lA: Al ^ : o; 5 2 5 1 4 F 59 T4125 ; o i en :o :C: ■ — ( : X • m = 33 : z 5 3J E rn SCT ! O = 2 ■ 3) ! -< LANG DON PAGEANT OF THETFORD THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES pa;.) bi;,!d ^m^^': ^ ^ook of OTorbg tifje pageant of Cf)etforti J . ~ 3n Celebration of tfje 0nt Jlunbreb anb Jf iftietfj ^nnibersiarp of t^e (granting of tfje Charter. I OTiiUiam Cfjauncp Eangbgn. iHasfter of tfje pageant y 1 . #n tfje Jianks( of tJje Connecticut J^iber arfjetforti, l^ermont august 12, 14, 15, 1911 ^^ly.. ©F CALIF. LIBRARY, LOS AilOSLF^ Copyright 1911 by WILLIAM CHAUNCY LANGDON All Rights Reserved The Vermonter Press White River Junclion TmLa5 ®i)e pageant of Cfjetforb THE VILLAGES OF THETFORD East Thetford Thetford Center Thetford Hill North Thetford Post Mills Union Village COMMITTEES OF THE PAGEANT THE PAGEANT COMMITTEE Mr. ARTHUR B. PALMER, Chairman Miss MARGARET FLETCHER, Secretary Mr. CHARLES C. EMERSON, Treasurer Dr. L. B. ALLEN Mrs. A. H. COLTON Mr. CHARLES C. COOK Mrs. CHARLES H. FARNSWORTH Mr. FREDERICK T. HOWARD Miss ADELLA MARTIN Mrs. WILLIAM MURFEY Mr. NELSON PORTER Mrs. NKLSON PORTER Mrs. W. K. PORTER, Jr. Mr. ELLSWORTH SARGENT Rev. WILLIAM SLADE Mrs. CHARLES VAUGHAN 3 1109136 THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE on the Development of the Town's Resources Prof. MARSHALL CUMMINGS, Chairman HON. GUV \V. BAILEY Mr. RAY STANNARD BAKER Mr. BRUCE CRANE Mr. L. G. DODGE Prof. C. H. EARNS WORTH Mr. ARTHUR FARWELL Mr. JOHN M. GLENN Dr. LUTHER H. GULICK Mr. A. F. HAWES Hon. WILLETT M. HAYS Prest. ELIAS LYMAN HON. GIFFORD PINCHOT Mr. ERNEST THOMPSON SETON Prof. H. DYKE SLEEPER. Prest. JOHN M. THOMAS Dr. MILTON WHITNEY Mr H. J. WILDER Mrs. MARY SCHENCK WOOLMAN ART COMMITTEE Mi.ss KATHERINE VAUGHAN Mrs. WILLIAM CHAUNCY LANGDON COSTUME COMMITTEE Mrs. W. K. PORTER, Jr. Miss CHRISTINE VAUGHAN MUSIC COMMITTEE Mrs. WILLIAM SLADE Mrs. WILLIAM MURFEY Rev. WILLIAM W. SLEEPER Prof. CHARLES H. EARNS WORTH MASTER OF THE PAGEANT WILLIAM CHAUNCY LANGDON DIRECTOR OF THE MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE DANCE JAMES T. SLEEPER Miss VIRGINIA TANNER ASSISTANT Miss EDITH BROWNELL 4 jForetDorb. THE PAGEANT OF THETFORD presents in dramatic form the history of the town of Thetford, Vermont, from the coming of the first settler one hundred and fifty years ago down to the present time and on into the future. Thetford is a typical agricultural town of Vermont, whose history has been that of most of the farm towns of New Eng- land. In connection with the Pageant, the people of the town have entered upon a movement for a general development of their resources, — agricultural, educational, and social. In this they are receiving the direct assistance of the University of Vermont and of the United States Department of Agricul- ture. The results of this development work are suggested in the last section of the Pageant, the Episodes of the Future. The Pageant of Thetford, therefore, is a study of the rural problem and, it is hoped, a contribution toward making the country town an ideal place to live in. The episodes are historically correct so far as they refer to actual events in the past. A certain freedom has been exercised, however, for the sake of dramatic effectiveness. In general, the people of the villages concerned in the histor- ical events which are portrayed take the parts of their ances- tors in the various episodes. The pageant grounds are on the bank of the Connecticut River near the village of North Thetford. The grand-stand faces south toward a grove of large pine trees about two hun- dred yards away. A low vine-covered fence divides the ground into two parts, the nearer of which is used for most of the individual action. W. C. L. €pi£iotie£i of tf)t pageant. INTRODUCTION.— THE NATURE SPIRITS AND THE INDIANS. 1. The coming of the first settler, "Old Quail John." 2. Richard Wallace and Burgoyne's Invasion. 3. The building of the Church on Thetford Hill, and the Musical Society in Thetford and Lyme. INTERLUDE I.— THE SPIRIT OF HOME. 4. The Founding of the Thetford Academy. 5. The Country Fair. 6. The Coming of the Railroad. INTERLUDE II.— THE AGE OF HOMESPUN ; THE SPIRIT OF WAR. 7. The Civil War. 8. The Introduction of Machinery. 9. The Rural Problem. INTERLUDE III.— THE SPIRIT OF PAGEANTRY. 10. The New Agriculture. 11. The New Education. 12. The New Life. FINALE. — Thetford presents her six Villages, and the past, the present, and the future, to Vermont and to America. Cfje Mn^it of tfje pageant. INTRODUCTION. THE SPIRIT OF THE MOUNTAIN THE SPIRIT OF THE RIVER THE SPIRIT OF THE INTERVALE SONG OF THE TOTEM POLE SONG OF THE WORLD } James T. Sleeper Indian Melodies EPISODE 1 CANOE SONG Indian Melody EPISODE 2 THE BRITISH GRENADIER YANKEE DOODLE INVITATION BRIDGEWATER NEW JERUSALEM EPISODE 3 1 Old Hymns INTERLUDE I THE SPIRITS OF THE RIVER THE SPIRITS OF THE INTERVALE THE SPIRITS OF THE MOUNTAIN THE SPIRIT OF HOME James T. Sleeper EPISODE 4 ODE TO THETFORD FAIR THETFORD James T. Sleeper Thetford Academy Song INTERLUDE II PASTORALE CAPTAIN JINKS POP GOES THE WEASEL MARCH FROM THE NUTCRACKER SUITE Arabella Coalc Tschaikowsky EPISODE 7 BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC HYMN TO LIBERTY Arthur Farwell INTERLUDE III SARABANDE HUMORESKE CHORUS: RAISE THY HEAD Bach Dvorak James T. Sleeper EPISODE 10 CHORUS: COME WITH A CHEER, GOOD NEIGHBORS, COME James T. Sleeper FINALE CHORUS: HAIL, THE FOREST DAYS OF OLD James T Sleeper STAR SPANGLED BANNER 8 tlTije pageant of Ci)etfortr. INTRODUCTION, THE NATURE SPIRITS AND THE INDIANS. [A dramatic dance symbolic of the three Nature Elements of Thetford — the mountains, the river, and the intervale. FROM the west of the pine grove comes the Spirit of the Mountains. She is tall and dark, clothed in green, her draperies caught with pine and other evergreen branches. Her movements are slow and stately; she stands motionless from time to time. Toward her, from the river bank on the east, comes dancing the Spirit of the River. She is not so tall, and she is fair in coloring. Her draperies are blue, with a shimmer of white through the blue, like the light of sunshine on the water. Her movements are swift and smooth, sweeping up to the Spirit of the Mountains and away from her. Her moods are alternately those of serious impetuosity and play- fulness. Presently, from the south, comes running the Spirit of the Intervale. She is clad in pale gold, the color of grain; her garments are embroidered with wheat, her hair wreathed with berries or grapes. She carries a branch of fruit. At times she is almost still, swaying back and forth; again she dances back and forth between the Spirit of the Mountains and the Spirit of the River. Her stillness itself is almost vibrant; her movements are rich, opulent, votive, with a sug- gestion of maternal womanliness. In the midst of their dance, a few Indians come among them — braves, squaws, and children. The Indians dance in and out among the Nature Spirits with no conflict or inter- ference. The Indian did not interfere with Nature. The dance of the Indians typifies their daily activities, the braves going forth to hunt or to fight and returning again to their squaws and children, who have been about the domestic activ- ities. As they dance, there approaches from the woods along the riverside, a White Man, dressed in Puritan garb. He is quiet and self-reliant in manner. He stands for a moment watching the Spirit of the River dancing to and fro among the other Nature Spirits. His eyes are shaded by his hand. The Spirit of the River sees him and points to him, calling the attention of the others to him. All stand motionless gaz- ing at each other. Then he withdraws into the woods, and after a brief, puzzled hesitation, the Nature Spirits and the Indians resume their dance. It continues for a few moments, then all depart in the directions from which they came; first the Indian squaws and children, next the Indian braves, then the Spirit of the Intervale and the Spirit of the River, and finally the Spirit of the Mountains, slowly and impressively. 10 Cpigobe I. THE COMING OF THE FIRST SETTLER, "OLD QUAIL JOHN." From up-stream come a good number of Indians in their canoes — braves, squaws, children, and babies carried by the squaws. As the canoes approach the grounds, they swing around toward the shore, where the Indians beach them. All come ashore, where the squaws hang the babies up on the trees and begin to gather berries and fruit and to play with the older children, while the braves with their bows and arrows go off in pursuit of game into the grove. Gradually they draw farther away until they are hidden from the river and from most of the stage and are visible to the audience only through the trees. From far down the river comes John Chamberlain, rowing a boat laden with his goods. He stops now and then as he comes, looking at the shore on either side as if considering making a landing, but rows on. When he arrives at the grounds, he looks again, more carefully; then turns his boat abruptly toward the shore and beaches it. He drags it up on the land, comes up on to the bank and looks about, cautiously at first and then more freely. He evidently likes the place. In looking about he does not see the Indian women amono^ the trees nor the Indian canoes beached around the point. He goes back and unloads his boat, bringing the stuff up on to the bank in two trips, and piling it up about the mid- dle of the stage. When his goods are all up, he pulls his boat out of the water. Among his things he has several bunches of quail, unplucked and tied together by the feet. He builds a tire, — a small one — near the goods, and proceeds to cook a pair of his quail, evidently relishing his feast, and getting absorbed in his cooking. His gun, however, rests between his knees as he sits on a box, his back half turned to the Indians in the distance, who have not yet seen him. // The Indian squaws and children start to return to their canoes, and in approaching see the stranger. Their conster- nation is followed by stealth. The two squaws who have left their babies hanging on trees creep up noiselessly to get them. Some go to call the braves, who presently emerge from among the bushes and trees, and steal up behind Chamberlain. One is about to spring upon him with uplifted tomahawk, when he hears n. sound and swings his gun around upon the brave Vv^ith- out rising, then miakes a bound out into the open. He covers all the Indians with a sweep of his gun and they stand motion- less. One starts to withdraw into the bushes but Chamberlain immediately aims at him. Chamberlain then makes the sign of peace and friendliness to the Indians (the hands held high and then extended.) He calmly interrupts proceedings to give attention to his quail, which need turning. The Indians are about to take advantage of this, but he at once has them covered again. They reply with signs that they will parley and he motions them to sit down with him. They do so, arranging themselves in a circle according to their custom, but he will not allow this, as he wishes to stay by the fire and does not want any one back of him. He motions them to sit in front of him in a half-circle and they obey. When all are seated, Chamberlain asks them by signs which they want, his friendship or his enmity. He rummages in his goods and brings out a long pipe. He holds out first the pipe and then the gun toward them, the pipe having the mouthpiece toward them and the gun having the muzzle pointed toward them. Finally they grunt and nod assent, as he holds the pipe high above his head and makes an inquiring exclamation. They express their assent also by rising and then sitting down again. Chamberlain then squats before the fire, dives into his pack and brings out some tobacco. He starts to fill the pipe but the quail need attention, so he drops the pipe and tobacco and turns the quail; always, however, keeping his gun between his knees. He lights the pipe with a coal, smokes himself and then the pipe is passed around in accordance with the Indian custom. All arise. The Indians give Chamberlain some trinkets and presents which he accepts. He then gives to the chiefs, who have made him the presents, some of his quail. They devour i' v.ith surprise and gusto. Chamberlain eats his with 12 the relish of an epicure, evidently reserving for himself the best portions.* The Indian chief's then sign to him that he may live on this side of the river but must not cross to the other side, where they live. He assents. Then they offer to show him a good location for his cabin. He agrees and motions to them to carry his stuff. They haughtily refuse, but as he becomes manifesdy indignant at their refusal they call their squaws to come and carry his goods away. They then move away, the squaws first, then the braves, and finally "Old Quail John" follows, carrying his gun in one hand and in the other his long pipe and his bunch of quail. * John Chamberlain, the first settler of Thetford, is described as follows in a bit of doggerel which is a part of the town's traditions. It was written by one of his contemporaries: Old Quail John Was the first to come on, As poor as a calf in the spring; But now he's as rich As Governor Fitch And lives like a lord or a king. ^3 CpisJobe 2. RICHARD WALLACE AND BURGOYNE'S INVASION. (PLAYED BY THE PEOPLE OF THETFORD CENTER AND NORTH THETFORD.) [Enter from the northwest entrance the Chair- man of the Committee of Safety, with four other members of the Committee and other people of Thetford, leading eight Tory brothers. The Chairman stops and the Tories are brought be- fore him. CHAIRMAN By vote of the Committee of Safety, approved by the people of Thetford in town meeting, you are expelled from this town, your property is confiscated to the general use, and you are each and all of you forbidden under pain of death to return to this town. Whereto pay heed and take due warning. Auc- tioneer, sell the property of these eight Tory brothers forth- with, and pay the proceeds into the hands of the Treasurer of the Town of Thetford. AUCTIONEER What am I bid? By order of the Committee of Safety! Cul- tivated land, cleared land, woodlots, and personal property! Who'll take half? Who'll take quarter? BIDDERS I! I! I! AUCTIONEER What am I bid? (First Bidder and Others run the bids up to ^6 7s gd. ) AUCTIONEER Going, going, gone! Sold for £6 7s gd each to these four men right here. A TORY You shall hear later from us ! This is robbery ! We will take sides with the King! (Shouts and uproar) We will go to General Burgoyne. [General uproar as they are roughly hustled off. THETFORD PEOPLE To Canada ! Go to Burgoyne ! Tories ! Tories ! [Enter four Green Mountain Boys holding three British soldiers prisoner. They come up before the Chairman of the Committee of Safety. CHAIRMAN Ha! Who are these? GREEN MOUNTAIN BOY Spies, taken in the hills over by Strafford. CHAIRMAN Search them. [The British scouts are searched. They put up some resistance, which only makes the Patriots rougher and more thorough in their search. Letters, written on thin paper and folded small, are found in the boot of one, in the shirt of another, in the coat-cuff of a third. They are handed to the Chairman. He looks at them and holds up his hand for attention. CHAIRMAN (reading) "To the Captain of the 14th Company of the Royal Foot- guards. On receipt of these orders you will immediately lead your command out from their appointed hiding-place by forced marches and attack the settlement at Newbury on the Connecticut River and burn it to the ground. You will also sieze and burn all other settlements that you may find. You will carry these orders into effect the night of the day you re- ceive these orders, which are sent in duplicate, lest the de- spatches fall into the hands of the Yankees. (Signed) Very respectfully your obedient and humble servant, John Bur- goyne, Major General." The others are similar, giving orders for night attacks upon Charlestown and Royalton. Guard these prisoners well. Send out the alarm. [Two or three men jump upon horses and ride out in different directions. RIDERS To the ferry ! To the ferry ! The British are here ! ^5 A MEMBER OF THE COM- MITTEE OF SAFETY I fear those eight Tory brethren knew of this; that made them so bold in defying us and threatening us with vengeance. CHAIRMAN Never fear, neighbor ! It is the worse for them. [From the two western entrances come streams of people, hurried and in great confusion; men, women, and children, on horses, oxen, and on foot. They have household goods of all kinds on wagons, sledges, packed on horses, on their shoulders, and in their arms. Animals are driven along — cattle, horses, sheep, and pigs. The long line crosses to the river bank, where a large flat-bottomed boat is loaded with the first arrivals. The shouts of the men driving the animals and calling to each other, and the noises of the animals, cause great confusion. From the southeast entrance comes Richard Wallace, on horseback, riding at a gallop. RICHARD WALLACE The British are coming ! CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE Ay, we know it ! To the ferry ! The countryside is in flight. RICHARD WALLACE Where is my wife? Who has seen my wife? Does no one know anything of her? (To several) Have you seen my wife? [During the flight a woman has been seen carry- ing heavy packages to the knoll at the right. She has made two trips and now sits down on her pile of goods and watches the crowd go by. In the pile of goods is a scythe, among other implements. As Richard Wallace advances on foot, leading his horse and looking for his wife, he sees the woman and runs to her with a cry of joy. She rises and throws her arms about his neck. i6 RICHARD WALLACE Why are you here? Why did you not fly with the rest? MRS. WALLACE I had no way to carry our things to a place of safety; you had the horse down at Charlestown. We worked so hard to get and to save what we have ! So I decided to stick by the stuff* and see if there is cause for all this trepidation and flight. RICHARD WALLACE My wife ! My wife ! Thank God you are safe ! MRS. WALLACE Now that you have come, we can take the stuff across the river. [Together they pack the goods on Wallace's horse and start to join the stream of people going toward the river, Mrs. Wallace on the horse. Enter, gliding out of the pine-woods or bushes near by, an Indian, "Captain John." He is tall and erect; fierce and cruel, but direct in manner. He threads his way among the peo- ple, expressing his contempt with grunts, and going up to the Chairman engages him in con- versation. The Chairman by his manner and gestures shows consternation. He steps for- ward, grasping the Indian by the wrist, and stretches out his hand in command. CHAIRMAN Hold ! Hold ! OTHERS Hold ! Stop ! [All the people stop and turn back. The flat boat is rowed back to land. All gather to hear what the Chairman has to say. CHAIRMAN (Captain John grunting his confirmation at intervals. ) There are no British near. Captain John has just been all along the mountain from Ox-Bow at Newbury to Royalton. There was * Her actual words as cited in the old records. I? not a sign of the British. Before that he has just come from an attack on Burgoyne's army — (here Captain John lets out a blood-curdhng war cry, holding over his head some fresh scalps and showing his bloody tomahawk with fierce delight) — and no parties have left the army for a long time. SEVERAL MEN (Siezing a rope and rushing at the three British prisoners. ) Is it true? Is it true? (They put the rope around the neck of one and start to drag him to a tree. ) A BRITISH SOLDIER Save my life ! Yes, it is true; it is true. SEVERAL MEN Hang them ! Spies ! Hang them ! RICHARD WALLACE (Running in and rescuing the British soldier.) No, my friends! It is a trick of Burgoyne's to keep us from joining the men under Schuyler and Stark that are opposing him. To arms ! Over the mountains to fight Burgoyne ! ALL To arms ! Over the mountains ! To arms ! CHAIRMAN A fife ! A drum ! [A fifer and a drummer come forward and begin to play Yankee Doodle. RICHARD WALLACE (to his wife) Now the oats will not be reaped, and the corn will not be hoed; and you — my wife — MRS. WALLACE Yes, they will. All will be well. You must go and fight. But do not fear; I am your mate. * * During her husband's absence, Mrs. Richard Wallace took entire charge of the farm, ploughing, reaping, and harvesting the crops. [She gets off the horse, throws her arms about him and kisses him. She then picks up the scythe and puts it over her shoulder, takes the horse by the bridle, and starts away. As she i8 turns to go, Richard Wallace holds her back a moment and kisses her again; then he takes his place in the forming line. The fife and drum are still playing. The Chairman takes com- mand of the line of men. All are armed. CHAIRMAN Lead the prisoners on before. Attention ! Forward march ! [The fife and drum leading, the little procession starts. First come the Green Mountain Boys with their three British prisoners, then the min- ute-men. They disappear into the ravine, the fife and drum still playing. The women and others, waving and cheering, go slowly toward their homes. '9 €pis;obe 3. THE BUILDING OF THE CHURCH ON THET- FORD HILL, AND THE MUSICAL SOCIETY OF THETFORD AND LYME. (PLAYED BY THE PEOPLE OF EAST THETFORD AND THETFORD CEN- TER, WITH A FEW PEOPLE FROM LYME.) [Enter from the northeast the Reverend Asa Bur- ton* and a group of people from the settlement on the Connecticut River. At the same time enter from the northwest entrance a group of people from the settlement on the Ompompa- noosuc River. REVEREND ASA BURTON Here come our brethren from the Ompompanoosuc Valley. [The Connecticut people stand awaiting the Om- pompanoosuc people, as they come down the hill. Dr. Burton stands between the two groups. REVEREND ASA BURTON Greeting and peace in the name of the Lord, my beloved people ! [Both sides bow low to each other. The Om- pompanoosuc people bow first to Dr. Burton and then rather more stififly to the Connecticut people. REVEREND ASA BURTON Brethren, we have gathered here to meet those whom the County Court has appointed from the neighboring towns, at our request, to decide for us \vhere we shall build us a Meet- ing House, that the Lord may have an habitation among us. I adjure you, as you stand now in the presence of God, to consider this matter solely as in Hi.s sight, to obey His will. Let us now before these arbitrators decide this thing for our- selves. What say you? * The Rev. Asa Burton was the minister of the town for over fifty years — an iron ruler and a loved friend. 20 ONE OF THE OMPOMPA- NOOSUC PEOPLE Dr. Burton, you have spoken, as always, what is right. The people in our valley are more numerous grown. The voice of the people is the voice of God. We will leave it to the majority voie, as is the sanctified custom in Congregational churches. It is the will of God. ONE OF THE CONNECTICUT PEOPLE Nay, these new-comers are obstinate in their hearts and changeful in their ways. Wherefore the Lord hath put it in our hearts to correct them. God placed his house from the first settling of the town to the east, and confirmed his choice by blessing the preaching and ministry there. Will God change? Did the Lord not have his purposes in mind for all time? REVEREND ASA BURTON Brethren, a house divided against itself — [Both sides draw back jealously from each other. Enter on horseback the Reverend Peter Powers, of Newbury, and four other ministers. REVEREND ASA BURTON Here come our godly advisers and arbitrators. [All turn and bow exceeding low as the five min- isters ride up. They dismount and bow in turn. They advance a few steps, their horses held to- gether behind them. REVEREND ASA BURTON We welcome your coming to us and we will abide by your decision. REVEREND PETER POWERS Do you on both sides of this dispute submit yourselves volun- tarily to this arbitration ! ALL THE PEOPLE We do. We do. REVEREND PETER POWERS Have either of you anything further to add to what has already been declared to us about this matter? (To the Connecticut group) What say you? 21 ONE OF THE CONNECTICUT PEOPLE We have nothing further to say, and we are ready to accept your just decision as the will of God. There in our valley the first church was built, and there it prospered under God's blessing. There the church should remain. Shall the wicked say. Behold, the church was here but it has vanished away? REVEREND PETER POWERS (To Ompompanoosuc group.) What say you? ONE OF THE OMPOMPA- NOOSUC PEOPLE We will add nothing. The will of God is clearly set before your eyes. The church is for the nurture and edification of the people. The people in our valley far exceed in number those in the old valley. The House of God, the Ark of the Covenant, should move forward with the people. REVEREND PETER POWERS Dr. Burton, what have you to say on either side? REVEREND ASA BURTON The Evil One, the Prince of Darkness and Dissension, has stirred up between them this jealousy and controversy, but God hath yet put it into their hearts to submit to your arbi- tration. Both sides have stated their claims truly and with- out falsehood. REVEREND PETER POWERS We will withdraw to consider our decision. (The arbitrators withdraw up the slope, their horses being led after them. They are seen to bow their heads for a moment in prayer and then to discuss the question. ) [Enter from the southeast the people from Lyme, coming with hymn books in their hands. REVEREND ASA BURTON Here are our friends from Lyme for our monthly singing. Let us all unite in praising the Lord, according to the estab- lished laws of Nature and of God's holy word, quickening and enlivening our cold affections by the art of vocal music. [Dr. Burton takes out a pitch-pipe; all gather eagerly together, forgetting their quarrels and 22 dissensions in their love for music. Dr. Burton gives the pitch. REVEREND ASA BURTON We will sing 'Invitation.' [All sing the old hymn. REVEREND ASA BURTON That was indeed the performance of people having a tolerable skill in the art of music, and a contribution to the proper wor- ship of God. (All bow and are evidently much pleased with his praise.) When I was first ordained to you, you were scarcely able to sing on the Sabbath, and as I had always loved sacred music and made a study of it, I could not with comfort endure your singing. * ONE OF THE CONNECTICUT PEOPLE I would move you that if any member of the Musical Society shall make any new discovery in the art of music, he shall make the same known to the society in one of their meetings, and if any obtain knowledge of any new hymn tune or anthem they shall present the same to the society. § ONE OF THE OMPOMPA- NOOSUC PEOPLE It has been rumored that some one of the members has cove- tously been keeping to himself such choice treasure; I second the motion. REVEREND ASA BURTON Are there any remarks? Are you ready for the question? Those in favor will signify their vote by saying Aye and by raising their right hand. ALL Aye ! Aye ! ONE OF THE LYME PEOPLE There are some of the uncivilized in Lvme who have sought to discourage the people from joining this Society and to decry the art of music; and we have heard that there are such * From Dr. Asa Burton's diary. ? From the original constitution and by-laws of the Musical Society of Thetford and Lyme. 23 also in Thetford, and that they have even, for their nefarious and unrefined purpose, sought to become members of the Society. Therefore I move you that when any of?er them- selves to join this Socieiy, they shall be examined with respect to their end and design in joining it, and if it shall appear up- on their examination that their design is to get an occasion to ridicule or in any way to thwart the end of the Society, and not to promote it, they shall be rejected. * SEVERAL (Coming closer and speaking with feeling.) I second it! Yes ! Yes ! REVEREND ASA BURTON This is a just and proper motion. Those who are in favor — ALL (With emphasis and unanimity) Aye! REVEREND ASA BURTON For the next meeting, to be held in Lyme, we will all learn Walpole. The arbitrators are about to return. Let us now sing Bridgewater. [All sing Bridgewater, making it unusually dole- ful, some occasionally looking back to see if the arbitrators are coming. As the hymn draws to a close, the arbitrators return. The Thetford people draw apart from each other with return- ing stiffness and hostility. REVEREND PETER POWERS We have earnestly ?nd solemnly considered the question sub- mitted to us. We deplore the obstinacy of heart of the peo- ple (each group looks scornfully at the other) but we have felt that we were limited in our decision, for we have not wholly trusted the obedient spirit of the people of Thetford in this matter of the location of their church. (Various feelings exhibited at this — some repentant, [some indignant.) Where- fore we have decided that the church and meeting house of the town of Thetford shall be erected and built here on the hill half way between the two settlements, and we call upon you all of both sides obediently to carry out this decision. (Amazement and consternation.) * From the minutes of the Society. 24 SEVERAL ON BOTH SIDES It is God's will. ONE OF THE OMPOMPA- NOOSUC PEOPLE Let us drive the first stakes here and now. ONE OF THE CONNECTICUT PEOPLE Here is an axe. Let us drive it together. [The two cut a stake and drive it into the ground, one holding it and the other using the axe. REVEREND ASA BURTON (Standing over the two men) God bless this beginning and give fruit unto His word here in this place through my minis- try and the ministry of all who shall follow me forever. ALL Amen! REVEREND ASA BURTON Further, I will bear an equal portion of the expense. I will build the pulpit and the pew by the staircase, and I will give beside 5000 feet of pine boards. So may we always bring our troubles and disputes to each other and submit them to rea- son, and so may God always bless the result to us. [Exclamations of gratification and enthusiasm. REVEREND ASA BURTON Likewise, in order that I may not seem to belong to one set- tlement more than to the other, I will remove and build me an house here on the hill near the meeting-house. REVEREND PETER POWERS So, already, has God blessed you and brought fruit to our arbitrations. [All get up on their horses. REVEREND ASA BURTON Let us all appropriately sing New Jerusalem as we depart our several ways. [All sing New Jerusalem. With the second verse they begin to leave, in the various directions from which they came. 25 INTERLUDE I. THE SPIRIT OF HOME. FROM the pine grove at the south a group of white men emerges. They are the Puritan who appeared in the In- troduction, a Ranger, a Revolutionary minute-man, and a far- mer. A Httle back in the edge of the pines is a group of women and a few children. The Puritan advances and beckons toward the east. Over the river bank comes the Spirit of the River, followed by other River Spirits, some very young and slender. Half-reluctant, she obeys the call of the White Man, though her followers have a tendency to float away to the south. Leading the group of white men toward the north, the Spirit of the River moves away; when from the west comes the Spirit of the Mountain, accompanied by other Mountain Spirits. At the same moment the Spirit of the Intervale ap- pears, with other Meadow Spirits some of whom are very small. The Spirit of the Intervale comes at the call of the White Man, but she does not come gladly. It is accepted duty, not joy, which she expresses. The Meadow Spirits bend low before the white men and remain so, until the Puri- tan takes the Spirit of the Intervale by the hand and points toward the group of women standing among the pines. From among the group of women, who stand aside to let her pass, comes the Spirit of the Home. She comes forward with a movement that is direct, beautiful, and inexpressibly winning, sweeping toward the Spirit of the Intervale and lifting her up with an embrace. The Meadow Spirits yield gladly. In turn the Spirit of the Home makes her sweet advances to the Spirit of the Mountain, who responds more reservedly. Surrounded then by the Nature Spirits, the Spirit of the Home dances alone. Her dance is one of motherhood, of tenderness and understanding. As she ceases, the Nature Spirits, reaching radiant arms to her, withdraw in various di- rections. Slowly the group of white men and women retire, and last of all, the Spirit of the Home withdraws slowly into the pines. 26 Cpi^obe 4. THE FOUNDING OF THE THETFORD ACADEMY- (PLAYED BY THE PEOPLE OF THETFORD HILL.) [CHORUS] ODE TO THETFORD. (WRITTEN BY MRS. SADIE WILSON, OF POST MILLS.) In a little humble corner Of our own Green Mountain state, Lies the little town of Thetford Loved by all, both small and great. Thetford, with her peaceful vallej'S, Thetford, with her grand old hills; And her trees, her rocks, her rivers, And her little sparkling rills. Her green fields and wildwoods, Verdant meadows, flow' rets rare, Hold the love of all her children Though they're scattered everywhere. Refrain : Then all hail to thee, fair Thetford, May thy virtues shine afar. May thy name be held e'er sacred As a never-setting star. All her sons are bold and hardy Like the oaks on green hillsides, Iniired to snow and tempest They faint not, whate'er betides. In the days of early struggle They toiled on, both hard and late, For the sake of wives and children. For the honor of home and state. And these homes of Thetford Are her greatest charms today, And to keep them pure and holy Should be our aim alway. Refrain. 27 [Enter from the northwest entrance Judge Jede- diah P. Buckingham and Mrs. Ann Cook Buck- ingham, as the stage comes into sight down the vista of the southwest entrance. They wave their handkerchiefs. JUDGE BUCKINGHAM Here they come ! Here they come ! [Enter Judge and Mrs. Beriah Loomis, and Col- onel and Mrs. Lyman Fitch. MRS. BUCKINGHAM Here they come, — Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard, from Windsor. We must have tea out of doors; there will not be room for us all in the house. Lydia, go in and tell Aunt Jane we are going to have our tea outdoors, and bring it right out. They will be tired and want refreshment. [Lydia has appeared at the entrance when called, and now retires to give the message. The stage drives up and stops. The visitors alight. Effusive greetings between them and Judge and Mrs. Buckingham, who introduce them to the others. The stage drives away with its other passengers. JUDGE HUBBARD (to Judge Buckingham.) And how is my young friend Simeon Short? JUDGE BUCKINGHAM Do you know him? JUDGE HUBBARD Dear me, yes ! He studied law in my office. I prepared him for the bar. JUDGE BUCKINGHAM He is a great acquisition for us. He has been here but three years but is highly esteemed. A very promising lawyer; a credit to your instruction. Judge. He will surely be put upon the bench one of these days. MRS. HUBBARD Is he here? 28 JUDGE BUCKINGHAM Not today. He has gfone to take the donation of the people of Thetford to the Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire. JUDGE HUBBARD Indeed! How much was the donation, may I ask? JUDGE BUCKINGHAM JUDGE HUBBARD )? Indeed ! Indeed ! Thetford is truly interested in the cause of education. A generous gift ! COLONEL FITCH Yes, Simeon Short is a man of parts. I insist he is a man of ideas. He should be back today some time; he went day before yesterday. I insist he ought to be back today. [Enter from the southeast entrance Mr. Simeon Short, on horseback, at a walk. He comes up to the assembled company, graciously uncover- ing himself as he comes. All come forward with evident pleasure. MR. SIMEON SHORT Tea out of doors? — Ah, Judge Hubbard, and Mrs. Hubbard, you have come up from Windsor! — No wonder! All out- doors is none too large a welcome for you. MRS. BUCKINGHAM Will you not alight and join us, Mr. Short? MR. SIMEON SHORT No, no; I thank you. I have had a long, dusty ride. I am travel stained. MRS. BUCKINGHAM Let me give you a cup of tea in the saddle. (She goes and pours a cup. ) MR. SIMEON SHORT My friends, as I rode along through the woods today on my way home from Meriden, I thought, "Why not have an acad- emy in Thetford, instead of sending our students so far away to one in another state, and contributing money for its sup- port as well?" (A pause.) And why not? Why not, Judge Buckingham? 2g JUDGE BUCillNGHAM Capital! We will doit. Gent! nnen, shall we not take the matter up at once? I will contribute toward its institution and support. Where is a paper? Get paper, ink, and quills. COLONEL FITCH Mr. Short, I insist that you are a man of ideas. I am justi- fied in my estimate of you, sir. I congratulate you, sir. I will subscribe lumber. I insist upon supplying the lumber for the building. [A boy comes with a sheet of foolscap paper, an inkhorn, and quills. A place is made on the tea-table. One by one the gentlemen step up and write down their subscriptions. JUDGE BUCKINGHAM (to the boy) Go ask Dr. Burton to come. There he is now. Go and ask Judge Reed, Mr. Latham, and Mr. Kendrick to come over, (The boy goes out. ) [Enter Rev. Dr. Asa Burton, a man of 66 years; immediately following him come the other gen- tlemen named, and also Amasa Bond. JUDGE BUCKINGHAM Gendemen, Mr. Short has proposed that Thetford have an academy of her own, instead of sending her young people and her money to an academy in New Hampshire. MR. SIMEON SHORT And these gentlemen have made the suggestion their own so completely and so quickly that I did not have a chance to get off my horse before they had out a paper and had put down their subscriptions. DR. BURTON An excellent idea. God's blessing prosper it. MR. SIMEON SHORT Colonel Fitch has given lumber. COLONEL FITCH Yes, I insist on giving the lumber. AMASA BOND I will give some lumber, too. 30 COLONEL FITCH No, no; I insist on giving the lumber. AMASA BOND Well, I'll just put down my name. (He goes to the table, writes his name, and goes out. ) DR. BURTON It must be a general subscription. We must have trustees at once to provide for the frugal management of the institution. We shall also need a preceptor. There is now sojourning in our midst a young minister of Danville; he is learned, a grad- uate of Brown University, industrious, and given to good ways. He is by the grace of the Lord endowed with the right qualities of a teacher, and has some of his former pupils here with him. MR. LATHAM Let us send for him. I know where he was staying only yes- terday. (He goes out.) [Enter from the southeast a wagon driven by a boy of about fourteen years. Mr. Simeon Short has gotten down from his horse and is writing on the subscription paper with the others. DR. BURTON (to the boy) Ah, Justin, how are things in Strafford? And how are your excellent parents? JUSTIN S. MORRILL^!-- Very well, I thank you, sir. DR. BURTON What brings you over to Thetford today? JUSTIN S. MORRILL I have an errand to Mr. Short's, sir. DR. BURTON He is here. He is busy just now. He will see you in a moment. Justin, here is something you ought to have. (Justin looks up curiously, but respectfully.) An opportu- * The Hon. Justin S. Morrill, United States Senator from Ver- mont, was one of the earliest pupils at Thetford Academy, although not, as here represented, among its first pupils. 31 nity for an education not far from your own home. (Justin shows his interest and deHght, and moves closer to Dr. Bur- ton. ) We are going to have an Academy here in Thetford. JUSTIN S. MORRILL Then I could be a lawyer — like Mr. Short ! MR. SIMEON SHORT (coming up to them from the table. ) Yes, you can be a lawyer and give up farming. (Mr. Short remounts his horse. ) JUSTIN S. MORRILL I would not want to give up farming. I wish farming came into an education ! MR. SIMEON SHORT Combine education and agriculture ! That is a new idea ! DR. BURTON Here is the young man I recommended to you for preceptor, the Rev. John Fitch. I see some of his boys are with him. [Enter Rev. John Fitch and several boys. DR. BURTON Mr. Fitch, I have suggested you to these gentlemen for the Preceptor of a new Academy that we are starting in Thetford. Will you sojourn among us until we have completed our prep- arations and can make our election? REV. JOHN FITCH Right gladly will I. JUDGE BUCKINGHAM Who is this? Amasa Bond? [Enter Amasa Bond driving an ox-team, hauling a great log. AMASA BOND There is the first log for the new Academy ! COLONEL FITCH But I insist that I will give the lumber for the Academy. AMASA BOND Well, Colonel, I insist that I have given the first lumber; my subscription is the first to be paid up. 32 DR. BURTON Amasa, you are a lesson to us in the prompt payment of our debts. With God's blessing, and following this example He has given us at home, let us proceed without delay to raise the rest of the subscriptions and pay them at once. (Putting his hand on the log) Here is the beginning of our Academy. MR. SIMEON SHORT Let us all go and help Amasa unload the first log for the Academy! (Cheers. Amasa Bond starts up his team; Mr. Short rides along beside the log; the people gaily cluster round the log as it is hauled away. The boy, Justin S. Mor- rill brings up the rear. As the people move away, the chorus sings the Thetford Academy song.) FAIR THETFORD. (WRITTEN BY EDITH McDUFFEE, '92) Fair Thetford ! Fair hill where the hills circle round, We are singing, loved Thetford, of thee, For we love every inch of thy proud classic ground, 'Tis no matter where'er we may be. Thy mountains are blue, in thy bright sunset's glow E'en the sunsets of Italy pale. Thy breezes bring courage wherever they blow, Fair Thetford, loved Thetford, all hail ! To stand with thy sons is to stand with the strong, 'Tis to mingle with those of true worth ; Oh, thy sons and thy daughters are scattered afar. They have borne thy rich gifts through the earth. But, home in our hearts, very truly we know, Know that some who are valiant for truth, Look back in the hour of their proudest success. To the lessons thou gavest in youth. We care not what others may think or may do, Oh, we care not what others may say. For we know that our places are kept for us there, Although far from the hilltops we stray. But oft e'er we wake at the bird's morning call, We'll be dreaming, old Thetford, of thee. And still we will sing when the night shadows fall, Fair Thetford, loved Thetford, for me ! 33 Cptobe 5. THE COUNTRY FAIR. (PLAYED BY THE PEOPLE OF UNION VILLAGE) This Episode is a reproduction of a country fair at about the period 1835. First of all, the exhibitors of live stock arrive. They arrange their cattle, horses, sheep, poultry, etc., in places des- ignated by the Marshal of the Fair. Teams, ox-carts, and sheep pens are driven up and placed in position. Later the exhibitors of household industries make their entrance. The women enter their bread, cakes, maple sugar cakes, and the famous Thetiord cheese, in the contest for prizes. One woman shows her skill in handling the distaff and flax- wheel. Others exhibit quilts and counterpanes, crochet work, homespun garments, and other needle work. The judges of live stock consult together, make notes, enter into discussions, and finally award prizes. It was the custom to have one man and one woman judge of the superi- ority of the foods, and also of the needle-work. These judges pass from one group of women to another, inspecting the exhibits and awarding prizes. A fife and drum play at intervals. Meanwhile venders of all sorts have made their appear- ance and are crying their wares. The gingerbread man, bear- ing large cards of gingerbread, is very much in evidence, and generally patronized. Swains present their country lasses with a card of gingerbread, and small boys are generous purchasers. The man selling suspenders and braces is also doing a good business, largely on account of his cry, which amuses the crowd.* A man selling papers of pins, shoe-strings, and the like, also has a cry which attracts the crowds.* A boy with a keg of cider on the back of his cart finds a large demand for his cooling drink. Another man delights the hearts of the youngsters by the jewsharps he has for sale. Visitors to the Fair are coming and going; there is much noise and laughter. A young fellow grotesquely dressed acts as a clownish coun- try gawk, falling over ropes and boxes, walking behind people and imitating them, and making fun generally. A patent 34 medicine quack stands on a box and eloquendy shouts forth the miraculous qualities of his medicine. Games have also been going on. The little boys indulge in a tug of war, and older people play at tossing rings at the canes, hammer-scales, and finally, the horse- drawing contest. It is a scene of happy confusion and general clamor. At last the crowd disperses, fathers carrying tired children on their shoulders, and mothers holding sleeping babies in their arms. * From the reminiscences of Dr. Wilson Farnsworth, of Thet- ford Hill : "The music, the crowds of people, and especially the gingerbread stands, interested me very much, but above all, the peddlers cr>'ing their various wares. I remember that one, in selling suspenders or braces, cried out again and again— 'Long enough for any man, short enough for any boy ; and they will stretch like an old woman's conscience.' Another, who was selling a paper of pins, repeated some doggerel of which two lines cling to my memory after more than 55 years, viz : . , , , . 'To give each fold its proper place To bind the slender tapering waist.' " 35 Cpisiobe 6. THE COMING OF THE RAILROAD. * [Owing to the fact that it was impossible to secure the old Engine this Episode will be omitted.] A drove of cattle in care of a man and a boy come down through the north-west entrance, going across the grounds to the south-east. At the same time from the latter direction comes a man driving a wagon-load of potatoes. He hails the cattle-driver and asks him where he is going. Taking his beef dow^n to Springfield, he replies; he then goes on to ask what on earth his neighbor is doing with so many potatoes; he can- not take them to Boston, and he surmises the man himself will never eat so many. Well, he is going to send the potatoes to Boston. "A pleasure trip? the other objects; "it will never pay." The farmer tells him that he is going to send his pota- toes by the railroad ; he has a large crop that he is going to send to Boston; these are only a few he is sending to a brother in Newbury by the first train to go over the line. Then he asks the cattle-man why he does not ship his beef on the train. Well, the cattle-man is not sure that the railroad will be as good a way of getting his cattle to market as driving them down himself in the good old way; he will wait and see; may- be he will later. Then he goes on and follows his cattle down the road. A number of people come in from all entrances, evidently some of them come from long distances. One says he has sent an order for some grain down to Greenfield to come up on this first train. Another jokes him about it and tells him he saw the man who took the order on his way down, that he had spoken of it but that he had said he was to bring the grain * Note. — The locomotive of the first train that went over the Con- necticut & Passumpsic Railroad, as it then was, in 1848, was called "The Green Mountain Boy," and had that name in gilt painted on its side. There were at first, it is said, only two cars, one treight or express and the other passenger. The windows of the passenger were small, of only four small panes each and there was only one window for every two seats. 36 up with him when he came, not that he was to send it by the train. General amusement at the purchaser's worry lest his order be not carried out correctly. Another says that a cer- tain neighbor has gone down to East Thetford or to Pompa- noosuc to come up on the train. The engine is heard to whistle far down the track. Great excitement. Every one urges forward to see the first train as it comes around the curve; some restrain others who are in danger of getting too close to the tracks and then themselves do the same thing. The train comes up and stops at the grounds. Everybody cheers, long and loud. The engineer and the fireman wave their caps from the cab of the locomo- tive. Several passengers lean out of the windows of the pas- senger car. The conductor and the brakeman get off the train. The man who went down to East Thetford to come up on the train gets off; he is immediately surrounded by friends, who ask him what it is like. He is enthusiastic over the ex- perience and especially dilates on the great speed of the train. From the freight or express car the two bags of grain are heaved ofT and the name ot the owner called out loud to come and take his property. He comes forward, relieved and joy- ful, and amidst the good-natured jokes of his friends protests that he never had a minute's concern in regard to their com- ing. The potatoes are put on board; the owner allows he is of a mind to go up to Newbury with the potatoes, and asks the man of the grain if he will take his team home for him. Yes, surely he will and cordially recommends the experience of train travel. Just in time he swings himself on board, as the train slowly starts up and pulls out up the track. Again everybody cheers, and many get up on the track to look after it. He of the grain loads his bags on to the potato-man's wagon and drives ofT in the direction of North Thetford. The people disperse, most of them going off in the same direction. 37 INTERLUDE II. THE AGE OF HOMESPUN : THE SPIRIT OF WAR. As a setting for this interlude are groups of families en- gaged in some of the old home industries, such as spinning, weaving, threshing grain with the flail and the winnowing fan, making maple sugar with the sap-yoke and kettle. Each in- dustry is conducted by a family, thus representing the economic conditions in the Age of Homespun. While these activities are progressing, groups of old people and young people dance some of the old contra dances. The whole scene is joyous and festive, and continues with a simple hilarity as if it were never to end. Abruptly interrupting, with Tschaikowsky's March from the Nut-cracker Suite in the Orchestra, the Spirit of War tears in from the south, clad in red. The dancing stops. The Spirit of War is insolent, fierce, cruel and mocking. The men stand firm, resolutely grasping their various implements, staring dauntlessly at the Spirit of War as she rages around among them. The mothers clasp their children to their breasts or cling to their husbands. As the Spirit of War drive the people before her, the men and the women come together in a new spirit of imity. The men come together in front of the women to protect them. The family lines, so dis- tinct in the days of economic independence, are blurred, giv- ing way to a new community relationship born of the times ol the war. As the dance continues, the Spirit of War drives all the people away, remaining alone in possession of the scene for one last hysterical moment of fury. 3S €pmht 7. THE CIVIL WAR. (PLAYED BY THE PEOPLE OF POST MILLS.) (Long roll on the drum. Enter members of the G.A.R. , E. B. Frost Post, with their battle flag. They march to the knoll on the right of the grounds, stack their arms, and stand viewing the episode, which is played in tribute to them. Enter a large group of men, women, and children, and with them a band of soldiers in heavy marching order, ready to go to the front. Goodbyes are said as the long roll con- tinues. The soldiers fall into line, and when the drum stops, the sergeant forms the company and turns it over to the Lieu- tenant. ) LIEUTENANT Parade, rest! (He turns to the Minister, who comes forward and holds up his hand. All bow their heads. ) MINISTER O God, our Father, the God of One Home and of One Nation, help us in this our time of need. Give us strength to do our duty, those of us who go and those of us who stay at home. Give victory to our arms, if it be thy will, that this broad land many remain one nation from north to south, as from east to west. Bless and strengthen our sons and brothers who have already gone to the front. Give endurance to the wounded to bear their sufferings. Those who are appointed to die, take, O God, unto Thee, and in a little while, when our time is past, unite us all again in Thine eternal Home in the Heavens. We ask it in the name of Him who bore all things for us, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord. ALL Amen! (All raise their heads and the soldiers look straight at the minister as he says to them.) God bless you, every one. Be vigilant; quit you like men; be strong. S9 LIEUTENANT Rest! (Quietly some of the nearer relatives come up to say goodbye once more; some stay back. All is quiet.) MRS. BROWN (to a soldier) Here, Tom, when you see Jim, divide this between you. TOM BROWN No, mother, you keep it. You will need it more than we. We will get along all right. MRS. BROWN No, boy, take it. If I come to need, the neighbors will help me out a bit. A YOUNG GIRL (Her hands on a young soldier's shoulders). I will think of you every minute, Harry. (She gives him a first aid kit, and then draws back, as it in terror.) Here is a first aid package I made for you, Harry. O, God! if you should have to use it! (She buries her head on his shoulder; he kisses her.) MRS. JONES (to the same soldier) Harry, put this Testament next your heart and keep it there always. Pray every night and morn- ing, boy! — pray for us at home! (She puts the Testament into his pocket and buttons his coat herself ) LIEUTENANT (kissing his wife and turning to the soldiers) Attention! Carry, Arms! (etc., etc.) [The orchestra strikes up the Battle Hymn of the Republic. The soldiers march away. The people then sit down on the ground in groups to make comfort packages for the sold- iers. Little children scrape lint. They eat their lunches as they work. [Enter running from the northeast the Railroad Ticket Agent. He is waving some despatches. TICKET AGENT A battle! [The minister moves toward him, and he hands the despatches to the minister. The people gather around. 40 MINISTER (reading) "It is reported that a battle is now raging in southern Pennsylvania at a village called Gettysburg. The President has issued a call for troops." (An utter, appalling silence.) MINISTER (Opening the other despatch and holding up his hand) "List of the dead, wounded, and missing at the battle of Chancel- lorsville. " (He reads the list of authentic names of Thetford men so reported during the Civil War.) MRS. BROWN (When her son's name is read) I will go to him — TICKET AGENT Don't think of it. You cannot — MRS. BROWN Somehow I will — MRS. SMITH (whose husband's name was among the killed) Frank is killed. I heve a little money I had saved up to go to him it he needed me. You can have that. With what you have maybe you can go. (Mrs. Brown takes her hand and clings to her. ) MINISTER (reading) The body of Captain E. B. Frost, 6th Vermont, killed on the field of battle at Chancellorsville has been ordered sent to his home, Thetford, Vermont. (Silence.) MRS. FROST (to her boy and girl) Come, Ruth ; come, Clinton ; let us go to get everything ready to meet him and bury him. (They go off, the Ticket Agent following them. ) MRS. WHITE (who has been standing very quiet since the list was read) Missing ! Missing ! O, if I only knew. If I could only go to him. I will ! I will find him ! (Other women put their arms around her and quiet her. ) JOSEPH MATSON The President has called for more troops. I am too old and 4^ feeble to go, but I will give money to care for the family of a younger man to go in my place. (Cheers.) TWO MEN I will go. I will go. ONE OF THE MEN We can hardly both of us go. THE OTHER We'll draw lots. One will go — ONE OF THE MEN Then the other will do the work of two at home. [They pick blades of grass and go to the minis- ter; he takes the blades and they draw. THE MINISTER You go; you stay. HOWARD JONES (a boy of 15 years) I will go. Will you let me go, mother? MRS. JONES Yes, boy; you may go. HOWARD JONES (seeing tears in her eyes) I will come back. You want me to go, don't you? You would not have me stay when the President calls for troops, would you, mother? MRS. JONES No, Howard, I would not have you stay. (Kissing him) Yes, I am proud of you. — (Turning away and speaking hall to herself) — but you are my last and it is a little hard. (To him) You may go. MRS. SMITH (Looking down the track.) There comes the train with the wounded. A MAN Does the doctor know? (To a boy) Run tell the doctor. [The boy runs up the hill as fast as possible. At the top he turns and shouts: 42 THE BOY Here he comes ! [The doctor gallops up on horseback from some distance back. He jumps from his horse, tosses the reins to the boy, and runs forward with his kit as the wounded are carried in. Some are on stretchers, some walk with crutches. WOUNDED SOLDIER Where is Mother? MRS. SMITH She's passed on, Mr. Hopkins. We buried her two weeks ago. We tried to get word to you, but could not. (They go aside, talking. ) MRS. BLACK (Looking through the wounded for some one and coming up to Mr. Hopkins) Where is Richard? He was reported wounded and ordered home. MR. HOPKINS That was a mistake, Mrs. Black; he was killed. He fell dead by my side at the time I was hit at Chancellorsville. (She tries to bear up and he tries to comfort her. ) ANOTHER WOUNDED SOLDIER (Going about on crutches, looking for some one, and coming up to Mrs. Smith) Mattie! MRS. SMITH (turning and looking aghast) Frank ! Frank ! I heard you were dead ! (She throws herself into his arms hysteri- cally. [The ticket-agent runs in waving a despatch. All turn eagerly to him. TICKET AGENT The Union is saved ! The battle of Gettysburg is won ! Vicksburg is taken ! ALL The Union is saved ! TICKET AGENT The Union is saved ! 43 MINISTER America will proclaim the message of Liberty to the nations of the world, not by the independence of her States but all together, by the union into one nation ! But there is still much to be done. And Vermont will do her part ! * Let us go and get ready to take care of those whom God has given back to us. [All go out together. The Chorus sings the Hymn to Liberty by Arthur Farwell. The G. A. R. , last of all, come down the slope, follow- ing their color bearer. * Vermont gave a greater proportion of her sons to the country than any other state in the union. 44 Cptobe 8. THE INTRODUCTION OF MACHINERY. [Enter from the northeast Samuel Small and Richard Towne. RICHARD TOWNE You ought to come to the city. You'd do lots better. That's where things are happening. Plenty of work; plenty of mon- ey. Look at me. Then when you come back to the old farm, you amount to something. SAMUEL SMALL No, I like it best right here. The city's all well enough for those that like it, but I can make a living right here. I have my little place, and get quite a bit off it. Sally likes to attend to the garden and the chickens, and I get all the extra work I can do from Ben Farmer right next door. He's got a big farm and I work for him quite a bit. RICHARD TOWNE You're slow. That's the trouble with you. You're behind the times. You're a good fellow and you ought to keep up to date. [Claps Small on the back. SAMUEL SMALL (Laughing) It would be all well enough for you to talk like that if I was not making out all right, but I've got things here too handy for making a living and raising my family for you to be able to budge me. (With another laugh) Did you talk about this to Sally ? RICHARD TOWNE No. SAMUEL SMALL Well, you'd better not. She won't take to the idea. [Enter from the northwest Benjamin Farmer driving a mower. BENJAMIN FARMER Well, what do you think of that ! (He stops in the center.) 45 RICHARD TOWNE How are you, Ben? BENJAMIN FARMER Why, how DO ! Glad to see you again. How are you mak- ing out down Springfield? RICHARD TOWNE First rate. How's the folks ? BENJAMIN FARMER Fine! Well, I took my time coming to it, but I'll not be sorry I got this mower. I can do four times the work with this in a day with one man than what I could before with four men handling the scythe. Just look it over! I can put all that rough pasture land of mine into hay now. [He gets down and the three look the machine over. SAMUEL SMALL That's great! That's great! RICHARD TOWNE Beats all what they do with machinery these days! [Samuel Small and Richard Towne start of? and Benjamin gets up on his mower again. Then Small comes back, while Towne goes on. SAMUEL SMALL I'll be over soon. Are you going to want me to run that for you? BENJAMIN FARMER Well, you might try it, if you like. (A little embarrassed). The truth is — the truth is, Sam, I won't need to hire as many men now as I did before, and yet I can get more work done. SAMUEL SMALL Wha— BENJAMIN FARMER These new machines get a sight of work done. I aint been more'n getting a bare living out of the place for some time, good a farm as it is. SAMUEL SMALL Say, Ben Farmer, do you mean you won't want me to work for you no more? 46 BENJAMIN FARMER Why, Sam, I'd like you to work for me first rate. I've known you all your life, and you always done g^ood work for me. I aint been makin^^ more than a bare living out of the place for a long time. The wages I've had to pay out for hire eat up everything there was in it. In fact, I've been getting a bit in debt. Now this new machine will let me catch up and I may get a bit ahead. It's like I aint got no choice. SAMUEL SMALL Like I aint got no choice either. (Pause) Ben, can't you hold me along a bit? It's taking half my living away from me. I make a bit off my own patch and a bit working for you, and between the two we get along all right. But there is no living on my five acres alone. (Pause. Both men are troubled and awkward inconsequence.) It'll break Sally's heart to leave the old place. Her father and two brothers were killed in the war, and it was there her mother came to us, and died there, and we've brought up our family there — all born in that house. BENJAMIN FARMER I know, Sam, I know. I feel mean to have to do it. But I've got to do one thing or the other — go ahead or go under. Anything I can do, I'll do gladly for you, Sam. [Benjamin Farmer drives off toward the south- east. Down from the same direction comes Small's wife, Sally, carrying a milk-pail and stool. SALLY Good morning, Ben. That your new mower? BENJAMIN FARMER Yes. [Sally comes down to Ben, who walks back to meet her. They talk together for a moment, Sally looking thunderstruck. First she looks back at Benjamin Farmer, disappearing along the road; again she looks off as if at her little home, and wipes her eyes. Sam puts his arm around her and she lays her head on his shoul- der. Their little boy, who has come with her, pulls at her skirt. They each take him by the hand, and he draws them along. 47 SALLY Well, we'll have to give it up. There's nothing else for it. SAMUEL SMALL You're a brave girl; you're a brave woman, Sally. You're a child of the war all right. [She puts her hands on his shoulders again, then braces up and dashes away the tears from her eyes. SALLY Come on. (She turns to him with a brave smile and holds out her hand. ) [Enter Richard Towne along the river bank the way he had gone. SAMUEL SMALL Hey, Richard! (Richard comes over to them.) I've been thinking over a bit what you said about work in the city. Maybe I might consider it. RICHARD TOWNE Fine! Now you're talking! I thought Sally would not be against it. (Sally smiles but says nothing.) SAMUEL SMALL Do you think I could gel work there right oil? I have no money to keep us on while we wait for a job, if — if I give it up here. RICHARD TOWNE Sure you'll get work right of5. They can't get men enough. They're introducing new machinery and new methods right along. There never was such a time for factories. The city's the place for live men. SAMUEL SMALL But I've never done any of that kind of work. RICHARD TOWNE Neiter have none of the other new men. They've got to take new men. There are none with experience. If you've got the stuff in you, you're bound to succeed. SAMUEL SMALL I believe I'll go. 48 RICHARD TOWNE That's the way to talk. [Re-enter Benjamin Farmer on his mower. SAMUEL SMALL Ben, would you care to buy my land off of me? RICHARD TOWNE Sam's coming to the city. He's not going to stay around here hoeing potatoes. BENJAMIN FARMER (to Towne) So? (To Small,) Well, I don't know but I might. It's a good little piece of land. I aint got much use for the house (Sally winces and turns away) that I can see just at present. Come around and we'll talk price. I'll treat you fair on it. SAMUEL SMALL I'll be around tonight. RICHARD TOWNE The city's the place. I tell you this is the age ol machinery. Everything in the city is done by machinery nowadays. Even in your own home. (Sally turns away again for a moment.) BENJAMIN FARMER Well, we're introducing machinery a bit here on the farm, too. This, for instance. SAMUEL SMALL Yes, it's a case of machinery in both places — in the country and in the town. Well, we'll settle things up tonight. [Sam and his wife go off with the child between them. Towne stops to talk with Benjamin Farmer, and as Farmer drives away he walks along by the mower, talking interestedly as he goes. 49 Cpisiobe 9. THE RURAL PROBLEM. (PLAYED BY THE PEOPLE OF THETFORD HILL( [Enter from the northwest George Edwards and his son, Joe; Joe is driving a load of hay, standing on the load; his father comes alongside and pitches a forkful of hay onto the load. GEORGE EDWARDS That's the last! JOE EDWARDS (Receiving the hay, placing it, and then throwing his own fork into the hay.) It's my last, anyhow. GEORGE EDWARDS What do you mean? JOE EDWARDS I've told you, many a time. I'm going. GEORGE EDWARDS Why? JOE EDWARDS You know as well as I do. I want to try new methods of farming to get out of this land all there is in it. You won't. You just make fun of it — and me. GEORGE EDWARDS Aint you going to give them notions up ? JOE EDWARDS They're not notions. It's no use, as it is now. You're just getting a bare living out of this farm. GEORGE EDWARDS Well, what more do you need? A living's not the easiest thing to get these days, and I've done it right here for a good many years, steady. And I know them right here in this town that are not doing that. The land of this whole region is worked out — that's the truth of it. 50 JOE EDWARDS Worked out? Nothing- of the sort. For all we've been get- ting out of it, this land's been mostly lying fallow for the past — don't know how many years. GEORGE EDWARDS Fallow! Hm ! I've worked it pretty hard, I know that. JOE EDWARDS We don't know what the land's best fitted for, or how to han- dle it to get the best out of it, that's what's the matter. We're behind the times. GEORGE EDWARDS Oh, of course. Your father don't know anything, (Pause) That's one of the notions you've picked up from those Bur- lington fellows. What do they know about my farm? I've been working it now twenty years, lived on it all my life and my father before me. I guess I know this farm better than any young man that does his farming in books and fusses around in a hot-house over in Burlington, other side of the state. Fallow! Hm ! That's where you got that idee! JOE EDWARDS It's not, either. I heard Dr. Whitney say that down in New York and he's the head of the Bureau of Soils at Washington. GEORGE EDWARDS Bah! About as good! See here, my boy, I know this farm about as well as I know you, and I want you should learn one thing: if you're going to get along in this world and not get ploughed under, you've got to stick to facts. JOE EDWARDS I am sticking to facts. But there are a whole lot more facts about this farm that we can find out for ourselves, and we ought to find out what they are. [Silence; a bit sullen on Joe's part, and the silence of superior wisdom on his father's part. Joe climbs down from the top of the load and they feed the oxen. JOE EDWARDS I intend when I'm done with this farm to have a good sum of money out of it. 5^ GEORGE EDWARDS Going to get rich, eh? JOE EDWARDS And leave it a richer, more profitable farm than it ever was before. GEORGE EDWARDS Hm! JOE EDWARDS I want my family to know what's going on in the country — GEORGE EDWARDS They can read the magazines, like we do. There's nothing new in that. JOE EDWARDS And take part in the big movements that are going on, il they take a fancy to — and can. GEORGE EDWARDS Fancy! That's just about it. Joe, if you and your family are going to do all this that you've laid out, — get rich and all that — you'll have to get up a good deal earlier than you do now and go to bed a good deal later. JOE EDWARDS I get up as early as any one. You needn't say that. GEORGE EDWARDS I'm not saying as you don't. But we're not trying to do all that at present. JOE EDWARDS Hm! GEORGE EDWARDS Joe, it seems like to me you don't think your bringing up has been good enough for you, quite. Now I can tell you that your mother .... [Enter Mrs. Edwards with a jug of milk. Neither has noticed her approach. MRS. EDWARDS What are you two thre.shing out now? (Both are silent a moment. ) 52 GEORGE EDWARDS Joe thinks this farm isn't good enough for him. JOE EDWARDS It' s not so. I believe in this farm a good deal more than you do. MRS. EDWARDS Joe! Joe! GEORGE EDWARDS Well, he says he's going away, — going to the city to learn farming, and a whole lot of new-fangled things. His father managed to make a living without. MRS. EDWARDS Why do you get talking about these things? You don't agree on them and you never will. JOE EDWARDS Father thinks I am just a conceited — : I want him to under- stand that I — You understand, Mother. You know that it's because I care that I — MRS. EDWARDS Yes, Joe, I know. You love your father and he loves you; that's why he don't want you should make any mistakes. You've got to go your own way more or less, just like he did; but the city's no place for a young man. If you went to New York or Boston, I should be worrying about you every min- ute until I had you back safe again. JOE EDWARDS (putting his arm around his mother:) But that's absurd, Mother. I should get along all right. I know how to work hard, I can make my way. MRS. EDWARDS Well, maybe you would. I hope so. JOE EDWARDS Others have. I can do what others have done. GEORGE EDWARDS' (going to see about oxen and their feed) It costs more to live in the city, and it's not easy to get a job down there as soon as you get off the train. We have not the money to keep you going down there long. 53 MRS. EDWARDS You are our only child, Joe, and we've always done every- thing for you we could — JOE EDWARDS I know you have. Mother. MRS. EDWARDS And planned everything the best we knew how for you, to leave the farm to you just as your father got it. He has always said he would not sell an acre of it, because he said he wanted you should get the whole farm, the old family home- stead, just as it has always been in ihe family. And some- times it has been pretty hard. JOE EDWARDS I know. Mother, you and father could not have done anything more than you have for me. And I want to make the most of it I can. [Joe puts his arm around his mother and kisses her; George comes up and puts his hand on Joe's shoulder. GEORGE EDWARDS You are a good boy, a good son, Joe; and you always have been. Here, Joe, — here's the whole farm that's going to be yours some day. You are keeping company with the school- teacher. She's a fine girl; we like her. I'll set you up right now; stay at home. JOE EDWARDS Thank you, father. But there is not enough in the farm for all of us the way we are working it now. It will not take care of two houses. You know it won't. MRS. EDWARDS What's to hinder you living right on with us? We'll be glad to have Lettie. JOE EDWARDS It's new ways of working the farm we need. Mother. We could never get ahead if I did that. I must go and learn HOW first. I must learn a way to get ahead a bit in money. GEORGE EDWARDS Same as Luke Harding. 54 MRS. EDWARDS Don't, George. Don't go away, Joe! We don't want you to get into any trouble, or run the risk of it. We love you, Joe, and we want to do for you. JOE EDWARDS Oh, I'm not going to get intcj any trouble, GEORGE EDWARDS Neither was Luke. No, he was going to make a fortune in New York. Some one else made the fortune, — all Luke had of it. He had a try at the bread line, Learned to drink, that's about all he learned. Joe, we don't want you should turn out like him, — just as you are starting out to be a man and a credit to us. Going that way, you can't succeed, Joe. JOE EDWARDS Well, if you think I am no better than Luke Harding, — if you think I am that sort — [He flings off, going up the field. Enter from the north-east Lettie Davis, the school-teacher, with a number of little children, dancing about her and crying out, "School's out! School's out!" One little girl runs up and takes her hand and walks along with her teacher. LETTIE DAVIS (seeing Joe going ofT up the field) Oh Joe ! [Joe turns and comes back down to meet her without saying anything. Lettie sends the little girl on ahead; the children go out. LETTIE DAVIS What's the matter, Joe? JOE EDWARDS The same old thing — only Father says that if I will stay he will set me up right ofT — LETTIE DAVIS (eagerly) Does he? JOSEPH EDWARDS There is not enough in the farm for all of us the way it is run now. 55 LETTIE DAVIS But you would do so much with it. You are younger than your father. I know what you could do. I am not afraid to trust to you. JOE EDWARDS It isn't a matter of working hard. When Father was my age, all his future lay right here in Thetford. Now it's different. Business is a good half of farming now and business is spread over the whole country. I must make my living — our living — not as a Thetford farmer raising crops for my own use or the local market, but as an American farmer raising crops for the general market, wherever it is. Business has become everything, because business men have got together. Farmers must get together, and I must learn how to do things that way. LETTIE DAVIS All right. Why not begin at home, Joe ? JOE EDWARDS What's the use? No one here would listen to me? And why should they ? No more will they take the lead. They are all content to scrape along. When it comes to doing anything, they wait a while first and then sit back and say they can't, like Father, LETTIE DAVIS Joe — JOE EDWARDS The only way is for me to go and prove to them that I am right, that I can Oh if I could only have them ! Now I must go alone! It is true, what they say, that there is dan- ger in the city for a fellow like me. There is. There is dan- ger everywhere. They love me but they do not believe in me. I have a right for them to believe in me ! They do not believe in me because I am their son, because I am a Thetford boy. If I came from anywhere else, — if I were anyone else's son, — I might have a chance, — but — it is all wrong! It takes the heart out of me. They ought to back me up — me, me! Then I could go and win! Or stay and win, if it were a mat- ter of staying! [Lettie looks at him shocked at his outburst. JOE EDWARDS I know they love me; you need not look at me like that. I 56 I know it better than you do. I want someone to believe in me, if it's only one! Let them hate me, but believe in me! LETTIE DAVIS Oh don't, don't say that, Joe ! [She protests with an almost understanding tenderness. JOE EDWARDS (he starts away from her and then turns back impulsively to her, holding both hands out to her) Don't vou believe in me, Lettie? [She thinks he is changing his mind or that he may change it and stay at home; she is happy in the hope, comes up close to him and takes his hands and looks up into his face afiection- and appealingly. LETTIE DAVIS Why do you go ? [He looks quietly into her eyes a moment. JOE EDWARDS Because I must. [The father and mother have been talking to- gether and watching the young people, though not hearing what they said. Joe returns to the team, climbs up on the load and silently starts the oxen up to drive them off. Lettie goes over and joins Mr. and Mrs. Edwards. GEORGE EDWARDS Well, Mother, I reckon he's gone. [They go out, Joe driving the load of hay. the father and mother and Lettie walking beside it. As they go, the Spirit of Thetford appears stretching out her arms in compassion to them. INTERLUDE III. THE SPIRIT OF PAGEANTRY. As the people of the last episode depart at the north-east exit, enter from the north-west entrance Thetford, clad in rather dingy green and blue, so faded as to be almost brown. She reaches out her arms after the people who have just gone, in compassion at their situation. Her heart revolts in distress at the impossibility of their rising out of their hard lot; this 57 she expressed in her movements and gestures. She appeals, though with little hope, to all quarters of the compass, and then sinks down in hopeless dejection in the middle of the nearer stage. The music continues in still gloomier strains reaching her dejection, as she lies prostrate on the earth. With one clear note in the orchestra bringing an element of cheer and hope, there arises from the wood at the side of the river, the Spirit of Pageantry, the spirit of putting joy into work. [THE CHORUS SINGS:] Raise thy head ! Stretch forth thy hand ! Victory's labor do not shirk ! Joy the fruit of all the land. If joy thou pour in all thy work. She is resplendent, mystic, radiant with hope and joy, instinct with dignity. She does not so much come on as arise. As she slowly approaches the gate between the farther and the nearer stages, her motions are all of devotion and worship, stately, ritualistic. For a moment she stands between the two elms as in prayer. Then her eyes come down to the earth and she sees Thetford lying prostrate on the ground before her. Her first impulse is of pity; then of kindly protest at the wrong attitude toward life. Slowly she goes to the prostrate figure and summons her to arise, to look abroad at the beauty of the world, to look up at the radiance of the light, to enter into the joy of life, instead of letting herself be ab- sorbed in its hardship and hopelessness. Thetford responds slowly; she looks up but does not arise; she cannot believe; she knows better from intelligent experience. So there follows a series of appeals or summons and responses and lapses into dejection, till Thetford arises and shows a joyous trust in the Spirit. Before, too unbelieving, she is now too dependent. The Spirit of Pageantry points her forth, impressing upon her that she must not depend upon her but upon her own heart for strength, and for guidance look to the glory of God and of her country, pointing to the sky and to the south. Thetford clings to the Spirit, who gently repulses her and points to the south, where for a moment is seen the figure of America on a white horse with the shield of the United States on one arm, and holding forth the flag with the other. Thet- ford gazes rapt in wonder at the vision; — America raises the flag as a sign of recognition and a call for her allegiance. At the same moment with a whirl the Spirit of Pageantry van- ishes. Thetford reaching back with one hand to the Spirit turns back to her; the Spirit of Pageantry is gone. Thetford turns again to gaze at America; she also is gone. She stands 58 still a moment and then turns, reaches down to the ground, draws forth a sword and holds it forth straight over her head, self-reliant, strong, her face radiant with confidence in the future, her arms upraised to the heavens. [CHORUS.] Toward the future cast thine eyes ; Sunshine floods the heavenly dome! O'fT each roof the F.ajjle flies: In the Nation hves the Home! In the blackest dark of night Blaze the suns of distant space: Pierce the clouds that shroud from sight Glory in a humble place ! Rise! Build firm the future town ! Plant its acres ! Reap its crops ! Sing! Let Joy like streams run down From the wooded mountain-tops! River, village, forest, field, When the songs of praise arise. Their responsive praise will yield ! Toward the future turn thine eyes ! Cptobes; 10=11=12. THE NEW AGRICULTURE- -THE NEW EDUCA- TION --THE NEW LIFE. [Enter the Master of the Thetford Grange and Henry West, a western farmer, formerly a Thetford man. HENRY WEST Old Home Week is a good thing ! MASTER OF THE GRANGE Yes, Henry, it is a good thing; it is good for us here at home and I think it is also good for you fellows who have gone away. HENRY WEST This town fair you've got started is a good thing, too. MASTER OF THE GRANGE Yes, we find it so. It gets the whole town, — the whole fam- ily — together, so to speak, once a year to see what we have accomplished during the year. And it always shows progress. HENRY WEST How long have you had them? 59 MASTER OF THE GRANGE One, two, three, — four years now. They startled in a little suggestion in an episode in our Pageant in 191 1. It was the same as this one. We are repeating it and are going to have semething of the kind every five years. HENRY WEST Our towns are most too big to have things like this, out west. But you ought to see our corn fields out in Minnesota, furrows two miles long are nothing. Some of them, you plough down one day and plough back the next. MASTER OF THE GRANGE Not much home life in that, Henry. HENRY WEST (with a laugh) No, but its great farming! You cannot do anything like that in old Vermont. MASTER OF THE GRANGE I grant you, but Vermont, — and Thetford — has no call to take a back seat to any place. Look there, did you ever see finer cattle than those Holsteins of Lewis Cadwell's? Or that Jer- sey bull of Harley Sanborn's? — He's registered. Or those Ayrshires of Bob Vaughan's? HENRY WEST No, I have not. They're fine cattle. What do you do with them? Send them to the Brighton market? MASTER OF THE GRANGE Yes. Wilder told us there was no place in the country to beat this region right here where Thetford is for fresh milch cows for the market. And he was right. We are going in for cattle strong. [A poor lean cow is lead in at the north-west en- trance, and taken up along side of the fine cattle. HENRY WEST Good heavens ! What is that? MASTER OF THE GRANGE That is one ot our jokes. We bring a robber cow to the town fair as a standard of comparison. Used to be a lot of them in the town, ate their heads off and the profits of the good cows too. Now there is not one in the whole town. We have to go outside to get one. HENRY WEST Everyone used to keep cows when I was in Thetford Dairy- ing was the chief industry. MASTER OF THE GRANGE Nothing to what it is now, though. We sell the cream now, 60 the same as then; but we get more for it. It is worth more, tests higher, and there is a steady supply. HENRY WEST Use separators entirely, I suppose. MASTER OF THE GRANGE Oh, of course. There is one that is used a good deal in town; made in Vermont, down at Bellows Falls. There are other good ones, but we like to use Vermont product when it is up to standard. We show the machines we do the work with, too. That has lots to do with what we accomplish, of course. There is a corn harvester, and a cut away harrow, for instance. Familiar enough, of course, but we keep in mind what we do things with. HENRY WEST Well, Charlie, this is all fine. How do you do it? MASTER OF THE GRANGE We do everything through the Grange, nowadays. Buy co- operatively and sell co-operatively. The Railroad helps us with our marketing too. Worth while of course: more busi- ness for the railroad and more for us. And we can give most of our attention to the farming that we know best. HENRY WEST Pretty big scale you do things on now, Charlie, but still noth- ing like the west. Can't here. The soil is too thin. MASTER OF THE GRANGE So are you. But you claim to be an A-i farmer ! (both laugh) Then too, Vermont has some things you have not got out west, with all your excursion rates down the corn-field. HENRY WEST What? MASTER OF THE GRANGE That old Home feeling, for instance, that brought you back right now. The feeling that the land is yours, — not merely that you paid for it, but that you were born and brought up on it, that you are proud of it and would work yourself to the bone to make the town proud of you. You'd better come back, Henry. (Silence). [Enter the Girl Pioneers. MASTER OF THE GRANGE There's our best crop. Our boys and girls. Watch them a bit. We believe in making them good strong, healthy, jolly, all-round youngsters. The boys are ofK on a hike. HENRY WEST They'll not be here then. 6i MASTER OF THE GRANGE Yes, they will. They are as keen on the town fair as anyone. HENRY WEST They've got Boy Scouts and Girl Pioneers everywhere. MASTER OF THE GRANGE Yes, but with us it is town policy. It is a development of our resources equalled by nothing else. Not only it makes them men and women from head to foot, but it keeps them young. They learn to play, and when they grow up, they will still know how to play, and play with their children. HENRY WEST We agree on that, Charlie. [Enter the Boy Scouts on a hike. MASTER OF THE GRANGE It strengthens sympathy between fathers and sons. There's John Atkins, he does not understand his boy any more than a hen does ducks and he knows he doesn't. But he says he's going to back him up in anything that he undertakes, anyway. They play together, and always have, that is the secret of it. Playing together goes deeper than understanding, even. Nothing like play to get people together. [The boys and girls join their parents and all sit down to a basket picnic. MASTER OF THE GRANGE Now we are going to have what we call the Gathering of the Clan of Thetford. We all have a picnic lunch Town Fair Day and then get together and sing one of our own town songs, and then have a short union town service, with our own min- isters, as good as there are anywhere, and they know us a heap better. First the Song and then the Church Bell. Join us, Henry? Glad to have you! HENRY WEST More than that, I guess, Charlie. I think I had better come home. (They sit down with a group of people and join in the picnic.) The Thetford Song is sung; Come, with a cheer, good neighbors, come ! From every Thetford village ! Leave your troubles ! Leave the plough ! Leave your hill-side tillage ! All the town is gathering, As townsmen all together, With purpose one, to stand and sing In bright and stormy weather. After a few minutes the Bell Rings and the Organ plays " Jeru.salem the Golden." [Ail go off.] 62 FINALE: THE TRIBUTE OF ALL THE TOWN TO VERMONT AND AMERICA. [CHORUS]* Hail! The forest days ol old! They who fought and won! Wary, strong, enduring, bold! Still they lead us on! Hail! The homespun farming days When they toiled who won! Raising men of sturdy ways, Who still lead us on! Hail ! The days that bore the brunt, Who despairing won ! Face and heart still to the front! Still they lead us on! Hail! The dawn! Remembering All who strove and won! Work and struggle, laugh and sing! So shall we lead on! Thetford, with thy villages. In their purpose one! Down the years of high success. Lead thy people on ! Hail ! Vermont ! Green Mountain State ! Bravely hast thou won ! Ride, superb ! Despite all fate Ever leading on ! Hail! America! All hail ! The victory is won ! Always, though through storm and gale, The flag shall lead us on ! Enter from the pines, coming straight up out of the ravine, Thetford. She stands for a moment motionless just out from under the shade of the pine trees. She is beautifully and richly robed in blue and green. On her left arm she carries her Pageant-Shield, with the golden rising sun in the upper part and the mountains, the river and the intervale in the lower. In her right hand she carries the Sword of Power. Her head is encircled with the laurel wreath of victory. She raises her sword straight above her head, and so stands a moment. In * This chorus is sung during the course of the finale. 63 response to her signal come all the Spirits of the Mountains, of the River, and of the Intervale. They mass themselves in front of the others, facing Thet- ford and with their backs to the audience, after a march past in which they are brought up in groups to pay their homage to Thetford and to the six Villages. Thetford turns around toward the south-east entrance, and all turn inward to face or half-face in the same direction, as Vermont appears riding a Morgan horse, coming in at that entrance. She is robed in green and carries her shield and flag. As she rides down to where Thetford stands, all burst forth in acclaim, at the same time raising their right hands high in the air. Vermont turns on her horse and rides to the top of the lit- tle knoll by the pine grove, and raises her right hand high above her head, as a signal; then rides on down the field to the south. Far down at the end of the vista is seen America on a white horse, coming at a full gallop. With her as an es- cort at some little distance come the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York. America is clad in the traditional garb of Liberty, all in white, a white liberty cap on her head. On her left arm she carries the shield of the United States; in her right hand she bears the American flag which is flying in the wind. The States are robed in colors appropriate to them and carry their shields on their arms, but not their flags. Vermont faces the approaching America until she has come up even with her, when she wheels her horse about and follows America, to the left and a little behind her, and a little in advance of the other states. As America comes up to the massed group of the Pageant of Thetford, she reins her horse in abruptly and stands, the States also halting in their relative positions. Instantly as America halts, and raises the flag at arm's length, orches- tra and chorus burst forth into The Star Spangled Banner. America and the States then ride around and back to a point just in front of the pines. There they stand while, still singing, the Pageant marches past. Thetford leads, comes up and takes her place at the bridle-rein of America. The people of Thetford pass out at the south-east exit. Then, the people still singing beyond the grove, America, Vermont, Thetford, and the States come forward through the gate across the nearer grounds and out by the north-west exit. 64 UMVERSITV OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DL'E on the last date stamped below. OCT 213^7 Form L9-Serie8 4939 r 3 1158 01214 5719 m n ^"^-