someway. Hal: Well, say, if it's mine, let me read it. I don't s'pose it's bad luck. Likely from father telling when they'll get here. Mrs. Kerr : I wonder if 'tis. Looks awful suspicious-like to me. Hal [goes over] ; Let me find out the worst. [Takes telegram.] 6 THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH Mrs. Kerr: Don't read it till I've g-ot set [She sits and clutches the chair.] Now I'll try to stand it. [Shuts her eyes.] Hal [after scanning telegram] : It's from father. There has been a wreck on one of the lines and they are detained so they may not get here for Christmas. Isn't that a shame ? BILL: I'll say it is. That's a nice way to spoil our Chris '- mus party. Mrs. Kerr: Dear, dear, an' all the good stuff I've got baked up an' more started. That's a nice way to treat us, I'll say. Shorty: Well, say, Ma, you act like they was to blame fer that accident. They didn't cause it. Mrs. Kerr: Well, it's a nice way to treat my Chris 'mus dinner — ^no matter who caused it. [Go'cs out angrily.] Hal: Now, ain't she the limit? Shucks, it'll be a dreary Christmas without the folks here. What '11 we do? Wish we could have a party and ask somebody in for dinner. Can't we do something to make things merry? Bill : Who '11 we ask ? Only one family within four- miles of us. Pete: Say, Becker told me that some his folks had come to stay with 'im — ^some young folks. Let's ask 'em over for a party. HAL: Are they boys or girls? Pete: I dunno — guess he didn't say. 'Course we don't want to ask girls over, but if there's some boys, le's have 'em. Shorty: That's what I say. We've got to have some sort of a good time or we won't know it's Chris 'mus. Besides, Mis' Becker is so ugly that she won't show- those new-comers any merriment. Let's ask 'em over. THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH 7 HAL: But wlmt if they're girls? Bill: I'll phone over an' find out 'bout it. Lucky they're on our line. [Hurries out.] Pete: I hope we can have 'em here; that Mis' Becker is the meanest crank in the county ; bet she wouldn 't git up a Chris 'mus dinner to please the King o' Kamchatky. HAL: We'll need some one to help eat Ma Kerr's goodies. Enter Bill. Bill: Say, I phoned over an' one the newcomers him- self answered. I asked how many of 'em had jest come there to stay an' he said three; then I asked what their namesi was and he said, Gene, Cecil an ' Joe, so you see, it's three boys. I asked if they'd come over for our Chris 'mus blow-iout an' he said they'd be glad to come if Mis' Becker didn't mind. She'd gone off an' they'll let us know soon's she's back. Enter Mrs. Kerr. Mrs. Kerr: Oh, my, my, my! Oh, dear, deary me! [Groans and sinks into chair. ] Hal: What's the matter? pETE: You sick, Ma Kerr? [They stand by her anx- iously.] Mrs. Kerr: Oh, it's took me awful bad. [Groans.] Oh, lawsy, this is the worst I've ever had. [Holds head with both hands and grouns.] Hal: What is it— a spell? Shorty : Is it the nooralgy ? Do you want the hot water bottle ? Bill: You want the arnicky to rub it? [Mrs. Kerr groans.] 8 THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH Pete: You want us to pbone for the doctor? [More groans.] Shorty: Shall we send for the preacher? Mrs. Kerr: No — I ain't dead. [Groans:] It's my noo- ralgy ; it's took me awful bad, all of a suddint, in my head. [Groans.] Now it's goin' down in my arm, too [They stand around her anxiously, one tries to rah her arm.] Run git that flannel out my chest to wrap my head in. [Shorty runs out.] This is terrible, jest at Chris 'mus. Thank goodness the baking's 'bout done. Oh, dear! [Groans.] Enter Shorty with long strip of red flannel, SHORTY: Shall we wind it 'round your head? Mrs. Kerr: Yes, yes. [Groans.] I'm gittin worse. [They wind the strip of flannel around her head, all try- ifig to help and Mrs. Kerr scolding.] I'll have to go lie down. This '11 last three days — it alius does. [She goes out groaning.] Hal: This is nice for our Christmas party. BILL: Oh, there's the phone. I'll see what Mis^ Becker says. [Runs out.] Shorty : Yes, comp'ny invited an' Mother Kerr sick, •shucks. [They sit around in disgust.] Enter Bill. Bill, [dropping into a chair and pretending to faint] : I'll be — . Hal : What 's the matter ? Pete: Can't they come? Shorty : Put the arnicky under his nose. BiiA.[sitting up] : No, you don't. Arnicky 's too strong for me. Say we're in for it. THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH 9 Hal: What's the matter? BILL: Matter enough! Mis' Becker phoned an' said if we're givin' a Chris 'mus party her nieces will be glad to come. SHORTY: Nieces — yon mean girls? BILL: Yep, girls! I didn't let on that we didn't know they was girls, but I said as how they 've got queer names an' she says yes, Gene is Eugenia, an' Joe is Josie, Cecil — she's a gal, too. Three of 'em! Hal: Good land, what we going to do? Pete: We can't give a party to three girls. Shorty : An' Mother Kerr sick in bed an' groanin' with pain. Hal: Well, we've invited them — ^we'll have to let them come. Pete: But what '11 they think to git here an' only find us three fellers? We need a chapyrony. Hal: 'Course we do an' we've got to have one. Won't be proper not to have a woman on deck but — ^we will. [Laughs.] We'll have one. pETE: Where you goin' to find 'er with no women round the country? Hal [laughing] : I'll have my old-maid aunt here to act as chapyro-ny — as Pete calls her. Shorty 'll make a good old-maid. [They all laugh.] Shorty: Not on your life! I won't do it. I object! I refuse ! HAL: Yes, you've got to. We ought to do some kindness on Christmas day; that's the rule, and we can do those girls a great kindness by giving them one of Mother Kerr's good dinners and showing them a merry time. Think how dreary they'll be with Mis' Becker, the old crank. 10 THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH BILL: Yep, that's so. Pete : Shorty can play lie 's a woman, well 's not. They won't know he ain't a nice ol' maid. [They laugh heartily.] Shorty: I won't, I shan't — SO! HAL: You've GOT to. We'll decorate the house and with what Ma Kerr has cooked we '11 have a fine dinner. We'll make candy and popcorn balls — ^say, it's going to be great. Bill : Yep, it will, all right. Shorty: Yep—it WON'T! Hal: Let's dress him up now and see how he looks. [Laughing^ they drag Shorty fr^om the rocmi.] CURTAIN SCENE II— The Becker Homa Discovered, Mrs. Becker. Mrs. Becker: Well, I'm sure glad to git rid of these* girls on Chris 'mus day. Seein' as Jason had to go off on that work an' can't be home I won't have to fix up no Chris 'mus dinner if they're g-one. An' if they're invited off fer dinner they won't need no other presents an' fussin'. I don't care nuthin' 'bout all this Chris 'mus palaver nohow. It's all bosh. Bad nuff to have these three girls sent down here to live with me, say nothin' 'bout makin' a merry Chris 'mus for 'em. Jes' cause they happen to be childem of his cousdn Howard that 's died, I don't see why they've got to come an' live here. Henry makes me tired — ^he's got too soft a heart an' I ain't skeered to tell 'im so. Well, I'll find some way to git rid of 'em 'fore long. Anyhow, thank goodniss, I ain't THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH 11 got to do no Chris 'mus fussin'. They've been hintin' 'bout a Chris 'mus tree an' makin' oandy an' things like that, but I didn't let on like I heerd. All this Chris 'miis nonsense would be cut out if I had my way, I'm tellin' ye. [Part of the time, while talking, she has heen wiping off the table and putting room in order.] Enter Josib. JosiE : Do I look all right to go to the party % Cecil let me wear her hair ribbon. Mrs. Becker [crossly] -. Han 'some is that han'some does. You'll look good nuff if you behave proper. Enter Eugenia. Gene: Well, I guess I'm ready for the party. I wish I had a sash to wear with my dress ; it would look lots nicer with a bright sash. [Timidly.] I don't s'pose you've got one you could let me wear, have you, Cousin Martha ? Mrs. Becker : I don't hold with borrowin' — it's a dreat- ful poor plan, 'cordin' to my idee. I guess you look good nuff an' I don't believe in folks dressin' better 'n they can afford. Folks that's livin' off other people can't put on style. Gene: All right, Cousin Martha. I didn't mean to make you cross, but my dress looks so plain that I wished 1 could have a sash. Mrs: Becker: Some folks has awful lofty notions. I've got some real bright cloth I spose I could let you wear. [Oo&s over and hunts in a basket; pulls out a strip of bright calico.] Now this '11 do real well for a sash. Gene: Oh, but that's calico! Mrs. Becker [angrily] : Well, what you want ? Silk er satin, I s'pose. This is plenty good nuff. I'U put it on 7^' 12 THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH Gene [timidly] : Oh, please, Cousin Martha, I don't think I want to wear this. The folks might laugh at me. Mrs. Becker : Laugh at some my good cloth, eh? Like to ketch 'em at it! You wanted a sash, now you'll wear one. [She puts the calico on Gene and ties it clumsily at one side.] This '11 do fine. [Gene wipes her eyes when Mrs. Becker tsn't looking.] Enter Cecil. Ckcil: I'm ready. I do hope we have, a good time. I think Christmas is splendid when we can go someplace. Mrs. Becker : Humph ! Chris 'mus ain 't no better 'n any other day. All this fussin' over it is stuff an' nonsense. Jo : We used to have a Christmas tree ev 'ry year an ' have splendid times. [Sighs.] Gene: Yes, an' we had the house decorated with greens. [Wistfully.] It seemsi queer not to get any presents. Mrs. Becker: If you've got money to buy yerselves Chris 'mus presents, buy 'em; you needn't look for 'em from folks that's keepin' ye fer nuthin'. I'll say it's plenty, an' too much, that we' have to give ye a home. CECIL: Yes, that's so, Cousin Martha. [Sadly.] I wish there was some way I could earn money to pay yon. My shoes look dreadful. Have you any blacking. Cousin Martha? Mrs. Becker: No, I hain't. Can't spend money fer it. CECIL: I wonder if I could put a little ink where they're worn off the worst. Mrs. Becker : Say, waste good ink on them old shoes ? I guess not. Don't be so troubled 'bout yer looks. Well, I s'pose it's 'bout time to be goin'. If they ask ye to stay to supper, too, be sure an' stSij. If you git a good fill-up today 'twon't take so much to feed ye toraorry. [Exit.] THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH 13 JO: Oh, Cecil, can't we go away from here? She's so mean. Gene: I won't wear this calico; it looks horrid. [Pulls sash off, wraps it up and throws it in basket,] Isn't this a terrible Christmas? Cecil [sadly] : If there was only some place e'lse we conld go. When spring comes we'll run away and I'll get a place to work. JO: Oh, if dear old Santa Claus would just bring us a home for a present it's all we'd ask. CECIL: Yes, a home where the folks liked us and wanted us to stay. This is the worst Christmas we've ever had. Gene: But anyway, let's be glad we're invited to a party. I hope there'll be some nice girls to play games with. CECIL: So do I. It must be time to start; let's get our things on because it's quite a walk over there Cousin Martha says. Jo: Yes, let's go. I want to get out of this house. [Exeunt.] CURTAIN SCENE III — Living room at Pine Knot ranch Shorty is dressed in rather a stylisli wool gown and a fancy- apron. He wears glasses and a lace breakfast cap pulled well down onto his face. A boy should be chosen for this part who looks like a woman when in costume. Discovered, Hal and Bill. Hal: Well, it's Christmas and our dinner is coming on fine. I DO hope Shorty plays his part all right. I feel sort of nervous 'bout him. Don't see why Mother Kerr had to get sick and go back on us. I'll admit I feel seared about entertaining three girls. 14 THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH BILL: Say, so do I. Good land, I don't know-what to say to girls, 'ill be plum' scart to death to try to talk to 'em. Wish we hadn't asked 'em. HAL: Well, we wouldn't have asked them if we'd known they were gfirls. Of eonrse Gene an' Cecil an' Joe ought to be boys. We can't help it now— we've got to go through with the party. BILL: Can't Mother Kerr get up so's to help talk to 'em? HAL: Oh, shucks, she groans if you look at her I We'il just have to manage somehow. I hope that blamed Shorty behaves all right. I'm afraid he'll get us m trouble. BILL: Say, if he don't it'll be a wonder. Enter Pete. PETE: Things all right? Looks fine here. Say— they're comin'. HAL: Are they? I'm scared stiff. Where's Shorty— I mean Aunt Bella? PETE: I'll bet he gets us in bad— I feel it in my bones. [Knock is heard.] Hal [motioning] : You go to the door, Pete. Pete [motioning] : You go. Bill. Bill [motioning] : You go, Hal; it's your house. Hal [stage whisper] : Oh, heavens an' earth! We forgot to dress up. [Louder knock is heard.] BILL: Scott's sake— I never thought of it. [Hal goes over and admits the girls.] Enter Gene, Cecil and Jo. Hal- Merry Christmas. Come in. We're very glad you came. I'm Hal Hall. [Girls say ''Merry Christmas" as he shakes hands.] THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH 15 Cecid: We're the Conway girls. I'm Cecil; this [points] is Gene, and this [points] is Jo. We're sure glad to come over and get acquainted. [Hal has them take off their wraps which Bill takes off stage.] Hal : This is Pete Evans — lone the fellows who lives here at the ranch. [Girls speak; Pete hows awkardly.] Where's that Shor — I mean, Aunt Bella? Pete [awkwardly to girls] : Real cold — that is, I mean it 's real nice out, ain 't it ? CECIL: Yes, it was very nice walking over; just cold enough to make us hurry. Enter Bill and Shorty [as Aunt Belua]. Hal: Aunt Bella, these are the Conway girls, Cecil and — Gene and Jo. [To girls.] This is Aunt Bella Lester who lives with us. Shorty [squeaky voice] : Merry Chris 'mus, young ladies. [Shakes hands.] I'm glad you've come. It's nice to have comp'ny on Chris 'mus. [All sit.] JO: Well, we're glad to come over here 'cause I guess we'd died if we'd had to stay at Cousin Martha ^s. Gene: She means that we were — well, sort of homesick. We always used to have a tree and lots of good times on Christmas before we came here. Hal: We don't care much about a Christmas tree because Pine Knot ranch has so many evergreen trees we don't think they're much of a treat. Shorty [natural voice] : When I was a boy in Ohio we^ — Hal [interrupting] : Aunt Bella, what's the matter with your voice? — ^you're hoarse. [Aside.] 'You dunce,, can't you remember. [To girls.] You mustn't mind Aunt Bella; she's — ^been sick. That'si — why she hias to wear a cap, you know. 16 THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH Cecil : I s 'pose her hair came out like Mis ' Jenson 's did when she had the fever. BILL: Have you girls seen any bears yeit since you came here ? JO: Oh, are there bears around here? I'd like to see one — if it wasn't too close. BiLL: Yes, there's quite a lot of 'em over in the hills. Shorty [natural voice] : Say, that time Bill an' me went bear huntin'. — Pete [interrupting] : Land sakes, Aunt Bell, you must take some lozerngers fer your voice. [Aside.] Say, we'll skin you if you hain't more careful. You'll spoil the whole shootin' match. Jo [looking closely at Shorty] : Aunt Bella seems a whole lot like a man. Hal: Well — w'y, — that's because his — I mean because her father was a man. Bill: Say, I think we'd oughter pop some corn or make candy. Gene : It 's lots of fun to make candy. We used to make it ev'ry Christmas. Shorty [using woman's voice] : Yes, we must make some candy. I know how to make some fine fudge. [He smiles at Cecil and crosses one leg over the other so as to show his trousers under the skirt.] Pete [whisper] : Put yer foot down, you chump! [Cecil notices the trousers and gives a gasp.] Hal: Aunt Bella, you better go see if the meat is cook- ing all right. [Shorty puts foot down hut not until the girls have seen the tro^lsers.] Shorty [natural voice] : Aw, Billys cookin' that meat — let him. THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH 17 Cecil [nervously] : Aren't there any other girls coming to the party ? Hal: Well, yon see, there aren't any more living near here. Shorty [woman's voice] : We don't need no more when I'm the ehapyrony. We'll make that candy right now, » 'fore dinner's ready. BILL: Well, we've got to look after the dinjier or we won 'it have none. Shorty [woman's voice] -. Well, go look after it. BILL: Yon come help me. Aunt Bell. [He goes to take hold of the hreakfast cap, Shorty dodges and the cap comes off in Billys hand.] Shorty : There, look what yon 've done ! Cecil : Oh, he IS a man ! Gene: We mustn't stay here when there's only men. Jo : Oh, I want some dinner 'fore I go. Pete: You chump, I knew you'd spoil things. Shorty [loudly] : Don't you blame me — I didn't want to be no woman. Enter Mr. and Mrs. Hall. Mr. Hall: Well, well, what's the racket about? Mrs. Hall: Shorty, what are you doing in that dress? Hal : Oh, say, folks, I neveir was so glad to see any one in my life. [Business of shaking hands, saying '^ Merry Christmas'' etc.] Mr. Hall: We were afraid we couldn't get here today, but we made it. 18 THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH HAL: Dad and mother, these are our neighbors from the Becker ranch who've eome over to have Christmas din- ner with u*. [Mr. arid Mrs. Hall greet the girls. Shorty slips out.] Mrs. Hall: We're very glad to have yon with ns. I've often wished there were some girls living near Pine Knot ranch. How is dinner coming? Mr. Hall: That's what I want to know. I'm mosf starved. Pete: We've been talkin' so much I guess it ain't comin' very fast. Enter Mrs. Kerr. Mrs. Kerr: Oh, gracious me! If here ain't Mr. an' Mis^ Hall — -an' I'll bet dinner ain't half ready. It's a good thing my nooralgy's got better. Mr. Hall: Well, I hope it's better or I'll faint from hunger. Mrs. Kerr: Don't you fret, sir. I'll have things ready in no time. [Exit.] HAL: I guess Cecil 'and Gene and Jo will be hungry, too. Mrs. Hall [turning quickly] : What? What did you eall them? CECIL: I'm Cecil, this [pointing] is Gene and this is Jo. Mrs. Hall : Quick, tell me your last name. What is it ? Cecil : Conway. Our father was Howard Conway. Mrs. Hall: Howard Conway! [Hugs the girls.] Oh, you dear, DEAR girls. I 've hunted for you so long and now to find you in my own home. Hal, thes^e are your cousins. Mr. HALL: What? Howard ^s girls? - How glad I am. THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH 19 Mrs. Hald : After your mother died your father took you girls east; soon we moved west and after a time I lost trace of you. I have tried many times to find where you were. Gene: "We're living with cousin Martha Becker now. JO: And we don't like it a bit. Mrs. Hall: No, I'm sure you don't. Well, thank fate, you won't live there any longer. Your mother was my dearest cousin. Mr. Hall : No, they '11 live with us. We need some girls to keep Hal straight. Hal: Oh, say, they'll be our Christmas presents. Isn't that great? Jo : And to think that Santa Claus brought us a home for a Christmas present, just as^ we wished he would. Gene: Isn't this the best Christmas we've had since papa left us? Cecil : Oh, it surely is. [Laughs.] But where has Aunt Bella gone? Enter Shorty [regular clothes]. Shorty: She's gone, but I'm here an' if you girlsi are goin' to stay here I'll teach you to ride wild horses. Gene: I'd love that — if they aren't too wild. Enter Mrs. Kerr. Mrs. Kerr: Dintner's ready, folks. 'Tain't so good as if I hadn't been down with nooralgy, but it'll keep you from starvia'. Mr. Hall: Peace on earth, good will to men. Christmas is a wonderful day, especially when there's a good dinner waiting. [All pass out.] CURTAIN Entertainments for All Oeeasions ♦^•..•..•-••••"••••••••••"••••"•"•"•••••••"•"•••••••"••••"0"«"»"»"»"»..»..«..«..«..«..»..«..«..«..«..»..,..,..,..,.. special Day Entertainments BEST CHRISTMAS PANTOMIMES— Irish $0.40 CHOICE CHRISTMAS DIALOGUES AND PLAYS—Irish .40 CHOICE CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS—Irish 40 CHRISTMAS AT McCARTHYS»~Guptill 25 CHRISTMAS AT PUMPKIN HOLLER— Guptill 25 CHRISTMAS EVE AT MULLIGAN'S— Irish 25 CHRISTMAS SPEAKIN' AT SKAGGS' SKULE— Irish 25 IN A TOY SHOP— Preston 25 THE PRIMARY CHRISTMAS BOOK— Irish 40 PUMPKIN PIE PETER— Irish 25 THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH— Irish .25 SNOWBOUND FOR CHRISTMAS— Preston 25 A STRIKE IN SANTA LAND— Preston 25 A THANKSGIVING CONSPIRACY— Irish 25 A THANKSGIVING DREAM— Preston .25 A TOPSY-TURVY CHRISTMAS— Guptill .25 Dialogues and Children's Plays ALL IN A GARDEN FAIR— Wilbur $0.25 DOLLS ON DRESS PARADE— Preston .25 A PARTY IN MOTHER GOOSE LAND— Preston .25 SNAPPY HUMOROUS DIALOGUES— Irish 40 Recitations and Pantomimes CATCHY PRIMARY RECITATIONS— Irish $0.30 OLD TIME SONGS PANTOMIMED— Irish 40 Plays THE DEAREST THING IN BOOTS— MacKenzie $0.25 THE GREAT CHICKEN STEALING CASE OF EBENEZER COUNTY—Richardson , 25 THE GREAT WHISKEY STEALING CASE— Richardson 25 MISS JANIE; OR, THE CURTAILED COURTSHIP— Bonham. .25 THAT AWFUL LETTER— MacKenzie 25 THE UNEXPECTED GUEST— MacKenzie 25 Monologues AS OUR WASHWOMAN SEES IT— MacKenzie $0.25 ASK OUIJA— MacKenzie 25 THE COUNTRY COUSIN SPEAKS HER MIND— Ma«Kenzie . . .25 GLADYS REVIEWS THE DANCE— MacKenzie 25 I'M ENGAGED— MacKenzie 25 SHE SAYS SHE STUDIES— MacKenzie 25 SUSAN GETS READY FOR CHURCH— MacKenzie 25 »■■»■■»■■>.■»■■»..»..#..#..»..«..♦..»..»..»..♦..«..».««..«..«..<•.♦..♦..«•■ PAINE PUBLISHING CO. Dayton, Ohio Entertainments for Christmas i»..«..a.f»>.a..»..«..»..»M«>«>.a»»<«»>t«.. CHOICE CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS By Marie Irish For children of all grades. Contents: 50 recitations, 8 mono- logues, 11 plays and dialogues, 5 drills and marches, 8 tableaux, 4 pantomimes, 8 pantomimed carols, 8 songs, etc. Price, 40 centa. THE PRIMARY CHRISTMAS BOOK By Marie Irish For children under ten years of age. Contents: 68 recitations, 12 exercises, 7 songs, 6 drills, 12 dialogues and plays, 9 pantomimes. Price, 40 cents. BEST CHRISTMAS PANTOMIMES By Marie Irish Twelve pantomimes, each accompanied by complete words, directions and music. Some are serious and some are in a lighter vein. Price, 40 cents. CHOICE CHRISTMAS DIALOGUES AND PLAYS... By Marie Irish Ten dialogues for Primary Grades, 10 dialogues for Intermediate Grades and 8 plays for Grammar Grades. Price, 40 cents. CHRISTMAS AT MCCARTHYS' By Elizabeth F. Guptill Brimful of fun and Christmas spirit. For any number of young folks and children. Time, 30 minutes. Price, 25 cents. CHRISTMAS AT PUMPKIN* HOLLER By Elizabeth F. Guptill The old-fashioned school is rehearsing for the Christmas enter- tainment. Funny from beginning to end. Time, 30 minutes. For any number of children. Price, 25 cents. CHRISTMAS EVE AT MULLIGAN'S By Marie Irish For all grades. 4 males, 5 females. Time, 30 minutes. A most unusual play. Plenty of w^it and humor as well as more serious episodes. Sure to be a success. Price, 25 cents. CHRISTMAS SPEAKIN' AT SKAGGS' SKULE By Marie Irish A back woods? school entertainment is featured. Easy to pre- pare and plenty of fun. For 6 boys and 8 girls. Time, 30 minutes. Price, 25 cents. IN A TOY SHOP By Effa E. Preston In rhyme. For 12 or more small children. A clever little play that will please. Time, 20 minutes. Price, 25 cents. THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH By Marie Irish For upper grades. 5 males and 6 females. Time, 30 minutes. Plenty of fun and a great surprise. Price, 25 cents. SNOWBOUND FOR CHRISTMAS By Marie Irish For 4 boys and 4 girls. For mixed grades. Time, 25 minutes. The older children play Santa Claus for the younger ones. Price, 25 cents. A STRIKE IN SANTA LAND By Effa E. Preston In rhyme. 8 boys, 7 girls. Time, 20 minutes. Very easy but efEective. Price, 25 cents. A TOPSY-TURVY CHRISTMAS .By Elizabeth F. Guptill Humorous. For any number of children under fourteen years of age. Time, 30 minutes. Price, 25 cents. PAINE PUBLISHING CO. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 017 400 676 3