iiiiiiiiiiii!iii!iii!ii!;[;;:i::i!!ii;:i:!;;i!:':!iihiii;!iiiiiii Price 30 Cents DENISON'S ACTING PLAYS Partial List of Successful and Popular Plays. Large Catalogue Froe. DRAMAS, COMEDIES, ENTERTAINMENTS, Etc. M. F. Aaron Boggs, Freshman, 3 acts, 2j| hrs (35c) 8 8 Abbu San of Old Japan, 2 acts, 2 hrs (35c) .15 All a Mistake, 3 acts, 2 hrs. (35c) 4 4 All on Account of Polly, 3 acts, 2^ hrs (35c) 6 10 And Home Came Ted, 3 acts, 254 hrs (50c) 6 6 Arizona Cowboy, 4 acts, 2% hrs (35c) 7 5 Assisted by Sadie, 4 acts, 2J4 hrs (50c) 6 6 As a Woman Thinketh, 3 acts, 2y2 hrs (35c) 9 7 At the End of the Rainbow, 3 acts. 2^ hrs (35c) 6 14 Betty's Last Bet, 3 acts, 2^ hrs (50c) 5 6 Black Heifer, 3 acts, 2 hfs. (25c) '..9 3 Boy Scout Hero, 2 acts, IH hrs. (25c) '....17 Boy Scouts' Good Turn, 3 acts, IVa hrs ...(25c) 16 2 Busy Liar, 5 acts, 2^/^ h. (25c) 7 4 Cabin Courtship, 3 acts, 2 hrs. (35c) 5 4 Call of Wohelo, 3 acts, 1^ hrs (25c) 10 Civil Service, 3 acts, 2^/4 hrs. (35c) 6 5 Clubbing a Husband, 3 acts, 2 hrs (35c) 12 College Town, 3 acts, 2J4 hrs (35c) 9 8 Deacon Dubbs, 3 acts, 2^ hrs. (35c) 5 5 Deacon Entangled, 3 acts, 2 hrs. (35c) 6 4 Dream of Queen Esther, 3 acts, 2^ hrs (35c) 3 16 Dream That Came True, 3 acts, 2^ hrs (35c) 6 13 Early Bird, 3 acts, 2J4 hrs. (35c) 7 7 Editor-in-Chief, 1 hr (2Sc) 10 Empty House, 3 acts and epi- logue, 2J4 hrs (35c) 6 8 Everyvouth, 3 acts, lYz h. (25c) 7 6 Fifty-Fifty, 3 acts, 2% hrs. (50c) 5 5 For the Love of Johnny, 3 acts, 2^ hrs (50c) 6 3 Fun on the Podunk Limited, VA hrs (30c) 9 14 Fun Revue, 2 hrs (35c) Optnl. Gettin' Acquainted, 25 min. (35c) 1 2 Gold Rug. 4 acts. 214 hrs..(Snc> 7 7 M. >!. Her Honor, the Mayor, 3 acts, 2 hrs (3Sc) 3 5 High Brown Breach of Prom- ise, 1 hr (30c)16 Indian Days, 1 hr ..(50c) 5 2 In Hot Tamale Land, 2 acts, 2 hrs (35c) 6 4 Jayville Junction, IJ^ hrs. (30c) 14 17 Kicked Out of College, 3 acts, 2J4 hrs (35c) 10 9 Kingdom of Heart's Content, 3 acts, 2J4 hrs (35c) 6 12 Laughing Cntt, 2 acts, 154 hrs. (35c) 4 5 Lie That Jack Built, 1 act, 30 min (35c) 2 2 Lighthouse Nan, 3 acts, 2J4 hrs t35c) 5 4 Little Clodhopper, 3 acts, 2 hrs (3Sc) 3 4 Mary's Millions, 3 acts, 2]^ hrs (50c) 5 6 Mirandy's Minstrels. ... (30c) Optnl. Mrs. Tubbs of Shantytov/n, 3 acts, 214 hrs (35c) 4 7 My Irish Rose, 3 acts, 25^ hrs. (3Sc) 6 6 Old. Maids, 3 acts, 2 hrs... (50c) 5 8 Old School at Hick'ry Holler, 1% hrs (30c) 12 9 Poor Married Man, 3 acts, 2 hrs ...(35c) 4 4 Prairie Rose. 4 acts, 254 h.(35c) 7 4 Real Thing After All, 3 acts, 2J4 hrs (35c) 7 9 Royal Cut-Up, 2 acts, 2 hrs. (35c) 7 3 Rustic Romeo, 2 acts, 2^4 hrs (3Sc)1012 Ruth in a Rush, 3 acts, 2}4 hrs (35c) 5 7 Safety First, 3 acts, 2'^ hrs (35c) 5 5 Southern Cinderella, 3 acts, 2 hrs (35c) 7 Spell of the Image, 3 acts, 2^4 hrs (35c)10 10 Star Bright, 3 acts, 25/^ h. (35c) 6 5 Thread of Destiny, 3 acts, 25^ hrs (35c) 9 16 Trial of Hearts, 4 acts, 2^4 hrs. (35c) 6 18 Trip to Storyland, 1% hrs.(2Sc)17 23 Under Blue Skies, 4 acts, 2 hrs (35c) 7 10 Way Down Along, Prologue and 2 acts, 2 hrs (35c) 7 3 When Smith Stepped Out, 3 acts, 2 hrs (50c) 4 4 When the Clock Strikes Twelve, 3 acts, 21/2 hrs ..(35c) 8 20 Whose Little Bride Are You? 3 acts, 2y2 hrs (50c) 5 5 Winning Widow, 2 acts, 1J4 hrs. (25c) 2 4 Zaraeueta. 2 acts. 2 hrs.. . (3Sc) 7 4 T. S. DENISON & COMPAN Y,Publishers. 623 S. Wabash Ave. .Chicaso THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL A HUMOROUS ENTERTAINMENT BY MAYME RIDDLE BITNEY AUTHOR OF 'Humorous Monologues," "Monologues for Young Folks," "Fun on the Podunk Limited," "The Third Degree" "The Light Brigade," etc. CHICAGO T. S. DENISON & COMPANY Publishers THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR EIGHT MALES AND TWELVE FEMALES. CHARACTERS. (In the order of their appearance.) Miss Melvina Mullins Country School Ma'am Henry Hawkins ■ . .A Backward Schoolboy Mrs. Hawkins : Henry's Ma MiLLY Simpson Half of the Tivins Tilly Simpson The Other Half Mrs. Simpson Their Ma Caleb Boggs A Hustling Student Jason Boggs His Bashful Brother Mrs. Potter A Cautious Mother Tommy Potter Her Delicate Child Mrs. Gunn 4n Impressive Parent Cora Gunn Her Precocious Pet Mrs. Wilcox lohnn/s Talkative Ma Johnny Wilcox Headed for College Peter Jenkins 1 Sarah Jenkins lust a Few of Rosy Jenkins f The Jenkins Family Josh Jenkins j Annie Tibbetts A Real Bright Gal Ole Olson He Ban Yiist In Time Place — A Country Schoolroom. Time — Opening Day of the District School. Time of Playing — About Thirty Minutes COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY MAYME RIDDLE BITNEY. 2 * • " ©CI.D (517:i8 TMP92-008649 THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL COSTUMES AND CHARACTERISTICS. All the characters should be played by adult persons, dressed in old-fashioned country clothes. All the mothers except Mrs. Gunn wear everyday dresses, odd hats and eccentric wraps. The pupils all dress as children, the boys wearing knee-breeches or trousers halfwa> to the ankles, with bright stockings. Some of the pupils may bring lunch pail, box or basket. Miss Mullins is a typical old maid school ma'am, with corkscrew curls, spectacles, bright skirt of one color and waist O'f another, bright ribbon sash, jewelry. The Hawkinses are very rustic. Mrs. Simpson is fat and smiling. MiLLY and Tilly should be girls of good size, dressed alike in white with bright sashes and hair-ribbons. Their hair is worn in braids. The two should be as much alike as possible, in size and complexion as well as in costume. Caleb is short and fat. Jason, his older brother, is tall, slender and very bashful. His hair is parted in the middle, his coat is too tight and his pants are too short. Mrs. Potter is small and sHght. A big, fat, bald-headed man will make a hit as Tommy, her son. He should wear a ruffled waist with large collar, a large bright bow tie, and loud stockings. Mrs. Gunn tries to be verv^ impressive, and is loudly dressed. Cora is prim and well dressed. Mrs. Wilcox is tall and thin. Johnny should be a good-sized man, but should dress and act as if he were about seven. The Jenkins children are of various sizes, and very coun- trvfied'in dress and manner. 4 THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL Annie is tall, overgrown and rather "simple." •She wears slouchy clothes, including a rather long skirt, a short, old- fashioned waist and a funny apron. Her hair is done in a pigtail with a large bow at the back. A hair switch of the same shade as her own is lightly fastened to this bow, so that it will come off easily when Johnny pulls it. She wears a sunbonnet, which she does not remove until she has been in the schoolroom for several minutes. Ole is a lanky, grinning, good-natured Swede. He wears overalls which are shrunk halfway up to his knees, cotton jacket, red handkerchief around his neck. He should have light hair and very healthy red cheeks. REMARKS. Since a great deal depends on the novelty of the costumes as well as the acting of the players, due attention should be paid to getting effective garments. Keep up the action constantly. Have all entrances made promptly, and do not allow the performance to drag at any point. The pupils ma}^ be permitted to do a few amusing side stunts, but never in a manner to detract attention from the performers who are speaking. Some of the pupils may eat from their lunch pails on the sly. Others may ''pass notes," and indulge in the other bits of by-play characteristic of school life. The entertainment is so devised that it can be presented on any platform, without special scenery or properties. The list of performers may be easily lengthened or reduced. Additional specialties may be introduced, or substituted for those that are suggested. "The First Day of School" is recommended for any occa- sion where a wholesome, humorous entertainment is desired, and if it is sufficiently rehearsed and the parts are well taken, it will go with a rush from start to finish. Wliile designed for use with an adult cast, it may be presented with juvenile talent if desired. THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 5 ACCESSORIES. Clock,, bell, mirror, books for children, dinner pails, apple for Tommy, tack for Henry, crayon for drawing and writ- ing. There should be several picture books on the desk which the teacher can give to Tommy, Johnny and the others to look at, when she seats them. STAGE DIRECTIONS. Up stage means away from footlights ; dozvn stage, near footlights. In the use of right and left, the actor is sup- posed to be facing the audience. THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL Scene: A country schoolroom. Only one door or en- trance is used, and it may be located zt^herever convenient. At the back of the stage is a blackboard, zinth chalk and' erasers. Tzvo or three maps or cheap colored pictures can adorn the ztnlls. The teacher's desk or table, zmtJi chair back of it, is dozvn stage, either right or left. A zmter pail and dipper are on a stool at the back of the room. There should be cither a clothes rack, or else a rozv of pegs or hooks on the zvall. Cracked mirror on zvall. The chairs or benches for the pupils* seats are in rozvs running up and dozi'n stage, so that the pupils sit sidezvays to the audience. There should be sufficient open space across the back of the stage, and across dozvn stage as well, to allozu for the action of the entertainment. Lively "kid'' music, such as "Mud Pie Days," may ac- company the rise of the curtain. As soon as the curtain is up. Miss Mullins enters. She carries a small clock, a bell, a dinner pail and some books. Miss M. {to herself). Well, I'm here very early, but I like to have plenty of time the first day of school. {Hangs up hat, puts clock and other articles on desk, etc.) How dcWghtinX to have school begin again. I do love the dear little folks. They are so inter^^^ing, and so — so fascinating. I wouldn't teach school if it weren't for the nice children. I do hope they will all love m,e very much. I am quite sure they learn better when they love their teacher. {Discovers the cracked mirror on the zvall. Stands before it and primps, then goes to her desk.) Now I am ready to welcome the dear children when they arrive. Mrs. Hawkins and Henry enter. She is leading him by the hand. Mrs. H. Good mornin'. I s'pose you're the new 6 THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 7 teacher. (Stands and looks Miss M. over. Miss M. bozvs and smiles.) I'm Mis' Hawkins, and I've brung my boy to start school. (Shakes hands awkwardly zvith Miss M.) Miss M. How very nice. What is his name? Mrs. H. (to Henry). Wal, speak up an' tell the teacher what's your name. Henry (in lout voice). Hank. Mrs. H. Now, she can't hear that. Speak up like you've got life 'nough to kill a miskeeter. Henry (in loud voice). Hank. Mrs. H. No, no! "Henry." Henry (louder). No, no. Henry. Miss M. (shakes hands zvith him). Well, Henry, I hope we shall think a great deal of each other and get along very well. ^ Mrs. H. Now, teacher, look here. I don t want Hank- that is, Henry— foolin' 'way his time. I'm sendin' him to school 'to larn, an' I want 'im teached somethin' new all the time. Mebbe he can't be kep' in school many years, an' I want 'im to make hay while the sun shines. Miss M. Of course. Henry Maw, I didn't know's they made hay to school. I thought they larnt. Mrs. H. (shaking finger at him). Teacher knows what I mean. Now, you behave all day an' have somethin' to tell me that you've larnt when vou come home to-night. None o' your diddledawlin', young man. Now, teacher, I got to ^o home an' see to bakin' my bread. Some night you drop home with Hank— that is Henry— an' take supper with us. (They shake hands, say good-bye, etc. Mrs. H. goes out.) , . , . , • 1 . :) Henry. Teacher, do I haft to begin larnm right now .^ Miss M. No, not until school takes up. (Henry sits at front bench.) ^ Enter Mrs. Simpson, zvith Milly and Tilly. Mrs S How-do-do. You the new teacher? (Miss M. bozvs, etc.) Wal, girls, this is her. I'm Mis' S\m^^son (shakes hands). I've fetched my twins over to have em start school. 8 THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL I like to know they git a good startin' out. Girfs, make your manners. (Girls bow.) Miss M. (shaking hands with tunns). Oh, isn't it nice to have twins come to school! I think it's c^clightful to be twins. What are your names? Mrs. S. Wal, tell teacher your names, an' no foolin'. MiLLY (szvinging her skirt, and grinning). I'm Milly an' she's Tilly. Tilly (doing the same). I'm Tilly an' she's Milly. MiLLY (pointing). An' she's Tilly an' I'm Milly. Tilly (pointing). An' she's Milly an' I'm Tilly. Miss M. (bewildered). Oh, yes, you're — (looks from one to o titer). Milly (rapidly).. I'm Milly an' she's Tilly. Tilly (rapidly). I'm Tilly an' she Milly. Milly. She's Tilly an' I'm Milly. Tilly. She's Milly an' I'm Tilly. Mrs. S. (pushing Milly to one side.) That's Milly. (Pushes Tilly to other side.) An' that's Tilly. They're awful good girls, an' you won't have a mite o' trouble with 'em. Some of the younguns in this deestrick acts jes* ter- rible, but Milly an' Tilly has been brought up to behave. I alius tell 'em if they don't behave to school they're goin' to git a good spankin' to home. But they won't need no spankin', 'cause they behave good. Now (sJiakes finger at them), you heerd me tell teacher you're goin' to behave. Milly. Yes, maw. Tilly. Yes, maw. Mrs. S. I thought I'd come over with 'em this mornin' an' tell you that you wouldn't have no trouble with 'em, but that they's some o' these children that acts up awful. An' them that acts up, don't you be 'fraid to lick 'em. It's what they need. Now, teacher, I got to go, 'cause I got a bunch o' men to cook dinner for. Don't you be 'fraid to come over some day to a meal. Mebbe I ain't a very good cook, but they ain't nothin' poison. (With a good-bye to teacher and girls, she exits.) THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 9 Miss M. Well, now — {looks Jicsitatingly at one twin, then at the other). MiLLY {rapidly). Tin Milly an' she's Tilly. Tilly {rapidly). I'm Tilly an' she's Milly. MiLLY. She's"' Tilly an' I'm Milly. Tilly. She's Milly an' I'm Tilly. Miss M. Well, children, you sit down until some more of the children get here. (Milly and Tilly sit behind Henry.) Caleb enters, leading Jason by the hand. Caleb {stands grinning at teacher). Mornin'. Miss M. Oh, good morning. These are some more of my nice new pupils, are they not? I'm glad to see you. What are your names? Caleb. I'm Caleb Boggs. {Pulls Jason's hand.) Tell teacher what your name is. (Jason grins bashfully and shakes his head.) You know maw said she'd wallop you if you didn't speak up to teacher. (Jason hides back of Caleb and shakes his head.) He's bashful. He's awful easy skeert of women. {To Jason.) Now you be good an' tell teacher your name. (Jason shakes Jiis head.) Come on, now, an' be good, like maw said as how to. Miss M. {coaxing). Oh, now, don't be scared of teacher. I like little boys very much. We're going to think lots of each other. Tell me what your name is. (Jason acts very inucJi frightened and shakes his head.) Milly {giggles). Oh, he's growed up awful tall. Tilly (giggles). Don't dare open his mouth at all. {Both Miss M. How old are you? Caleb. I'm eight, teacher, an' brother, he's ten. But he's alius been awful skeert o' women an' I ain't skeert a-tall. Miss M. {to Jason). You mustn't be scared of me. (Starts to put her hand on Jason's shoulder. He jumps around and hides back of Caleb.) Jason {terrified). D-d-don't let 'er git me, Caleb! 10 THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL Tilly and Milly {giggle and point fingers). 'Fraid cat, 'fraid cat ! Miss M. Well, you boys sit down, and after awhile, when he finds out how nice teacher is, he won't be afraid. (Caleb and Jason sit with pupils.) Caleb {to Jason). I'm goin' to tell maw on you, I be. Henry. Say, Caleb, you oughter brung a bottle long for him, he's sech a baby. (Laughs.) Milly and Tilly. Te, he, he! Such a baby! (Giggle.) Miss M. Children, children ; don't tease him. Mrs. Potter and Tommy enter. Mrs. p. Good mornin', teacher. (Shakes hands zinth Miss M.) I s'pose my little Tommy might have come alone, but I thought as how I might's well come 'long an' see first ofif what the new teacher looks like. You know, I think they's quite a little in how a teacher looks, 'bout whether the children likes her. Miss M. Oh, yes, indeed, '\ly pupils always like me very much. Mrs, p. Wal, now, you don't say! Wal, wal! But then, looks is quite often deceivin'. Yes, this is Tommy. (Miss M. shakes hands ivith Tommy.) Wal, Tommy, say somethin' to teacher. Don't stan' there like a bump on a log an' make 'er think you can't talk. Tommy (stammers). I — I — teacher, I got a red calf — to home. (Twists and grins.) Miss M. Oh, isn't that nice. A. red calf. • Mrs. p. Now teacher, Tommy is an awful delicate little boy. He's tall, but you can see he don't look very rugged, an' I hope you'll take real good care of 'im. He's real easy to git sick an' have spells. Sometimes he can't eat hardly nothing 'cause he don't feel good. Pve alius watched over 'im awful careful an' I hope you'll do the same, I want 'im to be larnt but I hope you won't let 'im study too hard. H he gits real tired out, couldn't you let 'im take a little nap? I went to school to an awful kind teacher once that let the little ones take naps in school. J THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 11 Miss M. Well — why, really, I don't know where he could sleep. Mrs. p. Shucks! Couldn't you put your jacket down on a bench for 'im to sleep on? Miss M. Well — dear me. I hate to get my jacket all wrinkled. Mrs. p. Good Ian' sakes, I guess a little fellow like Tommy wouldn't hurt it none ! Tommy (yawns and rubs his eyes). Maw, Fm sleepy right now. Mrs. p. Oh, no. Now, Tommy, you ain't sleepy yet. You hain't hardly been up any time a-tall. School's goin' to take up by-an'-by, an' maybe teacher'll tell you a story 'bout a nice little boy. Tommy. I want to hear a story 'bout a red calf. Henry. Teacher, I want to hear a story 'bout a bear. Milly. Oh, teacher, won't you tell a story 'bout Injuns? Tilly. An' have 'em scalp somebody, teacher. Tommy. Maw, I want to go home with you. Mrs. p. No, Tommy, you've got to stay an' git larnt something. Here's your nice apple. (Gives him an apple from her poekef.) Tommy (sobs). I don't — want to — git — scalped by Injuns. Mrs. p. Now, don't worry. Teacher won't let the Injuns hurt you, not a bit. You mus' be maw's brave little boy. (Aside to Miss M.) Now, you see, teacher, you have to be awful careful with the little fellow an' not let 'im git nerv- ous, or he'll be sick. Miss M. I see. Fll do the best I can, I promise you. Mrs. p. I wish I could stay an' see Tommy git larnt something, but I've got to trot home an' do up the breakfast dishes. Now, Tommy, you do just what teacher says, an' be good so teacher'll like you. Good-bye, teacher. Good- bye, Tommy, an' be maw's nice little boy. (Exit.) (During the above scene, Milly has been teasing Jason.) Caleb (to Milly). Now, you let him alone an' quit pick- in' on 'im or I'll hit you in the face. 12 THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL Miss M. Oh, oh, my! Don't talk Hke that. Caleb. Well, she's a-teasin' my brother an' she's got to quit. MiLLY. I wasn't teasin' him, teacher. I was only tryin' to make him tell me his name, so now. (Makes face at Caleb.) Tommy (who is still standing). Teacher, where can I set me down? (Miss M. puts him in a seat by himself.) I'm sleepy. Miss M. Oh, no, you aren't sleepy yet. Tommy. (He starts to eat his apple.) Henry. Teacher, ain't it time for school to begin? Miss M. No, not yet. You got here real early. (Tilly and Milly cross over and sit by Tommy. First one, and then the other, keeps taking his apple and biting it.) Mrs. Gunn and Cora e^nter. ^Irs. G. Good morning, teacher. Is this you? I'm Mrs. Gunn an' I am glad to enjoy your acquaintance. I came over to bring Cora because she was a little disinclinationed to come alone on the first morning. Cora, this is teacher. Be glad to git acquainted with her. Cora (bows). I'm glad to git acquainted, teacher. (Miss M. shakes hands zvith them.) Tommy (cries). Boo-hoo-hoo! Boo-hoo-hoo ! (Milly and Tilly slip back to their ozvn seats.) Miss M. Tommy, what's the matter? (He sobs.) Tell teacher what's the matter, Tommy. Tommy. They et my apple till it's all gone. (Sobs.) Miss M. Why, why, girls, how naughty! (Looks at Milly.) Tilly, that was very bad. Milly. I'm Milly an' she's Tilly. Tilly. I'm Tilly an' she's Milly. Milly. She's Tilly an' I'm Millv. Tilly. She's Milly an' I'm Tilly. Mrs. G. Some children in this district are very dilapidated in their etiquetical behavior, teacher. THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 13 Tilly. Teacher, maw says if Mis' Gunn don't stop shoot- ing off big words she'll hurt herself some day. Mrs. G. Teacher, I hope you will apply chastisement in the cases where it is plainly necessary. I am thankful my Cora never needs correcting. You will find her very bright, too, teacher. She takes after my family that way, teacher. My folks has been real hands tO' acquire learning. Her father's side of the house leaned more to manual occupations — not but what they are splendiferous people, teacher. I am quite sure Cora is going to be a fine student. She can spell "cat" already. Cora, spell "cat" for teacher. Spell "cat." Cora {after deep thought). C — o — w. Mrs. G. Oh, you thought I said to spell "cow," didn't you? Well, that was right. Didn't she spell "cow" finely, teacher? I hope you will be very careful to have her acquire knowledge. Now, teacher, I am so pressed: with occupations that I must take my departure. Good-bye. (Exit.) MiLLY. Teacher, if she had left her departure here, 'stead of takin' it, what would it look like? Is it somethin' to eat? Tommy. Teacher, I want some departure to eat. I'm hungry. Mrs. Wilcox and Johnny enter. Mrs. W. Well, here we be, teacher. I thought ma}be we'd be late, but I couldn't git here a minute sooner with all I had to do this mornin'. At the last minute the old hog got int' the garden an' we had to chase him. Then Johnny, here, dropped his bread an' molasses ont' his waist an' I had to wait an' scrub off the spot. Lan' sakes, I'm mos' petered out. Miss M. Sit down and rest a while. It isn't quite time to take up school. Every one came early this rnorning. (During the next speech Milly and Tilly go to the board and draw a comical picture and iirite ''teacher" by it. The other children giggle, then the tzuins erase it.) Mrs. W. (sits in teacher's chair). I s'pose you'll have a 14 THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL time^ teacher, gittin' Johnny to stay to school. He 3on't Hke the idee of school though I don'-t see why, 'cause his paw liked school fine an' once won a prize for standin' good in his class, an' I used to mos' bawl my eyes out if I had to miss school. I'm dreatful put out ^vith Johnny, for I've made up my mind I want him to be a perfesser in a college. He can, jes' as well's not. There was a college perfesser stopped to our house one smnmer, an* hones'-to-goodniss, he didn't know nothin'. Why, teacher, he didn't know how^ long a hen had to set on eggs to hatch 'em, an' he didn't know how^ sauerkraut was made, an' one day I showed 'im a tgg my Injun runner duck had laid, an' I tole 'im a Injun runner laid it, an' he says, ''I've heard some o' the Injuns was great runners but, dear me, I never knew before that they laid eggs." My sakes, he didn't know hardly nothing, an' I've heerd tell of lots other of them college perfessers that's the same, so I know Johnny can git to be one. An' then, too, Johnny's an awful good forgitter, an' I've read 'bout lots of the perfessers that is great hands to forgit things. You'll have to watch Johnny, teacher, or he'll for- git to learn his lessons. {During this time Johnny has stood by Jiis mother, holding to her skirt.) Now I s'pose I've got to mosey 'long home an' do some bakin', for Sim's brother Nathan an' his wife are comin' to visit an' Nathan does beat all the world to eat. He says he eats more than usual to our house, 'cause he likes my cookin' so well, but I guess he's jes' tryin' to excuse his terrible appytite. (Rises.) Now, Johnny, good-bye, an' be a nice little l)oy so's teacher'll like you. Johnny. Maw, I want to tell you somethin'. (Whis- pers to her.) Mrs. W. No, you can't go home with me. You've got to stay here an' learn to be a college perfesser. Miss. M. Oh, Johnny will stay with me. \Ye are going to have just a fine time in school. Teacher will tell a story. Mrs. W. Now, won't that be nice? (Miss M. takes Johnny by the hand and leads him over to a seat. Mrs. Wilcox starts out.) THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 15 Johnny (runs after her and catches hold of her skirt). Maw, I want to go home. I — I — don't feel good. I'm sick. Mrs. W. Now you ain't sick, no more'n I be. You go back an' stay with teacher. ('Miss M. takes his hand and leads him back to seat. When nearly there he breaks away from her, runs after his mother and catches her skirt.) Johnny. Maw, say, I — I — my tooth aches. (The other children watch him and giggle, whispering things about him behind their hands.) Mrs. W. Now, young man, your tooth don't ache no more'n mine does. You quit this foolin' an' go to behavin'. What'U teacher think of you ? (Miss M. takes him by the hand again and starts toward a seat. Mrs. Wilcox exits.) Johnny (calling). Maw, maw, I — I'm hungry! Miss M. Now, Johnny, you be a nice little boy and sit here and I'll give you a cookie. (Puts him in a seat.) Tommy (loudly). Teacher, I want a cookie, too. Tilly (eagerly). Oh, teacher, can't me'n Milly have a cookie, too? We had to come to school so early we didn't hardly git much breakfas'. Cora (politely). If you please, teacher, I'd be pleased to have a cookie too, please. (Addresses the twins scorn- fidly.) I asked politer'n you did. Milly. Huh ! I guess we can say "Please teacher please gimme a please cookie, please," too, if we want to. That ain't nothin', an' our dress is purtier'n your'n, so! (The twins make faces at Cora.) (Jason has been zvhispering to Caleb.) Caleb. Teacher, my brother says he'll tell you his name if you'll give him a cookie. Henry. Shucks, ain't you any of you got no manners? Teacher ain't got cookies 'nough to give all you hungry 16 THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL birds one. Besides, 'tain't time to eat till recess time. (MiLLY reaches over and pinches Henry.) Ouch! Now, you quit that, now. Til lambast you one in the mug. (Tnins make faces at him, other children giggle.) Miss M. Oh, oh, now, children, teacher won't love you if you talk so naughty. Peter, Sarah, Rosy and Josh Jenkins enter, carrying hooks, dinner pails, etc. Henry. Hello, Pete. MiLLY. Peter, Peter, pun'kin eater — Tilly. Had a wife an' couldn't keep her. (Tzvins gig- gle.) Peter. Milly, Tilly, fat an' silly. Miss M. Oh, good morning. You are some more of my nice pupils, aren't you? Pm very glad to see you. (Shakes hands with them.) What are your names? Peter. Pm Peter Jenkins, an' she's (points to Sarah) — Sarah {interrupting). Don't you tell 'er my name. I guess I can tell it my own self, smarty. {To Miss M.) I'm Miss Sarah Jenkins. (Bows.) Pm twelve years old an' I can read in the fourth reader. An' this is my sister — Rosy (interrupting) . Now, Sarah, you shut up. I can tell teacher my name jes' as good as you can. (To Miss M.) My name is Rosy. Some folks thinks I was named after the rose flowers, but I wasn't, 'cause I was named Rosy after my aunt Rosy Stebbins. Peter (pointing). An' this is our brother Joshua, but we all call 'im Josh fer short. They's another one of us to come to school, but maw said to tell you he tore his pants so bad yisterday that she hadn't got 'em mended yet an' so he won't be able to start till tomorrer. Sarah. Maw said to tell you she hoped you'd please excuse him for bein' absence, an' she'll try an' git 'im re- seated today an' if you'll save a seat for 'im he'll start to- morrer. THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 17 Miss M. That will be all right. I'm glad your mother has such a nice large family to send to schooL (Josh whispers to Peter.) Peter. Teacher, Josh can speak a piece, an' he wants to say it to you. Miss M. Well, he may say it right now. Listen, children, and hear the nice piece Joshua is going to speak for us. Now speak loudly, Joshua, so we can all hear. Josh (after fussing and tzvisting mid making several bows). Mary had a little ba-ba-ba ; He tagged after her to school An' made the children ha-ha-ha. (He giggles and all the rest laugh.) Miss M. That was very nice. Now you all find seats, because it is almost time to take up school. (They take seats.) Annie Tibbetts enters. Annie. Be you the teacher? \\'al, maw said I could come to school if I wanted to an' if I liked the teacher I could stay an' larn something. (Looks Miss M. over.) I dunno's I want to stay, an' I dunno's they's much fer me to larn, anyhow. Miss M. Can you read nicely? Annie. Wal, I can read all the words of one letter jes' fine. Miss M. And can you add? Annie. I can add the ciphers all right, but the figgers bothers me pretty much. Miss M. Do you know geography ? Annie. Joggerphy? What's that? MiLLY (eagerly). Oh, teacher, teacher. 1 know what it's about. It's like, '*A pen-in-suler is a narrow necktie of land joinin' together two larger pieces of land." Sarah. Teacher, please, I know what geography is. It's a descripting of the earth's surface. 18 THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL Tilly (laughs). Oh, ho, oh, ho! Smarty ?• (Mocks Sarah.) "A descript-ing of" — Miss M. Now, children, it is almost time for the bell to ring, and — Ole Olson enters, running. Ole. I ban ranning yust as fast like lightning so I skall not ban come late. Skall I ban here? Miss M. Why, yes, you seem to be here. Ole. I mean, skall I ban here in times so I ain't ban tardy mark? Miss M. Yes, you got here just in time. Ole (looking teacher over). Skall you ban the teacher? Miss M. Yes, I hope we shall be good friends. Ole. Oh, I tank I skall ban liking you purty good. My oncle, Yens Yenson, he want I skall ban learning lot so I ban smart feller. Miss M. How old are you? Ole. Oh, I ban born yust same time my cousin Yerda Yenson was. Yerda ban purty big girl now. Miss M. But how old are you? Henry. He's fourteen, I'll bet, teacher. Ole. Dat hain't ban no such t'ings, teacher. Last year I ban twelve year old. Dis year I ban one year more, so you skall see I ain't ban no fourteens. (To Miss M.) How old you ban, teacher ? Miss M. (embarrassed) . Oh, I — well, that is — you see, children, it is time for school to take up. You may all pass out of doors, and when I ring the bell you must see how nicely you can march in and take your seats. Ole. Where you wants we skall take 'em to, teacher? Miss M. Take what? Ole. You say we skall take our seats. Where we ban goin' take 'em to? Miss M. You march in and do what you see the others do. Children all pass out. Miss M. rings the bell and they come marching in, Caleb leading Jason by the hand. THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 19 Tommy is next to the last to come in. Henry, who has taken his seat, sits with his foot out and trips Tommy so he falls on the floor. Ole is last in line. When Tommy falls down Ole falls on top of him. Tommy begins to cry. Miss M. Oh, Tommy, that was too bad. {She helps him lip. He stands and cries.) Are you hurt? Tommy (stammers). Y-y-yes. (Sobs.) Miss M. Ole, what did you fall down for? The idea! Ole. Didn't you ban telling me I skaP do yust like I see others do? Miss M. Well, you get up and sit down. (Ole taJ^es seat.) Tommy, I'm very sorry. I guess you'll be all right soon if you sit down. Tommy. Teacher, won't you hold me on your lap ? Maw always holds me when I git hurt. Miss M. (confused). Oh — oh, my, Tommy — really, now, teacher can't do that. You go sit in your seat and you'll be all right. Tommy. Tommy (sobs). Teacher, can't you kiss me? Maw al- ways kisses me when I git hurt. (Children laugh.) Miss M. Why, — Oh, my, Tommy, teacher can't do that ! If I kiss you I'll have to kiss all the boys and girls and you know I mustn't do that. I haven't time. You sit down like a good boy. (He sits.) Now, dear boys and girls, this is our first day of school, and I am very glad to see so many f.ne, nice-looking children here. Tilly. Teacher, Milly an' me's better-lookin' than she is. (Points to Cora.) Cora. No, ma'am ; no ma'am ; they ain't neither. Tilly and Milly (together). Yes, ma'am; yes, ma'am. Ole. I tank I skall ban purty good-lookin', too Miss M. Now, children, let us sing a nice song. Let us sing, 'The Bear Came Over the Mountain." (Jason whispers to Caleb.) Caleb. Teacher, can't we sing somethin' else? Jason, he's awful skeert of bears an' he don't want to sing 'bout 'em. 20 THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL Miss M. All right. We'll sing, 'The Cow Wdht Over the Mountain." Now, all sing as sweetly as possible, children, and let us see how nice we can make our first song. Sarah. Teacher, I don't know 'bout that cow that went over the mountain. What'd she go over for? Miss M. She went over to see what she could see. Sarah. Well, what'd she see? Miss M. The other side of the mountain was all that she could see. Well, children dear, we'll sing something else. We'll sing the song called, *'Good Morning To You." (She uiakes several attempts to get them started, heating time, reproving the silent ones, etc., before the song gets under way. ) Children (sing). Good morning to you, Good morning to you. Good morning dear teacher, Good morning 'to you. (TJie children get mixed up during the singing. Some of the younger ones do not keep np zmth the others. Tommy comes O'Ut strong once in a zMle zmth a word that the others have just sung. Ole mispronounces the words, the twins giggle, etc.) Miss M, (after the song). That was real fine, children. Now, Tommy and Joshua may go to the board and learn to write. (She goes to the blackboard and writes the zvord "cat," and Tommy and Josh go to the board.) Now, the fourth reader class may recite, and the rest of you may study. (During the ensuing dialogue Tommy and Josh try to copy the zvord she has zvritten, after zvhicJi they drazv comic pictures.) Peter (zvaving Iiis hand in the air). Teacher, kin I git a drink? Miss M. Yes, if you are very quiet. 1 THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 21 (Peter goes to zmter pail and while he is gone Henry puts a tack on the seat.) Miss M. I want the fourth reader class to have a piece ready to read to me. I want to see how nice you can read. (Peter comes back, sits and then jumps up with a loud yell) Peter. O-o-w ! Miss M. Oh, my! Oh, mercy! What is the matter? Rosy. Teacher, somebody put a tack on his ^seat. Miss M. Oh, how dreadful! Is it still on the bench? Peter. No, ma'am. It's in me, now. Sarah. No, teacher, it fell off ontuh the floor. Miss M. I shall deal with the one who did this after school to-nig-ht. Now we will have the fourth reader class. Stand. Pass. (Peter, Sarah, Milly, Tilly and Ole rise at the com- mand and come forz^'ard i^^ith their reading books, forming a line across the front of the stage.) Miss M. Peter, you may read first. Peter (ti'ith difficulty). ''Hear — the — sled — sled" — Oh, I know, "Hear the sledges with the bells, silver bells ! What a world of — mur — mur — " I mean "merry — merry — merri- ment their mel — mell — melody foretells! How they — " Miss M. (interrupting). Peter, I don't think you are well prepared with that selection. Peter. Oh, I can read it fine when it gets down where it says "bells, bells, bells, bells, bells — " Miss M. Never mind. Sarah, you may read next. Sarah (reads in sing-song voice). "The breaking waves dashed high On a stern and rock-bound coast, And the woods against a stormy sky Their giant branches tossed. And the heavy night — " Miss M. (interrupting). Wait a minute, Sarah. Can't you put more expression in it? 22 THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL Sarah. Yessum (as lifelessly as before). **And the heavy night hung, dark, The hills and waters o'er. When a band of exiles — " Miss M. (interrupting). Sarah, do you know the mean- ing of the word "exile"? Sarah. Y'essum. Miss M. Well, what is an exile? Sarah. An exile is what a wheel goes around on. Miss M,. (looking at Milly). Now, Tilly, you may read. Milly. Tm Milly an' she's Tilly. Tilly. I'm Tilly an' she's Milly. Milly. She's Tilly an' I'm Milly. Tilly. She's Milly an' I'm Tilly. Miss M. Well, Milly, then. Y'ou may read. Milly (zmth fast and heavily emphasij::ed rhythm, reads). ''Up from the inead-o\vs rieh with corn. Clear in the cool Stptemher morn. The eliisttrtd spires of Frederick stand, Green-walled by the hills of MarA'land. Round about them orchards sweep," Henry »(interntpfs in same tone of voice). Oh, gee-whiz, my foofs asleep! IMiss M. (to Henry). Henry, you will have to stay after school to-night. (To Tillie.) Now, Milly, — er, Tilly, — er — well, the other twin may read. Tilly (very slowly and dramatically, reads). ''England's sun was slowly setting o'er the hills so far away. Filling all the land with beauty at the close of one sad day. And the last rays kissed the forehead of a man and maiden fair. He with step so slow and weakened, she with sunny, float- ing hair. He with sad, bowed head and — " Miss M. Now, Milly— er, Tilly— er— well, that will do. Ole, let me hear you read. THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 23 Ole {seriously and with great effort, reads haltingly). "Lis-ten, mai chirren, an* you skall hear Of de midniggit — midniggit — midnight ride of Paul Re- were. On de eighteen April, Sev'ty-fiwe, Har'ly a man iss now aliwe — " IMiss M. That is very good, Ole. Now that I have found how far advanced the fourth reader class is, I want to hear Annie and Rosy i nd Johnny and Caleb and Henry and Jason read. (Jason zvhispers to Caleb.) Caleb. Teacher, Jason doesn't want to read to-day. His liead aches. Miss M. Well, he may be excused. Stand. Pass. (Annie, Rosy, Johnny, Caleb and Henry, ivitJi their books, form a line aeross the front of tJie stage.) Miss M. Henry, you may read first. Henry (reads, very fast and without any expression). "Oh why should the spirit of mortal be proud Like a swift-flying meteor a fast-flying cloud A flash of the lightning a break of the wave Man passeth from life to his rest in the grave The leaves of the oak and the willow shall fade Be scattered around and together be — " (While Henry is reading the above. Johnny giz*es An- nie's hair a pull and the szviteh comes off in his hand. Hold- ing it out in front of him, he begins to cry loudly. Annie looks at it and also starts to zi'eep aloud, until Henry's voice is no longer audible.) Annie (boo-hoo-ing loudly). Oh, he's pulled off my hair. Johnny (badly scared, and crying). 0-o~h, teacher, I didn't mean to. I didn't mean to ! (Bawls.) Miss M. Oh, my! Oh, my! Sarah. He ought to have a good lickin'. 24 THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL {The other pupils chime in zvith a mixture of comments such- as, ''Yes, ma'am, he ought to." ''Look what Johnny did!" ''He ought to haze a lickinT "Johnny's goin' to catch it!" etc.) Johnny {weeping louder). I — didn't — mean — to! Miss M. {taking switch from Johnny). Well, children, you may have a recess and run out-of-doors to play for a while. I shall have to see what I can do to fix Annie's hair. Johnny {crying). Will she die? Will — she — die, teacher? Annie {slapping him). You didn't need to pull my maw's switch loose ! (Miss M. rings the hell. Children all make a mad rush for the door, shouting, "Recess! Recess!") CURTAIN. DENISON'S ACTING PLAYS Partial List off Successful and Popular Plays. Large Cataloeue Free FARCES, COMEDIETAS, Etc. Price 25 Cents Each M. F. All on a Summer's Day, 40 min. 4 6 Aunt Harriet's, Night Out, 35 min 1 2 Aunt Matilda's Birthday Party, 35 min 11 Borrowed Luncheon, 20 min.. 5 Case Against Casey, 40 min... 23 Doo-Funny Family, 1 hr. . 3 9 Fun in Plioto Gallery, 30 min.. 6 10 Getting Rid of Father, 20 min. 3 1 Goose Creek Line, 1 hr 3 10 Great Pumpkin Case, 35 min.. 12 Hans Von Smash, 30 min.... 4 3 Ilonest Peggy, 25 min 8 Irish Linen Peddler, 40 min... 3 3 Irish Stew, 1 hr 6 4 Just Like a Woman, 35 min... 3 3 Me and Betty, 30 min 2 5 Men Not Wanted, 30 min.... 8 Mother Goose's Goslings, 30 m. 7 9 Mrs. Hoops-Hooper and the Hindu, 35 mm 12 Mrs. Jenkins' Brilliant Idea, 35m. 8 Mrs. Stubbing' Book" Agent, 30 m. 3 2 Not a Man in the House, 40 m. 5 Paper Wedding, 30 min 1 5 Pat's Matrimonial Venture, 25 min 1 2 Rummage Sale, 50 min. 4 10 Sewing for the Heathen, 40 min 9 Shadows, 35 min 3 4 Sing a Song of Seniors, 30 min. 7 Taking Father's Place, 30 min. 5 3 Teacher Kin I Go Home, 35 min 7 3 Too Much of a Good Thing, 45 min 3 6 Two Ghosts in White, 20 min . . 8 Two of a Kind, 40 min 2 3 Uncle Dick's Mistake, 20 min.. 3 2 Watch, a Wallet, and a Jack of Spades, 40 min 3 6 Whole Truth. 40 min 5 4 Who's Crazv Now? 25 min 3 2 Who's the Boss? 30 min 3 6 Wrong Baby, 25 min 8 FARCES, COMEDIETAS, Etc. Price 15 Cents Each April Fools, 30 min 3 Assessor, The, 15 min.' 3 2 Before the Play Begins, 15 min 2 1 Billy's Mishaps, 20 min 2 3 Country Justice, 15 min 8 Family Strike, 20 min....... 3 3 For Love and Honor, 20 min.. 2 1 Fudge and a Burglar, 15 min.. 5 Great Medical Dispensary, 30 m. 6 Initiating a Granger, 25 min.. 8 Kansas Immigrants, 20 min.- . 5 1 Pair of Lunatics, 20 min..... 1 1 Pat, the Apothecary, 35 min.. 6 2 M. F. Second Childhood, 15 min.... 2 2 Smith's Unlucky Day, 20 min.. 1 1 That Rascal Pat, 30 min 3 2 Those Red Envelopes, 25 min.. 4 4 Troubled by Ghosts, 10 miii... 4 Two Aunts and a Photo, 20 m. 4 Wanted: A Hero, 20 min 1 1 Wide Enough for Two, 45 min. 5 2 VAUDEVILLE SKETCHES Price 25 Cents Each Amateur, 15 min 1 1 At Harmony Junction, 20 min. 4 Cold Finish, 15 min 2 1 Fresh Timothy Hay, 20 min.. 2 1 Hey, Rube! 15 min 1 I'm a Nut, 10 min. 1 It Might Happen, 20 min 1 1 Little Miss Enemy, J 5 min.... 1 1 Little Red School House, 20 m. 4 ]\Iarriage and After, 10 min.. 1 One Sweetheart for Two, 20 m; 2 Oyster Stew, 10 min 2 Pete Yansen's Curl's Moder, 10m. 1 Quick Lunch Cabaret, 20 min.. 4 School of Detecting, 15 min... 2 Si and I, 15 min 1 Special Sale, 15 min 2 Street Faker, IS min 3 Such Ignorance, 15 min. ...... 2 Sunny Son of Italy, 15 rain.. 1 Time Table, 20 min 1 1 Tramp and the Actress, 20 min. 1 1 Troubles of Rozinski, IS min.. 1 Two Jay Detectives, 15 min.. 3 Umbrella Mender, 15 min.... 2 Vait a Minute, 20 min 2 BLACK-FACE PLAYS Price 25 Cents Each African Golf Club, 25 min 10 1 Almost an Actor, 20 min 2 Axin' Her Father, 25 min 2 3 Battle of Roaring Bull, 30 min. .11 Battle of Rollin' Bones, 30 min. 8 Black Vamp, 15 min 2 2 Booster Club of Blackville, 25 min 10 Cash Money, 20 min 3 Colored Honeymoon, 25 min... 2 2 Coon Creek Courtship, 15 m... 1 1 Coontown Thirteen Club, 25 m. 14 Dark Secret, 30 min 4 1 Fu'st Aid to Cupid, 20 min... 3 2 Good Mornin', Judge, 35 min.. 9 2 Hitting the African Harp, 15 min 2 Hungry, 15 min 2 Kiss Me, Camille, 20 min. 2 1 Mysterious Suitcase, 15 min... 2 Oh, Doctor! 30 min 6 2 A great number of Standard and Amateur Plays not found here are listed In Denison's Catalogue T. S. DEWISON & COMPANY, Publishers, 623S.Wabash Ave..Chtcago 1-822 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 016 102 394 2 The Doo-Funny Family By Marv Modena Burns. A novelty entertainment for school, club or church. The Doo-Funnies enact a drama upon a wall; like Humpty Durapty, some of them get a fall. Full of comedy enects and stunts that will surprise and amub«' the audience. Characters: The Witch, the Old Maid, Grandmaw, Lengthy Lizzie. TessJc Tubbs, Maw Doo-Funny, the Twins and Baby, Paw Doo-Funny, and the comical sons, Dumpty and Doughnut. May be given by adults or by boys and girls. Easy to get up and easy to act. 3 males, 9 females; 1 hour. Price. Postpaid, 25 Crnt>. Good Morning, Teacher By Frederick G. Johnscs. A schoolroom skirmish that, in real life, would be a tragedy. On the stage it is a riotous rough-house that breaks all speed records. Packed with brand new comedy business as well as snappy dialogue of the button-bursting variety. The pupils go to the blackboard in ragtime, they syncopate their work and their play, and the whole thing has a jarzy, jingly swing that is up-to-the-minute — and then some. 8 males, 3 females; 40 minutes. __^ Price, Postpaid, 25 Cenf . Happy School Days By Jessie A. Kelley. A new phase of the school entertainment that breaks away from the traditional setting of the little country school, and depicts instead the humorous trials of the city principal and the teachers of the grades. Intro- duces impish and fun-craving youngsters of many nationalities; their parents with ridiculous complaints and absurd ideas of our school system; janitor, truanfi officer, etc. More characters could be easily introduced; also drills, recitations, etc. The comic effect will be decidedly enhanced if played by prominent or elderly people. 14 males. 11 females: l'/4 hours. Price, Postpaid, 30 Cents. The Village Photographer By Arthur L. Rice. The village photographer is a shrewd philosopher, as well as a droll humorist, and employs the spirit of every-day Christianity in a practical way. Well known rural types — crusty "old bach," the town loafer, the sUge-struck girl, etc.— are effectively portrayed. Can be easily adapted to shorter cast, and specialties can be introduced. Easily produced; no scenery required- excellent for church societies. The leading part is frequently played by the minister, with great success. 7 m., 7 f. Time, 45 min. Price, Postpaid, 30 Cents. Sewing for the Heathen By Walter Bem Hare. An entertainment for ladies, either young or middle- aped. Can be played on any stage or platform, or even in any room. In this piece the feminine peculiarities and method of accomplishing things are very cleverly satirized. Yet the humor is so goodnatured that women will love it. Very refined. Suitable for church or any society. 9 females; 40 minutes. ___________^ Price, Postpaid, 2S Cents. Riley Readings & Living Pictures Arranged by Laura Christine Wkgner. An entertainment with tableaux ntoiKHcf to honor the memory and make mifre familiar the writings of Tamos ,^^ lied instructions for conducting a Riley Evening at ' club. Full directions for simple but pleasing scenic and light- 1 po<-cs. w ttm»?s. arrangement of program. Includes, bv sitiw! .arranKcmcrns VK i Co complete text of ten famous RiK-v poem., as foirows: 'T-) "Granny." "A Life-Lesson," "GriggshyS ?-•■ m"-..^ -^^ ^Jvl.'^^' • ^'Mc Ornhant Annie." "Our Hired Girl. ^^ Out to Old Aunt Marys." "The Raggedy Man." "The Name of Old Olory. Can be presented on any platform; scenery not es.sential. Characters and time, optional. Price, Postpaid, 36 Cents. T. S. OEWSON & COMPANY, PuMsfwrt, 623 South Wabash Avenue. CHICAGO LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS mill 016 102 394 2