tP< 3 5-/ 5 f /6f> n / PS 3S/* BIRD GUARDIANS A Masque for Bird Protection by Leigh Mitchell Hodges COPYRIGHT 1915 by LEIGH MITCHELL HODGES All rights reserved, including those of translation $ e APR -8 1916 ° a0 48559 "BIRD GUARDIANS" was written for the Doylestown Nature Club and by it first pro- duced August 21, 1915. Its pur- pose is to awaken interest in the vital matter of bird-protection, and its presentation by schools or clubs may be arranged by addressing the author, without whose written consent no pro- duction hereof is permitted. Doylestown, Penna., March, 1916. THE CAST Speaking Farts — Master of the Scenes Bluebird Robin Wood Thrush Song Sparrow- Kingbird Red-winged Blackbird Catbird Owl Chorus — Cuckoo Meadowlark Scarlet Tanager Rose-breastd Grosbeak Baltimore Oriole Mocking Bird Barn Swallow Purple Martin Bluejay Dove "Bob White" Red-headed Woodpecker Black-and-white Warbler Gold-finch Chickadee Hummingbird -\ OTE: The masque should be staged in the open under trees and for accompanying the chorus there should be a harp and violin or any combination of strings desired, though the singing may be unac- companied. The Master of the Scenes enters alone. PROLOGUE — to be spoken by the Master of Scenes garbed in gray and bearing a living staff, green-leaved. HERE, where the trees like silent sentinels Stand guard o'er Nature's varied benefits — Each clothed in beauty and endowed to use — Here, on a carpet many times more rare Than rarest fruit of Persia's patient looms, And underneath the ceiling of all light, With nought between us and the Source of Power Except the veil of thoughts we interpose — Or draw aside when contemplating Nature — We come to bring a message from the birds Those little friends who bear to us a blessing Which this brief hour shall seek to make more clear. CHORUS {All the birds joining the Master in a group and singing, to the tune of Rubinstein s "Melody in F") Welcome, O wingless, who wait to be told How we have guarded thy homes from of old; How we have sought in field, garden and tree Ever to make thee more free. Here we will show thee the love that we carry, Here we will tell of the service we give Here we will tell how we help you to live Here voice our interest in thee. Welcome, O wingless, and when we have told How we have guarded thy homes from of old, Go forth to guard us from those who are blind Lead them to hearts that are kind. BLUEBIRD (stepping forward as the other birds disappear among the trees and addressing the audience.} With flash of bright blue wing I come to say "'Tis Spring!" In orchard-tree or friendly nook My eggs like scraps of noon-sky look And all day long My warbling song Is like a silver-purling brook That splashes crystal stones. The while I sing I rid the farm Of bugs and worms that do much harm, Indeed, if I and Robin dear Should fail to come, your crops, I fear By hoppers green and beetles strong Would be devoured ere many a year. {Turning to ROBIN, who meantime has crept up to BLUEBIRD'S side;) I did not know you were so near! ROBIN {smiles and makes a neat salute.) Sweet sister, draped in heaven's own blue, Within my red breast beats for you A heart that has no fear of man So trustful am I of the plan Which set us feathered creatures down In field and countryside and town. And yet but yesterday my joy Was darkened by a thoughtless boy Who aimed a stone at my good mate And bruised him as he, singing, sate Upon a bough. I wondered then How he would feel if giant men Should wait to strike down one he loved! If only human hearts were moved To be more kind ! If only we Might find safe haven in each tree! I think men owe it us — but hush! — I hear the flute-tones of Wood Thrush! [Both turn to the right, whence sounds a flute note and WOOD THRUSH comes sl<>wly toward them, looking around as if frightened. ) WOOD THRUSH: As I came through the wooded swamp A gruff old voice I heard. I think it was a cruel man Aswearing at a bird. I did not wait, for all alone Of small help could I be, But now I find you waiting here, Come, be of help with me! (The three go off together to the left, while SONG SPARROW limps in % and says as if in pain:) SONG SPARROW: I wonder why he did not like my song ! I sang my sweetest, yet he looked so black! And just before the final trill I felt A stinging in my wing and heard a crack [sinks to the ground and is surrounded by BL UEBIRD, ROBIN and WOOD THRUSH, who come hurrying in jrom left). BLUEBIRD: O, Sparrow, what has happened To bring you thus laid low? SPARROW: Unless it was the song I sang, Sweet friends, I do not know. ROBIN: But who could still a song like yours, Or take you for a foe! SPARROW: Sweet friends, you must remember Few men take time to know How I devour the seeds of weeds And let their gardens grow Unchoked by deadly enemies, And yet, you know, 'tis so ! WOOD THRUSH: We know, we know, and how we yearn For men thy benefits to learn. {They lift SPARROW and help her off the scene, and while this is going on SCARLET TANAGER sings from a hidden nook any bird-song that may be selected from the long list of such, obtainable at any music store). MASTER OF SCENES: {walking to front of stage at close of song.) My friends, last year alone, in this fair land The kindred of the sparrow you have seen Wounded by thoughtless man, protected us Against a loss from weeds which would have been A hundred million dollars, so you see It pays to shield the singers in each tree! KINGBIRD: (advancing boldly toward Master and bowing low:) You speak of sparrow's appetite And all the good she brings, Pray, let me tell of benefits From other friends with wings. In Massachusetts — just one state — Twenty-five million birds For five months every day do feast Upon the insect herds. If they but eat a hundred each From dawn to set of sun Two million and a half are felled Before the day is done. Six score of thousands insects fill A bushel basket, so Full twenty thousand bushels are Devoured each day! You know What devastation would result If these were left to grow ! MASTER: Indeed, I know, but sad to say Most people see it not that way. A robin steals a cherry, and He's rudely driven from the land Which, but for him and kindred birds Would soon be prey to insect herds! But here comes red- winged blackbird, see, How glaringly he looks at me! RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD: (enters swaggering and in a loud voice says:) In days of old When knights were bold Was none more bold than I, I spurned the ease Of shady trees And swept the sunny sky! On dragon-flies And winged spies Of every hue I fed, And beetles bright And wasps so light Before me vainly sped! And then when fields Were rich with yields Of sweet and luscious oats I filled my craw And packed my maw And mocked the farmers' throats! And yet with all my thefts, Kingbird I save them much, upon my word! CATBIRD: {calling "meoiv" as she enters} You save far more than those sly cats Who feast on birds instead of rats And indoors should be forced to stay At least three months from first of May. I tell you, Black, it isn't thrifty To let a feline eat up fifty Protecting birds before they're grown, Yet that's the record, as is known. BLACKBIRD: If I were you I wouldn't sing So much like such a wicked thing. CATBIRD: I do it, Black, to show them how Cats could behave, 'spite the meow! BLACKBIRD: You needn't talk, they say you steal Full many a farmer's fruity meal. But why should we remain to scowl When here comes dignified old Owl! ( The O WL walks in sedately and Black and Cat slmk away, looking back over their shoulders and gliding into the bushes where they stoop to listen?) OWL: When great Minerva counselled me "'Be always wise and just" said she, And wise and just I try to be. But for my life, I cannot see Why men men should not be ju^t and wise To visitors who, from the skies Descend to rid them of the band Of de^ecrators of the land. BLACK AND CAT. {from behind bush) O how you howl At midnight Owl! OWL, (gruffly) Begone you highway robbers bold, You're thieves of grain and fruit, I'm told, And now a useful bird you scold ! Men know my worth surpasses price I mainly feast on rats and mice And thus I save the world a slice Of damage that would costly be. They may hate you, but they like me. BLACK: They may hate us, but all the same We don't deserve our mooted name, For insects many we devour And thus prevent them holding power {with this, Black and Cat withdraw, leaving by left and BLUEBIRD, ROBIN, WOOD THRUSH and SONG SPARROW come in together, gaily) BLUEBIRD: How fine it is to meet a man Who treats us as his friends, And gently binds our little hurts And our bruised feathers mends! ROBIN: Someday I think all men will feel That we are friends, and try To make amends for thoughtlessness In times that have passed by. THRUSH: Someday the state will recognize Our worth, and legislate Against all those do us harm, All those who bear us hate. SPARROW: In this celestial scheme of things We're guardians of the air At work from earliest peep of dawn, And busy everywhere. MASTER: {approaching from left, with wand in hand) Come, guardians, come, Day folds her wings, And night her peace And stillness brings. CHORUS OF BIRDS, — {forming a circle and doing a slow dance as they sing to the tune of Rubinstein s Melody in F.) Farewell, sweet friends, who have heard our brief plea, Farewell and may peace attend upon thee, Go forth to guard us from those who are blind, Lead them to hearts that are kind. Whene'er you see us remember our service; Do not forget we are working for you. Treat us as neighbors and nothing shall swerve us Always to be guardians true. Farewell, sweet friends, who have heard our brief plea, Farewell, and may peace attend upon thee, Go forth to guard us from those who are blind, Lead them to hearts that are kind. Note : Any dance movement or song or music desired may be added to this Masque. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 111 !!!!! !!"! Hi 'Hi! lal11 mil mn mi" mil urn mi mi 021 929 726 9