PLAYS FOR CHILDREN AN ANNOTATED INDEX BY ALICE I. HAZELTINE Supervisor of Children's Work, St. Louis Public Library WITH AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY CORA MEL PATTEN Chairman, Junior Department, Drama League of America SECOND EDITION REVISED CHICAGO AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION PUBLISHING BOARD 1921 "Winter lamps are early lit, By the fire the big folks sit, Winter nights are long as day, Lessons done, books put away, Little folks are free to play. Dress you up, then, make a stage, Be a king, a knight, a page, Fairy princess, swineherd rude, Monk, or merry Robin Hood. Take your choice, whate'er it be. Learn your part right merrily." From Little plays by Lena Dalkeith. FOREWORD The modern development of the children's play movement and the increasing emphasis on the^ dramatic method of teaching have greatly furthered the production of books of children's plays and of dramatic readers. At the same time has come the need of a tool by means of which these books can be used most easily and effectively. For this purpose this annotated index has been compiled. The best plays have not been diflferentiated, and it is suggested that the Drama League List of plays for children and Constance D'Arcy Mackay's How to Produce Children's Flays be consulted for this purpose. The principal feature of the index is the list of plays by title, with references to other versions of the same stories. No attempt has been made to refer from the titles of all the fables and fairy tales nor to indicate the source of all the stories, but under the titles of books may be found references to scenes from them which have been dramatized. In general, narrative form and poetry are not included when material alone is preserved, as, for example, in volumes intended for oral as well as for dramatic reading. The list includes, however, narratives where suggestions or helps for dramatization are given, as well as dialogues intended not for action, but for reading. Selections from Shakespeare, and plays in foreign languages have been omitted. The annotation is intended to give a clue to the identification of the story — more necessary, perhaps, with the simpler tales in the dramatic readers, since the play titles are frequently unlike those of the fairy tales and fables from which they are adapted. Additional help in finding certain stories may be found in Mary Huse Eastman's Index to fairy tales, myths and legends, which indicates variants of the same story. Often a quotation from the text suggests the character of the play. The number of characters is indicated, but it should be remembered that parts may often be doubled, and the number of boys and girls may vary accordingly. It has not seemed practicable to indicate the age of the children to whom each play is suited. The title of the book, the title of the play, the character of the annotation, the story iself, and sometimes the quotation given, often suggest this. Sometimes adults are needed. Some of the plays are best suited to older children, but as this is not a list for High School use, the Drama League List of plays for High School and College production should be consulted. Where the time required for production is given it has been found in the play itself, in the Drama League List of plays for children or in Miss Mackay's How to produce children's plays. Most of the plays here indexed may be given without permission from pub- lishers or authors. Those who wish to produce them should, however, examine the play itself in order to know under what conditions it may be used. Suggestive lists of plays for special days and special occasions, of special forms (such as operettas and pantomimes) and plays for production out-of-doors are given at the end. It is, of course, often possible to use these appropriately at other times: for instance, patriotic plays are often suitable for days other than those listed. Reference lists about educational dramatics, costumes, and dances are also given. Since the prices of books at the present time are fluctuating they have not been quoted. It is hoped that this index may be of real service to dramatic directors and to teachers who wish to produce children's plays. Alice 1. Hazeltine, Supervisor of Children's Work. St. Louis Public Library. NOTE TO SECOND EDITION The first edition of this list constituted the issue of the St. Louis Public Library Bulletin for August, 1918, and is now exhausted. This second edition has been prepared for the American Library -Association in order to meet a continuing demand. Thirty-seven additional books have been indexed, 454508 4 • INTRODUCTORY NOTE increasing the number of plays by one hundred and thirty-four and a few titles have also been added to the reference lists. In inserting- new symbols and titles in the author list of books indexed an exact arrangement of both is impracticable. Where necessary, therefore, symbols which . combine the initial letter of the author's name with one of the last letters of the alphabet have been arbitrarily assigned, thus giving an exact arrangement of symbols. with author entries slightly out of place. A. I. H. INTRODUCTORY NOTE Dramatic instinct is the impulse to express feeling through play, a desire to make images and emotions more vivid and concrete by means of action. Possessed in degree by all, this quality will be found most marked in children. Their heritage of mind and spirit can be easily interpreted by watching them at play ; their games are instinct with life, feeling, power ; some will be merely imitative, others strikingly original. Children possess the happy faculty of endowing all things with life. A boy of seven whose room was to be newly decorated asked the privilege of choosing the wall paper. The result was a delicate background, with much foliage alive with birds. When questioned as to his choice Bobby's reply was : "Oh papa, won't it be lovely to wake up every morning and hear the birds sing?" This child could hear the inanimate birds sing, but with ears dulled by materialism age often fails to hear the singing of the real birds. Anything which will conserve, cultivate and direct the child's native imagination will add immeasur- ably to his power of appreciation and enjoyment, and increase materially his contribution to the intellectual wealth of the world. All educators agree that Drama may be made a vital factor in the training of the child, but so new is the instrument, so untrained most of the teachers, that the WHY, the WHAT and the HOW become imperative demands. The child's hunger for dramatic entertainment should be met in the home, the church and the school, and he should not be driven to the commercial theatre for its gratification. His need is twofold; he should be given frequent opportunity to witness play and pageants either by children or grownups which provide wholesome, stimulating entertainment, and he should have opportunity for occasional participation in plays. In stimulating a right public sentiment in relation to drama for children, the librarian may well act as a leader in solving the WHY, the WHAT and the HOW. About fifteen years ago the writer walked into a supposedly well equipped library of a wealthy town of five thousand, and asked to see the drama section. The librarian after recovering from the shock of so unusual a request replied that there was none, but when she was questioned as to the resources of the library in dramatic literature, search developed that on the shelves were a few of the Greek dramas, Shakespeare; Goethe's Faust and Rostand's L'Aiglon. This state of affairs revealed clearly that the peo- ple of the community were not reading drama. For two years investigations made in every section of the country revealed a similar poverty in most libraries. Within the last decade a marked change has taken place, and the average lil)rary has its shelves fairly well stocked with plays. Tliis means thai tlie people are reading drama as never before : that they are becoming discriminative; that they are beginning to interpret life in dramatic values. There is a desire for spoken drama which cannot at present be supplied by pro- fessional companies, and so we find springing up everywhere the Little Theatre, The Community Playhouse, and the local dramatic club. Young people who want to act are thus given an opportunity to test their powers. This gives opportunity for the discovery of latent talent or real genius, and also saves the weak from professional failure. These amateur groups should in their choice of material consider the children and offer each season at least one bill for their entertainment. Children are imitative and ever ready to throw into dramatic pantomime or dialogue the life they see and hear about them, and we will find tliem in their own way developing little plays. The librarian can do much to foster and direct this childish love of the dramatic and also provide aid and encouragement for the teacher. To this end the weekly story-hour might well be supplemented with a play-hour and the children allowed to dramatize and enact the stories they most love. INTRODUCTORY NOTE 5 In the drama section space may be set aside for child drama. One shelf might well be stocked with pedagogical helps for the teacher, the best books on dramatics and pageantry written by experienced and successful workers with the young, books which will assist the teacher in solving the problem of the WHY and the HOW. The WHAT will be met with the plays themselves. These should include stories that readily lend themselves to dramatization, dramatic readers, and plays adapted to primary, intermediate, grammar and high school grades. These books will be of far greater value if the librarian is familiar with the matter and will list plays under topics, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, St. Valentine's, Patriotic, Historical, Biblical, Nature, Romance, Comedy, Farce, etc. Teachers could thus easily be put into touch with the desired material. Books on costume and design will also be helpful and pictures gathered from any and every source with suggestions for costumes and draperies. Pictures of interiors, of stage sets, of both amateur and professional plays will be helpful. The teacher of dramatics needs a wide and definite fund of information about people, places, times, customs and manners. If the librarian knows the plays she can anticipate the needs of the teacher and can save much valuable time by knowing just where the director may find the needed information. And it is only by such economy of time that teachers will find it possible to do much with dranaatics. In church circles there is a keen interest in the teaching of the Bible by means of drama and it would be well to make available for the Sunday School teacher the best material dealing with Biblical characters and truths. Owing to a shortage of paper many excellent plays can be had only in manuscript form. These would add materially to the equipment of a drama department. By investigation the librarian will find the children doing more or less creative work, writing and producing plays on their own account. When a worthy piece of Work is produced a manuscript copy may be requested for the library and circulated among other children. Such an action will stimulate and encourage originality and achievement. Purchasing committees may be encouraged to devote money liberally to the drama department that it may be on a par with other sections of the library. Finally, when a children's drama section has been established, it should be advertised, made known, that it may be used. The following list of plays is a notable contribution to educational literature. It repre- sents a vast amount of labor on the part of the one who prepared it, a labor of love, no doubt. It should, through the possibility of its influence, represent an asset in the dramatic growth of every community that it reaches, and so it will if the librarian passes on the information it gives to parents, teachers, social workers and any who have to do with the directing of the activities of the young. A woman who had had little to do with children and who had given much valuable time in serving on a committee in the development of a Peace pageant said at the close of the work that she had always thought of children as restless, irritating and quarrelsome, but that she would never again see a group of children without thinking of them as Children of Peace. Can we not think of them as children of Play, reaching out for color, adventure, romance and beauty. By putting into their hands the material for play we add to their joy and thus to their usefulness and power. I am grateful for untold help rendered by librarians in many communities in the development of plays and pageants, and I have faith in the response of the young to that which is best in drama. Cora Mel Patten, Chairman of Junior Department Drama League of America. CONTENTS Books of interest to those producing children's plays 7 Books about costume g Folk dances and singing games 10 Index to plays 13 Author list of books indexed with key to abbreviations 107 Plays for special days New Year's Day Ill Twelfth Night Ill Lincoln's Birthday Ill Valentine's Day Ill Washington's Birthday Ill April Fool's Day Ill Easter Ill Arbor Day Ill May Day or Spring Ill Memorial Day Ill Fourth of July , 111 Columbus Day Ill Hallowe'en Ill Thanksgiving Day Ill Christmas Day 112 Other plays for special occasions Boy Scouts 112 Camp Fire 112 Some humorous plays 112 Japanese plays 113 King Arthur 113 Out-of-doors 113 Patriotic 113 Peace 114 Red Cross 114 Shakespeare 114 Special forms - Acting ballads 114 Living pictures 114 Operettas 114 Pantomimes 114 Puppet play 114 Shadow plays 114 Tableaux 114 > • • • V Plays for Children BOOKS OF INTEREST TO THOSE PRODUCING CHILDREN'S PLAYS Addams, J. The spirit of youth and the city streets. Macmillan. Includes a chapter on The theatre as the house of dreams — the only place, as Miss Addams says, where many young people can satisfy the craving for a conception of life higher than that which the actual world offers them. Chesshire, J. K. C. Bethlehem tab- leaux. J. M. Dent and Sons. The story of Bethlehem represented in living pictures with introductory scenes from the Old Testament, together with a detailed account showing how the Bethle- hem tableaux may be presented. — Half title. Chubb, P. and others. Festivals and plays. Harper. The volume is at once a practical hand- book and an educational treatise. It is in the first instance a descriptive and explana- tory record of the festivals given and the experiments made at the Ethical Culture School during many years of endeavor to incorporate the school festival as an integral part of the school life and work. But it is a good deal more than that ; it is an essay in co-operative pedagogy. The educational theory and method involved in the presenta- tion are of equal importance with the record of actual achievements. — Preface. The several chapters on different phases of the subject and the very full bibliog- raphies make this an invaluable help. Cook, H. Play way; an essay in educational method. Stokes. The author believes that the main concern in a child's life is that manifold business understood by him, and dimly by his elders, as Play. The chapters on Acting Shakes- peare in the classroom, Miming and the ballads, and Playmaking are suggestive to teachers and dramatic directors. Craig, Mrs. A. A. (T.) The dra- matic festival. Putnam. She quickly passes beyond the conception of dramatic work as a convenient device for producing a pleasant entertainment and takes the position that it offers an almost unequalled method for all-round culture ; a method for supplying in vivid form much of the intellectual material of the "regular subjects" which is now frequently acquired in a confused jumble; a method for height- ening the interest in all school work; and especially a method for doing justice to that most neglected element in our education — the training of the emotions. — Introductory chapter by Peter W. Dykema. Curtis, E. W. Dramatic instinct in education. Houghton. Play, dancing, story-telling and hearing, the moving picture and pageantry and the theatre are perhaps nearer to the inmost nature of children than anything else ; and the clear, up-to-date, temperate presenta- tion of these themes contained in this book should be known to every intelligent parent and teacher . . . Foreword. — G. Stanley Hall. Drama League of America. Plays for children arranged by Kate Oglebay. A list of best plays, which was published in 1915. Prefaced by suggestions to dra- matic directors. The special lists include books of reference and a few plays in French and German. -The Shakespeare tercentenary: suggestions for school and college celebrations of the tercentenary of Shakespeare's death in 1916. Invaluable outlines "intended to be sug- gestive rather than definitely prescriptive." 10 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Gives suggested programs for schools, for other forms of celebration, plans for abbre- viation of some of the plays for school pur- poses, and bibliographic aids in the studj' and staging of Shakespeare's plays. Heniger, Mrs. A. M. (H.) The Chil- dren's Educational Theatre. Har- per. A history of seven years of unusual suc- cess in practical work and a suggestion of what part a children's educational theatre might play in all schools and in all cities. ■ Kingdom of the child. Button, Mrs. Heniger has had a "long experience in dealing with the creative instinct of childhood and youth through the production of many plays and with many casts of players." In this book she tells of methods employed in her "work of developing in children and adolescents the instinct to characterize or to enact parts in games and plays which lie outside of their re- stricted environment." Hilliard, E., and others. Amateur and educational dramatics. Mac- millan. Contents: What is educational dramatics —its results ; Games and plays of children in relation to the drama; Teaching reading by means of dramatics ; Dramatization ; How to write a play; Process of produc- tion ; Important points ; Analysis of two scenes ; The use of the voice in developing a play; The body as an instrument in ama- teur dramatics — its use, freedom and con- trol ; The study of dramatics a help in earn- ing a living. Johnson, H. F. The dramatic method of teaching, Ginn, A practical account of the use of the dramatic method in a Sussex village school, especially as adapted to work in history, literature and geography and even in arith- metic and nature study. Kimmins, G. T. Guild of play books. 4 V, Curwen, The work of the Guild of play at the Bermondsey University settlement in South- east London is based upon the idea of play as a fine art. Some of the programs which have been attractive and useful arc here presented, and a wealth of suggestion and direction is afforded. Part ] includes suggested programs and materials for use for special holidays, old English customs and dances adapted for the use of children, with notes and figures. Part 2 tells the story of the Guild of play children's pageants, and gives full direc- tions for two. — Tale Qf Prince Richard's mumming and A Christmas in old Ber- mondsey House. Part 3 gives national dances and Part 4 a group of old dance forms and customs and a group of flower and village dances for little children. Langdon, W, C, Suggestions for the celebration of the Fourth of July by means of pageantry. Division of Recreation, Russell Sage Foun- dation, Two outlines are offered . . . one for a Celebration and the other for a General Pageant, with an episode that may be used in either. — Preface. Mackay, C. D. How to produce chil- dren's plays. Holt. Includes a history of the children's play movement, a chapter on its sociological aspects and suggestions for new fields, as well as chapters on play-producing, scenery, costumes, and properties. It also gives a full list of plays adapted to the public schools, arranged according to the school grades, and a bibliography of child-drama for special holidays, and for camp and settlement use. — Preface. Mackay, C. D. Patriotic drama in your town: a manual of sugges- tions. Holt. . . . This little book has striven to make a few suggestions on the subject of Ameri- canization through Drama ; A City's Unifi- cation through Drama ; to give a brief sur- vey of some of the work toward this end done through pageantry, and by indoor and outdoor community theatres ; it also con- tains a chart or dramatic program of prog- BOOKS ABOUT COSTUME 11 ress for cities wishing to make their plans ahead. And lastly it contains dramatic ma- terial and suggestions for Patriotic Cele- brations for National Holidays, such as Fourth of July, etc., and for Community Celebrations for Christmas. — Preface. Mackaye, P. W. The civic theatre. Mitchell Kennerley. Discusses the problem of constructive leisure, defines the civic theatre as "the efficient instrument of the recreative arts of a community," and sets as its seal and motto, "Imagination in recreation." Miller, E. E. Dramatization of Bible stories; an experiment in the re- ligious education of children. Univ. of Chicago press. Since dramatization is but a specialized form of organized play, and inasmuch as it can be used very eflfectively in vitalizing the religious training which all children should receive, it deserves a wider recognition and adoption. This book contains a description of a children's dramatic club which has been conducted as a part of the work of the Sun- day school of the Hyde Park Church of Disciples, Chicago, Illinois. — Chapter I. , Miller, Florence M. History in story, song and action. Educa- tional Publishing Co. 2 v. Presents the subject in the form of inter- esting stories, tableaux, drills and entertain- ments. It is the result of methods used at the State Normal School, Fitchburg, Mass. Material is grouped under the twelve months and special attention is given to simple celebrations of festivals and holidays which may be connected with the history lesson. It is planned for primary grades but may be used for general lessons in rural schools, and the outlines may be adapted for use in upper grades. Well illus- trated with photographs. Needham, M. M. Folk festivals; their growth and how to give them. Huebsch. Contents: The pioneer festival; The spirit of the festa; Festal heritage; Choice of subject; The use of festivals in connec- tion with playgrounds and schools ; Psycho- logic effects of the festival. Oglebay, K. List of plays for chil- dren. H. W. Wilson Co. Prepared for the Drama League of New York. Contains plays for children from six to sixteen years of age. For each play, title, price and publisher are given, also a few words of explanation to indicate the type of play, number of characters and scenes. — Publisher's Announcement. Perry, S. G. S. When mother lets us act. Moffat, Yard. A book for the children's own use, tell- ing about plays which they may "get up themselves." Simple directions for tab- leaux, shadow plays, acting poems, making the program and many other subjects. Quigley, M. C. Index to kinder- garten songs, including singing games and folk songs. A. L. A. Publishing Board. Sixty-three books are fully indexed and there is a separate list of songs for spe- cial days. Syrett, N. Old miracle plays of England. Mowbray. How Colin and Margery, an English boy and girl, watched the Miracle plays at York five hundred years ago. 12 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN BOOKS ABOUT COSTUME Boehn, Max. Modes and manners of the nineteenth century, as repre- sented in the pictures and engrav- ings of the time; tr. by M. Ed- wardes. Dent. 3 v. A study of historic style, with a weaUh of illustration. Valuable in supplying pag- eant material. Gordon, E. Flower children. Vol- land. Flower costumes of many kinds illus- trated in color. McClellan, E. Historic dress in America. Jacobs. 2 v. From the early settlements to 1870. Each volume contains a chapter on children's garments. They are profusely illustrated in color, pen and ink and halftone by S. B. Steel, and also contain reproductions from photographs of rare portraits and original garments. Mackay, C. D. Costumes and scen- ery for amateurs. Holt. . . . Costumes for children's plays are especially pictured since there is no cos- tume book for children extant. Both chil- dren and adults will find costumes and scene designs covering the range of the historical play, the folk play, the fairy play and the play of fantasy. — Preface. Excellent descriptions, references to illus- trations in other books, forty-seven costume plates, and fourteen scene plates with ex- planatory notes. Schild, M. Children's fancy cos- tumes. M. Miller. Pictures and short descriptions of five hundred costumes of all kinds for boys and girls. Alphabetic index. Stone, M. The Bankside costume book for children. Gardener, Dar- ton & Co. Directions for making Shakespearian play costumes which are cheap and simple, and at the same time historically accurate. In- cludes chapters on armor and weapons, and ecclesiastical and legal dress. Many illus- trations and full index. FOLK DANCES AND SINGING GAMES Brown, F. W. and Boyd, N. L. Old English and American games for school and playground. Saul Brothers. A collection of singing games of English origin. Includes Maypole dances. Burchenal, E. American country- dances. Vol. 1. Schirmer. This present volume contains some of the old country-dances which are most es- sentially American folk-dances because they have grown here. Some of them are slightly reminiscent of English country-dances and were probably originally suggested by or evolved from them. Most of them, how- ever, seem to be products of this country, and all have a typical and distinctly individ- ual quality of their own, both in their form and the manner and style in which they are danced. — Preface, Folk dances and singing games. Schirmer. Twenty-six folk-dances of Norway, Swe- den. Denmark, Russia, Bohemia, Hungary, Italy, England, Scotland, and Ireland, with the music, full directions for performance, and numerous illustrations. — Subtitle. Crampton, C. W. The folk dance book. Barnes. A description of folk dances used in the schools and playgrounds of New York City, together with the appropriate music, and suggestions for the grades to which they are suited. Crawford, C. Dramatic games and dances for little children. Barnes. Many of the games given in this collec- tion are taken directly from children's plots and stories. Some have been brought into FOLK DANCES AND SINGING GAMES 13 more definite form, and some remain, with- out the music, in the form that the child- artist left them. . . . The plays and dances that are related to literature in use in the schools are suggestions of the kinds of dances and plays that have artistic value. — Preface. Folk dances and games. Barnes. Music and directions for folk dances of many countries. Fletcher, A. C. Indian games and dances with native songs. Birch- ard. Arranged from American Indian cere- monials and sports "in order that our young people may recognize, enjoy and share in the spirit of the olden life upon this con- tinent." Hofer, M. R. Children's singing games. Flanagan. A collection of favorites grouped under soldier, running and chasing games, rep- resentations of trades and domestic life and social themes. -Popular folk games and dances. Flanagan. Contents: Social exchange; Games of visiting, greeting and play ; Simple activi- ties, gymnastic movements ; Imitative and dramatic games ; Bridge, knight and castle games ; Games of the May and seasons ; Song dances and simple national dances. Hornby, J. The joyous book of sing- ing games. Macmillan. Traditional games in which may be found "a hale heartiness in honest doing, in sow- ing and ploughing, in land-faring and sea- faring." Kirk, Mrs. F. (H.) Rhythmic games and dances for children. Long- mans. Contents: Exercises and games for cliil- dren under five; Games without music; Old English games and dances : Swedish games and dances ; Various marches and steps. Lamkin, N. B. Dances, drills and story-plays. Denison. Contains folk dances of various nations, dances of the seasons, twenty-four drills and many story-plays and rhymes, all clearly described. Music and costumes are suggested. Lincoln, J. E. C. May-pole possi- bilities. American Gymnasia Co. A description of a May-pole celebration given at the University of Illinois, includ- ing the Pennant March, figure marching, the Milkmaid and Peasant dances and clas- sic dancing. Diagrams accompanying the dances and marches are in the text. Moses, Mrs. I. E. (P.) Rhythmic action plays and dances. Bradley. A book of original games and dances, arranged progressively, to Mother Goose and other action songs with a teaching in- troductory; for the kindergarten, primary scliool, playground and gymnasium. — Title Page. Pedersen, D. and Boyd, N. L. Folk games and gymnastic play. Saul Brothers. Selected from the Danish, and asserted to be traditionally correct. Perkins, R. The dansant for little folks. Hearst's International Li- brary Co. Old-time game songs with easy accom- paniments, new simple piano pieces for children's home dancing parties and a mu- sical recitation : The fisherman. — Title Page. Steelier, W. A. Games and dances. McVey. The fundamental forms of a limited number of the best games and dances are presented, arranged in nine progressive grades. Van Cleve, C. Folk dances for young people. Milton Bradley. The song-dances in this book are adapted to American needs from Swedish. Danish and Norwegian originals. — Prelude. INDEX TO PLAYS Abbott. See Changing of the keys. Abe Lincoln and Little A. D. MEC, p. 107. A. D., a small boy who must write a composition on Abraham Lincoln, falls asleep and dreams of Lincoln, the child; Lincoln, the youth, and Lincoln, the man. One act. For four boys. Simple directions. Abolition of slavery. GOA, bk. 5, p. 36. From the beginning of the fight against the British slave trade until the bill is passed for the abolition of slavery in Brit- ish colonies. Three short scenes. For nine- teen boys and extras. For class room use. Abraham Lincoln. BI, p. 271. How Lincoln, the boy, read by the flick- ering light of the open fire whatever books he could get ; how his honesty as a clerk in a general store at Salem was demon- strated ; how he saved an innocent man from conviction for murder ; and how as President of the United States he par- doned a boy who slept at his post. Four scenes for twelve boys and three girls. Abraham Lincoln. W. Six scenes in chronological order from the life of Abraham Lincoln. From two to eight characters. For school-room use. Abraham Lincoln and the little bird. JO, p. 62. Lincoln gets off his horse and puts back a little bird that has fallen from its nest in the woods. For four little boys. Abraham Lincoln episode. MAG, p. 85. A "Lincoln cabin scene" at Little Creek, Indiana, in 1823, with young settlers and Indians as characters, and Lincoln as the central figure. For seven boys, three girls, and extras. Directions given. Plays twenty- five minutes. Abraham Lincoln ; railsplitter. MAG, p. 156. A simple homely scene showing the pa- tience and perseverance of the "gaunt, raw- boned, kindly eyed lad." For six boys and four girls. Simple costumes. Directions given. Plays thirty-five minutes. Adam Bede. See Mrs. Poyser has her say out. Adventure of my aunt. SI, second year, p. 87. How "my aunt," with the aid of the maid, the steward, the coachman, the cook, the butler, and the footman, put a robber to rout. Dramatized for High School use from Irving's Tales of a Traveller. One short scene for six boys and two girls. Adventures of the first spring. SKB, p. 86. Two little children carry a spring violet to a little lame girl. For eight little chil- dren. Aladdin and the wonderful lamp. SK, p. 181. Aladdin visits the cave and secures the most wonderful lamp in the world. Nar- rative from the Arabian Nights. Alcestis. COA, p. 165. The wife of Admetus saves his life by dying in his stead, and is afterward brought back from Pluto's Kingdom by Hercules. Seven scenes for six boys. Alfred the Great. MAB, First series "Lo, I come to tell the story Of our England's mighty King. Far-off founder of her glory, Alfred wise and good I sing." An historical play in four acts covering the time from King Alfred's childhood until near the end of his reign. For sixteen boys and four girls. Costume illustrations. Music suggested. Full directions. Alfred the Great. See also King Al- fred. Ali Baba. BE, p. 1. "S,e,s,a,m,e — you see. And that's what you must say. S,e,s,a,m,e — you see For that's the only way." Tlie story of the forty thieves arranged in three acts for five boys and three girls. Songs with music. Directions for cos- tumes and scenery. INDEX TO PLAYS 15 Alice in Wonderland. FI. An arrangement in eight scenes for some fifteen characters. Notes on music, dances and costumes. Alice in Wonderland. GE. A dramatization by Alice Gersteriberg of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Produced at the Fine Arts Theatre, Chicago, and the Booth Theatre, New York. Three acts. For thirteen boys and four girls. Costume illustrations. Alice in Wonderland. HAC. A play for children in three acts . . . with tableaux, songs and dances. Arranged by Mrs. C. C. Harrison. Illustrations by John Tenniel. For sixteen boys, four girls and extras. Full directions. Plays one hour. Alice in Wonderland. KN, p. 31. The mock turtle explains the school in the sea and the lobster quadrille to Alice, who wants to know his history. Adapted from Lewis Carroll's story and arranged for three parts. Alice in Wonderland. NI, p. 87. Six short scenes simply arranged for sec- ond grade children. Includes : — Alice and the Cheshire cat; The mad tea-party; The Mock Turtle's story; 'Tis the voice of the sluggard; The lobster quadrille; The trial. From two to seven characters. Alice in Wonderland. See also Alice's adventures with the queens; Mad tea-party; Through the looking-glass ; Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Alice's adventures with the queens. LA, p. 55. Tells of the queen's garden and of Alice as a queen herself. In story form, with helps for dramatization. Alligator and the jackal. DO, p. 122. The ugly old alligator tries his best to get the little jackal, but the jackal is far too clever for him. For two children. Ambition in Whitechapel. KR, p. 133. Tells of confirmation and its meaning to two girls. Intended for a Shabuot cele- bration. One act. For five girls and one boy. Full directions. For Jewish religious schools. Plays twenty minutes. Amelia and the dwarfs. WI, p. 124. "All under the sun belongs to men, All under the moon to the fairies. So, so, so ! Ho, ho, ho ! All under the moon to the fairies." How the dwarfs punished Amelia for her carelessness, and how she came safe home again. Adapted from Mrs. Ewing. Arranged for six boys and three girls in primary grades. America. GOA, bk. 5, p. 7. Four short scenes covering the period from the landing of the Pilgrims to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. For thirteen girls and Herald. For class- room use. America pays her debt to France. HX, p. 178. The ceremony at the tomb of Lafayette in Paris, July 14, 1917, when General Persh- ing made his famous speech, "Lafayette, we are here." A one-act play for third and fourth grade children, for two boys, eight girls, and extras. America the wonderland. E. A patriotic festival arranged by the sixth and seventh grade pupils in the New York Ethical Culture School. Written to express the idea that "America is the great school in which all the nations are gathered in unity under one government." Pictures the progress of the centuries and embodies the "ideal of a Republic built on the uncommon fineness in the common man." Prologue and five episodes. Number of children dis- cretionary. Interpretative dances. Music partly given, partly suggested. Costumes illustrated. Very full directions. America, yesterday and today. L. The spirit of Indian Days, the Spirit of the Wilderness and the Spirit of Patriotism are seen in three episodes which furnish opportunity for introducing many groups of characters. A pageant arranged by Nina B. Lamkin for from one hundred to five hundred persons. Very full directions given for production. Angler's reveille. LUB, v. 3, p. 158. Henry Van Dyke's poem of the songs of the birds arranged for presentation by 16 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN twelve children. Music of four bird songs by Theresa Joseph. Anita's secret. H, p. 47. "We're sailing to America, Away across the sea, We're happy little immigrants, Our hearts are light and free." A group of merry little folk from many countries are happily surprised on Christ- rnas Eve when Santa Claus comes in his airship to visit them in the steerage. One act. For ten boys and seven girls. Songs vvith music. Costume illustrations. Direc- tions given. Plays about one hour and fif- teen minutes. Answer. TY, p. 1. The Spirit of American Democracy with the sword of Justice and the shield of Truth and upheld by the strength of the people attacks and overcomes War, which has made captive the nations of Europe. Simple directions. For a large number of characters, adults or older children. Ant and the caterpillar. PR, p. 58. When a clumsy caterpillar becomes a beautiful butterfly the ant which despised him is filled with admiration. Two tiny acts for two little children. Ant and the cricket. NI, p. 39. An ant refuses to help a poor cricket, because "he who lives without work must go without food." Two very short scenes for two little children. Antonio Canova. SCB, p. 154. Little Antonio, grandson of Pasino, a stonecutter, carves such a wonderful lion from butter that Count Falieri offers the little sculptor a chance to become great and famous. Three short scenes for eleven boys and extras. Anychild and her flag. PAC, p. 73. Patriotism teaches Anychild to love and reverence the emblem of our country. For six girls and extras. Simple directions. Anychild helps the Baby Tree. PAC, p. 39. A little play for Arbor day which tells how a Fiaby Tree which was frigiitened and ran away from the nursery is encouraged by Anychild to be happy to be planted in front of the school. For four boys, live girls and extras. Simple directions. Anychild learns from Lincoln. PAC, p. n. Anychild is jealous because Tilly Tene- ment has won a prize for the best Lincoln composition. Conscience summons Charity and her attendants, who put some of Lin- coln's good kind thoughts into Anychild's dreams so that when she wakens she real- izes her meanness. For fifteen girls. Sim- ple directions. Anychild meets Memory. PAC, p. 57. A little play for Memorial day showing how Memory pictures for Anychild the heroism of the men who died in the Civil war, and how Foresight encourages her to tend her garden to get food for the nation. For fourteen girls. Simple directions. Anychild preparing for Christmas. PAC, p. 129. Crafty Dame Ego and sunny Dame Altru struggle for the mastery of .Anychild's heart. When Dame Ego is banished the Christmas spirit enters bringing peace and happiness. For two boys, seven girls and extras. Simple directions. Anychild's vision of blessings. PAC, p. 117. A little play for Thanksgiving day in which Benefice, angel of blessings, touches Anychild with her golden wand. There- upon Anychild has a beautiful dream, and learns to feel real thankfulness. For twenty-nine characters. Simple directions. Apollo, the child of light. SE, p. 31, 125. A simple narrative version illustrated with many photographs of children in Greek costume posing in the scenes from the myths. To be acted in pantomime or dramatized from text and pictures. A dra- matic version arranged in four short acts for six boys and three girls is also given. Suggestions to teachers. Apple of discord. DU, 232. Paris awards the golden apple to "the most fair," Venus. A short two-act play in verse for two boys and three girls. Con- tains a Song to Thetis and a shepherd's song. Costumes described. Directions given. INDEX TO PLAYS 17 April fool. OL, p. 43. It is the eve before the first day of April and the Fools are planning how they can punish Jack. They are angry with him because every year he makes of them such foolish funny April Fools. So Peter Fool and Jenny Fool and Jolly Fool and Simon Fool and the little crying Baby Fool catch the boy and — happily Mother comes to the rescue! — Program. A "play of joHity" in one act for four boys and three girls and "as many other little Fools as desired." Costume designs and simple directions. Arachne. COA, p. 106, Story of the spinning contest between the goddess Minerva and Arachne, who is pun- ished for her pride by being changed into a spider. Two scenes for six girls. Arbor day. JO, p. 155. A little maple that wants room to grow is moved from the woods to live near a school, and the children celebrate Arbor day. Two little acts for eleven little chil- dren. Archer and the trumpeter. SCB, p. 29. A trumpet proves more powerful than bow and arrows when archer and trump- eter are set upon in the forest by robbers. For eight or more boys. Archery contest. LAS, p. 130. How Locksley shoots and hits a willow wand at five score yards. A scene from Ivanhoe for three boys and extras. Simple directions. Arion. COA, p. 182. How the musician Arion sprang into the sea to escape from some greedy seamen, and how a dolphin carried him safe to shore. Four short scenes for five boys. Arrow-maker's daughter. SM. A Camp Fire play, adapted from Long- fellow's poem of Hiawatha, giving those scenes which have to do with Minnehaha, the arrow-maker's daughter. Follows closely the lines of the poem. Five scenes. For nine boys, four girls, and extras. Descrip- tion of dances, scenery and costumes. Di- rections given. Artist-mother and child. MED, p. 89. A short play about the picture, Mme. Vigee Lebrun and her daughter, painted by Mme. Lebrun. For two girls. Directions. At anchor. TU, p. 126. A story of how John Billington set fire to the good ship Mayflower. — Contents. For four boys and one girl. Short. At "Jenny Wren's". BRO, p. 191. The little doll's dressmaker tells Charlie Hexam and Bradley Headstone about her trade, and scolds "Her bad child," her father, who stumbles home the worse for drink. One scene from Dickens's "Our mutual friend." For three boys and two girls. Costume illustration. Full direc- tions. Plays fifteen minutes. At the back of the North Wind. See Diamond and the North Wind. At the Gate of Peace, PAB, p. 31. "Now enter, dear Mankind, the Gate of Peace, Bid warfare stop and petty quarrels cease ! God rules the world, let mortals serve and praise. Kingdoms are going. Welcome happy days !" A pageant-play for ten characters and many extras. Directions given. At the owl's school. LAN, p. 44. Beasts and birds and flowers try to an- swer Old wisdom's question. Why does the moon shine in the sky. From an Indian fable. Arranged in seven parts. At the White House, 1863. WAC, p. 134. Ten "men of affairs from New York" and a woman seeking a pardon for her husband wait outside Mr. Lincoln's room. For thirteen boys and one girl. Simple directions. Short. Atalanta. COA, p. 144. By the aid of Venus, Hippomenes out- strips Atalanta in the race, and wins her for his wife. Two scenes for six boys and four girls. Aunt Grundy. BUB, p, 327. A one-act "moral play" about the fa- mous Mrs. Grundy, a "very important per- 18 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN son in Primville." For two boys and four girls. Directions for costumes and setting. Humorous. Babes in the woods. RI, p. 23 ; SA, p. 240. "We are poor little babes in the woods, And we've tried all the week to be good." An "impromptu musical tragedy" written by Mrs. Laura E. Richards, with the Babes, Robin, a Wicked Uncle and two Remorse- less Fiends as characters. The lines are sung to the air, "The Bold Young Lumber- man." Very short. Music for a dance. Babouscka. SK, p. 81. Poem by Edith M. Thomas. Babushka. C, p. 209. Tells the story of the strange old woman who, refusing at the Wise Men's call to follow the star to the manger of the new- born Christ, has ever since in the winter season wandered over the world, seeking in every nursery, in every cradle, for the Holy Child. — Contents. A Russian legend. One scene. For ten boys, eleven girls, two men or older boys, and one woman or older girl. Two carols. Notes on setting, music and costume. Plays thirty minutes. . Baby New Year. A. Father Christmas and the Old Year start the New Year on its way. "An episode" in verse for three little boys. Illustrated. One song with music. Directions. Short. Baby seed's song. SK, p. 163. Poem by E. Nesbit. Baby-land. DO, p. 22. Poem by George Cooper arranged for six parts. Bag o' dreams. DR, Jan., 1921, p. 131. The Sandman, who gives people their dreams, and takes them away, too, comes upon a small boy alone in a park. To the boy's delight the Sandman empties his bag of dreams on the grass, and, best of all, gives him the dream he wistfully asks for. A one-act play by Margretta Scott. Two spoken parts and ten characters who appear as dreams. Balboa discovers the Pacific Ocean. HX, p. 18. From the top of a hill on the narrowest part of our Continent, a wide and won- derful ocean is seen. A very short, two- act play for third and fourth grade chil- dren. For six boys. Ballad of the oysterman. S, p. 81. Poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes ar- ranged as a shadow-pantomime. Music given. For two boys and a girl. Full directions. Barbara Frietchie. HX, p. 152. "In the Civil war the State of Maryland was on the Northern side. The Southern army marched into Fredericktown, a city of Maryland, and pulled down all the flags, all our dear stars and stripes, — except one." A short two-act play taken from the poem of the name by Longfellow. For three boys, ten girls, and many extras. For third and fourth grades. Bardell versus Pickwick. COD, p. 48. Six scenes from Dickens's Pickwick Pa- pers : Mrs. Bardell misunderstands Mr. Pickwick's explanation that he is about to engage Sam Weller as his manservant. While the Pickwickians are dining with Mr. Wardle at the Angel, Mr. Pickwick learns that Mrs. Bardell has commenced action against him for breach of promise ; Mr. Pickwick visits Dodson and Fogg, solicitors for Mrs. Bardell ; Sam Weller calls on Mrs. Bardell to give his governor's notice and to pay the rent ; Dodson and Fogg subpoena Snodgrass, Tupman, Winkle and Sam Weller; Mr. Pickwick's trial takes place, and the jury returns a verdict for the plaintiff, with damages at seven hundred and fifty pounds. For nineteen boys, three girls and extras. Directions given. Bardell v. Pickwick. PER, p. 77. Except for a few minor differences, this court scene is the same as the last scene in the preceding entry. For thirteen boys, three girls, and many extras. Three cos- tume plates. Stage directions. Barmecide feast. LAN, p. 149. The rich Barmecide finds in the beggar Shacabac the only man who has been able to endure his jest of an empty feast, and has got back at him with a better jest of INDEX TO PLAYS xl9 his own. An Arabian Nights story arranged for three boys. Barnaby Lee. LUA, p. 27 ; LUB, v. 2, p. 168. Dramatization of John Bennett's story of Barnaby Lee, a lad who is kidnapped and brought to New Amsterdam on a pirate ship. Seven short scenes. For seven boys, one girl, and many extras. Costumes sug- gested. Simple directions. Plays thirty- five minutes. Barnaby Rudge. See Great Protest- ant Association; Hatching a con- spiracy; Stranger's visit; Stormy scenes in the Varden household. Baucis and Philemon. WIC, p. 83. The gods grant the loving wish of a peasant and his wife that they may be to- gether all their lives, and then may go to- gether from this world. Their spirits pass into the friendly trees, and they happily whisper each other's names as they sway in the wind. Two scenes. For four boys and four girls. Suggestions for staging and costumes. Bearskin. SO, p. 67. In order to save her father from poverty, Beauty promises to marry the monster, Bearskin, who proves to be "a prince of a great country." Two acts. For two boys and three girls. Illustrations suggest cos- tumes. Simple directions. Bearskin, beast. See also Beauty and the Beautiful song. ST, bk. 1, p. 79. The red bird's own song saves it from the hunters who would kill it that the queen may have its feathers for her cap. For twelve little children, and many extras. Beauty and the beast. BE, p. 109 Fatima, daughter of Abou Cassim, is sold to the beast, who proves to be the Prince Furryskin. Six scenes for three boys and three girls. Songs with music. Costumes suggested. Full directions. Beauty and the beast. BUB, p. 207. In this version of the familiar fairy tale, "Prince Auto" has been changed by the Golliwogs into the "Motorbeast." For six boys and three girls. Full directions. Short. Beauty and the beast. N, p. 101. "Hurrah, then, for the king! For he is Beast no longer. Ring out, glad bells, ring a ding a ding a ding, Tho' evil is a very powerful thing, Yet love, true love, is stronger. Ring a ding!" A play in four scenes from the old tale. For two boys and eighteen girls. Simple directions. Beauty and the beast. RI, p. 31. "My name it is Beauty I'm foremost in duty, In looks and behavior In morals and all." A jolly little operetta in four scenes based on the old tale, and to be sung to familiar airs. For two boys and three girls. Illus- trations suggest costumes. Beauty and the beast. U, p. 24. A simple version in six short scenes for school use. Three songs for chorus of fairies. For two boys and three girls. Simple directions. Beauty and the beast. 'See also Bear- skin; Masque of Beauty and the beast. Because he loved David so. KR, p. 163. The effect on an imaginative boy of the story of David and Goliath. One act. For eight boys and two girls. Full directions. For Jewish religious schools. Plays twenty minutes. Beggar's daughter of Bethnal Green. LA, p. 183. "And every brave gallant, that once did her see. Was straightway in love with this pretty Bessie." Ballad and narrative, with helps for dramatization. Beginning of negro slavery. TU, p. 44. A story of the first landing of slaves in Virginia by a Dutch schooner. — Contents. For four boys and extras. Very short. Bella Wilfer's return. PER, p. 219. Mrs. Wilfer and Lavinia find a wearing subject to discuss, and Bella confesses to 30 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN her father, R. W., her affection for John Rokesmith. One scene from Our Mutual Friend. For three boys and three girls. Four costume plates. Stage directions. Belling the cat. LAN, p. 16. The mice hold a council in the barn to decide which little mouse shall hang a bell on the cat's neck to warn them of her ap- proach. Arranged from the fable for eight parts. Belling the cat. SKB, p. 37. Another arrangement for four little children. Belling the cat. See also Rats in council. Benjamin Franklin. BI, p. 199. Benjamin goes to work for his brother ; arrives in Philadelphia and becomes ac- quainted with Deborah Reed; flies his kite in a thunderstorm ; and represents the United States at the court of Louis XVI. Four scenes for six boys and five girls. Benjamin Franklin. WA. Plight scenes in chronological order from the life of Benjamin Franklin. From two to six characters and extras. More prac- tical for school-room use than for actual dramatization. Benjamin Franklin episode. MAG, p. 74. "Crossing the Common in the morning sun Young Benjamin comes ; about him hung Symbols of trade and hope — kite, candles, book. The crystal gazer enters, bids him look At all the guerdon that the years will bring." Two scenes. For eight characters and many extras as pages, courtiers, shepherd- esses and flower girls. Five dances. Music suggested. Full directions. Plays thirty minutes. Benjamin Franklin, journeyman. MAG, p. 113. Franklin, "shabby, travel-stained, and boyishly appealing," enters the tavern in Philadelphia known as the Crooked Billet, where he meets Deborah Reed and makes a friend. One act. For three boys and two girls. Plays thirty minutes. Bernard Palissy, enameller to his majesty. ST, bk. 4, p. 71. Palissy, the potter, discovers the secret of making enamel, and is proclaimed the greatest artist in France. Three scenes f®r ten boys, seven girls, and extras. Betsey Trotwood at home. BRO, p. 125. Betsey Trotwood, at whose home David has sought refuge, refuses to give him up to the Murdstones who come to "take him back unconditionally." Two scenes from David Copperfield. For three boys and three girls. Costume illustrations. Full directions. Plays thirty-two minutes. A version only slightly different is given in Scenes from Dickens by G. Pertwee, under the title of "David Copperlield and His Aunt." Bibi, foundling. A, p. 27. Two quarrelsome little Japanese sisters discover the secret of happiness in their love for the Baby who comes to them like a cherry-blossom fallen from the skies. Two scenes for three little girls. Illus- trated. Music for songs and a dance. Directions. Billy Bob-tail. BRY, p. 3. A cat, dog, cow, goat and pig go with Billy Bob-tail to seek their fortune. For six little children. Bird with the broken wing. HOA, p. 26. Why the spruce, pine, juniper and all their family have green leaves all the year through. For nine little children. Bird with the broken wing. See also Why the evergreen trees keep their leaves. Bird's nest. SKB, p. 93. Adapted from the poem by Lydia Maria Child for nine little children. Bird's Christmas Carol. WIG. Mrs. Wiggin's dramatic version of her own story of Carol Bird and the "Ruggleses in the Rear" includes a number of changes which add interest and create new situa- tions. Prologue in pantomime. Three acts. For seven boys and twelve girls. Full di' rections. Plays a full evening. Birds of Killingworth. G, p. 26. How the men of the town of Killing- worth decided to kill all the birds because of the harm done to their crops, and how they found that bugs and insects destroy INDEX TO PLAYS 21 much more than the birds. In narrative and dramatic form. Five scenes for fifteen boys and seventeen girls. Birds' story of the trees, LUA, p. 201. A very short exercise for Arbor day which calls for six speakers. Bishop Hatto. G, p. 78. How Bishop Hatto was punished for his cruelty to his people by losing his life to an army of rats who followed him to his tower on the Rhine. In narrative and dramatic form. Four scenes for twelve or more boys. Black pearl. ST, bk. 5, p. 142. How Cornelius Pump, learned scientist of Amsterdam, turns suspicion of theft from Christina, serving maid, by proving that the lightning has opened Balthazar van der Lys's desk and disturbed his collection of jewels. Based on Victorien Sardou's story with this title. One act for eight boys and two girls. Bleak House. See Mr. George's shooting gallery; Mr. Guppy's proposal; Mrs. Snagsby's guests. Blind men and the elephant. SCB, p. 1. Each of six blind men touch only a part of the elephant in trying to find out what he is like, and each insists that he is like something very different from what the others say. Arranged for seven boys. Blind men and the elephant. ST, bk. 2, p. 15. A short and simple arrangement of the same story for seven boys. Blue bird. MAM. A fairy play in six acts about the wood- cutter's children, Tyltyl and Mytyl, and their long quest for happiness, which they find at home in their own cottage after seeking in the Palace of Night, and many other strange places. The Drama League List of plays for chil- dren suggests that "omitting the Palace of Night, the Forest and the Graveyard scenes, this play may be adapted for children, but the scenic demands make it difficult for amateurs." For seven boys, ten gfirls and extras. Blue Prince. RIL. Billy and Rose, as the Blue Prince and the Princess Rose, learn to feel the pinch of old Necessity, a witch. A fantasy in a prologue, two acts and an epilogue. For two boys, seven girls and groups of fairies, gnomes, etc. Costumes and directions given. Bluebeard, BE, p. 335. The scene of this play is laid, contrary to the usual tradition, in the fourteenth cen- tury, in Western Europe, where a counter- part of the Oriental Bluebeard is believed (by the writer) to have resided in feudal times. — [Prefatory note.] Two acts for seven boys and two girls. Songs with music. Costumes suggested. Directions given. Bluebeard. NI, p. 27. A simple dramatization for second grade children. For three boys and two girls. Bluebeard. RI, p. 45. "This key alone you may not touch ; A private door it opes. A room where — a — I keep — ahem ! My kites and skipping — ropes !" The verses of this little operetta are set to familiar tunes. For three boys and two girls. Short. Blunder. WI, p. 106. Blunder, a little boy, fails to find the Wishing gate because he has never learned to use his own eyes. Adapted from Louise Chollet, and given in narrative form for use in primary grades. Boastful bamboo tree. SKB, p. 100. A little bamboo that lives in a garden is happier than a big tree that wished to see the world. A Japanese fable in two short scenes for five little children. Bob Cratchit's Christmas dinner. PER, p. 207. "A merry Christmas to us all, my dears . . . God bless us every one !" For four boys and four girls. Two costume plates. Stage directions. Given also as one scene in A Christmas Carol in Comstock's Dickens dramatic reader. 22 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Bob Cratchit's Christmas dinner. See also Christmas carol; Cratch- it's Christmas dinner; Ebenezer Scrooge's Christmas. Bob Sawyer's supper party. PER, p. 59. Mrs. Raddle, a fierce little woman, com- plains because Bob Sawyer has not paid his rent, and interrupts Bob's hilarious party by demanding that he turn the wretches away. One scene from Pickwick Papers, for nine boys and two girls. Three cos- tume plates. Stage directions. Bobby Shaftoe. BUD, p. 108. Bobby Shaftoe went to sea, but came back in time to claim as his bride pretty Betty Lobsterpot, a fisher lassie, and to foil the plans of the Old Earl of Mucklemuch- kin who wanted her himself. Operetta in three acts. For nine boys, eight girls and other fisher boys and girls. Music by Oscar Weil. Full directions. Bonds of Liberty. TX. A welcome to America's son who comes victorious back from the fight to make the world free and who bears to the people of the land a message from our men that all must stand together to win the freedom and the safety of the world. A masque for a large number of children. Boots at the Holly-tree inn. See Holly-tree inn. Boston tea party. HX, p. 61. Two short acts showing the mass meet- ing in Old South Church and the scene in Boston Harbor. For third and fourth grade children. For seven boys and many extras. Boston tea party. MAG, p. 132. The Younger Sons of Freedom meet in the tavern known as the Golden Pheasant in Boston on a December evening, in 177;]. One act. For nine older boys. Includes a fencing bout. Full directions. Plays thirty or forty minutes. Boston tea party. STA, p. 145. The descendants of the Pilgrims decide not to pay the unjust tax on tea. Four acts. For thirty-four boys, five girls and extras, but parts may be doubled. Simple direc- tions. Boy who wondered. LA, p. 36. Two older brothers fail to dig a well in the solid rock and to cut down the oak tree in the palace yard, but little Jack suc- ceeds because he has not wondered for nothing, and so he wins the princess and half the kingdom. In narrative form, with helps for dramatization. Boy's friendship. LA, p. 132. How Phineas Fletcher and John Halifax become friends. From Dinah Mulock Craik's John Halifax, gentleman. Helps for dramatization. Boy's friendship. See also John Halifax, gentleman. Brahman, the tiger, and the six judges. LA, p. 14. An ungrateful tiger threatens to eat the Brahman who has released him from his cage. They submit their quarrel to several judges, the last of whom, a jackal, cleverly entices the tiger into his cage again, and matters remain just as they were. In nar- rative form, with help for dramatization. Brahman, the tiger, and the six judges. LAN, p. 101. A simple arrangement of the Hindu story for eight children. Brahmin, the tiger, and the jackal. DO, p. 96. The same story arranged for seven parts. Brahmin, the tiger, and the six judges. SCB, p. 143. The same story adapted from Mary Frere's Old Deccan Days for eight parts. Brahmin, the tiger, and the six judges. See also Tiger and the Brahman. Brave deeds by brave men. STA, p. 217. Paul Revere watches the belfry signal and rides to Lexington to warn the patriots ; and the members of the Continental Con- gress in session in the State House in Phila- delphia vote for Independence. Three acts. For forty-three boys, twelve girls and extras, but parts may be doubled. Simple directions. INDEX TO PLA\S Brewing of brains. MAI, p. 173. An honest-faced Lincolnshire lad learns that the only "receipt for brains, is made of equal parts of humbleness and seeking." Adapted from the folk tale, A Pottle o' Brains. One act. For one boy and two girls. Costumes suggested. Directions giVen. Plays about fifteen minutes. Briar Rosebud. DO, p. 117. "Briar Rosebud sleeps a hundred years, hundred years, like dead, my dears, Briar Rosebud sleeps a hundred years, like dead, my dears." Song and dance for three principal char- acters and the whole class. From Swedish Song Games by Kastman and Kohler. Briar Rosebud. See also Princess Moss-Rose ; Sleeping beauty. Brotherhood. FR. " 'Tis justice we want, not plunder. An we stand, every man, by the fellowship, we shall be free men." Two scenes of England during the Wat Tyler rebellion, 1381. For eleven boys, four girls, and extras. Simple directions. Brown dwarf of Riigen. G, p. 109. Little Lizbeth, the miller's daughter, is carried away by the brown dwarfs and lives with them underground for five years when she is rescued by John, her old playmate. In narrative and dramatic form. Four scenes for nine boys, one girl, and towns- people. Brownies. DUN, p. 93. "Twist me, and turn me, and show me the elf; I looked in the water and saw — " Tommie's search for a Brownie to "do all the work" leads him to the Old Owl who tells him to find the right word to fill up the verse. Dramatized in three scenes from The Brownies by Mrs. Ewing. For three boys and two girls. Simple directions. Brownies. SK, p. 175. Narrative from Mrs. Ewing. Brownies. WI, p. 113. Arranged for six children in primary grades from Mrs. Ewing's story. Brownikins. A. Three litle Brownies help a poor old woman and her small grandson and prove "How happiness grows great with deeds of love — Small deeds done every day." Three scenes. For four boys and one girl. Illustrated. Music for songs. Direc- tions. Bunny rabbit and the lion. SKB, p. 7. The forest animals are afraid to help Mother Deer get back her little one from the lion, but little Bunny rabbit finds a way. Five scenes for six or more little children. Burghers of Calais. MAB, second series. Queen Philippa begs pity and pardon for the six burghers who have offered themselves to King Edward the Third in order to save the town of Calais. A one act play for fourteen boys and five girls. Costume illustrations from old paintings. Full directions. Burghers of Calais. See also Keys of Calais; Siege of Calais. Cadmus. COA, p. 90. How Cadmus sowed the dragon's teeth which grew into armed men. Four scenes for four boys and five girls. Caedmon. MAB, second series. To Caedmon, the cowherd, in his little home of wattles, comes a shining angel who teaches him and bids him henceforth sing in deathless music. A one-act play for eight boys, six girls and extras. Illus- trations from Anglo-Saxon ms. in addition to directions for costumes. Music sug- gested. Full directions. Call to the Youth of America. TY, p. 65. America gives her torch of Freedom and Love to all mankind into the keeping of the children of Freedom. A patriotic ex- ercise for boys and girls. For twenty-three or more characters. Simple directions. Canterbury tales. SI, fourth year, p. 16. The Prologue arranged from Chaucer's text in two scenes for High School use. 24 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN The first is a series of tableaux with de- scriptions from the poem given by a Reader. In the second the Pilgrims sup at the Tabard and agree to begin their story-telling on the morrow. For twenty- one boys, two girls, and extras. Canvas Christmas. C, p. 235. Two little farm boys who have never seen either a circus or a Christmas tree, creep into the tent just as the discontented men are planning rebellion against their leader. The Christmas spirit of friendliness softens not only the men, but the surly ringmaster, and the strict and severe father of the boys. — Contents. Written for a boys' club. Two acts. For fourteen boys. Notes on cos- tume, setting and presentation. Plays forty minutes. Captured year. WIC, p. 1. The children try to keep the Old Year with its skating and coasting and sleighing rather than have the New Year bring school days again. But Santa Claus says that this means no more Christmas, so the tired Old Year comes homes to Father Time, and the Happy New Year rushes off in great glee. For eleven boys, eighteen girls and extras. Suggestions for costumes and staging. Case of Sophronia. COE. A story of an "ugly duckling" as seen in college life. A play in two scenes for six girls. Simple directions. Cat and the mouse. ST, bk. 3, p. 29. How the cat eats the fat from Miss Mouse's greasepot and finally Miss Mouse herself. For three parts. Cat that waited. ST, bk. 1, p. 34. While a cat waits for little birds in the nest to grow larger, they fly away. Four very short scenes for three little children. Cathleen Ni Hoolihan. Y, p. 47. At the call of "the strange woman that goes through the country the time there's war or trouble coming," Michael Gillane leaves his bride and hurries down the hill- side to meet the French soldiers who are landing at Killala. Time: 1798. One act. For three older boys, three older girls, and extras. Directions given. Cave of the fates. OL, p. 1. On New Year's Eve Maid Margaret jour- neys to the cave of the Fates and begs the gift of life for her brother because Dame Anna, her old and feeble Grandmother, is grieving for his loss, and the story tells how, touched by her loving faithful heart the three Fates grant her prayer and with the little New Year Maid Margaret returns to her cottage home. — Program. A "play of mystery" in two acts for one boy and five girls. Costume designs and simple di- rections. Ceyx and Halcyone. COA, p. 70. How Ceyx, king of Thessaly, and his wife Halcyone perished in the waves, and how the pitying gods changed them both into birds. Four scenes for three boys and four girls. Changeling. For note see Fairy changeling. Changing of the keys. FO, p. 1. Roland Graeme, a page, and Lady Catherine Seyton plan to help Mary, Queen of Scots to escape from her captivity in the Castle of the Douglas. Arranged in two scenes from The Abbot by Sir Walter Scott. For three boys and four girls. Two costume plates. Directions. Charles I. GOA, bk. 4, p. 25. The king who believed that "the king can do no wrong" is defeated by Cromwell and his Ironsides and is tried before the High Court of justice. Five scenes for fifteen boys and extras. For class-room use. Cherry-blossom princess. BUB, p. 174. The "fairy dew of Love" enables the Princess to free Prince Kenneth and her- self from the punishment brought about by her proud spirit. One act. For one boy, three girls and extras. One song. Di- rections for costumes and setting. Cherry pie. TU, p. 10. A story of Maryland in the raiding time — Contents. For four boys and three girls Short. Chevalier Jessamine and the Prin- cess Eglantine. MU, p. 83. The romantic story of the Princess Eg- lantine and her suitors, the Prince of Den- mark and the Chevalier Jessamine. "A play in three acts for the puppet show by INDEX TO PLAYS 25 Madam Rain." For four boys, two girls, and extras. Costume illustrations. See also Mr. Wind and Madam Rain. Child and the sparrow. SKB, p. 143. Poem by Thomas Westwood arranged for two parts. Children and the evangelists. DR, Nov., 1920, p. 58. A nativity play written by Margaret Oley Tomes for a Christmas eve festival. The four evangelists, aided by Tradition, tell the old yet ever-new story to two little children. For twenty-two characters and extras as choir of angels. Suitable for church production. Directions. Children in the Great War. RX, no. 6. Some Illinois boys and girls of today find a cave in which enemies of the United States have concealed boxes of dynamite. One of the Illinois Centennial plays. For four boys and four girls. Suggestions given. Children of France. RX, no. 2. A little group of French children who lived in Illinois about the year 1778, talk about the British and Americans and listen to the sad story of Major Pierre d'Ar- taguette. One of the Illinois Centennial plays. For four boys and four girls. Sug- gestions given. Children of the Civil War. RX, no. 5. In February, 1862, the news of the cap- ture of Fort Donelson comes to a group of Illinois children, all but one of whom are loyal to the Union. One of the Illinois Centennial plays. For four boys and four girls. Suggestions given. Children of the Illini. RX, no. 1. How some Indian boys and girls played together in Illinois away back about 1673 before the white man came. One of the Illinois Centennial plays. For four boys and four girls. Indian songs. Sugges- tions given. Chimaera. MA, p. 26. How the three-headed monster is killed by Bellerophon mounted on Pegasus, winged horse. Arranged in four acts from Hawthorne's story for six boys and one girl. Christ-candle. C, p. 1. This play makes use of the old German belief that the Christ-child returns to earth each Christmas Eve to seek shelter among men. A little waif, lost in the snow, is re- fused help by the selfishness of happiness, of ill-temper, of poverty, of riches, and is at last received by two little children who take him for the Holy Child indeed. — Contents. Two scenes. For eleven boys, four girls, one man, one woman. Notes on costume and setting. Plays forty minutes. Christmas babes in the woods. SA, p. 10. Dick and Betty lose their way and fall asleep in the woods, are awakened by the fairies and taken home by Santa Claus in his sleigh. For three boys, four girls, and extras. Includes songs and dances. Cos- tumes described. Directions given. Christmas Brownie. C. p. 95. Santa Claus' Brownie allows Ted to help fill the stockings, with a result that per- plexes and disturbs their owners, and teaches Ted that it takes thoughtfulness as well as good will to make people happy. The Brownie's especial gift to Ted is a Christmas dream. — Contents. One act. For eight boys, seven girls, Santa Claus, and eight children who can sing. Notes on cos- tume and setting. Plays forty minutes. Christmas carol. COD, p. 267. I have always thought of Christmas time ... as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time ; the only time . . . when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely . . . ; and I say, God bless it ! — Charles Dickens. The story 'of the spirit of Christmas, ar- ranged in five acts for six boys, nine girls and many extras. Directions given. Christmas carol. H, p. 165. An arrangement from Dickens's story in three staves for twelve boys, eleven girls and extras. Costume illustrations. Music for carol. Directions given. Christmas carol. LAS, p. 41. Another version in four scenes for nine boys, two girls, and extras. Simple direc- tions. Christmas carol. ST, bk. 5, p. 73. Arranged in five acts for many char- acters. 26 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Christmas carol. See also Bob Cratchit's Christmas dinner ; Cratchit's Christmas dinner; Ebe- nezer Scrooge's Christmas. Christmas conspiracy. SA, p. 44. Santa Claus finds gifts in his pack for some Mother Goose children as well as for real boys and girls. Two acts. For seven boys and seven girls. Includes songs and dances. Costumes described. Directions given. Christmas Eve. NO, p. 113. Some little children make ready for Santa Claus's visit. Two short scenes for three boys and five girls. One song. Christmas eve at Mother Hubbard's. S, p. 153. A little play in one act for five boys and five girls who take the part of nursery rhyme characters. Christmas eve in an attic. SKB, p. 65. How Mrs. Santa Claus changes old toys into new ones for children who have no others. For ten little children. Christmas eve with Charles Dickens. FRN, p. 97. The good news of a legacy which will save his father from a debtor's prison, comes to eleven-year-old Charles as he sits in his lodgings on Christmas Eve, and dreams of revels in the "Merry England" of long ago. Includes a Christmas pageant and songs. One act. For three boys and two girls, and twenty-two boys and six girls for the pageant. Simple directions. Christmas garland. SMI, p. 241. A series of ten "tableaux representing traditional figures of Christmas." Christmas guest. MAE, p. 205. In the guise of a wandering beggar, the Christmas Angel is welcomed as a guest in a sixteenth century home. One act. For three boys and five girls. Full directions. Plays twenty minutes. Christmas in Leipsic. CH, p. 139. A Qiristmas tree, a little child, and the unexpected arrival of son Hans and his family transform the lonely holiday of an elderly professor and his wife into a joy- ous festival. In verse. One scene. For two older boys, three girls and several other children. Directions given. Christmas in many lands. SKA, p. 108. The children of different nations are brought by the Christmas fairy to the home of Gretchen and Hans to tell how they celebrate Christmas in their own homes. Songs for every nation, though no music is given. One act. For ten girls and one boy. Costumes suggested. Simple direc- tions. Christmas in Old England. SMI, p. 209. "Without the door let sorrow lie; And if for cold it hap to die, We'll bury it in a Christmas pie, And evermore be merry." A series of nine Christmas tableaux with Father Christmas on his throne. Christmas in olden times and in many lands. WAD. A Christmas masque in two acts by E. H. Walker presenting "the historical develop- ment of the mid-winter festival." For twenty-eight boys and twenty-one girls. Many songs and dances with music are in- troduced. Costumes illustrated. Direc- tions given. Christmas in rhyme-land. PEM, p. 55. Some of the good old nursery rhymes come out of their picture books to have tea with the Old Woman at the house within the Shoe. Father Christmas pays them a visit, bringing gifts for every one. For four boys and five girls. Carols, songs, and a dance. Costumes described. Simple directions. A jolly little play. Christmas jest. WIC, p. 189. A weary King and his happy Fool change places on Christmas eve, as a jest. The Fool reigns as Christmas king, while the King visits the poor of his kingdom and learns that the most precious gift is the love of his people. Three scenes. For six boys, two girls, and many extras as beg- gars and lords and ladies of the court. Sug- gestions for costumes and staging. INDEX TO PLAYS 27 Christmas monks. C, p. 149. It is unknown to many people that the Christmas toys grow from seed in the gar- den of the Christmas monks. The play relates the adventures of the Prince, Peter, and Peter's little sister, in this wonderful place. — Contents. From a story by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman. Three acts. For fifteen boys, nine girls, and one man as Abbot. Notes on costume and presenta- tion. Plays fifty minutes. Christmas mystery. DR, Nov., 1920, p. 60. The story of the nativity arranged as a pantomime by Jane Judge and Linwood Taft. To be used as a part of a community Christmas festival. Words of hymns and carols and references to music included. Costumes suggested and directions fully given. Christmas once more. CHA, p. 163. Father Antonius and Fulvia, his ward, seek to make Christmas of little pagan Elsa and her father, Sigurd. The Christmas service which they attend represents The Vision of Mary, a Morality play as given in Cologne about 400 A. D. before an assem- bly of early Christians. Part 1, Prelude; Part 2, Cantata ; all in verse. Songs with- out music. For older children. Christmas party. MEB, p. 263. A nursery scene with three little children tucked in bed, and asleep on the hearth rug three Good little People "called Lob for short." Some children of history and fable arrive followed by Santa Claus. Last of all come Father and Mother to fill the stock- ings. One act. For twelve boys, six girls, and extras. Directions. Plays about one hour. Christmas pitcher. ST, bk. 1, p. 101. Santa's gift of a common white pitcher works magic, and the kind heart of a little princess helps her to find fairy land. Sug- gested by Hawthorne's Miraculous Pitcher. For fourteen little boys, three little girls, and extras. Christmas spirit. DE. The daughter of Santa Claus comes to the Forest of Nowadays, with pail and bag, seeking to fill them with Christmas thoughts and Christmas spirit for hei father. A playlet in one act for two boys and two girls. Full directions. Christmas tree in New England. TU, p. 115. A story of how the Puritans kept Christ- mas. — Contents. For three boys and two girls. Short. Christmas tree joke. BW, p. 105. Christmas Day is entertaining the other holidays at a Yule-time party. He leaves his sister, Christmas Eve, to put the last touches to the tree on which there is a re- membrance for each guest, and during his absence, April Fool persuades her to change the cards on the gifts. Much consternation and entanglement follow, all of which is finally righted by the host. — Story of the Play. For seven boys and five girls. Char- acters and costumes described and simple directions given. Plays about thirty min- utes. Christmas with the children. SMI, p. 227. It is good to be Children Sometimes ; and Never Better Than at Christmas, When its Mighty Founder was a Child Himself. — Chas. Dickens. A series of eight tableaux arranged for a Christmas entertainment, "for the use of little people everywhere." Christmas with the Mulligans. H, p. 91. Sure, there isn't much argument at all, at all. It's all happiness and merriment and love, and where there is happiness and merriment and love there isn't any time for argument. The Widow Mulligan is a cheerful washerwoman who lives in Mulli- gan Alley in Shantytown, surrounded by her ten little Mulligans, to say nothing of the goat, Shamus O'Brien. A good-hearted neighbor, Mrs. O'Toole, has a lively time with the goat, but she forgives all his mis- deeds as it is Christmas Eve and the little Mulligans are starting out for a grand Christmas entertainment. When they re- turn they entertain their mother and Mrs. O'Toole, and incidently, the audience. — Ar- gument. Three acts. For five boys and seven girls. Songs with music. Costume illus- trations. Directions given. Plays about one hour. Christopher Columbus. BI, p. 1. The prior of the convent of La Rabida helps to interest Queen Isabella in the ex- 3S PLAYS FOR CFIILDREN pedition of Columbus. After the long voy- age the explorer and his sailors land on San Salvador. Four scenes for thirteen boys, two girls, and extras. Christopher Columbus. BX. F"our episodes, each in several short scenes, depicting Columbus as a youth in Genoa, Columbus before Ferdinand and Isabella, a scene on the deck of the ship Saint Mary, and a picture of the Indians on San Salvador and the arrival of the dis- coverer. Written originally for the Com- mittee on Civic Education of the Woman's Education Association. Text in English and Italian. For a large number of char- acters. Directions. Christopher Columbus. ST, bk. 3, p. 163. Columbus loses his maps at the court of King John of Portugal, but wins the favor of the king and queen of Spain. At the end of his long voyage he quells mutiny on board ship and sights land at last. Three scenes for twenty-three boys, one girl, and extras. Christopher Columbus. WY, p. 71. Supported in his great enterprise by the wisdom and resources of Queen Isabella, Columbus sails across the unknown seas, and to Castile and Leon gives a New World. "Winsor's, Irving's, and Adam's works on Columbus have been among the his- torical sources consulted. For the purpose of dramatization events that were some years apart have been placed nearer to- gether, but in essentials the play is his- torically true and nearly all the characters are historical personages." — Preface. A play in four acts for a cast of about twenty-six or more. Stage suggestions. Cicely and the bears. SX, p. 17. Sir Nicholas Hildebrand, a knight, offers his hand in marriage to the fairest maiden in the land. The rich dames of the village take their daughters to a ball given by a knight in the castle. Cicely, a beggar girl, creeps in unnoticed. During the feast two bears walk upright into the hall and cause fear and confusion among the guests, who run and hide. Cicely steps bravely forth and serves the shaggy strangers. Sir Hilde- brand chooses the beggar maiden for his bride. — Plot of the play. Retold from a poem by William Brighty Rands. For seven boys and five girls, and dames, maidens, pages and attendants. Sim- ple suggestions. Cinderella. BE, p. 169. The Princess of the Silver Mountain who disappears from the ball is found again by Prince Charming by means of a silver slipper. Four scenes for two boys, five girls, and extras as lords and ladies at the ball. Songs with music. Costumes sug- gested. Full directions. Cinderella. DU, p. 43. "While my haughty sisters Dance at feast and ball, I sit in the ashes Longing for it all." The well-known story of the magic slip- per as a three-act play in rhyme, with Cin- derella, her two sisters, the Fairy God- mother, the Prince, and a Herald as char- acters. Costumes suggested. Stage direc- tions. Cinderella. DUN, p. 37. In four scenes for two boys, five girls, and extras. Simple directions. Cinderella. HOA, p. 39. The touch of a fairy godmother's wand changes a little girl into a Lady from Far Away. Six short scenes for three little boys and five little girls. Cinderella. NO, p. 36. Arranged in five short acts for three little boys and six little girls. Two songs. Cinderella. RI, p. 1. A little operetta in four scenes giving the old story in rhyme to be sung to familiar tunes. For one boy, four girls, and ex- tras as dancers at the ball. Illustrations suggest costumes. Cinderella. SCB, p. 103. Arranged in four simple scenes for twelve boys, seven girls and extras. Cinderella. U, p. 30. A simple version in three short scenes for school use. Two songs. For two boys, four girls and a few fairies. Simple direc- tions. City child. WI, p. 105. Poem by Tennyson. For primary grades. INDEX TO PLAYS 29 City mouse and the country mouse. PR, p. 64. Country cousin decides that the poor old barn is much safer than the grand city house where the mice are chased so often. Three short acts for six little children. City mouse and the country mouse. See also Country mouse and the city mouse. Clever cock. ST, bk. 1, p. 55. How cock and dog get the better of gray fox and red fox. Two short scenes for four little children. Clever kid. ST, bk. 2, p. 1. Gray Wolf and White Wolf cannot get Little Kid to come down the hill to them. For three little children. Clucking hen. WI, p. 14. Poem arranged for two parts. For pri- mary grades. Cock-Alu and Hen-Alie. SX, p. 75. While eating her breakfast Hen-Alie chokes on a bean which sticks in her throat. Shabby-Hen, a neighbor, runs to her as- sistance and tells Cock-AIu nothing will help but a drop of water from the silver spring. The water mtlfet be fetched while the dew is falling. Cock-Alu starts to the silver spring. He meets various friends on the way and stops to talk to them. When he reaches the silver spring he finds a dry channel. In the meantime, Shabby- Hen tries to comfort Hen-Alie. At eve- ning she offers to run to meet Cock-Alu and help him home with the drop of water. She meets him, hears him call out he has not found the spring, runs out through the darkness, finds the spring, and saves Hen-Alie. — Plot of the play. Adapted from a story by Mary Howitt. For four boys and five girls. Simple sug- gestions. Cock and the fox. LAN, p. 32. The old fox fails to deceive the cock with his tale of a proclamation of uni- versal peace and harmony. Arranged for two parts from Aesop. Cock and the fox. WI, p. 120. Chanticleer learns not to shut his eyes when he sught to keep them open, and a sly old fox learns not to open his mouth when he ought to keep it shut. Arranged from Chaucer in narrative form for pri- mary grades. Cold country. SK, p. 85. Some of the animals pay a visit to the Weather spirit to buy a bag of cold. Adapted from S. Weir Mitchell, and given in narrative form. Columbus helps Anychild. PAC, p. 103. The Wishing Witch permits Anychild to visit Long Ago, where she becomes a lad working on the ship of Columbus. She becomes acquainted with his attendants Patience and Perseverance, and asks them to become her helpers. For five boys and five girls. Simple directions. Commonwealth. GOA, bk. 4, p. 41. Prince Charles escapes after the battle of Worcester, the generals rejoice over the defeat of the Dutch, the Long Parliament is dissolved by Cromwell, and the people welcome Charles II as. their king. Four scenes. For eighteen boys and many extras. For class-room use. Complainers. PR, p. HI. The donkey bemoans the fact that he has no horns, and the ape wants a fine bushy tail ; but the little blind mole says that they have all they need, for they can see. A tiny dialogue for three little chil- dren. Comus. SI, fourth year, p. 75. "Sabrina fair. Listen where thou art sitting Under the glassy, cool, translucent wave, In twisted braids of lilies knitting The loose train of thy amber-dropping hair: Listen for dear honor's sake, Goddess of the silver lake, Listen and save !" Abridged from Milton in Prologue, five scenes and Epilogue arranged for four boys, two girls, and extras. For High School use. Comus. See also Good fairy. Conqueror. GOA, bk. 2, p. 7. William of Normandy defeats King Harold and becomes the Conqueror of Eng- 30 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN land. Three scenes. For fifteen boys and one girl. For class-room use. Continental Congress. M, p. 13. Extracts from famous speeches and dialogues adapted and arranged in four acts. Tableaux : The Spirit of Seventy- six. For thirty-one boys and extras. Il- lustrations from famous pictures. Simple directions. Conversion of Mrs. Slacker. PAB, p. 103. How Mrs. Slacker discovers that she has been disloyal and how she decides to give her son, Alphonso, to Columbia for ser- vice in the Great War. A patriotic play for two boys and seven girls. Simple di- rections. Corn silk. TUR. An ancient Mandan legend of a maiden who marries a magician. Includes songs and a representation of the Buffalo dance. For eight boys, two girls and many extras. Directions for costume and setting. Cornelia and her jewels. HOA, p. 34. The mother of the Gracchi calls her sons jewels with which all the precious stones of the world are not to be compared. For two little boys and three little girls. Country mouse and the city mouse. NO, p. 18. Why safety at home is better than fine food and danger in the city for the little mouse. Two shorts acts for three little children. Country mouse and the city mouse. See also City mouse and the coun- try mouse. Courage. BUB, p. 136. A brave little Dutch girl goes through the darkness to warn her father of a breach in the dyke. One act. For four boys and two girls. Full directions. Course of true love. CR, p. 285. "A holiday farce (after the fashion of the Comedy of Art scenarios.)" Intro- duces the familiar characters of Harlequin and Columbine, and may be given, if pre- ferred, in pantomime. For nine older boys and two older girls. Directions given. Plays one hour. Courtship of Miles Standish. COB. The story of John Alden and the wooing of Priscilla, a Puritan maid, arranged from Longfellow's poem in two acts for eleven boys, two girls, and extras. Simple directions. Plays thirty minutes. Courtship of Miles Standish. LAS, p. 57. A shorter, simple version of the same story in two scenes for two boys and one girl. Simple directions. Courtship of Miles Standish. LUB, V. 2, p. 147. Longfellow's lines arranged in four scenes with Prologue, Epilogue, and con- necting narrative for Chorus. For three boys, one girl, and many extras. Courtship of Miles Standish. See also Maid of Plymouth ; Miles Standish ; Priscilla, Myles and John; Standish of Standish. Cranford. MEA. A three-act comedy arranged from Mrs. Gaskell's story. For one boy and three girls. Costume illustration. Simple direc- tions. Plays one hour. Cratchit's Christmas dinner. FO, p. 49. Arranged from Dickens's Christmas Carol in one scene for four boys And four girls. Directions. Cratchit's Christmas dinner. See also Bob Cratchit's Christmas din- ner; Christmas carol; Ebenezer Scrooge's Christmas. Cricket on the hearth. COD, p. 195. "To have a cricket on the hearth is the luckiest thing in all the world." The story of Mr. and Mrs. Peerybingle and their friends, arranged in three scenes. For six boys and six girls. Directions given. Crocodile. PR, p. 42. A dog cannot go down to the river to drink because of a crocodile. Very short. For two little children. INDEX TO PLAYS 31 Crow and the fox. ST, bk. 3, p. 6. How flattery secures for a fox Miss Crow's piece of cheese. For three parts. Crow and the fox. See also Fox and the crow. Crowning of peace. SMI, p. 141. Liberty summons valorous War and gentle Peace, and each claims to bestow the better gifts on men. One scene. For three boys and two girls. Simple direc- tions. Crowning of the dryads. LUA, p. 191. "Titania, the queen of the fairies, with Pan, the flowers and the grasses, the birds and the butterflies, as well as the sun and the winds, meet in the heart of an ancient wood to crown the dryads." Three scenes. For thirty-nine children. Includes a Maypole dance. Crow's children, G, p. 151. Mother Crow tries to save her young ones from the hunter, but fails because she tells him that they are as white as snow. In narrative and dramatic form. For two children. Crusaders. MAB, second series. King Richard I of England is captured by the Duke of Austria, and is released through the efforts of Blondel, the minstrel, who sings to him beneath the tower of DiJrnstein Castle, where the king is con- fined. A five act play for eighteen boys, two girls and extras. Costume illustra- tions. Songs with music. Full directions. Cupid and Psyche. COA, p. 78. The story of the god of love and his love for a mortal maiden. Eight scenes for two boys and six girls. Cupid and Psyche. SE, p. 85. A simple narrative version illustrated with many photographs of children in Greek costume posing in the scenes from the myths. To be acted in pantomime or dramatized from text and pictures. Sug- gestions to teachers. Daedalus and Icarus. COA, p. 160. How Daedalus and his son made them- selves wings with which to escape from the labyrinth which he himself had made. Three short scenes for three boys. Dame Greel o' Portland town. MAH, p. 119. Dame Alice Greel, who kept a tavern in Portland, Maine, at the time of the revolution, acts as well as speaks her loy- alty. An historical pageant-play in one act for fourteen boys and four girls. Cos- tume illustration. Directions given. Daniel Boone. ST, bk. 4, p. 142. Boone is taken prisoner by the Indians who refuse ransom for him. He is made a member of the Chief's own family, learns their plans, escapes, and warns the pio- neers at Boonesborough fort of an Indian attack. Three scenes for sixteen or more boys. Daniel Boone, patriot. MAG, p. 59. "Boone with Rigdon in the wilderness Dauntlessly facing times of strife and stress." The scene is an open woodland at Blue Lick Springs, Kentucky, in 1778. One act. For nine characters and extras. Includes a war dance. Full directions. Plays thirty minutes. Daniel Boone's snuff box. HX, p. 125. The Indians of the Kentucky woods feared' Daniel Boone, but admired him more, and at one time captured him to make him chief of the tribe. The play tells how Boone effected his escape by the aid of his discarded snuff box. One act play for third or fourth grade children, for five boys and group of Indians. Daphne. COA, p. 10. How Daphne, fleeing from Apollo, is changed into a laurel tree. Five scenes for three boys and two girls. David Copperfield. See Betsey Trot- wood at Home; Friendly waiter; Micawbers decide to emigrate ; Micawbers dine with David; Mr. Micawber's prospects. David Copperfield and his aunt. PER, p. 1. For note see Betsey Trotwood at home. 33 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN David Swan. SI, second year, p. 74. Presents a unique type for dramatic treatment. It is a fantasy, not a study in action. David Swan, the sleeping boy, is the center of interest, and arouses in the various passers-by feelings and thoughts as diverse as their characters. — Prefatory note. Arranged for High School use from Hawthorne's Twice Told Tales. One short scene for seven boys and three girls. Day before Thanksgiving. OL, p. 147. There is great fear in the hearts of the barnyard folk : Mrs. Cluck and her chickens, Madam Waddleduck and her ducklings, and cheery little Bantam Cock- tail, because one of them is sure to be roasted for Thanksgiving. While they are waiting for their doom, good news is brought to them by a Pumpkin Pie who tells of the terrible fate of the proud and quarrelsome Gobbler-Turkey and happiness returns to the barn yard ! — Program. A "play of terror" in one act for three boys, two girls, and twelve little children as chicks and ducklings. Costume designs, simple directions. Day Will Shakspere went to Kenil- worth. LO, p. 9L Robin Goodfellow is caught and buffeted by Will Shakspere, a lad of eleven years, who is on his way to Kenilworth to see the queen. According to the law of Faerie, Robin now owes his captor fealty and must bring to him the good gifts of fairyland. Through Robin's good offices Oberon and Titania decide that they have need of an- other mortal soon to serve their fairy world among men. They promise that Will shall see visions that will make of him a poet and that seeds of sweet fancy and of tales sad and merry shall be planted in his brain. A pageant play with prologue, five episodes and epilogue. Designed primarily for production out of doors, by a large number of children. May be given en- tirely in pantomime. Fairy dances. Music suggested. Directions. Days of the week. HOA, p. 100. Each day tells about its own name and why it is happy. For seven little children. Dekanawida. PA A, p. 1. A pageant of unity, in five episodes, trac- ing the progress of unity in America from the Indian league of nations (Iroquois con- federacy) to the modern League of Na- tions. — Contents. May be given out of doors. Requires one soloist. Episodes may be presented separately. For many chil- dren. Costumes suggested. Simple direc- tions. Departure. TU, p. 1. Story of the very early days of Harvard College. — Contents. For two boys and two girls. Short. Destruction of Treasure Valley. KN, p. 85. How the Black Brothers are punished by Southwest wind for selfishness. Adapted from The King of the Golden River. Two scenes for four boys. Destruction of Treasure Valley. See also King of the Golden River; Southwest wind's visit to Gluck; Story of Gluck; Strange visitor. Diamond and the North Wind. KN. p. 45. Diamond, the coachman's son, who sleeps in the loft, dreams of two remarkable journeys which he makes with North Wind. Adapted from George Macdonald's At the Back of the North Wind. Two scenes for six boys and two girls. Diana and Endymion. SE, p. 63. A simple narrative version illustrated with many photographs of children in Greek costume posing in the scenes from the myths. To be acted in pantomime or dramatized from text and pictures. Sug- gestions to teachers. Dick Swiveller and the Marchioness. PER, p. 167. Dick discovers the Marchioness looking through the key-hole for company. Ar- ranged from Dickens's "Old Curiosity Shop" for one boy and one girl. Four costume plates. Stage directions. Dick Whittington and his cat. SCB, p. 167. How Dick finds at last the golden pave- ments of London town. Six short scenes for ten boys and two girls. INDEX TO PLAYS 33 Dicky Dot and Dotty Dick. S, p. 180. A little boy and little girl talk about what they will do some day when they are "big folks." Short. Discontented blacksmith. LAN, p. 34. A blacksmith in India who was never happy is in turn a stone, a stonecutter, a prince, a cloud, and the sun ; and in the end finds that it is good to be a man and a blacksmith. From a Siamese story. In narrative form. Discontented pine tree. BRY, p. 96. A little pine tree learns that needles are better than leaves of gold, of silver or of green. For four little children. Discontented pine tree. See also Pine tree. Discovery of America. GOA, bk. 3, p. 7. Shows Columbus as a humble petitioner at court, as commander of his ship, dis- coverer of America and triumphant hero welcomed home. Six short scenes. For thirteen boys, one girl, and many extras. For class-room use. Discovery of America. HX, p. 3. "Who discovered it, how it was dis- covered, and why the Red-men were called Indians." A short and simple little play in three acts for third and fourth grade children. For six boys, one girl, and extras. Division between friends. BRO, p. 109. Sairey Gamp and Betsey Prig quarrel over their tea to the dismay of Mr. Sweedlepipe, barber and bird-fancier, over whose shop Mrs. Gamp lives. One scene from Martin Chuzzlewit for one boy and two girls. Costume illustration. Full di- rections. Plays twenty-five minutes. A slightly different version is given in Scenes from Dickens by G. Pertwee, under the title of Mrs. Gamp and Mrs. Prig. Dog and his shadow. PR, p. 72. A dog swimming across a river with a bone in his mouth growls at his shadow and quarrels with the echo of his voice. For two little children. Dolls. DR, November, 1920, p. 52. A Christmas nonsense play in three scenes by Louise Van Voorhis Armstrong. The Fashionable lady doll, the Marie An- toinette doll, the Harlequin, the Baby, the Peasant, the Soldier and the Japanese dolls, fail to take the place of Genevieve, the old doll, in the Little Girl's heart. For eleven characters. Photograph shows designs of costumes. Directions. Dolly Madison, BI, p. 247. How the wife of President Madison escapes when the British attack the city of Washington. Four scenes for fourteen boys, three girls, and extras. Don Quixote. ST, bk. 4, p. 179. Various adventures of the valorous and foolish knight and his faithful squire, Sancho Panza. Based on incidents in Cer- vantes's romance. Four scenes for twenty- two boys, twenty-five girls, and extras. Dora: her flag. OLA, p. 19. In the year 1918 Dora, a little lame girl, was busy in her humble home — and a De- serter from the American Army enters — travel-worn, with angry, hunted eyes. But it need not be told here, how the child's simple faith and patriotism awakens in his heart once more the Love of Country ! — Program. "A play of patriotism" in one act for one boy and one girl. Simple di- rections. Dotheboys Hall. COD, p. 111. Thirteen scenes from Nicholas Nickleby. Nicholas Nickleby is engaged by Mr. Squeers as first assistant at Dotheboys Hall ; Mrs. Squeers searches for the school spoon ; Mr. Squeers hears the first class and Nicholas becomes acquainted with Smike ; The Squeers family discuss the new teacher who gives himself such airs; Mathilda Price and her lover, John Browdie, take tea with Fanny Squeers; Mathilda and Fanny become reconciled after the quarrel and Nicholas declares his desire to turn his back upon this accursed place; Smike finds a friend in Nicholas who promises to help him ; Mr. Squeers discovers that Smike is nowhere to be found ; Nicholas prevents Mr. Squeers from flogging Smike, and turns the lash upon the proprietor of Dotheboys Hall himself; John Browdie loans a sovereign 34 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN to Nicholas who has fled and who takes Smike with him on his way to London ; Mr. Squeers and Wackford call upon Mr. and Mrs. John Browdie at the Saracen's Head in London and tell them of the capture of Smike; John Browdie helps Smike to escape from the upper room in Snawley's house ; Nicholas takes tea with Mr. and Mrs. John Browdie at the Sara- cen's Head and Mr. Squeers, Fanny and Wackford make an unexpected call. For eight boys, four girls and extra boys. Di- rections given. The fifth scene is given in nearly the same form in Miss Squeer's tea party in Short Plays from Dickens by H. B. Browne. Dotheboys HalL See also Miss Squeers' tea-party ; Nicholas Nickleby. Dream lady. SYR, p. 13. A delicate and fanciful little play "full of fairy nonsense" about a wonderful Lady of Dreams visible only to those who love, or whose hearts are childlike. One act. For four boys, six girls, and extras. Costumes suggested. Directions given. Plays forty-five minutes. Dream of freedom. STA, p. 53. The Puritans of Scrooby meet in se- cret, are persecuted by the King's officers, and at last escape to Holland. Four acts. For twenty-eight boys, nine girls and extras, but parts may be doubled. Simple directions. Dream of gold. STA, p. 1. The early settlers at Jamestown meet with disappointment and suff^ering, but a new hope of a glorious future is aroused by the coming of Lord Delaware. Four acts. For forty-seven boys, seven girls, and extras, but parts may be doubled. Simple directions. Dream-toy shop. SA, p. 3. The Little Maiden visits the place "Where the dream-toys dance and play On the eve of Christmas day!" A playlet in two scenes for four little girls and six little boys. Includes songs and dances. Costumes described. Direc- tions given. Drummer girl. PR, p. 104. Plucky Rebecca and Sarah beat the drum and play the fife and make some men who attack the boats in the harbor of a little village think that there are many soldiers ready to face them. For four little boys and two little girls. Dryad and the deacon. DR, Mar.- Apr., 1920, p. 217. As Deacon Shadrach Snow reads his Bay Psalm book in a New England wooded glade he is interrupted by a smiling dryad who comes out from the oak tree which the deacon is about to cut down. He would save her from the fate of dying when the ax is laid at the root of her tree, and he gives her his blessing, but she dances away from him and vanishes into the tree again. A faerie in one scene by William O. Bates. Two parts. Directions. Dryad's awakening. SY, p. 123. From the trunk of a great oak steps a Dryad, who leads nymphs and fauns, but- terflies and birds in a Revel of Spring. A sketch for a ballet. Dulce et decorum club. MEC, p. 131. Some boys and girls who are weaving garlands for Memorial Day find living heroes in an old Union Soldier with right arm missing and an old Confederate Soldier with left arm missing. E^ch old man discovers in the other his» brother whom he thought he had killed at Gettys- burg. One act. For six boys, thirteen girls and extras. Simple directions. Each in his own place. ST, bk. 3, p. 14. Straw, Coal, Snowflake, Sugar Loaf and Sausage lose their lives by trying to do each other's work. For five children. Eager Heart. BU. "I am not worthy; can it be That thou wilt stoop to dwell with me? That, leaving fame and joys apart. Thou com'st, the Guest of Eager Heart?" A Christmas mystery play in verse for seven boys, three girls, and extras. Chorals given in separate volume. Direc- tions given. INDEX TO PLAYS 35. Eagle and the owl. PR, p. 54. Mother Eagle asks the Owl not to harm her beautiful eaglets, but the Owl eats some strange scrawny creatures and Mother Eagle calls the Owl a false friend. Three short acts for three little children. Easter lily. NO, p. 23. A story of an Easter lily who wanted to be taken to the church on Easter day. Two short acts for eight little children. Easter rabbit. TU, p. 75. A story of the early days of New York. — Contents. Three short scenes for four boys, five girls, and "other boys and girls of the village." Easter rabbit. WI, p. 89. The rabbit comes to tell the children that spring has come at last. A German legend arranged in nine parts for primary grades. Ebenezer Scrooge's Christmas. KN, p. 159. Charles Dickens's Christmas Carol adapted in seven scenes for fourteen boys and one girl. Ebenezer Scrooge's Christmas. See also Bob Cratchit's Christmas din- ner; Christmas carol; Cratchit's Christmas dinner. Echo. JO, p. 23. How the echo in the mountain answered Jack who thought he was a boy calling to him. For three little children. Edge of the wood. DR, Feb., 1920, p. 196. Eric, of the world of men, visits the wood where dwells the Spirit of the White Birch Tree who claims the soul he vowed to her on Midsummer eve one year before. Written by Katharine Metcalf Roof. One scene, for six characters besides dryads, fauns and satyrs. Simple directions. Edward III. MAB, second series. "St. George for Merry England ! Loud was our battle-cry; And to the winds of heaven The red cross streaming high ; And evermore the names resound Of Calais and Crecy; Trumpet call, trumpet call. To England's chivalry!" The victories in France are followed bv a scene of rejoicmg in London when the King comes home. One act. For fifteen boys, and seven girls, or for a smaller number if parts are doubled. Costume illustrations. Songs and a Morris dance. Full directions. Effie's Christmas dream. FOU. A discontented little girl dreams of Christmas land where everyone works the year round to get ready for the happy day. Adapted from Louisa M, Alcott's A Christmas Dream and How It Came True. Three acts. For sixteen boys, twelve girls, and extras. Costumes sug- gested. Directions given. Plays forty minutes. Eg3^tian cat. SA, p. 122. A humorous shadow play about a Maiden, her suitors, and "A sacred cat with yellow eyes As big as big could be." Arranged in six scenes for four boys, two girls, and an operator. The direc- tions are very full and are illustrated by diagrams. Elf child. MAE, p. 169. Heather Bell, an elf who wishes to be- come human, learns that neither gold nor knowledge can give her a soul, but that "grief and thought for another will open e'en the doors of Paradise." , For four girls, and chorus of six or more children. Full directions. Elves and the shoemaker. GO, p. 43. Two little shoemaker elves are rewarded for their kindness to the shoemaker and his wife, by finding two pairs of wee red shoes and two fine red suits which they don in great glee. For seven boys, two girls, and extras. Directions and music for the dance of the elves. Costumes de- scribed and illustrated. Five short scenes. Elves and the shoemaker. SMI, p. 181. A pantomime for one man, one woman, two little boys, and several grown people and children as minor characters. Ar- ranged in five scenes from Grimm's Household Stories. Elves and the shoemaker. WIS, p. 5. Jecco, Echo and Re-echo, tiny elves, bring good luck to Father and Mother Beck. Four short acts arranged for a 36 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN community Christmas celebration. For five boys, three girls, and extras. Simple di- rections. Emperor's bird-nest. LA, p. 146. Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Emperor's new clothes. BE, p. 261. The story of the clothes said to be in- visible to anyone who is very stupid or very wicked, arranged for eleven boys, two girls, and extras. Songs with music. Cos- tumes suggested. Full directions. Emperor's test. ST, bk. 3, p. 149. Because of his keen sight and quick thought, Pierre, the woodcutter's son, is chosen as guide to lead the emperor safely through the forest. Three short scenes, For nine boys and three girls. Enchanted garden. MAE, p. 59. "the great Queen of Hearts Will leave for one morning her baking of tarts To choose from this garden the loveliest flower." A June play in a garden. For three boys, seven girls, and extras. Directions for indoor production also and for cos- tumes are given. Contains a dance for the flowers. Plays twenty minutes. Encounter in the forest. TU, p. 56. A story of the early days in Massachu- setts. — Contents. For five boys. Very short. Endless tale. ST, bk. 2, p. 54. A king seeks a story teller who can tell a story that will last forever. For three little boys, one little girl, and extras. Endless tale. See also Story that had no end. Enemy. DI. "Good Lord ! He's just like any other chap. They're all just like ourselves — and we're killing them this very night — killing them by hundreds." One act. For five boys. Written for the American School Peace League by Beulah Marie Dix. Full directions. Enterprise of the "Mayflower." MAB, first series. "Now if you would plantations make And Cities in the wild, O, You must much joy and ease forsake And find much toil and care, O, And find much toil and care, O." A four-act play covering the time from the decisive conference in William Brew- ster's house in Scrooby until the celebra- tion of the first Thanksgiving in New England. For eleven boys and three girls. Costume illustrations. Music suggested. Full directions. Evangeline. LUB, v. 2, p. 42. Longfellow's lines arranged in four scenes with Prologue, Epilogue, and con- necting narrative for Chorus. For six boys, one girl and many extras. For school use. Evangeline. ST, bk. 5, p. 236. The story of the Acadian exiles ar- ranged in five acts for twelve boys, eight girls, and many extras. Based on Long- fellow's poem. Ever-Ever Land. BW, p. 37. Under the guidance of a fairy, whose wand is imagination, a child is led into the Ever-Ever Land, which is peopled by children who have figured in literature, characters so loved by boys and girls. One by one these characters greet her, and as they fade away the fairy tells her that the Ever-Ever Land is not afar; that it is really within a child's own happy heart. ^-Story of the Play. For sixteen boys and seventeen girls. Costumes suggested and simple stage direc- tions given. Plays about twenty minutes. Every boy. LUA, p. 177. A short morality play for Every boy, Opportunity, Common Sense, Good breed- ing. Chivalry, Health, Fun, Knowledge, Politics, Work, Patriotism, and extras as boys in dumb-bell drill. Every-Girl's friends. OLA, p. 77. One night Every-Girl, sad, and cross and half sick, sat alone in her pretty room. Suddenly through the open window sprang Fresh-Air who leads her far away to the wonderful Hall of Health and there the young girl meets many friends, whom she never knew before. They were — Meat, and Sleep, and Milk, and Long Walks, and Bread, and Eggs, and Cold Water and one other sweet friend, who was called, Rose- of-the-AUey. And in the Hall of Health, Every-Girl gains such health and happi- INDEX TO PLAYS 37 ness that will live for ever in her life ! — Program. "A play of health" in two acts for ten characters. Costume designs and simple directions. Everychild. SA, p. 101. "How Everychild sought for a com- panion on her quest for Goodness and Beauty, and having at length chosen, re- ceived also certain treasures." A school morality for nine boys or girls. No stage setting necessary. Costumes described. Simple directions. Everychild. T. Everychild fares forth with Reality from the Castle of Imagination through the Garden of Grinding Growth and the Cur- riculum Forest to the House of Life. A modern morality play in three acts by G. F. Tooker. Directions for setting. For thirty-seven characters and extras. Plays a full evening. Everyday gold. SX, p. 133. Three brownies, Nip, Tuk, Tid, go from village to village picking up the gold that children waste; for example, minutes, broken promises, opportunities, temper, etc. Out of this wasted gold they fashion a crown for the most worthy child in the village. — Plot of the play. For five boys, four girls and extras. Simple suggestions. "Everygiri." S A, p. 111. Everygirl chooses Work, Health and Love to journey with her through "the years that are to come." Includes a flower dance. For seventeen Girls. Costumes de- scribed and illustrated. Simple directions. Fables in verse. LA, p. 31. Fables and nonsense rhymes by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Fairies. BUB, p. 23. Little Bridget comes back from seven years spent with the fairies, but returns to them and is crowned their lady queen. Based on William Allingham's poem about the "Wee folk-good folk." In verse. One act. For one boy, eight girls and extras. Directions for costumes and set- ting. Fairies of Caldon Low. G, p. 9. How little Mary went all alone to the top of Caldon Hill and saw many wonder- ful things done by the fairies. In narrative and dramatic form. For three boys and nine girls. Fairies' plea. FRN, p. 133. An interlude for Shakespeare day adapted from Thomas Hood's Plea for the Mid- summer Fairies. One act. For three boys, four girls, and extras. Simple directions. Plays less than an hour. Fairy and the cat. ST, bk. 1, p. 69. A mouse betrays the fact that the prin- cess's playmate is not a real little girl, but a cat transformed by a fairy. For six lit- tle children. Fairy and the poor man. DO, p. 85. A gift of three wishes is used by a poor man and his wife to bring them good health, daily food, and a beautiful house to live in. But when the rich man and his wife have wished they are no better off than before. For two boys and two girls. Fairy bells. A, p. 57. Peter, a matchseller, and May, his little sister, are rescued from want by the fairies Starbright and Eyebright. Written in verse. For one boy, three girls, and extras in chorus. Illustrated. Music for songs. Directions. Fairy bride. O. A play written by N. J. O'Conor about the blemished prince who cannot reign, his visit to the Fairy other-world, and the fairy bride who proves that "by our love shall we be made immortal." The scene is Ireland before the introduction of Christianity. Three acts. For seven boys, two girls, and extras. Words and music for three songs. Directions. Fairy changeling. SP. Little Jo becomes a fairy only to find that he would rather be a boy again. A flower and fairy play for thirty-five chil- dren by Mrs. Harriet E. P. Spofford. Costumes described and illustrated. Music suggested is from Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Directions. Plays one hour. Fairies. See also Little Bridget. Same: The changeling. S, p. 202. 38 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Fairy gold. BA. "We are the hid-folk, Seen-but-by-the-faith-folk, Beauty's surprise : Not-to-be-chid-folk, Not-to-be-proved-folk Only the loved folk Of childhood the wise." Jack-a-Dreams, a mortal, seizes the fairy shoemaker's magic cap to compel him to reveal the place where elfin treasure is buried. Outwitted by the fairies, he finds that fairy gold still flees from men. A play by Katherine Lee Bates, for three boys, six girls, and many fairies for the dance. Fairy minstrel of Glenmalure. LUA, p. 141. _ Emun, a little boy, answers three strange riddles to save Kathleen and himself from a giant. A fanciful fairy play from Ed- mund Leamy's story with the same title. For five boys, four girls, and twenty small children representing a band of gallants. Costumes suggested. Simple directions. Fairy Old Boy and the tiger. CX. A Chinese story of a fierce and evil tiger who terrorized a countryside. His evil na- ture was gradually conquered by the ad- vice of a good fairy until he became a help instead of a trouble and he finally loses the shape of a tiger and is trans- formed into a handsome young man, the God of the Western Heaven. — Contents. Two acts. For seven characters, besides a flock of sheep. Illustrations of costumes and setting. Property list and stage direc- tions. Plays twenty-five minutes. Fairy ring. COF. The fairies save a disobedient little boy and girl from the sprites and nixies who wish to carry them away. For three boys, three girls, and many extras. Costumes described. Short. Fairy shoemaker. WI, p. 33. Tom wants to catch the Fairy shoemaker who can tell him where there is a pot of gold. Yet in the end he finds that he will get it sooner if he earns it for himself. In narrative form for primary grades. For an elaborate dramatic version see Fairy gold. Faithful shepherd. SX, p. 189. King John hears of the great riches of the Abbot of Canterbury. He plans to punish the Abbot, for he believes the holy man has gotten his wealth in a dishonest way. The King decides that the Abbot must answer three questions which his Majesty gives. If he fails to give the cor- rect answers to them he will lose his head. The Abbot tells his trouble to his faithful shepherd, who off'ers to go, disguised as the Abbot, before the King and answer the three questions. The shepherd's wit wins the King's favor and saves the Ab- bot's head. — Plot of the play. For three boys and one girl. Simple' sug- gestions. Faithful shepherd. See also King John and the abbot; Two ques- tions. Falling out of Mrs. Gamp and Mrs. Prig. PER, p. 155. Two old friends quarrel over their cup of tea. One scene from Martin Chuzzle- wit for two girls. Two costume plates. Directions given. A slightly different version is given in Short Plays from Dickens by H. B'. Browne, under the title of a Division be- tween friends. False Sir Santa Claus. S, p. 109. A Christmas masque for young and old . . designed to precede the Christmas tree at a Christmas party. [Forezvord.] For nine boys, four girls, and many extras. Costumes described. Songs with music. Familiar quotations. HA, p. 75. A combination of play and game in which the actors interpret by costume and gesture, and the audience guesses the quotation. Calls for eighteen characters. Directions given. Short. Family quarrel. CHA, p. 71. "Take warning, both of ye ! Now have your eyes been opened, and ye see The sorry thing a favorite child may be." Starling and Elfkin, two little boys, are brought to fairyland, and there kept safe until their foolish parents shall turn good. A two-act play in verse for five older boys and four older girls. INDEX TO PLAYS 39 Famine; a pantomime. SC, p. 50. Minute directions are given for expres- sion and gesture for each line of this se- lection from the Song of Hiawatha. For twelve children or less. Fanchette from France. HAB, p. 137. The actors impersonate dolls who, ac- cording to an old nursery tradition, come to life for an hour at midnight. One act. For four boys and three girls. Costumes described. Directions given. Farewell. DO, p. 178. Poem by Charles Kingsley. Father of the Waters. HX, p. 50. How Joliet and Marquette set out to find a strange, big river, how they sailed down it, and claimed the land on both sides for France. A short play in. two acts for third or fourth grade children. For six boys and extras. Father Time and his children. MEB, p. 7. "For lo ! I am Time, your old Father Time, The reason of wrinkles, the rhythm of rhyme : First aboriginal native of space; Earliest settler all over the place; The oldest inhabitant here, or there; The latest arrival everywhere." Characters : Father Time and the twelve months of the year. One act. Costumes suggested. Feast of lanterns. SK, p. 209. Wang Chi is spirited away by the genii of the mountains on the day of the Feast of Lanterns. A Chinese folk tale in nar- rative form. Feathertop. SI, first year, p. 80. Mother Rigby, a witch, makes a man of her Scarecrow, and sends him out into the world. But when he sees himself for what he is, a wretched, ragged, empty thing, he decides to exist no longer. Arranged from Hawthorne's Mosses from an Old Manse in two short scenes for two boys and one girl. For High School use. Ferdinand Magellan. BI, p. 97. Episode from the long voyage of Ma- gellan, who found a way to sail around the world. Eight scenes for thirteen boys and extras. Ferry Farm episode. MAG, p. 38. A plantation scene on the lawn of Ferry Farm in 1748 when Master George Wash- ington leaves for a surveying trip with Lord Fairfax. For five boys and six girls. Full directions. Short. Ferry me across the water. DO, p. 13. Poem by Christina G. Rossetti arranged for two parts. First American flag. F, p. 151. Washington and his aides visit Betsey Ross and commission her to make the first American flag. Two short scenes. For three boys and one girl. Simple directions. First American flag. See also First flag; Making a flag; Making of the first American flag; Our first flag; Our flag. First Christmas Eve. GX, p. 37. How the knowledge of the birth of Christ came to a family in a hut on the hills of Britain. A miracle play in one act for five persons. First Christmas tree. WI, p. 64. Carl and Elsbeth, who care for a child lost in the storm, are rewarded by her gift of a tree that shall bear wonderful fruit each year. In narrative form for primary grades. First crop of apples. TU, p. 83. A story of Providence in colonial days. — Contents. For three boys and three girls. Short. First flag. MEC, p. 77. General George Washington visits Betsey Ross in her upholstery shop and commis- sions her to make the first flag of the United States. One act. For four boys and three girls. Simple directions. First flag. See also First American flag; Making a flag; Making of the first American flag; Our first flag; Our flag. First in war. HX, p. 72. General Washington is made Com- mander-in-Chief of the American army. A very short little play in one act for 40 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN four boys and others, in the third or fourth grade. First May baskets. WIC, p. 63. The little wood creatures summoned by Lady Spring's flute make baskets of green moss and filled them with flowers. These they send as messages to the children, who run to the woods to rejoice that Spring has come at last. Two scenes. For seven boys, three girls, and extras as dryads, fairies, and pixies. Simple directions. First Thanksgiving day. HX, p. 23. How the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth and were welcomed by the Indians, and how they celebrated their first feast of Thanksgiving in their new home. Short play in two acts for six boys, two girls, and groups of Pilgrims and Indians. For third and fourth grade children. First Thanksgiving day. JO, p. 121. How the Indians feasted with the folk of Plymouth and how they smoked the pipe of peace. Two short acts for eight little boys and three little girls. First Thanksgiving day. SA, p. 89. "However great the destiny that may await our colony, struggling here in the wilderness, this day must never be for- gotten." A one-act play for nine boys and three girls. Costumes described. Direc- tions given. First Thanksgiving dinner. COG. A one-act play for seven boys, five girls, and extras. The setting represents the kitchen at Elder Brewster's house, where the dinner is being prepared. Costumes de- scribed. Directions given. Plays twenty- five minutes. First vi^inter. TU, p. 143. A story of how Elder Brewster and Miles Standish ministered to the Pilgrims in sick- ness and in hardship. — Contents. For two boys, one girl, and two little children. Very short. Fisherman and his wife. BE, p. 291. A short, dramatic version of the tale of Martin, a fisherman, Ilsebel, who finds "it is a weary thing to be a fisherman's wife." and the King of the Clouds, who grants all her wishes until she loses all through too great greed. Costumes suggested. Di- rections given. Fisherman and the genie. SK, p. 196. A poor fisherman releases a mighty genie from a copper jar, and then has to use all his wit to get the ungrateful spirit back in again. Narrative from the Arabian Nights. Fishing in dry land. ST, bk. 2, p. 75. Farmer Nix gets back his colt from Farmer Knave by going fishing in the dust. For four boys, one girl, and extras. Flight of the beasts. LAN, p. 141. The story of the timid little hare who thought that the firm and solid earth was coming to an end, and whose thought of fear alarmed all the other beasts. From a Jataka tale. In narrative form. Flight of the beasts. See also Timid hare. Flight of the Sim Goddess. DU, p. 301. Amaterasu, Sun Goddess, flees to a cav- ern, leaving the world in darkness, when her throne is seized by the Moon God. By , the aid of a crystal mirror, she is lured from her hiding place and again reigns supreme as Queen of Day. A legend of old Japan written in verse for four boys and seven girls. Three acts. Contains songs and dances. Costumes described. Stage directions. Flight of the Sun Goddess. See also Sun Goddess. Florida, the flowery land. HX, p. 13. Ponce de Leon and his Spanish sailors claim the land of flowers for his Majesty, the King of Spain. A very short little play in one act for third and fourth grade chil- dren. For five boys and groups of sailors. Flower of the ages. OL, p. 63. This is the story of Hope who was sent by Love to the garden of earth to find the perfect flower to grow in the hall of the ages. Within the garden are many won- drous flowers but fairer far than all is the gentle spotless Lily. Joyfully Hope bears this perfect gift to grow beside the Throne, with Faith and Charity forever and ever. — Program. A "play of fancy" INDEX TO PLAYS 41 in two acts for ten girls and others as flowers. Costume designs and simple di- rections. Flowers in the palace garden. OLB, p. 1. Princess Hilda grows weary of every- thing in the Palace, and in her loneliness she orders all the Tulips in the garden de- stroyed. This insult to the Tulips makes the Fairy Queen very angry and she punishes the Princess by casting a spell over her heart, so she can never be happy again, and the story tells how Gretel the peasant maid, helps the sad young Prin- cess, and how at midnight in the Palace garden surrounded by the Owl and all the beautiful Tulips, she finds her happiness once more. — [Program.] Two acts. For one boy, six girls, and extras as flowers. Costumes designs in color. Directions. Fly and the ant. PR, p. 39. Foolish boastful little fly is called a thief by honest little ant. Very short. For two little children. Foam maiden. MAI, p. 107. A Celtic folk play of a fisher lad who is charmed and duped by a mermaid, and who learns "for all time that a lad must trust to his own wit, and his own right arm, and that is a fortune entirely." One act. For one boy and two girls. Costumes described. Directions given. Plays twenty minutes. Foolish flies. DO. p. 31. One after another the flies lose their lives to their enemies. For seven parts. Foolish Jack. BE, p. 193. A very short dialogue between Foolish Jack and his mother, in which Jack's amus- ing and amazing stupidity is shown. Cos- tumes suggested. Forest full of friends. SK, p. 124. Little Elsa brings five friends of the forest to introduce her to the king. Nar- rative from R. M. Alden. Forest of Every Day. BW, p. 77. A naughty little princess has a dream in which she finds herself in the Forest of Every Day, in quest of Happiness. Many adventures come her way, strange folk make her acquaintance, and when she awakens, the memory of her experiences helps to make her a wiser and better little girl. — Story of the Play. A morality play. For five boys and seven girls, or the parts may all be assumed by girls if de- sired. Suggestions for costumes and sim- ple stage directions given. Plays about twenty-five minqtes. Forest princess. MAD. "The princess with the moon shall wax and wane. Young in the moon's full glow, but when 'tis spent, A withered creature, haggard, wrinkled, bent." This curse of the vengeful Swamp Oak saddens the christening of the princess, upon whom the Tree Spirits have be- stowed their highest gifts. Eighteen years later Prince Aladore proves that a stead- fast heart is stronger than a witch's art. His kiss upon the lips of a worn old woman breaks the spell and changes the bent old creature into the lovely Forest princess. A poetic version of the story of Little Day- light. A masque in three acts by Con- stance D'Arcy Mackay. For eight older boys, twenty older girls, and many extras. Music suggested. Full directions. Forest spring. MAI, p. 87. Amata, an old woman, finds the spring of eternal life, but learns that better is "a draught from our village well than any fabled fountain." An Italian folk play in one act for one boy and three girls. Set- ting and costumes described. Directions given. Fortunatus and Cassandra. SO, p. 49. Fortunatus turns the wheel of Fortune and gains the purse that is never empty. Three acts. For three boys, three girls, and extras. Colored illustrations suggest cos- tumes. Simple directions. Plays forty-five minutes. Fountain of youth. MAH, p. 31. "In the new Americas Bubbled a fountain crystal clear, whose taste Was nectar of the gods ; and, like the gods, Whoso should taste of it should ne'er grow old." An historical pageant-play in one act for two boys, three girls, and extras. Music suggested. Directions given. 42 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Four queens of England. LUA, p. 251. A short exercise including prologues and epilogues in prose and verse, and short autobiographic speeches made by the Queens Elizabeth, Mary, Anne, and Victoria. Fourth of July. JO, p. 165. A little boy shouts to the old bell ringer that the Declaration of Independence is signed, and the old man rings the Liberty Bell to tell the people the glad news. For four little boys. Fox and the crow. JO, p. 89. Sly fox persuades Mrs. Crow to sing him a song, and so he gets the piece of cheese which she has in her beak. For two little children. Fox and the crow. PR, p. 5. The same story arranged for two little children. Fox and the crow. SKB, p. 40. A very short version for two little chil- dren. Fox and the crow. See also Crow and the fox. Fox and the lion. PR, p. 8. Mr. Lion is so surprised by the boldness of the fox that he turns away instead of springing at him. Three tiny acts for two little children. Fox and the stork. PR, p. 25. A fox who invites Mrs. Stork to eat soup from a flat plate finds that when he is her guest the soup is served in jars — and so they are even. Two little acts for two little children. Fox's plan. SKB, p. 114. How a fox gets the better of a tiger and a hunter. For three little children. Friend in need. SA, p. 207. How Samuel Johnson helped Oliver Goldsmith to pay his debts by finding a publisher for the Vicar of Wakefield. A one-act play for three boys and two girls. Costumes suggested through illustrations. Directions given. Friendly waiter. BRO, p. 119. William, a waiter at an inn at Yarmouth, eats the greater part of David's dinner. One scene from David Copperfield, for two boys. Costume illustration. Full directions. Plays twelve minutes. Friendship declined. SKB, p. 77. A little poem arranged for two parts. Frog fairy. HA, p. 1. How a common soldier saves his head and wins a princess by solving the strange riddle of how the princesses dance their shoes to pieces every night. A play in three acts for four boys and four girls. Direc- tions. Frozen palace. BUB, p. 99. Prince Sunlight saves the Princess Au- rora and the royal household who have been turned into ice by the wicked Fairy Frost. One act. For six boys, three girls, and extras. Several dances. Directions for costumes and setting. Gainsborough lady. MED, p. 81. A Gainsborough lady in a picture comes to life and recalls to her husband, a Gains- borough gentleman, their life of a century ago. Directions. Galeotti's escape from death. LAS, p. 86. Galeotti's visit to King Louis XI in a dungeon in Peronne dramatized from Scott's Quentin Durward. Two scenes for four boys. Simple directions. Gareth and Lynette. SI, fourth year, p. 37. Four scenes from Tennyson's Idylls of the King arranged for High School use. For six boys, three girls and extras. Gentleman next door. BRO, p. 35. Mrs. Nickleby receives her famous pro- posal of marriage from the Old Gentleman in the Small-Clothes who lives next door. One scene from Nicholas Nickleby for one boy and two girls. Costume illustration. Directions given. Plays twenty minutes. A slightly different version is given in Scenes from Dickens by G. Pertwee, under the title of Mrs. Nickleby and the Gentle- man Next Door. Gentlemen of Virginia. TU, p. 28. A story of the first English settlement in America. — Contents. For four boys. Short. INDEX TO PLAYS 43 Geographical squabble. LUA, p. 227. Gift of the fairies. SYR, p. 97. "The case to be tried is one of libel brought by the country of Brazil against the country of Argentina. The latter has stated that it is the more important coun- try." Characters are Judge, the United States ; Jurors, twelve South and Central American countries ; Plaintiff, Brazil ; De- fendant, Argentina ; Witness, West Indies ; Court Crier, Wind. Short. George Rogers Clark. BI, p. 54. Clark secures the aid of Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia, and captures the British strongholds in the Ohio region. Five scenes for tvirenty-three boys and ex- tras, though parts may be doubled. George Washington. WX. Nine acts in chronological order from the life of Washington. For fourteen or more boys, three or more girls, and extras. More practical for school-room use than for actual dramatization. George Washington and the cherry tree. JO, p. 82. The well-known tale of the boy who could not tell a lie arranged for three little boys. George Washington's fortune. MAG, p. 46. Red Rowan, a woodsman's daughter, tells the young surveyor that he is to fight in a great cause — that it will be "a long hill and a hard, and at the summit, tri- umph." A one-act play for five boys and one girl. Full directions. Plays twenty minutes. Giant picture-book. S, p. 72. A new style of tableaux vivants. — Title. Contains three series : Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Beauty and the Beast. Detailed description and directions for pro- duction, setting and costumes. Gift of Aphrodite. DU, p. 179. In answer to the petition of the sculptor Pygmalion the goddess of love and beauty wakens Galatea, a statue, from her marble sleep. A three-act play in verse for three boys and two girls. Costumes suggested. Contains two Invocations to Aphrodite and music to be played during the awakening of Galatea. Directions given. ^ Otto, a clockmaker's son, woos and wins a princess and in so doing learns that the World of Dreams lies ever round the World of Every Day. Four acts. For two older boys and four older girls. Costumes and setting suggested. Directions given. Gift of time. MAD, p. 51. "Through joy and stress, Sunshine and shadow, on the Christmas tree Of all the world one gift hangs equally For rich and poor." A Christmas masque for Time, The Past, The Present, The Future, The Hours, Father Christmas, a Mortal, The Months, the Old and the New Year. Costumes de- scribed. Music suggested. For older boys and girls. Gifts we bring. ,LX. A Christmas pageant for boys and girls or for grown-ups written for community Christmas celebrations for the purpose of helping to spread the Christmas spirit. Pro- logue and two Episodes for from fifty to two hundred or four hundred persons. Cos- tume illustrations. Music lists. Directions for dances. Time: One hour and fifteen minutes. Giles Corey of the Salem Farms. KN, p. 181. A story of the days of witchcraft, when Giles Corey and Martha, his wife, are sum- moned to the meeting house to be tried be- fore their friends and neighbors. Two scenes from Longfellow's play for four boys and two girls. Gingerbread man. HOA, p. 170. Shouting "You can't catch me, I'm a gingerbread man," the little fellow runs away from everyone until he meets a fox who makes a meal of him. For seven or more parts. Girl who trod on the loaf. ST, bk. 3, p. 36. Selfish Inge is changed by a wicked elf into a sparrow, and becomes a little girl again only when she has learned her les- son of obedience and kindness. For thir- teen children. Glad New Year. DO, p. 151. Poem by Mary Mapes Dodge. 44 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Gnat and the bee. PR, p. 44. A bee thinks that the bee children had better stick to their own trade of honey making rather than to learn sawing and singing from a gnat. Very short. For two little children. Goats in the turnip field. BRY, p. 29. A silly little bee gets the goats out when everyone else fails. For five little children. Goblin and the huckster's jam. ST, bk. 4, p. 6. A little goblin cannot decide to leave the huckster and his jam for the student and his book. Two scenes for seven children. Goblin stone. WIC, p. 125. "Goblin dance and witch's spell, Hallowe'en! Hallowe'en! Ghost and spook and hooting owl, Nothing else is seen !" Jack-o-Lantern tells Billy and Eleanor how to break the spell of the goblin circle on the moor and reach home again. Three scenes. For four boys, two girls, and ex- tras as goblins, sprites and will-o'-the wisps. Suggestions for staging and costumes. Gold-bug. KN, p. 105. Edgar Allan Foe's mystery tale of buried treasure arranged in five scenes for three boys. Gold in California. HX, p. 131. How the first gold was discovered in California and how the gold rush of '49 began. Short one-act play for four boys. For third or fourth grade. Golden age. See Roman road. Golden apple. GR. The adventures of Rury, the King of Ireland's son, who goes in search of the golden apple in the Garden at the World's end to cure his father of a dreadful dis- ease. The play is too difficult to be acted by children under sixteen, but it is easily within the appreciation of children twelve years old. Can be read aloud with much pleasure both to young and old. Three acts. For eight boys and four girls, besides serv- ants and guards. Illustrations suggest cos- tumes. Stage requirements simple. Golden birds. SH. The King and Queen of the West, with Prince Dorigen, and the King and Queen of the East, with the Princess Allocen, visit Quirmagill, the fairy of the woods, and beg her to give to each Kingdom one of the little birds which are possessed of the marvelous faculty of bringing happi- ness to sad hearts. In the Eastern King- dom the bird is given its freedom, while in the West the little creature dies in its bejeweled cage, making plain the truth that happiness is a treasure which can be kept only so long as it is given away. A fairy play in three acts, for four boys and four girls and many extras. Directions given. Golden bucket. ST, bk. 1, p. 22. A boy's kind heart wins for him a fairy bucket. For two little boys and one little girl. Very short. Golden goose. BE, p. 199. "The golden goose ! the golden goose ! Is a precious bird indeed ! A fowl that can be of the greatest use To a woodcutter in his need. 3f£ 3|£ !)C IfC 3|C Sing o, ho, ho, the Goose of Gold ! Who brings to the mannerly wealth un- told !" A version of the old story in four scenes. Characters are a woodcutter, his wife, their sons, Tom and Jack, and the Little Grey Man. Costumes suggested. Golden goose. N, p. 81. In this version the boy with the goose is discovered to be the long lost Prince Hila- rion. Three scenes for four boys, nine girls and extras. Simple directions. Golden goose. See also Swan, hold fast. Golden star. PAB, p. 43. The spirit of the Golden Star on the service flag of the Homeland comes from Heroes' Land to bid our citizens be steady, staunch and true. A pageant-play for many characters. Songs and dances. Simple di- rections. Golden touch. Do. p. 139. King Midas wishes that everything that he may touch will turn to gold. But when his wish is granted he is most miserable, for he has lost all he really cared for. A very simple arrangement from Hawthorne's story for one boy and two girls. INDEX TO PLAYS 45 Golden touch. MA, p. 40. A two-act play arranged from Haw- thorne's story for two boys and one girl. Golden touch. See also King Midas; Midas and Bacchus. Goldilocks, or The three bears. HOA, p. 16. How little Goldilocks and her dollie visit a funny little house in which live three bears. Two short scenes for five little children. Goldilocks and the three bears. SMI, p. 155. A pantomime for three boys and one girl arranged in nine scenes from the old story. Goldilocks. See also Three bears. Good fairy. HOA, p. 178. Thanks to her pure heart and the aid of the fair Sabrina, the Lady Alice comes safely through Comus, the enchanter's wood. Arranged in three scenes for four boys and three girls. Good fairy. See also Comus. Good housewife and her labors. CX. Irish folk lore has contributed a merry tale about a thrifty housewife who never wasted a minute. She was foolish enough to wish aloud that she had someone to help her in her work and that gave the wee folks their chance. They swarmed in, took possession of the house, did so much work and made so much noise that she was nearly distracted and managed to get rid of them by a clever trick just in the nick of time to arouse her husband from the enchanted sleep into which he was falling. — Contents. One act. For three characters besides a group of fairies. Illus- trations of costumes and setting. Property list and stage directions. Plays twenty-five minutes. Good King Arthur. RI, p. 71. "In me you see that piteous thing, A weary and a hungry king." A little operetta in three short scenes to be sung to familiar tunes. For two boys, one girl, and extras. Good queen. MAB, second series. "When this old England, old England was young, In Maytime !" History with her wand calls up visions of Queen Victoria and the Empire for a boy and girl who have fallen asleep over their books. A masque for the 24th of May for twenty-seven characters and many extras. Costume illustrations. Full directions. Good Thanksgiving. SK, p. 32 ; WI, p. 32. Poem by Marian Douglas. Goody Grumble's cottage. OLA, p. 1. Goody Grumble dwelt, friendless, sad, and old, in her Cottage of Discontent, with her evil little maid Wry Face. But one morning into the gloomy room stole the golden Sunshine and with her came The Red Cross Maid and behold ! their joyful- ness and strength turn the miserable home into the House of Cheer. — Program. "A play of the Red Cross" in one act for four girls. Costume designs and simple direc- tions. Goose girl. N, p. 125. The princess Dulcibella is sent packing by the king, and is cared for by her fairy godmother, who sets her to mind the geese. Here she is found by the prince. Five scenes for two boys, six girls, and twelve extras to take the part of geese. Direc- tions. Gooseherd and the goblin. MAE, p. 35. "To be myself and none other; to make the most of what I have and never sigh for what I have not — that is fairy wisdom." Conrad the Gooseherd, learns content- ment with the help of the goblin Peterkin. One act. For four boys and four girls. Directions given for costumes and for pro- duction either indoors or out-of-doors. Plays twenty minutes. Gorgon's head. MA, p. 9. How Perseus, aided by Quicksilver, cut off the head of the Gorgon Medusa, and bore it to King Polydectes's court. Ar- ranged in three acts from Hawthorne's story for four boys, seven girls, and extras. 46 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Gorgon's head. See also Perseus and Medusa. Graduation of Anychild. PAC, p. 85. A little play for graduation day in which Alma Mater and her helpers give Anychild a chance to choose between Indolence and Industry. For nineteen girls and the whole school. Simple directions. Grammar play. LUA, p. 233. Calls for eleven single characters repre- senting marks of punctuation and parts of speech, and six groups of children as other parts of speech. A very short exercise for a class beginning the study of English grammar. Grandmother Cupid. OL, p. 27. Betty and Richard, forgetting the day of their happy betrothal, vow that they will see each other no more ! But on St. Valen- tine's Day Mistress Fairfax with the help of Cupid as her messenger, brings happi- ness again to those wilful children. — Pro- gram. A "play of romance" in two short acts for one boy and two girls. Costume designs and simple directions. Grasshoppers and the ants. CR, p. 97. Our great folly we repent us — Now our punishment is sent us ! Ah, too late ! Too late, ah ! What shall we do?" An Aesop's fable play about the wise ants and foolish grasshoppers. In two acts for nine characters, boys or girls, and ex- tras. Directions. Plays thirty minutes. Gray doves' answer. WI, p. 39. Poem by Fred E. Weatherly. For pri- mary grades. Great Charter. GOA, bk. 2, p. 19. How the people of England, under the leadership of Stephen Langton, forced King John to sign the Great Charter. Four scenes. For twenty or more boys and class. Great Elizabethan age. GOA, bk. 3, p. 50. A picture of a brilliant reception by Queen Elizabeth at Kenilworth Castle in 1574 is followed by two scenes showing her later years when loneliness and ill-tem- per embitter her and gloom overshadows her court. Three scenes. For ten boys, four girls and many extras. For class- room use. Great general's lesson to the little corporal. HX, p. 89. An army camp scene during the Revolu- tion, which shows Washington's kindness of heart and regard for his soldiers. Short play in one act for two boys and a group of soldiers. For third and fourth grade children. Great Protestant Association. BRO, p. 70. The aflfairs of the organization are dis- cussed by Lord George Gordan, the Presi- dent; Gashford, his secretary; Dennis, the hangman ; and Hugh, an hostler at the Maypole Inn. One scene. From Barnaby Rudge. For four boys. Costume illustra- tions. Full directions. Plays thirty minutes. Greatest gift. CR, p. 107. The story of the coming of spring in allegorical form for younger children. Cast composed of Mother of life, the Four Winds, the three Seedlings, the Winter Mists and Qouds, the Little Rivers and the Little Wild Creatures. Full directions. Greatest gift. LO, p. 7. How a happy Christmas came to the four little Hawleys and their mother in their bare tenement home. Two scenes, For six boys, six girls and extras for Christ- mas tableaux. References to carols to be sung. Directions. Gypsy girl of Hungary. DU, p. 57. Starlina, a gypsy girl, turns her back on a proud home, jewels and rich attire, to re- turn to the charm of the old gypsy life. A four-act play written in verse. For two older boys and three older girls. Setting and costumes suggested. Several authentic gypsy songs. Half-chick. BRY, p. 74. Half-chick, who found it too dull at home, is carried by the wind to a tall steeple where he must stand forever to tell people which way the wind blows. For six little children. Half-chick. See also Little Half- chick. INDEX TO PLAYS 47 Handful of clay. LUA, p. 95. A pantomime arranged from Henry Van Dyke's story of the common clay which dreamed of the great place it was to fill in the world when the time came for its vir- tues to be discovered. For four speakers, and one actor, a girl. Full directions. Hans and Gretchen. SKB, p. 41. Little Gretchen is never satisfied when the red fox grants her wishes, but always wants something better. Finally she asks for the moon for a plaything, and so loses all she has. Nine short scenes for three little children. Hans, the shepherd boy. LA, p. 7. Hans will not leave his master's sheep to guide a hunter to the nearest town. But the hunter turns out to be a prince, who promises to reward him for his faithfulness. In narrative form with helps for dramati- zation. Hans, the shepherd boy. SK, p. 58. Another version of the same story in narrative form. Hansel and Gretel. HOA, p. 107. The old witch of the mountain captures Hansel and Gretel, who in turn overcome her and free the gingerbread children who are under her spell. Three short scenes for three little boys, three little girls, and ex- tras. Hansel and Gretel. MAL. With some new features, adapted from Humperdinck's opera by J. M. McLaren and E. M. Harvey. In three acts. For three boys, three girls, and any number of gingerbread children, angels and playmates. Full directions. Photographs of real chil- dren in their parts. Music for songs given. Dances suggested. May also be presented out-of-doors. Hansel and Gretel. NI, p. 45. A simple arrangement of the familiar story for second grade children. For three girls and two boys. Happy beggar. SX, p. 39. A king who imagines himself sick is told by a wise man that his Majesty will be well if he sleeps one night in the shirt of a happy man. The wise man finds a beggar who says he is perfectly happy. The beggar is brought before the king. When his Ma- jesty offers money for the privilege of wearing for one night the beggar's shirt, the beggar laughingly declares he has no shirt to his back. The king turns to the wise man and says, "Thou hast taught the king a lesson he is not likely to forget." — Plot of the play. Adapted from John Hay's poem, The En- chanted Shirt. For seven boys, two girls, and attendants. Simple suggestions. Hardships at Valley Forge. PAB, p. 121. A short scene picturing the loyalty of the soldiers who stuck by General Washing- ton during the dreadful winter of 1777. For four boys. Simple directions. Hare and the hedgehog. DO, p. 33. Mr. Hedgehog, "short on legs, but long on wits," gets the better of Mr. Hare. For three parts. Hare and the hedgehog. ST, bk. 2, p. 69. Another arrangement of the same story for three little children. Hare and the hedgehog. WI, p. 41. For three parts. Hare and the hedgehog. See also Race of the hare and the hedge- hog. Hare and the tortoise. ST, bk. 1, p. 5. The hare takes a nap and the tortoise wins the race. For two little children and class. Very short. Hare and the tortoise. See also Tor- toise and the hare. Hare with many friends. DO, p. 25. A little hare learns to depend on himself instead of on his friends. For eight parts. Harmosan. LA, p. 198. Poem by Richard Chenevix Trench, with suggestions for dramatization by three boys. Harold. GO A, bk. 1, p. 56. The Saxons hear of the death of Edward the Confessor, and discuss the claims of Harold and William, Duke of Normandy, to succeed him. One short scene for eleven parts and many extras. For class-room use. 48 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Hatching a conspiracy. BRO, p. 63. Miggs discovers the secret of Simon Tap- pertit, Gabriel Varden's appearance. One scene from Barnaby Rudge. For one boy and one girl. Costume illustration. Full directions. Plays fifteen minutes. Hats off, A motion picture dramati- zation of. F, p. 165. An arrangement for class use of Henry Holcomb Bennett's poem as it "would look if it were shown in pictures instead of written out." Hawthorne pageant. MAG, p. 175. Scenes of witchcraft days in Salem and of royalist revels at Merrymount — pictures of "Strange folk who trod the bleak New England Shores, Tithingmen, Sachems, Witches, Saga- mores, Puritans, Soldiers, Scholars, Quaker maids. Royalists splendid in their rich bro- cades." Prologue, two episodes which are listed separately, and an Interlude. For fifty or more characters. Full directions. Hawthorne pageant. See also In witchcraft days; Merrymount. Headless horseman. GRI. Ichabod Crane, schoolmaster of Sleepy Hollow, runs away when he fails to win the charming Katrina van Tassel, and is pursued by Brom Bones who plays the part of the Headless Horseman. Arranged in two scenes from Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow. For three boys, one girl, and ex- tras. Costumes suggested. Simple direc- tions. Plays twenty minutes. Healing spring. WO, Jan. 1915. An Ojibway maiden, "Mah-Kah-Wee, set out to find the Healing Spring, whose magic waters were to bring peace and friendship to the warring tribes, and health to her betrothed, the chieftain." From an Indian legend. Music suggested. Originally pre- sented by Nipsic Camp Fire Girls of Glas- tonbury, Connecticut. For two boys, eight girls, and extras. Indian costumes. Good for a peace celebration. Health, wealth and happiness. BUB, p. 75. Health and Wealth alone make a dull Christmas for Ronald and Peggy. A year later. Happiness comes to stay with them, and this Christmas is the best of all. Three scenes. For six boys and eight girls. Full directions. Heart of Pierrot. DR, Feb., 1920, p. 200. Pierrot, who goes to the school where little clowns learn to be funny, is praised by the very, very old Clown of the clowns, who promises him a bag full of laughter, which is, after all, just the heart of Pierrot. A one-act play by Margretta Scott. Ten characters. Simple directions. Hedgehog. LAN, p. 27 ; WI, p. 46. Poem by Kate Greenaway. Henry VIII. GOA, bk. 3, p. 24. Three short scenes depicting the meet- ing at the Field of the Cloth of Gold, Car- dinal Wolsey's retreat to Leicester Abbey, and a Midland village where the doings of the monarch form food for eager gossip and comment. For twenty-one boys and extras. Three scenes for class-room use. Henry Esmond. SI, fourth year, p. 58. Two scenes arranged for High School use from Thackeray : Esmond's return from the wars ; and The making of Addi- son's poem, The campaign. For five boys and four girls. Henry Hudson. BI, p. 117. The great navigator visits an Indian en- campment on what is now Hudson river, to take possession of the land, and in the second scene is deserted in what is now Hudson Bay by all except his son and the ship's carpenter. Two scenes for ten boys, one girl and extras. Henry Hudson. ST, bk. 4, p. 116. A dramatization of the same events with an additional first scene in the offices of the Dutch East India Company when the di- rectors decide to have Hudson sail for them to find a passage to India. Three scenes for thirteen boys, five girls, and many ex- tras. INDEX TO PLAYS 49 Her Christmas hat. H, p. 201. A "little satire on Christmas giving." A farce in one act for adults or older chil- dren. For four older boys and five older girls. Costume illustrations. Directions given. Plays about forty-five minutes. Hercules and his mother. SCB, p. 97. Hovf Hercules leaves his mother to find the work that is waiting for him in the world. Two short scenes for one boy and one girl. Hercules the lion killer. SCB, p. 77. How Hercules with his mighty arms crushed the lion which was ruining the country. Four short scenes for nine boys and two girls. Hermits. CH, p. 76. "A sylvan comedy" in verse. Three acts. By means of disguise and strategy a merry hermit persuades a proud father to "give consent and blessing" to his daughter and her lover. For fifteen older boys, three older girls, and many extras. Includes a dance. Directions given. Hiawatha: A pantomimed reading. SC, p. 3. Selection from Longfellow's poem accom- pany the scenes of Hiawatha's childhood; Hiawatha, the boy; Hiawatha's wooing; and Hiawatha's wedding feast. Suitable for any number of boys and girls. Music for songs and dances givefi. Full direc- tions. Hiawatha. SC, p. 16. A drama in five acts following closely the lines of the poem. For nineteen boys and ten girls, though some of the parts may be doubled. Music for three songs is given, the dance music is suggested. Full direc- tions. Hiawatha battles with his father. SC, p. 47. "Is there nothing that can harm you? Nothing that you are afraid of?" Short dramatic scene for two boys. Di- rections given. Hiawatha's boyhood. NO, p. 61. The little Hiawatha sits at the door of the wigwam of Nokomis and visits his friends in the woods. A simple arrange- ment in four short acts for eleven speaking parts and extras. Two songs. Hiawatha's childhood. LUB, v. 1, p. 83. "Ewa-yea ! my little owlet ! Who is this, that lights the wigwam? With his great eyes lights the wigwam? Ewa-yea ! my little owlet !" The lines about the little Hiawatha are given with the suggestion that one child pantomime the story as it is read aloud. For school use. Hiawatha. See also Arrow-maker*s daughter; Famine; Passing of Hiawatha ; Song of Hiawatha. Hide-and-seek. HAB, p. 38. Chance and a game mislead the Round- head soldiers who are searching for Sir Richard Grey, Royalist. Scene is a room in a country house in England, near Mars- ton Moor in 1644. For five boys and three girls. Costumes described. Directions given. Hiding the regicides. WAC, p. 1, The New Haven colonists protect the two judges who signed the death warrant of Charles I and later fled to New England. Seven scenes. For thirteen boys and five girls. Costumes described. Directions given. Plays about one hour and ten min- utes. Highway of the King. PAB, p. 63. A pageant-play of the Common Man and his forward journey along the great High Road to find the King. Civilization helps him on his way until in the future Peace, Joy and Love come to dwell in fellowship with Man. Four episodes. For many characters. Simple directions. Hilltop and Hillfoot. SMI, p. 123. Fritz and Frida, who live at Hillfoot, help the Hilltop children to find happiness on Christmas morning. Two scenes. For four boys and three girls. Songs suggested. Simple directions. His mother's face. MED, p. 73. Characters are Jean Antoine Watteau in his last hour, a Sister, and a boy. Group- ings from Watteau's canvases are supposed to be conjured up in the fancy of the dying artist. Directions given. Very short. 50 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Hole in the dike. ST, bk. 2, p. 58. Horatio Sparkins. BRO, p. 13. Brave Peter keeps out the sea by put- ting his arm in the hole in the dike. Two short scenes for three boys, three girls, and extras. Holly-Tree Inn. PER, p. 239. Young Master Harry Walmers, aged eight, and little Miss Norah Gay, his sweet- heart, a year younger, stop at the Holly- Tree Inn on their way to Gretna Green to be married. One scene. From Dickens's Boots at the Holly-Tree Inn. For three boys and two girls. Three costume plates. Stage directions. Holy night. WIS, p. 19. . . . "The Christ-Spirit . . . . . . through the lapse of ages, moves with steady tread, Lighting in the hearts of men the fire of the Soul." To a cripple who gives his crust to the pair who seek shelter in the shed on the night of the coming of the new King is given the power to see a series of visions showing how "by Him shall men struggle out of darkness toward the Light." Scene and five tableaux. Two spoken parts for adults or older children. Directions. Honest critic. ST, bk. 4, p. 15. Boldness and honesty win for a poet his emperor's praise that one such honest critic is worth a hundred flattering courtiers. For eight or more boys. Honest woodcutter. GO, p. 9. The story of the woodcutter who loses his ax in the stream. As a reward for his honesty he wins a silver ax and one of gold in addition to his own. Short and simple version in two scenes for one boy, one girl and extras as trees and fairies. Costumes, music and dances suggested. Photographs illustrate costumes. Honest woodman. DO, p. 1. The same tale in very simple form for two boys and one girl. Honest woodman. ST, bk. 1, p. 39. Another simple arrangement for two little boys and one little girl. Honest woodman. See also Wood- cutter and the fairy. The young man with the black whiskers and the white cravat seems to be somebody of great importance, but turns out to be an assistant in a linen-draper's shop. Three scenes from Sketches by Boz, for six boys and three girls. Costume illustration. Full directions. Plays eighteen minutes. Hour-glass. Y. A wise man learns that the wisdom of a fool is greater than his own. A play by Yeats. One act. For two older boys, two older girls, and extras. Directions given. House in the wood. DO, p. 152 Kindness to dumb animals makes a wood- cutter's daughter a princess and frees a prince from a wicked spell. A simple ar- rangement for nine children. House in the woods. GO, p. 31. The same story planned for fifteen chil- dren, but more may take part. Music and dances suggested. Costumes described and illustrated. Four short scenes. House of brick. ST, bk. 1, p. 30. The story of the wolf and the three little pigs arranged for four little children. Short. House of Santa Claus. S, p. 23. "A Christmas fairy show," in which the Fairy Queen comes to the rescue of Santa Claus who has forgotten to leave gifts for a Sunday school. For three boys and four girls. Short. Full directions. House of the heart. MAE. "For the heart, Child, is like a citadel Beleaguered oft by foes, within, without. That your own watchfulness must put to rout." A morality play for twelve boys and girls by Constance D'Arcy Mackay. Directions for costume and setting. Plays one hour. House of the seven gables. See Keeping shop. How a girl hid a governor. LA, p. 79. Governor Griswold of Connecticut es- capes from the king's soldiers by hiding under the linen stretched out on the ground to bleach. In story form, with helps for dramatization. INDEX TO PLAYS 51 How a prince was saved. ST, bk. 1, p. 7. A prince hides in a cave without brush- ing away a spider web at its entrance. Sol- diers pursuing decide that therefore he can- not be there. For six or more little boys. Very short How all the animals tried to make man. LA, p. 3. When Coyote saw that all the other beasts had fallen asleep, he destroyed their models of man, and made one to suit himself. An Indian story in narrative form with helps for dramatization. How Christmas was saved. SA, p. 67. Santa's heart is broken when he hears children say they do not believe in him. but the members of the Auld Lang Syne Club dispel his grief by citing their own experi- ences. Two acts. For eleven boys and five girls. Costumes illustrated. Directions given. How Claus won the princess. LAN, p. 38. Clever Claus proves that the princess knows the difference between truth and falsehood. From the Danish. For three boys and one girl. How England found her king. LA, p. 99. Stories of how King Arthur pulled the sword out of the stone and proved himself the rightwise born king of England. Helps for dramatization. How Mrs. White Hen helped Rose. BRY, p. 20. An ugly worm eating Rose's leaves is snapped up by Mrs. White Hen. For eight little children. How Olaf got a new coat. BRY, p. 43. The lamb, thorn bush, spider, crab and bird, each help to make as fine a coat as anyone could wish. For six little children. How the Indian got fire. LA, p. 45. How coyote, lion, deer, fox and all the other animals brought fire from the north. In narrative form with helps for dramatiza- tion. How the Indians planted powder. TU, p. 101. A story of colonial days in Massachu- setts. — Contents. For four boys and one girl. Short. How the little Smiths got their Fourth-of-July money. KN, p. 17. Mr. Smith offers a prize to that one of his children who will in the three weeks be- fore Independence Day learn the most about the beginnings of the history of the United States. Adapted from What the Seven Did, by Margaret Sidney. Three scenes for three boys and two girls. How they saved the fort. ST, bk. 4, p. 155. The bravery of pioneer women and girls at Bryant's Station, Kentucky, delays an Indian attack until soldiers arrive from Lexington. Two scenes for eleven boys, ten girls, and extras. How to get a breakfast. SKB, p. 58. Poem arranged for four parts. Humane citizens. PAA, p. 209, A short play, showing a young citizen's duty to dumb animals. — Contents. For two boys, four girls and extras. Costumes sug- gested. Simple directions. Hundred. C, p. 313. Mrs. Darling, a charming young widow with a quick temper, has dressed a hundred dolls for an orphan asylum. On Christmas Eve, Sally, the kitchen-maid, brings a little East-side friend to see the dolls, one of which is accidentally broken, to the con- sternation of the household. But Mrs. Darling is not the ogress the servants believe her, and Tibby goes_ home happy, with her arms full of dollies. — Contents. Adapted from the story by Gertrude Hall. One act. For five women or older girls, and one girl. Notes on costume and presen- tation. Plays fifty minutes. Hundred years' war. GOA, bk. 2, p. 49. Incidents of troublous times in which stand out the figures of the Black Prince, Henry V, and the Maid of Orleans. Four scenes. For twenty-nine boys, two girls, and many extras, or parts may be doubled. For class-room use. 52 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN I would like you for a comrade. SKB, p. 132. Poem by Judge Parry, arranged for two parts. Idylls of the king. See Gareth and Lynette; Lancelot and Elaine. Iliad. SI, second year, p. 7. Arranged for High School use from Lang, Leaf and Myers's translation from Homer. Two scenes : The appeal of Chryses and The quarrel. For nine boys, three girls, and extras. "If Don't-Believe is changed into Believe." BW, p. 139. The child, happy in her own little world, which is peopled by the characters of im- agination and tradition, is suddenly beset by the spirit of Don't-Believe who en- deavors to shake her faith in these familiar and much-loved companions. The spirit Believe comes to the rescue, waves her magic scepter, and brings to the very pres- ence of the eager child a long train of those who have entrenched themselves in her affection. — Story of the Play. For twenty- one boys and fifteen girls. Directions for simple costumes and setting. Plays about thirty minutes. In Arcady. SYR, p. 153. Dick and Sylvia creep downstairs on Midsummer's Eve to see the Watteau shep- herds and shepherdesses in the drawing- room cabinet come to life and join in a midnight dance. For one boy, one girl, and extras. Directions. Short. In bad company. PR, p. 61. Little dog Tray is punished by the vil- lagers for big Tiger's faults, and learns that one is judged by the company he keeps. Two tiny acts for four little children. In bad company. ST, bk. 1, p. 14. A canary caught with the robber black- birds is punished with them. For seven or more little children. In bells and motley. BUB, p. 377. Great perplexity reigns in sixteenth cen- tury Arcadia because May day has come and the villagers have been unable to choose a May queen. In verse. One act, for four boys, one girl, and extras. In- cludes a May-pole dance. Directions for costumes and setting. In Betsy Rosses time. F, p. 161. Thirteen little girls representing the col- onies bring thirteen white stars for Betsy Ross to place on the flag. A very short dialogue followed by a drill. For one boy and fourteen girls. In Boston, 1864. WAC, p. 121. A short scene in which several anecdotes of Lincoln are related, while Boston women and girls sew and knit for the soldiers. For two boys and seven girls. Simple direc- tions. In the good green wood. COH. King Richard dressed as a Black Friar visits Sherwood Forest. A Robin Hood play for sixteen boys by M. B. Cooke. Di- rections given. Plays twenty minutes. In the good old days. SMI, v. 1. Peregrine and Priscilla Brewster, chil- dren of today, in a mysterious manner pay a visit to Great-great Uncle Ezra and Great-great Aunt Abigail who lived two hundred years ago, and learn that the good new days are good enough for them. Five scenes, with Prologue and Interlude in verse. For five boys and two girls. Simple directions. In the springtime. BRY, p. 104. A little dialogue in verse between a child and a swallow. In witchcraft days. MAG, p. 180. Goody Gurton is accused of witchcraft, because of the disappearance of little Bar- bara Williams. See Hawthorne pageant of which this is a part. One act. For six boys, eleven girls, and extras. Directions given. Plays thirty minutes. Independence Day. HX, p. 77. A group of people wait outside the old State House, until the Declaration of In- dependence is signed, and shout their loud Hurrahs when the bell rings for Liberty. A very short, one-act play for children in the third or fourth grade. Indian boy's pet. ST, bk. 1, p. 64. A pet eagle saves Loti from the river. For eleven little children. Indian gifts. TU, p. 106. A story of Priscilla Alden's cow. — Con- tents. For two boys and two girls. Short. INDEX TO PLAYS 53 Indian mutiny. GOA, bk. 5, p. 48. Jack and the beanstalk. WI, p. 99. A simple arrangement for six parts in primary grades. The siege of Lucknow and the terror of the mutiny result in the abolishment of the East India Company, and the transference of the affairs of India to the crown. Three scenes. For twenty-five boys, four girls and extras. For class-room use. Irish play. CO, p. 215. The story of Connery, King of Ireland, arranged from the saga, "The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel." Four scenes. For thirteen boys, including the tiny son of the King of Ireland, and three fairy pipers. Ivanhoe. FIA. Brief dramatization of the novel of the name in eight scenes, using as far as pos- sible the language of the book. Intended for class-room use rather than for actual presentation. For nineteen boys and three girls. Ivanhoe. FRA. The rescue of Ivanhoe from Front-de- Boeuf's castle by Richard, king of England, disguised as the Black Knight. One scene for eleven boys and one girl. Simple di- rections. Ivanhoe. SI', first year, p. 23. Two scenes arranged from Sir Walter Scott : Gurth and the Outlaws ; and The Revels of the Black Knight and the Clerk of Copmanhurst. For nine boys. For High School use. Ivanhoe. ST, bk. 5, p. 166. The Knights Templars capture Isaac of York and his daughter Rebecca, and place them in Front-de-Boeuf's castle, which is then besieged by the Black Knight and his followers. Rebecca is carried off again by Sir Brian and is later accused of being a witch. Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe champions her cause, and Richard the Lion-hearted, in the guise of the Black Knight, breaks the Templar's power. Based on episodes in Sir Walter Scott's novel. Three acts for twenty-four boys, two girls, and many ex- tras. Ivanhoe. See also Archery contest. Jack and the beanstalk. BE, p. 139. An arrangement of the familiar tale in three acts for three boys and two girls. Songs with music. Costumes suggested. Full directions. Jackdaw of Rheims. See Jim Crow. James I. GOA, bk. 4, p. 9. King James I declares his support of the Established Church at the Conference at Hampton Court. A mysterious warning leads to the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot and the seizure of Guy Fawkes. Four scenes. For twenty-seven boys and two girls. For class-room use. James Wolfe. BI, p. 221. How the British, under Wolfe, capture Quebec from the French commanded by Montcalm. Three scenes for eleven boys. Jason. COA, p. 134. How the Argonauts sailed to Colchis to seek the Golden Fleece, and how Medea, the king's daughter, helped Jason to conquer the dragon that guarded it. Six scenes for thirteen boys and one girl. Jean Valjean. ST, bk. 5, p. 109. Victor Hugo's story of a man sentenced to the galleys for stealing a loaf of bread; how after his release he gains an honored place among men, and how he courage- ously confesses his identity when another is unjustly accused under the name of Jean Valjean. Two acts for many characters. Jean Valjean and the bishop. KN, p. 147. The incidents of Jean Valjean's visit to the Bishop, the theft of the plate, and the encounter with Little Gervais, adapted from Les Miserables. Three scenes for five boys and one girl. Jenny Wren and Cock Robin. WI, p. 59. The nursery rhyme arranged in four parts for use in primary grades. Jim Crow. STD. "A story gallons old In which a jackdaw overbold Thought well to thieve a prelate's ring." A musical play in one act founded on the legend of The Jackdaw of Rheims. Music for choruses and dances given. For ten boys and many extras. Detailed descrip- 54 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN tion of stage plan, furniture and costumes. Plays fifty-five minutes. Jingle's wooing of the spinster aunt. PER, p. 43. Mr. Tupman makes love to Miss War die, and is discovered by Joseph, the Fat Boy, w^ho betrays him to Mrs. Wardle ; Mr. Jingle convinces Miss Wardle that Tupman only wants her money; Jingle and Miss Wardle run away to London and are fol- lowed by Mr. Perker, his solicitor, and by Mr. Pickwick; Jingle leaves for a consider- ation of one hundred pounds. Two scenes from Pickwick Papers giving part of the story which is dramatized in Comstock's Dickens Dramatic Reader as Mr. Pickwick at Dingley Dell. For six boys and two girls. Three costume plates. Stage directions. Joan of Arc. LAS, p. 124. "This beauteous tree with leaves so green. Wondrous tree of Fairy-Land. The children come to you each day, You shield them in their happy play. And guard them on their homeward way. Their love, and joy and pride." Three short scenes from the story of the life of the Maid of Orleans: A dance around the Fairy tree; Joan hears the Voices ; and Joan is present at the corona- tion of the king. For two boys, one girl, and extras. Simple directions. Joan of Arc. See also Maid of Or- leans. John Halifax, gentleman. KN, p. 103. Story of the beginning of the friendship between Phineas Fletcher and John Hali- fax. Adapted from Dinah Mulock Craik's story with this title. Two scenes for three boys. John Halifax, gentleman. See also Boy's friendship. John Joseph Pershing. HI. Five acts in chronological order from the life of General Pershing. For nineteen or more boys, three girls and extras. Bet- ter for school' use than for actual dramati- zation. John Smith. BI, p. 129. The paleface who has landed in Virginia is seized by the Indians, and saved from their anger by the Indian maid Pocahontas. Four scenes for eight boys, three girls and others as Indians. John Smith. See also Narrow es- cape; Pocahontas and Captain Smith; Princess Pocahontas. Johnny Cake. BRY, p. 46. How Johnny Cake outruns an old man, an old woman, a little boy, two ditch dig- gers, two well diggers, a bear and a wolf, but is caught by a fox. For ten little chil- dren. Joliet and Marquette. BI, p. 33. Explorer and priest follow the great river of the west until they have no doubt that it flows into the Gulf of Mexico. Seven scenes for sixteen boys, one girl, and extras. June magic. LO, p. 55. Mignonette, queen of the fairies, with her elves and sprites and blossom spirits, visits Lucy and Beatrice in a garden. One scene. For two boys, five girls and extras. Dances for the fairies. May be given out of doors. Directions. Just judge. LA, p. 115. Bou-Akas, sheik of Algeria, tests the oft- reported wisdom of the judge. Narrative form with helps for dramatization. Katjen's garden. LO, p. 35. The schoolmaster, the mayor's wife and the minister's wife in a little Dutch town judge that Little Katjen's garden is the best cared for and that her flowers are the earliest and the fairest. They, there- fore, give to her the school prize, which is a fine new set of garden tools and a bag of bulbs and declare her for the next year the Garden Queen. Written to be per- formed out of doors, but may be divided into three scenes for indoor production. For four boys, four girls and extras. Dances and songs. Music suggested. Di- rections. Keeping shop. LA, p. 124. "Miss Hepzibah Pyncheon, an old gentle- woman, is forced to earn her living by keeping a 'cent shop' in her ancestral home, the House of the Seven Gables." Narrative from Hawthorne, with helps for dramatiza- tion. Kenilworth castle. KN, p. 215. Queen Elizabeth discovers the secret mar- riage of Amy Robsart and the Earl of Lei- INDEX TO PLAYS 55 cester. Two scenes adapted from Scott's Kenilworth for six boys and two girls. Kenilworth castle. See also Queen Elizabeth and Sir Walter Raleigh, Keys of Calais. ST, bk. 4, p. 87. Six citizens of Calais present the keys of the city to King Edward at his command and are saved from death by the interven- tion of Queen Philippa. Three scenes. For seven boys, seven girls and extras. Keys of Calais. See also Burghers of Calais; Siege of Calais. Kid and the wolf. PR, p. 16. Mr. Wolf is persuaded by a little kid to play several tunes on his horn, and he plays so long that the dogs have time to come and attack him. For several little children. Kidnapped. SI, second year, p. 78. Four short scenes arranged for High School use from Stevenson : David's first morning at the House of Shaws ; The reve- lation; The quarrel; The reconciliation. For four boys. King Alfred. HOA, p. 125. Covers the time from Alfred's boyhood until the Danes are conquered by the Sax- ons. Four scenes for seven boys, two girls, and extras. King Alfred. SK, p. 189. The king spends the winter in hiding in the hut of a cowherd and his wife. In narrative form. King Alfred and the cakes. D, p. 65. The ragged stranger who lets the rye cakes burn proves to be the good King Alfred in hiding from his enemies. One act. For three boys and one girl. Simple directions. Plays about thirty minutes. King Alfred and the cakes. ST, bk. 2, p. 115. The same story arranged for eleven boys and one girl. King Alfred. See also Alfred the Great. King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid. SO, p. 35. A magic rose flung away by a proud and haughty Princess, brings "perfect happi- ness" to the little Beggar Maid, whom Cophetua crowns as his Queen. Two acts. For six boys, two girls, and extras. Col- ored illustrations suggest costumes. Sim- ple directions. Plays thirty minutes. King Ithuriel. CH, p. 32. Hermes saves the aged King Ithuriel from the plotting of his jealous daughter. In verse. Five acts. For five older boys and three older girls. Directions given. King John and the abbot. SCB, p. 188. How the abbot's shepherd secured pardon for his master by answering three puzzling questions. Three short scenes for six or more boys. King John and the abbot. LA, p. 219. "An ancient story we'll show you anon, Of a notable prince that was called King John, And we'll show you a story, a story so merry. Concerning the Abbot of Canterbury." Three scenes for nine boys, two girls and extras. Simple directions. King John and the abbot. See also Faithful shepherd ; Two questions. King Midas. GO, p. 68. The richest king in the world whose very touch turns all to gold, finds that there are treasures richer than the precious metal. For two boys, one girl, and extras as serv- ants. Two short scenes. Costumes sug- gested in notes and by photographs. Direc- tions given. King Midas. LAS, p. 19. A short and simple version arranged for two boys and one girl. Simple directions. King Midas. See also Golden touch; Midas and Bacchus. King of the cats. LA, p. 28. A black cat hears the strange tale of a funeral where coffin and torches are car- ried by cats. Shrieking "Good gracious ! old Peter's dead, and I'm King of the cats," he leaps out of the window and is seen no more. Narrative form, with helps for dramatization. 56 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN King of the Golden River. LUB, v. 1, p. 64. The story of Gluck and the Treasure valley arranged from Ruskin in three scenes for seven boys. King of the Golden River. See also Destruction of Treasure Valley; Southwest wind's visit to Gluck; Story of Gluck; Strange visitor. King Richard and Robin Hood. SKC, p. 209. Richard of England visits Robin in the forest, and learns that to be an outlav^^ need not mean to be a traitor. Four scenes. For ten boys and two girls. Simple direc- tion. Illustrations suggest costumes. King Solomon and the ants. G, p. 161. The vifisest man in all the world hears the small ant folk say that they fear that he will ride over them. And the king and his long line of soldiers turn sharply aside so that the ants are not harmed. In narrative and dramatic form. For two boys, one girl and nine children to take the part of ants. King Uggermugger. BUB, p. 121. Ugly King Uggermugger finds out how to get a steed as beautiful as the stars, a wife as lovely as the moon, and how to make himself as handsome as the sun. Adapted from Prince Ubbely Bubbles' fairy tales. One act. For three boys and three girls. Directions for costumes and setting. King's escape. HAB, p. 48. King Charles II, in the guise of a peas- ant, eludes Cromwell's soldiers. The two acts comprise thirteen scenes. For eighteen boys and two girls, but some of the parts may be doubled. Simple staging. Costumes described. King's good friend. ST, bk. 1, p. 60. The king's hawk saves him from drink- ing water from a poisoned spring. For three little children. King's jester. DU. For love of Diane de Poictiers, a court jester saves her father's life, but loses his own through the treachery of Count Vi- nard. A four-act play of the time of Francis I, written in verse. For six older boys and one older girl. Several songs. Directions for costumes and staging. King's riddle. BL, v. 2, p. 5. How learned man and courtier set about to solve the King's riddle and what came of it. One scene. For ten or more boys. Simple directions. Knights of the silver shield. SK, p. 201. Sir Roland wins the golden star of Knighthood by guarding the gate while other knights do battle with the giants. Narrative from Raymond M. Alden's story with the same title, with helps for drama- tization. Lady-bird. BRY, p. 78. Poem by F. E. Weatherby, arranged for two parts. Lady of the lake. COC. A prose dramatization of Sir Walter Scott's poem. Six acts. For ten boys, two girls, and extras. Directions given. Lady of the lake. LUA, p. 103, LUB, V. 3, p. 100. "He stood in simple Lincoln green. The center of a glittering ring — And Snowdoun's Knight is Scotland's King 1" Eleven scenes in verse arranged for school use. For six boys, three girls and extras. Plays one hour. Lady of the lake. See also Return of the Douglas. Ladybird. JO, p. 76. A little story of a little girl, a ladybird and her two babies. Arranged for three little children. Lady Moon. SKB, p. 50. Poem by Lord Houghton, arranged for two parts. La Fayette. WY, p. 1. The Marquis de La Fayette escapes from France and comes to America to help the American farmers defend their liberties. The historical incidents are taken from La Fayette's accounts in his memoirs and letters and from other sources, and many INDEX TO PLAYS 57 of the speeches throughout the play are quotations. An historical play in three acts which calls for twenty-four boys and seven girls, but which, it is suggested, may be given by seventeen actors. Suggestions for costumes. Lafayette, the friend of America. HX, p. 92. How Lafayette heard of the brave fight of the American colonists and came to Washington to offer the aid of France. Short play in three acts for third and fourth grade children. For thirteen boys, three girls, and extras. Lafayette's toast. ST, bk. 4, p. 136. General Gates, General Conway and others conspiring against General Wash- ington offer the Marquis de Lafayette a high position with them. He answers them by proposing "the health of the greatest soldier in the world today, the commander- in-chief of the American army — General George Washington." For eleven or more boys. Lambikin. DO, p. 76. "To Granny's house I go. Where I shall fatter grow, Then you can eat me so." Wee, wee lambikin outwits all the ani- mals except the jackal who gobbles him up. Arranged for seven parts. Lambikin. LAN, p. 46. The same story in narrative form. Lancelot and Elaine. SI, fourth year, p. 52. Two scenes from Tennyson's Idylls of the King arranged for High School use. For four boys and one girl. Land of Nod. S, p. 41. "An operetta for young folk, portraying the visit of six little sleepy-heads to the King of the Land of Nod, and the wonders they saw at his court." For twenty-five or more children. Music given. Costumes de- scribed. Full directions. Lark and the rook. SK, p. 164. Poem arranged for two parts. Lark's nest. ST, bk. 1, p. 74. A lark who saves her babies in the wheat field from the farmer's great machine saves also his little boy and girl. For seven little children. La Salle. BI, p. 143. How La Salle and Tonty explore the Mississippi and claim for France all the territory along the big river eastward and westward. Seven scenes for nineteen boys, two girls, and extras. Last of the Mohicans. SI, second year, p. 19. Arranged from Cooper for High School use. A Prologue, Interludes and Epilogue cover events of the story not included in the three scenes : The search, The council of the Delaware, and The parting. For thirteen boys, two girls and extras. Last sitting. MED, p. 7. A short play about the picture Mona Lisa. Characters are the artist, Leonardo da Vinci and his sitter, Mona Lisa. Full directions. Latona and the rustics. COA, p. 23. The countrymen who deny Latona a drink from their lake are changed to frogs. For four boys and one girl. Laughing Sanja. SKB, p. 150. A Japanese story of how an old woman escapes from a wicked ogre. For five little children. Lazy Kate. ST, bk. 2, p. 31. Kate's dream that her bed took her to school helps her to get up early in the morning. Three short scenes for four little children and extras. Legend of the dandelion. WI, p. 96. The Angel of the Flowers names the dandelion as the children's own flower. In narrative form for primary grades. Les Miserables. See Jean Valjean; Jean Valjean and the bishop; Little Cosette and "Father Christ- mas." Lewis and Clark. BI, p. 173. Episodes from the story of the "first across the continent" expedition, with its beginning and ending in St. Louis. Six scenes for twenty boys, two girls, and ex- tras. 58 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Light. WIC, p. 27. "America's children" from other lands greet a little immigrant child, who has fol- lowed the light of Peace that shines from the window of his new home, and who "wants to be an American, too." For eight boys and six girls. Costumes described. Di- rections given. Lighting of the torch. DR, July- Aug.-Sept., 1920, p. 350. In the new world, Hope dedicates an altar to Liberty, kindling upon it a flame, which is to become a guiding light to Free- dom. Drawn by the light of Hope, Faith, lead- ing our Pilgrim Fathers in their search for Freedom, comes to the shrine in the wilder- ness. Beset by perils of sea and land, the weary Pilgrims, about to lose Hope, are saved by Faith. They overcome Cold, Hunger, Pestilence, and Drought, by the aid of Faith. They find the dreaded Indian a friend in need, and conquering Fear by Faith, are given a glimpse of brighter days, the Future holds for their new homeland. Then comes the supreme test. The sail- ing of the Mayflower brings a host of ten- der Memories, pleading with the Pilgrims to return to friends and kin. They choose to remain, with Hope and Faith in the wilderness of their New World. There, gathered about the altar of Liberty, they behold a vision of a time, when the flame their Faith has kept, is to become a beacon light, held high, to guide all hearts, great to dare, hearts brave to do, to the New World-home of Liberty. — The Story. A masque by Fannie R. Buchanan. For many characters. Music suggested. Di- rections. Lion and the mouse. JO, p. 17. A little mouse finds a way to help a lion who spared his life. For three little chil- dren. Lion and the story-teller. SKB, p. 169. Mr. Fox shows King Lion how he can tell stories without ceasing. For five or more little children. Lionel of Orkney. FRB. The "kitchen knave" who vowed to keep his noble blood a secret for a twelve- month and a day is knighted by King Ar- thur. Written by pupils of the eighth grade of the Francis W. Parker School, Chicago. One act. For eleven boys and one girl. Simple directions. Lion's friend. WI, p. 26. The other animals wonder why the lion has chosen the elephant for his friend. A fable in six parts for primary grades. Little Bess, the ballad girl. LAN, p. 159. "Come round and buy, come buy, come buy, A ballad of Little Bess; To please your taste I'll do my best; 'Tis all I can profess." The village makes holiday on the green, and the little ballad girl recites three old ballads. Blueberry Courtship, The Way to Woo, and Shopping. Little birds. JO, p. 52. Father Bird and Mother Bird teach their little ones to fly. For five little children. Little Boy Blue. BRY, p. 60. The little boy who looks after the sheep falls fast asleep. For three little children. Little boy out of the wood. GX, p. 1. Bessie, a showroom girl in a hat shop, meets the Little Boy out of the Wood near Epping Forest. One act for two characters. Plays about fifteen minutes. Little Bridget. SYR, p. 45. "They stole little Bridget." A one-act play based on William Ailing- ham's poem. The Fairies. For one boy, four girls, and extras as pixies. Costumes sug- gested. Directions given. Plays one hour. Little Bridget. See also Fairies. Little Christmas tree. SKB, p. 60. Santa Claus visits the woods to choose a little fir tree for Christmas. For four parts. Little citizens making a new Amer- ica. LUB, V. 3, p. 46. "O brave flag, O bright flag, O flag to lead the free ! The glory of thy silver stars. Engrailed in blue above the bars Of red for courage, white for truth. Has brought the world a second youth And drawn a hundred million hearts to follow after thee." INDEX TO PLAYS 59 Adapted from Percy Mackaye's The New Citizenship, and arranged for school presentation by a large number of children. Little cock sparrow. JO, p. 29. How a little sparrow flew away from a boy with a bow and arrow. For two little children. Little Cosette and "Father Christ- mas." KN, p. 93. How the little maid-of-all-work at the inn of Montfermeil is rescued from cruel Mother Thenardier and her husband. Three scenes adapted from Hugo's Les Miserables and arranged for two boys and three girls. Little Crusaders. BZ. And it came to pass that all through Europe the little children began to dream and to talk. And one Etienne, a shepherd lad, of Vendome, gathered together the boys and girls of France, and preached to them, bidding them follow him to Jeru- salem and rescue the Tomb of Christ from the Turks. So the children, coming from near and far, took up the cross which their parents had laid aside, and they followed Etienne to Brindisi on the seacoast. — Pro- logue. Consists of Prologue, Epilogue and two acts, for presentation by five adults, ten childreti and as many extra boys and girls as may be desired. Written by the compiler of the Catholic Juvenile Play Catalogue. Little female academy. BUB, p. 225. Contrasts the prim and proper behavior of old-fashioned school girls with the man- ners of their modern counterparts. One act. For nine girls and one boy. Directions for costumes and setting. Little fish. SKB, p. 35. A little fish tries to persuade a fisherman to let him go until he is larger. A very short dialogue for two little children. Little fish. ST, bk. 1, p. 3. The same story arranged for two little children. Little folk in green. SA, p. 188. Little Boy-green is lured away by the fairy folk, but chooses to return and to be "Just a little boy." A poetic little outdoor play in two scenes for a little boy, his young mother, an old witch and ten or twelve fairy folk. Includes music for songs and dances. Costumes described. Direc- tions given. Little girl who helped. LUB, v. 2, p. 80. A little Spanish girl who encouraged Christopher Columbus to keep on trying to find the big new country is rewarded by his naming his smallest ship, the Nina, for her. Three short scenes. For one boy and three girls. For school use. Little gray pony. WI, p. 16. The story of the little gray pony that lost a shoe, adapted from the narrative of Maud Lindsay. Little Gustava. WI, p. 130. Poem by Celia Thaxter. For primary grades. Little Half-chick. SK, p. 39. How Half-chick started for Madrid to see the king and how he must stay forever at the top of a tall church steeple. In nar- rative form. Little Half-chick. See also Half- chick. Little Homemaker. OLA, p. 57. Once upon a time. Waste stole into the sunny kitchen of the little Homemaker while she was off to market, and alas ! if Thrift and her child Economy had not visited that home with their wisdom and sage advice, that ruthless boy would be there yet ! — Program. "A play of Food Conservation" in one act for one boy and three girls. Costume designs and simple directions. Little jackal and the camel. ST, bk. 2, p. 49. With the jackal on his back, the camel has a strange feeling that he must roll over in the middle of the stream. For two little children. Little Jane Patchwork. OLA, p. 35. Little Jane was busily seaming her patch- work quilt one bright day, with her old Grandmother napping by her side — and 60 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN this is what happened— two queer little Elf men crept into the room and stole the quilt and carried it to their Queen who was dancing on the forest green with her Fairy Maidens. But when the little girl claims her quilt the Fairies are filled with anger, and they seek to bind her with a magic spell. 'Tis useless! for their power is broken by a holy charm, which the child had learned from her dear old Grand- mother. So little Jane and her patchwork quilt are safe once more in the old fash- ioned cottage.— Progrra/u. "A play of child- hood" in three acts for two boys, four girls and extras. Simple directions. Little king. BY. A poetic drama, by Witter Bynner, in which Louis XVII, boy-king of France, nobly refuses to escape from the Temple by changing clothes with Robert, who re- sembles him. "Robert could never stand it as I can. A king can stand— O more than anyone!" For four boys and one older girl. Direc- tions given. Plays forty-five minutes. Little life of Lincoln. HX, p. 139. Four incidents in the life of Lincoln : When Lincoln was a boy; Honest Abe; Lincoln the kind-hearted; the death of Lincoln. Brief play in four acts for third and fourth grade children. For seven boys, five girls, and many extras. Little Lord Fauntleroy. BUE. Dramatization of the well-known story of "how a little American boy became an English Lord." Three acts. For nine boys and three girls. Plays a full evening. Little maid of Concord town. KN, p. 69. Just before the battle of Lexington, Debby Parlin, a young girl, talks with her cousin Simon about what a girl can do for her country. The second scene shows the visit of a British spy to a Concord home that he may learn about the spirit of the colonists. Adapted from Margaret Sid- ney's story with this title. Two scenes for three boys and six girls. "Little men" play. GOB. A play arranged in two acts from Louisa May Alcott's story of the school Jo March kept for boys. Sequel to Little Women. Pictures by Reginald B. Birch. Costumes suggested. For six boys and four girls. Full directions. Plays forty-five minutes. Little mermaid. BUB, p. 274. Into the action of the play are intro- duced extracts from Kingsley's Water Babies, Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, and Arnold's Forsaken Merman. For two boys, ten girls, and extras. Several songs. Di- rections for costumes and setting. Little patriot. WIC, p. 103. A slip of a girl, Susan Boudinot, refuses to drink tea taxed by King George the Third. She empties her cup from the win- dow of the royal governor's house, and so waters "that rarest of flowers, the Flower of Liberty." Two scenes. For five boys and seven girls. Suggestions for costumes and staging. Little people of Autumn. OLB, p. 11. Peter, the farmer boy, grows tired of liv- ing in the country, and longs to go to the city. He is tired of fields and flowers, of trees and fruits and vegetables, and more than anything else, he hates digging pota- toes, so the Spirit of Autumn comes to him while he is sulking in the Potato Field with all her fruit and vegetable children, Potato, everybody's friend, Wheat and Grass, the loving twins. Pumpkin, the Thanksgiving girl, and Apple and Berry, and they teach him how wonderful the country is after all. — Program. One act. For four boys and four girls. Designs for costumes. Simple directions. Little pilgrims. TU, p. 39. A story of what they saw in the sea over the side of the good ship May-flower. — Contents. For five boys, one girl, and extras. Short. Little Pilgrim's progress. MAE, p. 101. "A little Pilgrim's history. How at an inn he came to be; What friends he made, what foes he met; How in the end he was beset." A short play "in the manner of a Mor- ality," suitable for Thanksgiving. For seven boys and five girls. Full directions. Little pink lady. BW, p. 11. A group of sober little Puritans test the tradition that a wish made on Mid- INDEX TO PLAYS 61 summer Eve will be granted, and as a re- sult of their daring the little pink lady on an old fan comes to life and leads their frolic. Not only does she give them a glimpse of another world, but she reveals the hiding place of a letter which is destined to bring fortune to one of their number. — Story of the play. For six girls. Directions for costumes and setting. Plays about twenty-five minutes. Little plant. WI, p. 20. Wind and sun and rain help the little plant to grow. A fable arranged for seven children in primary grades. Little princess. BUF. "A play for children and grown-up chil- dren in three acts," from Mrs. Burnett's story of Sara Crewe. For fifteen girls, six boys, and extras. Full directions. Plays two hours. Little rebels. SX, p. 123. Some little Boston lads find their Com- mon spoiled by British soldiers encamped there. They take the matter to General Gage, who orders that in the future no British soldier shall spoil the Boston boys' fun. — Plot of the play. For six boys. Sim- ple suggestions. Little Red-Riding-Hood. DO, p. 15. The little girl is saved from the wolf by a woodcutter. Simple version for four parts. Little Red Riding-Hood. HOA, p. 7. The well-known story of the little girl, her grandmother and the cruel wolf ar- ranged in three short scenes for six little children. Little Red-Riding-Hood. NI, p. 3. Simple dramatization for second grade children. For two boys and three girls. Little Red Riding Hood. NO, p. 84. A magic hood saves a little girl from the old wolf. Three short acts for five little children and many extras. One song. Little Red Riding Hood. See also Red Riding Hood. Little Sorrow. WI, p. 112. Poem by Marian Douglas. For primary grades. Little Two-eyes. HOA, p. 83. How a little goat helped a little girl to become a princess. Ten short scenes for eight little children. "Little women" play. GOC. A play arranged in two acts from Louisa May Alcott's story of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. For two boys and six girls. Illus- trated by Reginald Birch. Costumes sug- gested. Full directions. Plays forty-five minutes. Loki and the gifts. SCB, p. 127. How Loki, the mischief maker, is pun- ished for cutting off Sif's hair, and how the gray dwarfs and the black dwarfs contend in making wonderful gifts. Arranged from H. W. Mabie's Norse Stories in five short scenes for thirteen boys, two girls and extras. Long Knives in Illinois. WY, p. 151. George Rogers Clark and his small com- pany of frontiersmen seize Kaskaskia and win the French settlers to allegiance to the United States. An historical play in three acts which follows quite closely Clark[s own story of this expedition as told in his Memoirs, his diary and his letters to George Mann. For sixteen boys, eleven girls and many extras. Suggestions for costumes. Music for two French songs. Lord Malapert of Moonshine Castle. SA, p. 164. "Mistress Cicely, from overmuch read- ing of fairy tales, dreams more of what she would like to be and like to have than of what she is and has. A curious adven- ture recalls her to herself and shows her that contentment is better than wealth, and that what we are is often better than what we think we should like to be."_ A play in one act for three boys, five girls, and extras. Two songs. Costumes de- scribed. Directions given. Lord Ullin's daughter. S, p. 15. Gives detailed description of the action and setting of this ballad and suggests four others to be acted. Lorna Doone. WOO, p. 264. R. D. Blackmore's story of John Ridd and the Doones of Bagworthy arranged in four acts for class use. 62 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Lost prince. CH, p. 3. A precious drug, the Herb of Truth, en- ables a banished queen to overcome a magician and a witch, to regain her throne, and to find the little Lost Prince. In verse. Three acts. For four older boys, three older girls and extras. Directions given. Lost saint. GRE, p. 236. A poor-looking grey old man prays that Conall, who is not clever or quick, may learn his lesson like the other boys. The wonderful answer to his prayer reveals that he is the lost saint of Ireland. A one act play by Lady Gregory. For eight or more boys. Lost toys. PEM, p, 17. Maisie Leigh, seeking for her doll, strays into the land reserved for all lost toys. She finds the doll and others of her old toys waiting to go with Father Christmas back to the land below. For six boys, two girls and extras. Two songs. Costumes de- scribed. Simple directions. Lucky Hallowe'en. HX, p. 120. A play of pioneer days in Ohio and how a Jack o' Lantern, made for a Hallowe'en frolic, saved the frontier cabin from at- tack and capture. Short play in one act for three girls, two boys and extras. For third and fourth grades. Mabel and the green lizard. SKB, p. 26. Mabel learns the animal call and so makes friends with a wolf in the woods. Four short scenes for four little children. Maccabean cure. KR, p. 55. A play within a play, chiefly significant to persons familiar with the story of the destruction of Antioch which the Jewish festival of Hanukkah commemorates. One act. For ten boys and three girls. Full di- rections. For Jewish religious schools. Plays twenty-five minutes. Mad tea-party. KN, p. 37. Alice calls it "the stupidest tea party I was ever at in all my life." Adapted from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. For four parts. Mad tea-party. SK, p. 151. Narrative from Lewis Carroll. Mad tea-party. Wonderland. See also Alice in Maggie Tulliver's visit to the gyp- sies. KN, p. 63. How Maggie ran away to live with the gypsies because her brother Tom was angry with her, and how she came home again. Adapted from George Eliot's Mill on the Floss. For two boys and three girls. Magic bell. PA. The little bell helps a poor girl to cure the princess and to defend herself against the wicked Countess of Broomstick. A fairy drama in three acts. For nine boys, eight girls, and extras. Directions given. Plays forty-five minutes. Magic chest. STE. "My golden star I raise, A beacon in the ways Of all mankind, where evils dread and fearless prey! Look up! Behold! Rejoice! Sing with accordant voice; For 'tis my star — 'tis Hope !" A musical play in one act by E. E. Stock, written and adapted from the Greek legend of Epimetheus and Pandora. Music for songs and dances. From fifteen to thirty children may take part. Full directions for stage furniture, costumes and presentation. Plays about one hour and a half. Magic chest. See also Pandora; Paradise of children. Magic rose. CX. A tale from Brittany of a magic rose, a brave young man, an enchanted prin- cess, three nights of watching, and a bottle of magic water which frees the princess from the ugly shape of a beast. — Contents. Two acts. Seven characters besides chil- dren, courtiers and the crowd in the mar- ket place. Illustrations of costumes and setting. Property notes and stage direc- tions. Magic sword. S, p. 93. A three-act play for toys and dolls and a Fairy Prince who wields the sword. For three boys, three girls, and extras. Cos- tumes described. Directions given. INDEX TO PLAYS 63 Magic trunk. MI. How Jack and Polly meet the Fairy Recompense and, through her, Santa Claus himself. A jolly Christmas play which was awarded first prize. One act for five boys and four girls. Costumes suggested and directions given. Plays about forty min- utes. Magic whistle. N. A play in four scenes based on the story of a fisher lad who wins a princess. For three boys, four girls, and extras. Simple directions. Magic word. SO, p. 1. Kairam, selling vegetables in the market place, is turned into an ugly little dwarf by a revengeful witch. He recovers his own shape through a ruse, and learns that "civil- ity costs nothing." Two acts. For one boy, three girls, and several extras. Illustrations suggest costumes. Simple directions. Plays twenty minutes. Magna carta. MAB, second series. King John is compelled to listen to the demands of the barons, and sets his great seal upon the Great Charter. One act. For twenty boys and one girl. Costume illus- trations. Full directions. Magpie's nest. SKB, p. 83. Mrs. Magpie tells some other birds how she builds her nest. For seven little chil- dren. Maid of Orleans. ST, bk. 5, p. 24. Jeanne, the peasant girl of Domremy, fol- lows the Voices which tell her that she is to save France. The siege of Orleans is raised and the power of the English is broken. Three acts for many characters. Maid of Orleans. See also Joan of Arc. Maid of Plymouth. SCA. A colonial play dramatized from Long- fellow's Courtship of Miles Standish, and following closely the lines of the poem. Eight scenes for seven boys, one girl, and extras. Costumes described and directions given. See also Courtship of Miles Stand- ish; Miles Standish; Priscilla, Myles and John; Standish of Standish. Maiden and the bird. SKB, p. 32. Poem by Lydia Maria Child arranged for two parts. Making a flag. F, p. 157. Three little girls make a flag which they wave as Washington's army marches through the streets of Philadelphia. Two short scenes. For one boy, three girls and many extra boys as soldiers. One song. Simple directions. Making a flag. See also First Amer- ican flag; First flag; Making of the first American flag; Our first flag; Our flag. Making of the first American flag. F, p. 155. "One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one nation evermore." A small boy and girl act the parts of George Washington and Mistress Betsy Ross. Three very short scenes. Simple directions. Making of the first American flag. See also First American flag; First flag; Making a flag.; Our first flag ; Our flag. Making the best of things. WI, p. 74. How some hungry barnyard fowls get something to eat. By F. M. Fox. For eight children in primary grades. Man and the alligator. ST, bk. 3, p. 121. Brother Rabbit repays Brother Man's favor by helping him to escape from the Alligator. Two scenes for five boys. Man, the boy, and the donkey. LA, p. 21. The boy rides, the man rides, both ride, and the donkey rides. But the donkey falls from the bridge and is drowned, and the old man and the boy learn that to please all is to please none. In narrative form with helps for dramatization. Man, the boy and the donkey. See also Miller, his son, and their donkey. 64 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Man who bore the burden. STA, p. 263. » General George Washington crosses the Delaware, defeats the British at Trenton, encamps with his men at Valley Forge, and resigns his commission under which he led his troops through "a perilous and doubt- ful war." Three acts. For forty-three boys, sixteen girls and extras, but some parts may be doubled. Simple directions. Man without a country. F, p. 171. "He loved his country as no other man has ever loved her ; but no man deserved less at her hands." The story of Philip Nolan who wished that he might never hear of the United States again, is dramatized from Edward Everett Hale's narrative. Three scenes. For twelve boys and extras. Simple direc- tions. Man without a country. LUB, v. 1, p. 3. Another arrangement in five scenes for eight boys. For school use. Man without a country. ST, bk. 5, p. 304. A dramatic arrangement in three acts for twenty-three boys, six girls, and extras. Manhattan island. HX, p. 42. How the Dutch bought Manhattan island from the Indians and how New Amsterdam became New York. A short play in two acts for third and fourth grade children. For six boys and many extras. Man's boot. LAN, p. 71. "A man's boot has been found in the middle of the forest, and all the animals have come together to talk over what it can be." Arranged for six parts. Marriage. GRE, p. 216. For the sake of Raftery, a blind fiddler, neighbors who are passing by bring gifts to the barren household of a "new-married woman and her husband." Founded on the story of Raftery, wandering poet of Connacht. A one-act play by Lady Gregory. For ten boys, four girls, and extras. Marriage of Wee Robin. BRY, p. 39. How Wee Robin sings for the king and queen and finds Jenny Wren for his little wife. For seven little children. Marriage of Wee Robin. See also Wedding of Robin Redbreast and Jenny Wren; Wee Robin's Yule song. Martin Chuzzlewit. See A division between friends; The falling out of Mrs. Gamp and Mrs. Prig; Mr. Jonas Chuzzlewit proposes mar- riage; Mr. Pecksniff's pleasant family party; An unexpected meeting. Marvelous pitcher. MA, p. 64. The story of Philemon and Baucis, and of their strange visitors, who prove to be Jupiter and Quicksilver. Arranged from Hawthorne in three acts for three boys and one girl. Marvelous pitcher. See also Mirac- ulous pitcher; Philemon and Baucis. Mary and her lamb. JO, p. 66. The old story of the little lamb who fol- lowed Mary to school arranged in two short acts for six little children. Masque of Beauty and the Beast. BUA. "How Beauty born of every age Dares of her faithfulness and innocence . . . Restore her people from a savage doom." For six boys and six girls. Songs and music. Costumes described. Full direc- tions. Masque of Beauty and the beast. See also Beauty and the beast. Masque of Christmas, MAD, p. 117. "Peace upon the forest Peace upon the field — On this night, holy night Joy shall be revealed !" The quest for mirth and Christmas joy leads Erick, a Danish peasant boy of medieval days, to the sordid home of the Spirit of Getting, then back to his humble home and a tree laden with simple gifts. With "eyes that see and ears that hear" he now recognizes the Spirit of Giving as the radiant Spirit of Christmas Joy. Three scenes. For five older boys, six older girls and many extras. Music suggested. Cos- tumes described. Directions given. INDEX TO PLAYS 65 Masque of conservation. MAD, p. 69. "Ah, if each sparkling spring and wooded glade Were ruled with wisdom, their true wealth would be This nation's greatest, deepest treasury." Freeman, a mortal, is about to sell his timber land, when he becomes aware of the unhappy little Dryads and decides to set them free by refusing to permit the land to be cleared ruthlessly. For seven oldef boys, thirteen older girls, and many extras. Cos- tumes described. Music for dances sug- gested. Directions given. Masque of Pomona. MAD, p. 103. "Thou who of love wilt have none, Yet who lookest kindly on Strephon and Corona. For the blessing of thy glance Weave we now a harvest dance Oh, adored Pomona!" Vertumnus, Guardian of the turning year, wins the love of Pomona through the coun-' sels of Camilla, a mortal. For one older boy, two older girls, and many extras. Music suggested for dances of shepherds and maidens. Costumes described. Direc- tions given. Masque of the seasons. WE. "And so the onward passing of the year, Is like a tale that's told — a masque that's played With magic music, sweet and sorrowful; A story all of dreams and fantasies." First given in Dorset, England. The number of characters may be varied, the principal parts being Father Time and the Four Seasons, with a chorus of the twelve months of the year. Many songs. Music suggested. Directions. Masque of the woodlands. HU. The magic of Spring calls into being a bit of English woodland, "where the hearts of all who come may find fresh courage and strength, and learn to see loveliness in the simplest children of nature." Many familiar old songs and madrigals are sug- gested. Contains notes on costume and stage setting. Directions given. Plays one hour and a half. Masque or pageant of English trees and flowers. HUT. Flowers and trees of the woodland of England appear before Queen Elizabeth and "pray her graciously to choose as her own that flower which best pleaseth her." For fourteen girls. Simple directions. Massasoit's illness. TU, p. 34. A story of how Captain Winslow cooked some chicken broth without the chicken. — Contents. For four boys and extras. Very short. Master Skylark. BUG. A dramatization in five acts by E. W. Burrill of John Bennett's story of Nick At- wood, dubbed Master Skylark by the mas- ter-players, who take him with them to London, where he sings before the Queen. But the little lad prefers to be at home with his mother in Stratford rather than to stay at court. Will Shakespeare is his friend. May be given by seven or more characters, with many extras. Plays a full evening. Master Skylark. LAS, p. 144. Three short scenes from the same story for twelve boys, three girls and extras. Simple directions. Master Skylark. LU, LUA, p. 1. Eleven scenes for five boys, three girls, players, friends of Shakespeare, boys of singing-school, and courtiers. Simple di- rections. Plays forty-five minutes. Master Will of Stratford. GA. "A mid-winter night's dream in three acts with a prologue and an epilogue." By Louise Ayres Garnett. Titania's changeling babe stolen from her by the Witch of Wim- ble falls into the hands of Will Shakes- peare who in turn loses it to Filch the Pedler. In the merry frolic which ensues. Queen Elizabeth, Fairies, Pucks and others take part. For fifty-three boys and twen- ty-five girls, including the morris-dancers which could be omitted. A rather compli- cated stage-setting and mechanism will ren- der an amateur performance difficult. May. WI, p. 95. Poem by Raymond M. Alden arranged for four children in primary grades. May-day. MAH, p. 53. "Old wives think That if you sup and wish on Basil brew That you will surely have your wish come true." Two Puritan maidens sip and wish to see 66 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN once more a morris dance, grow sleepy and fall under a spell, while the Dream Folk gather for a merry dance. One act. For four boys, three girls, and extras. Music suggested. Directions given. May-day interlude. BIS. "Old Winter grim Gives (slowly dying) place to Summer kind." Written for the children of Campden, England. Symbolic and beautiful. The greater part is song and dance. Airs for songs indicated. For six boys, one girl, and extras. Costumes suggested. Full di- rections. Meadowgold. GL. To Rosemary is given the Meadowgold, "the gift of understanding all God's crea- tures, a gift given only to those who love much both great and small." A "fantastic" play for children in three acts by A. B. Glassie, to be given, if possible, out-of- doors. Characters are feathered folk, in- sects, gnomes and humans. For one boy, four girls, and fourteen boys and girls as extras. Costumes described. Full direc- tions. Plays thirty minutes. Melon thief. DR, Dec, 1919, p. 103. From a medieval Japanese farce by Shige- yoshi Obata. The persons of the play are two : a country gentleman, the melon- patch owner, and a country fellow, the melon thief. The time : 400 years ago. The place : all over the countryside, including the melon patch. Three scenes. For older boys or adults. No stage setting neces- sary. Notes on production given. Melusine. BUB, p. 312. Alladine of the dark tresses fails to win the Count of Lusignan from his lovely dryad wife, Melusine. In verse. Six scenes. For two boys, six girls and extras. Directions for costumes and setting. Memorial Day. HX, p. 173. The message of the old soldiers to the boys and girls of America. One-act play for third and fourth grade children, for three girls, nine boys and extras. Memorial Day pageant. MAF. "America, America, God shed his grace on thee. And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!" — Kathcrine Lee Bates. Everything depends on its being given with true patriotic fervor and solemnity. — Introductory note. Arranged for communities and schools by Constance D'Arcy Mackay. Music sug- gested. Full directions. Plays one hour and fifteen minutes. Merrymount. MAG, p. 109. "Merrymount Where lived gay royalists who took no count Of Puritanic manners, and who sang And laughed till all the woods about them rang With outlaw merriment." See Hawthorne pageant of which this is a part. One act. For eleven boys, eight girls, and extras. Contains a May-pole dance. Full directions. Micawbers decide to emigrate. LAS, p. 136. Shows Mr. Micawber on the eve of cast- ing off the pecuniary shackles that have so long enthralled him and of commencing a new career in a new country where there is a sufficient range for his abilities. Two scenes from David Copperfield. Characters are Mr. and Mrs. Micawber and six chil- dren, Miss Betsey Trotwood, David, Mr. Dick, and Traddles. Simple directions. Micawbers dine with David. PER, p. 21. The gentleman who is "waiting for some- thing to turn up" finds that hope has sunk beneath the horizon, and that he is crushed. One scene from David Copperfield for four boys and three girls. Five costume plates. Directions given. A slightly different version is given in Short Plays from Dickens, by H. B. Browne, under the title of Mr. Micawber's Prospects. This is arranged in one scene for three boys and one girl, and plays twen- ty-five minutes. Midas and Apollo. COA, p. 43. How King Midas is given a pair of asses' ears because he favors Pan's pipes rather than Apollo's lyre. Three scenes for eight boys and one girl. Midas and Bacchus. COA, p. 36. The story of King Midas and the golden touch in three scenes for four boys and one girl. INDEX TO PLAYS 67 Midas and Bacchus. See also Golden touch; King Midas. Midsummer dance dream. STC. The heroines of Shakespeare become tan- gled in the dreams of Justine, a college girl. "Each character knows a few of her own lines, and a great many of everybody's else so that Hamlet's soliloquy turns into An- tony's funeral oration, or into Portia's plea for mercy for Antonio, by stages as natural as the steps of the dances themselves." — Detroit Times. A fantastic comedy in one act for ten girls and extras. Plays one half hour. Miles Standish. AS. An adaptation of Longfellow's poem in dialogue form. Three acts. For nine boys, two girls and extras. Music suggested. Simple directions. Miles Standish. See also Courtship of Miles Standish; Maid of Ply- mouth; Priscilla, Myles and John; Standish of Standish. Milkmaids. BUB, p. 13. "Milkmaids all a-dancing In their lilac frocks. Cuckoo flowers some call them. Pretty Lady Smocks." Little Bridget follows mischievous Jack- o-Lantern to see the milkmaids dancing in the water-meadows. One act. For nine boys and fifteen girls. Includes songs and dances. Directions for costumes and set- ting. Mill on the Floss. See Maggie Tul- liver's visit to the gypsies; Mrs. Pullet's new bonnet. Mill that ground hot porridge. ST, bk. 1, p. 86. Some elves who steal a magic mill from the fairies are punished because they ask no one to share their porridge. For fourteen or more little children. Miller, his son, and their donkey. ST, bk 3, p. 9. The miller and his son try to please everyone, but please no one and lose their donkey in the bargain. Aesop's fable dram- atized for eight boys and six girls. Miller, his son, and their donkey. See also Man, the boy, and the donkey. Miller of Dee. G, p. 138. The story of a miller who mounted old Dobbin, pulled his three children up behind him and was off for a ride one evening, and of how a strange procession followed him. In narrative and dramatic form. For four- teen parts. Miller of the Dee, LA, p. 114. Poem by C. Mackay. Millet group. MED, p. 117. A short play for eight characters from Millet's paintings. The final tableau is the Angelus. For three boys and five girls. Full directions. Minister's dream. LO, p. 71. As John Bradish, minister of the colony, dozes over his sermon-making he dreams of the sinful sport of the morris-dance of the harvesters on the green in old England. The next evening come the harvesters of the new land bearing great baskets of corn, and Chief White Cloud and his braves with offerings of game and wild fowl, and the Governor proclaims a day of rejoicing and thanks. A Thanksgiving fantasy in two scenes for six boys, seven girls and many extras. Directions. Minka's wedding. CR, p. 193. Though betrothed to a young trades- man, Minka loves a Cossack, and, aided by her grandmother, slips away from her own wedding feast to become his bride. A Rus- sian folk-play in two acts. For six boys, five girls, and many extras. Includes songs and dances. Directions given. Minty-Malviny's Santa Claus. C, p. 265. Minty-Malviny, the little black drudge of an old-time New Orleans boarding house, falls asleep on the rug of a handsome sit- ting-room, and waking, takes the owner for Ole Marse Santa Claus himself. Her faith inspires him to play the part. — Con- tents. Adapted from a story by M. E. M. Davis. One act. For one boy, three girls, two men, and one woman. Notes on cos- tume and presentation. Plays twenty-five minutes. PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Miraculous pitcher. KN, p. 115. The story of the visit of Jupiter and Quicksilver to old Philemon and his wife Baucis, and the miracles wrought by them. Adapted from Hawthorne's story in two scenes for three boys and one girl. Miraculous pitcher. LAS, p. 25. Another simple arrangement for three boys and one girl. Simple directions. Miraculous pitcher. See also Mar- velous pitcher; Philemon and Baucis. Miss Burney at court. FRN, p. 65. Sally Burney visits her sister Fanny at Windsor Castle, entertains the King un- awares, and secures for her sister release from an unhappy position at court. One act. For three boys and three girls. Simple di- rections. Plays half an hour. Miss Pansy's May party. NO, p. 49. Wild flowers and birds visit Aliss Pansy and meet her garden friends. For twenty- one or more little children. Miss Squeers' tea-party. BRO, p. 26. Matilda Price and her lover, John Brow- die, take tea with Fanny Squeers, and see the new teacher who has come down to Dotheboy's Hall under most mysterious and remarkable circumstances. One scene from Nicholas Nickleby for two boys and two girls. Full directions. Plays sixteen minutes. Nearly the same as the fifth scene in Dotheboy's Hall, given in Dramatizations from Dickens by F. A. Comstock. Miss Squeers' tea-party. See also Dotheboys Hall; Nicholas Nickle- by. Mistake at the manor. FRN, p. 1. Oliver Goldsmith, aged fifteen, spends the night at Featherstone Manor, which he mistakes for an inn. One act. For four boys and two girls. Simple directions. Plays forty minutes. Mr. George's shooting gallery. BRO, p. 162. Grandfather Smallweed and Judy pay a mysterious visit to the proprietor of the shooting-gallery in the neighborhood of Leicester Square. One scene from Bleak House for five boys and one girl. Costume illustration. Directions given. Plays thirty- two minutes. Mr. Guppy's proposal. BRO, p. 151. "The young man of the house of Guppy" meets disappointment when he offers him- self to Esther Summerson. One scene from Bleak House for one boy and one girl. Cos- tume illustration. Full directions. Plays ten minutes. Mr. Jonas Chuzzlewit proposes mar- riage. PER, p. 141. Miss Charity Pecksniff gives way to hys- terics when Mr. Chuzzlewit proposes to her sister Mercy before her very face. One scene from Martin Chuzzlewit for two boys and two girls. Four costume plates. Stage directions. Mr. Lincoln and the little girl. WAC, p. 131. A very short scene in which a little girl tells how Abraham Lincoln shouldered her trunk and so kept her from missing a train. Costumes of 1850. For three girls. Sim- ple directions. Mr. Micawber's prospects. BRO, p. 142. For note see Micawbers dine with David. Mr. Pecksniff's pleasant family party. BRO, p. 93. "It is good to feel that we are met here without disguise. It is good to know that we have no reserve before each other, but are appearing freely in our own characters." And thus a quarrel ensues among those who have designs on the property of old Mr. Martin Chuzzlewit. One scene from Mar- tin Chuzzlewit for four boys and five girls. Costume illustration. Full directions. Plays eighteen minutes. Mr. Pickwick at Dingley Dell. COD, p. 3. Ten scenes from Pickwick Papers : The charge of Mr. Winkle's gun goes in the wrong direction, and Mr. Tupman is wounded ; Mr. Tupman makes love to Miss Wardle in the arbor and is discovered by the Fat Boy ; The Fat Boy tells Miss War- die's mother what he saw in the arbor last night and is overheard by Mr. Jingle; Mr. Jingle tells Miss Wardle of the Fat Boy's INDEX TO PLAYS 69 treachery and ingratiates himself with her; Mr. Jingle convinces Mr. Tupman that Miss Wardle wishes him to conceal his real feel- ing for her for fear of her brother; Mr. Jingle's duplicity is discovered when neither he nor Miss Rachel appear at dinner; Sam Weller polishes boots and shoes for the lady and gentleman who arrive at the White Hart in London; Mr. Jingle and Miss War- die breakfast at the White Hart and plan an early marriage; A pair of Wellingtons a good deal worn and a pair of shoes in number five, at the White Hart, betray the runaways to Mr. Wardle, Mr. Perker, his solicitor, and Mr. Pickwick, who have come in search of them ; Mr. Jingle and Miss Wardle are surprised in the private sitting- room by the pursuers, and Mr. Jingle de- cides that a hundred pounds and liberty are better than Miss Wardle and expecta- tion. For ten boys, six girls and extras. Directions given. For a shorter version of this episode see Jingle's Wooing of the Spinster Aunt in Scenes from Dickens by G. Pertwee. Mr. Venus's shop. BRO, p. 163. Silas Wegg visits Mr. Venus, preserver of animals and birds and learns that Mr. Venus's business has interfered with his success in love. One scene from Our Mu- tual Friend for three boys. Costume illus- tration. Full directions. Plays eighteen minutes. Mr. Wind and Madam Rain. LA, p. 7L John Peter has two strange visitors one night, who bring to him the good fortune which he has long desired. In story form from P. E. de Musset's narrative, with helps for dramatization. See also Chevalier Jessamine and the Princess Eglantine. Mistletoe and holly. PEM, p. 39. The fairies of the Mistletoe bough and Holly tree make Christmas happy for two little ragged children. For two boys and three girls. One dance. Costumes de- scribed. Simple directions. Mrs. Bangs's pies. KN, p. 7. Tommy Bangs and his mother invite poor Mrs. Barker and her children to share their Thanksgiving dinner. Adapted from What the Seven Did, by Margaret Sidney. Two scenes for three boys and three girls. Mrs. Comey's tea party for two. PER, p. 177. Mr. Bumble, the beadle, calls upon Mrs. Corney, matron of the workhouse, and finds an opportunity for joining hearts and housekeeping. One scene from Dickens's Oliver Twist for one boy and two girls. Two costume plates. Stage directions. Mistress Mary gives a garden party. GO, p. 13. A Mother Goose play for ten nursery rhyme characters and extras as Pretty Maids, Cockle Shells, and Silver Bells. Two short scenes. Costumes suggested in uotes and by photographs. Directions given. Mistress Mary's rose-bush. NO, p. 1. Mistress Mary, Quite Contrary, asks the Mother Goose people to help her plant a rose-bush. For seven little boys and five little girls, Mrs. Murray's dinner-party. WAC, p. 57. How Mrs, Murray, Quakeress, enter- tained the British Generals Howe and Tryon, treated them with cake and wine, and thereby enabled General Putnam to re- treat from lower New York to Harlem Heights in 1776. Three acts. For eight boys and seven girls. Directions given. Plays about one hour and ten minutes, Mrs. Nickleby and the gentleman next door. PER, p. 125. Mrs. Nickleby receives her famous pro- posal of marriage from the Old Gentleman in the small-clothes who lives next door. One scene from Nicholas Nickleby for two boys and two girls. Three costume plates. Stage directions. A slightly different version is given in Short plays from Dickens by H. B. Browne, under the title of "The Gentleman Next Door." Mrs. Nickleby and the gentleman next door. See also Gentleman next door. Mrs. Polljrwigs and her wonderful waxworks. LUA, p. 241. A few of the waxworks were bequeathed to Mrs. Pollywigs by her great-grand- 70 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN motrier, Mrs. Jarley. With the help of Mr. Thomas Edison others have been pro- duced. Rip Van Winkle, the Pied Piper, Little Jack Horner, and others appear. Costumes suggested. Short. Mrs. Poyser has her say out. FO, p. 35. Mrs. Poyser angrily defies Squire Don- nithorne, their landlord, in the matter of the Chase farm, while Mr. Poyser finds few words. A scene from George Eliot's Adam Bede, arranged for two boys and three girls. One costume plate. Directions. Mrs. Pullet's new bonnet. FO, p. 23. Mrs. Pullet displays her new bonnet to Mrs. Tulliver, and both are overcome with emotion at the thought that she may never wear it twice. A scene from George Eliot's Mill on the Floss, arranged for one boy and four girls. Directions. Mrs. Snagsby's guests. BRO, p. 157. Mr. Chadband, "a vessel in the ministry," and his wife, take tea with Mr. and Mrs. Snagsby, in Cook's Court, Cursitor Street. One scene from Dickens's Bleak House for two boys and three girls. Costume illus- tration. Directions given. Plays nine min- utes. Mrs. Tibbs's boarding-house. BRO, p. 1. Mr. Carlton, Mr. Hicks, and Mr. Simp- son, inmates of the house, find Mrs. Maple- sone and her two daughters very charming, and three secret marriages are planned. Three scenes from sketches by Boz for five boys and five girls. Costume illustra- tion. Full directions. Plays sixteen min- utes. Mrs. White Hen's mistake. BRY, p. 17. Mr. Wise Owl is the only one who can tell why the sun seems to be in the pond. For four little children. Mocking-bird. PR, p. 97. The mocking-bird who has no note of his own is envious of a little song-bird. A very short dialogue for three little children. Modern and medieval ballad of Mary Jane. S, p. 1. A shadow play illustrated by silhouettes. For three boys and one girl. Full direc- tions. Mole king's daughter. N, p. 29. Joseph, a young gardener, falls in love with a princess who has been bewitched by a wicked magician, and changed into a mole. For two boys, two girls, and extras as flower girls and merry moles. Simple directions. Months. RO. A pageant in verse by Christina Rossetti for six boys and six girls who personify the months of the year. At the close the twelve join hands in a circle and dance a stately measure. An analysis of this pageant may be found in How to Produce Children's Plays by C. D. Mackay. Moon in the mill pond. WI, p. 9. Brother Rabbit and his friends go fishing only to find that the moon has fallen into the mill pond. Adapted from a southern folk tale for primary use. Five parts. Moon's silver cloak. ST, bk. 1, p. 49. How can the sky make a cloak for the moon when she is always changing. Three scenes for six little children. Moses at the fair. LAS, p. 80. How Moses parted with the colt and brought back nothing but a gross of green spectacles with copper rims and shagreen cases. A dramatic version of two scenes from Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield for five boys and three girls. Simple direc- tions. Mosses from an old manse. See Feathertop. Mother Autumn and North Wind. SX, p. 95. Autumn Days are busy attending to the flowers, fruit and trees. North Wind, a little piper, comes in to join them and make merry; but the Days do not welcome him; they go on with their work. Annoyed at this, he blows so hard he scatters the leaves in all directions and causes general con- fusion and disturbance everywhere. Mother Autumn comes upon the scene and orders INDEX TO PLAYS 71 him to leave. The result is, that as soon as she is gone, he comes back and pipes a tune which makes her Days leave their work and follow him. Mother Autumn re- turns to find her Days gone. King Winter appears ready to take her place. As soon as Mother Autumn explains to King Win- ter the trouble, he knows the little piper was North Wind, whom he allowed to leave the cave on a frolic. King Winter offers to return to his cave, and make North Wind pipe the Autumn Days back. For punishment North Wind will never be per- mitted to leave King Winter's cave except during the winter months. — Plot of the play. For seven girls, two boys and extras. Simple suggestions. Mother Goose alphabet. DO, p. 171. Rhymes from A to Z about Mother Goose characters. Mother Goose operetta. S, p. 36, Founded upon the story of "Bobby Shaft- toe." For two boys, one girl and extras. Peasant costumes. Familiar airs. Three scenes. Directions given. Short. Mother Goose's party. HOA, p. 65. Mother Goose gives a party for her son Jack. Four short scenes for ten little boys and eight little girls. Mother HoUe. See Two sisters. Mother Hubbard and her dog. JO, p. 101. The old story of the old lady and her wonderful dog arranged in five short scenes for eight little children. Mother Hubbard's cupboard party. BRY, p. 67. Mother Goose boys and girls plan to send many things to fill Mother Hubbard's bare cupboard. For eight little boys and six little girls. Mother Hubbard's tea party. BL, V. 1, p. 5. Thirteen characters from Mother Goose meet at Mother Hubbard's to discuss how best they may teach children the old rhymes. For eight boys and six girls. Short. Sim- ple directions. Mouse's joke. BRY, p. 84. Gray mouse stays awake to see Santa Claus fill the stockings. For two little chil- dren. Mushroom meadow. BUB, p. 1. True Child visits the mushroom meadow on St. John's Eve to watch the fairies revel- ling and to see the mushrooms which grow so quickly on that night. In verse. One act. For ten characters and extras. Full directions for setting and costumes. My Lady's Yule-Tide. MY. A Christmas play written with a desire to preserve in concrete form, accessible to children, the Christmas customs of Old England. Three acts for six boys, five girls and many extras. Carols and dances. Music for two songs, and further references given. Very full directions. Napoleon GOA, bk. 5, p. 21. Three short scenes for class-room use, showing a consultation of English leaders at Westminster, the abdication of Napoleon at Fontainebleau, and the meeting of the British and Prussians after the battle on the field of Waterloo. For twenty-one boys. Narcissus. COA, p. 98. The story of the youth who loved his own reflection seen in a clear spring of water. Six scenes for two boys and eight girls. Narrow escape. TU, p. 131. A story of John Smith and Pocahontas. — Contents. For six boys and one girl. Very short. Narrow escape. See also John Smith; Pocahontas and Captain Smith; Princess Pocahontas. Nathan Hale. ST, bk. 5, p. 1. A dramatic arrangement of the story of the patriot spy whose only regret was that he had but one life to lose for his country. Four acts for thirty-three boys, six girls, and extras. Nation's stronger weapon. LUB, v. 2, p. 25. A pageant for school use called also Edu- cation versus War. Many familiar songs and quotations. For five boys, four girls and many extras. 73 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Nativity. GRE, p. 244. A woman from the East and a woman from the West, each seeking pardon, meet at the door of Bethlehem's stable, as the Kings and the shepherds come bearing their gifts. Within they find the babe in the manger, the King of the World. Full of the spirit of tradition. A one-act play by Douglas Hyde. For seven boys, three girls and extras. Nature play in a city school. LUA, p. 153. Written for the Burroughs Nature Club of two York city schools. The characters are members of the club, children imper- sonating the books by John Burroughs and Mollie, a new pupil in the school. For eight girls, one boy, fifteen book titles, the Spirit of Nature, and a group of little children. Necklace. ST, bk. 5, p. 56. Mathilde and Pierre work for ten long years to pay for Jeanne's diamond necklace which Mathilde has lost. Then they learn that it was only paste. Based on Guy de Maupassant's story with this title. Three acts for one boy and nine girls. Necklace o£ truth. LA, p. 109. How the enchanter Merlin helped Coralie to learn to tell the truth by means of a beautiful amethyst necklace which lost its beauty the moment she uttered a falsehood. From the French of Jean Mace. In story form with helps for dramatization. Neptune's isle. CHA. "Here have I drawn you by the threads of fate. Using no magic save the elements. And the strong natural magic of your- selves." Through shipwreck and exile the vari- ous members of the court of Troezene find themselves on Neptune's isle, where they are brought together once more and where fortune again smiles upon them. A play in verse, in three acts. For eleven older boys, three older girls and extras. New citizenship: a civic ritual. MAJ. A masque by Percy Mackaye, to be given by foreign-born people, to emphasize the duties, privileges and ideals of American citizenship. An historical background is created by the introduction of speeches of Washington and Lincoln and by the enact- ing of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Folk dances of the various nations lighten the seriousness of the theme. The newcomers express their desire to be- come citizens of the United States and are welcomed by Liberty. An excerpt from President Wilson's address to the new citi- zens at Philadelphia on May 10, 1915, is given, and all depart singing "America." For any number of persons. New citizenship. See also Little citizens making a new America. New New Year. SX, p. 227. The New Year decides to be entirely dif- ferent from all preceding New Years. He is going to please the children by giving them all kinds of weather at once. Then they may choose the kind of weather they like best. The New Year calls in all the months and tells them to begin work at once and all together. They do so and the result is that the weather changes many, many times a day. The children are very much disappointed and the New Year is obliged to change his plan to the natural order of things. — Plot of the play. For ten boys and nine girls. Simple sugges- tions. New Red Riding-hood. SA, p. 224. A one-act play in rhyme which "shows that wolves are just as designing, little girls just as heedless and helpful, and the chances of rescue just as possible today as at the time of the original Red Riding- hood." For two boys and one girl. Direc- tions given. New Year. BL, v. 2, p. 22. The New Year calls the little months in turn, that each may learn to keep its proper season. For thirteen boys or girls. Short Costumes described. Simple directions. New Year. SKB, p 73. The Old Year tells the New Year some of the things he will have to do. Adapted from Laura E. Richards for two little chil- dren. News. LAN, p. 131. How a faithful steward broke bad news to his master. An English droll arranged for two parts. INDEX TO PLAYS 73 Nicholas Nickleby. LAS, p. 94. A very short scene from Dickens's story, showing Dotheboys Hall, where Mr. Squeers demonstrates his theories of edu- cation. For five boys, one girl, and extras. Simple directions. Nicholas Nickleby. See also Dothe- boys Hall; Gentleman next door; Miss Squeers' tea-party; Mrs. Nickleby and the gentleman next door. Nick Bluster's trick. SX, p. 1. The King of Winter sends word to the Queen of Spring that his reign is ended. The Queen and her handmaidens meet in Sweetbriar Dell to make spring blossoms for the children's May Day pageant. Nick Bluster and Jack Frost hide in the Dell, spring out and tease the flower makers. To punish these tricksters the Queen de- clares there shall be no spring. She orders her maidens to withdraw from the sunshine and stay with her in South Breeze's cave. Nick Bluster and Jack Frost play another trick in order to draw the Queen and her helpers from the cave. Then the little clowns beg the Queen's pardon and ask her to forgive them for the sake of the little children who will grieve if they have no Spring flowers. The Queen pardons Nick and Jack, who hasten away to the North- land to join King Winter. — Plot of the play. For two boys and six girls. Simple suggestions. Night before Christmas. OL, p. 173. This is the story of Hans and Rita who gave of their simple fare to a worn old wanderer on Christmas Eve. And it tells how they, trudging through the snow, find helpless^ a woman and her babe seeking refuge in an inn, and last it tells how the Christmas Child was waiting for them in the forest beneath the Christmas evergreen. — Program. A "play of love" in two acts for two boys and three girls. Costume de- signs and simple directions. Night watch. GX, p. 15. A fisherman's wife waits through a long, stormy night for her husband's return. The Three Strangers who wait with her are the forebodings and doubts that come in a lonely watch. They vanish as if they had not been when the anxiety is over. One act for five persons. Nimble-wit and Fingerkin. MAE, p. 77. With the aid of Try, Nimblewit, and the five little Fingerkins, Katinka makes her escape from Dame Difficulty's house. One act. For six boys and three girls. Full directions. Plays twenty-five minutes. Ninepin club. HA, p. 53. Nine thoughtless boarding-school girls refuse to make Alice, a classmate, a member of their club. Their teacher, Miss Foster, in the guise of Granny Playfair, helps them to see their selfishness, and they change their name to the Tenpin club. One act for eleven girls and twenty little children. Di- rections. Nino's revenge. DU, p. 199. Lucia, a child of gentle birth, is stolen in revenge by Ninig, and grows up in a brig- and's camp. She flees from Nino, is re- stored to her mother, and finds again her lover, a noble, who thought her only a flower girl of Naples. A four-act play written in verse. For three boys and two girls. Music for Requiem. Costumes sug- gested. Directions given. Niobe. COA, p. 106. How Niobe, queen of Thebes, loses her seven sons and seven daughters because of boastful pride, and how, grieving, she is turned to stone. Three scenes for one boy and seven girls. North Wind at play. BRY, p. 33. North Wind's play is too rough for the lily, the apple and the grain. Arranged for five parts. North Wind at play. WI, p. 23. Narrative form for primary grades. Nottingham shooting match. SKC^ p. 154. Robin Hood, as an unknown yeoman from Middlesex, wins the prize _ in the "greatest archery contest ever held in Not- tinghamshire." Five scenes. For ten boys, three girls, and extras as archers and vil- lage folk. Simple directions. May be de- veloped elaborately. Illustrations suggest costumes. 74 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Oak and the reed. PR, p. 2L A reed which sees a poor old oak torn up by the north wind feels that it is better after all to bend than to break. For three little children. Odd man and the dog True. SKB, p. 14. Little dog True guards a great bag full of gold so that the ogre cannot steal it from the Odd man. For three little chil- dren. Odyssey. SI, first year, p. 58. Episodes arranged for High School use from Butcher and Lang's translation from Homer. Two scenes: Telemachus at the palace of Menelaus; and Hermes's visit to Calypso. For six boys and three girls. This is followed by an arrangement of ten tableaux planned to suggest the story of the Odyssey. Odyssey. See also Return of Odys- seus. Old Billy. SK, p. 54. An old goat defends himself against a lion and a jackal. A Hindoo tale in nar- rative form. Old curiosity shop. LAS, p. 115. Miss Alonflather tells Little Nell how naughty it is to be a wax-work child ; and Mr. Morton, the new schoolmaster, becomes acquainted with his boys. Two scenes from Dickens's story for four boys, three girls, and extras. Simple directions. See also Dick Swiveller and the Mar- chioness. Old man and his grandson. ST, bk. 3, p. 3. Little Hans shames his father and mother for their treatment of the old man. For three boys and one girl. Old Tight-Wad and the Victory Dwarf. PAA, p. 185. A dialogue in which the patriotic Victory Dwarf converts the old miser. — Contents. For two boys. Costumes suggested. Sim- ple directions. Short. Old toys, SY, p. 97. A midnight quarrel between Sylvia's old toys and the new, as they all come alive, is happily settled by the Christmas angel, Peace. The spirits of the allied nations are drawn to the spot by the words of Thomas Atkins, a khaki doll. The play ends as the toys go back to their cupboard, Sylvia creeps back into bed, and the sound of a Christmas Carol is heard outside. For four boys, five girls, and other children repre- senting the allied nations. Oliver Twist. See Mrs. Corney's tea-party for two ; Oliver Twist in Fagin's den. Oliver Twist in Fagin's den. PER, p. 189. Bill Sikes and Fagin plan to make Oliver help them in the robbery at Chertsey, and Fagin exults that Oliver is now really his. One scene from Dickens's Oliver Twist for five boys and one girl. Five costume plates. Stage directions. On a plantation, 1863. WAC, p. 145. A short scene in which Sambo who was sold "down de ribber" comes back to see his Ole Mammy, and to tell about "de mancipation proclamation." Three songs. For three boys, five girls, and extras. Cos- tumes suggested. Simple directions. On All Souls' eve. OL, p. 115. Godfrey, the little lame lad, is carried to the fairy green by Blackfoot the cottage cat. Alas ! there is sorrow in Fairyland because the magic ring of the fairy Queen has been stolen. The fays weeping wildly, search for the gem. Graybeard, the dwarf, peers anxiously among the ferns and bushes — while the Old Witch vainly mutters her charms over her steaming caldron. Then Godfrey spies the ring glistening in the beak of the wicked Owl and behold, the Queen gives him the fairy's gift of thanks, and he stands a strong little peasant lad, that All Souls' eve ! — Program. A "play of wonders" in two acts for four boys, two girls, and "other Imps, and Sprites and Gnomes who live in Fairy-land." Costume designs and simple directions. On Christmas Eve. MAE, p. 143. Ten friends from the land of books, like Wendy and Crusoe, come to pay a Christ- mas Eve visit to the Little Girl. One act. For five boys and six girls. Full directions. Plays twenty minutes. INDEX TO PLAYS 75 On whom was the joke? LUB, v. 1, p. 88. The boys who would not study their history when they thought it was work, studied it better than ever when they thought it was fun. Two scenes. For Father Time, boys in school class, and historical characters. One-eyed servant. SX, p. 109. Sally is discontented. She envies Polly, who lives in a neat cottage across the fields. A strange little man appears and offers to get Sally a servant who will work well and bring thrift into the family. The little man's reward must be a bowl of curds set in a very tidy kitchen. In a few days the stranger comes to Sally's cottage and brings her the thrifty one-eyed servant. — Plot of the play. Adapted from a story by Jean Ingelow. For one boy and one girl. Simple suggestions. One little feather. SK, p. 29. The story of how a little white hen loses a feather grows in repetition until the tale is told that she has plucked out all her feathers. Suggested by Andersen's story of It Is Quite True. In narrative form. One minute at a time. LAN, p. 51. The pendulum which stops because it is so tired ticking is persuaded by the other parts of the clock that it is only necessary to do one stroke at a time. From Jane Taylor's Discontented Pendulum. For eight children. One way to capture a fort. HX, p. 111. How George Rogers Clark captured a British fort by a clever strategy, and thereby won a great tract of land bordering the Mississippi River for the United States. One-act play for third or fourth grade chil- dren. For five boys and extras. Oneida's dreams. OLA, p. 123. The Weaver of Dreams summons the Dream Maids of the World to teach Oneida how the women of today are fulfilling their duties and responsibilities to their country. — Program. "A play of the Camp Fire" in one act for one boy and six girls. Costume designs and simple directions. Only a girl. HX, p. 115. How the bravery of one girl saved the blockhouse from capture by the Indians. An incident of the Revolution. One-act play for third or fourth grade children. For four boys, one girl, and many extras. Opposite end of the world. RE, April, 1918, p. 57. A masque of the Junior Red Cross for the Children of the Garden, the War chil- dren. Mother Goose people. Fairy tale peo- ple. Children of the Crusades, the Happi- ness of Home, Day dreams of childhood, and Children of the Red Cross. Directions are given. The masque has been set to music by the music department of Vassar college, from which the score may be ob- tained. Orpheus and Eurydice. CO A, p. 175. Orpheus descends to the world of spirits and, playing upon his lyre, begs Pluto to give back to him his beloved wife, Eury- dice. Pluto consents, but when they have almost reached the upper world, Orpheus forgets Pluto's command, looks back, and loses her forever. Three scenes for two boys and four girls. Our choice. LUA, p. 171. A girl graduate sits at the fairies' cross- roads looking down the paths to the four seasons in order to choose the happiest, when Mother Nature comes to her to ad- vise that she sit quietly by and each in its turn will come to her. For six principal characters and extras. Short. Our country and our flag. LUB, V. 2, p. 142. A patriotic class exercise for flag-captain and thirteen speakers. Our first fla^g. HX, p. 81. How Betsy Ross makes the flag with the five-pointed stars. A very short play in two acts for third or fourth grade children. For three boys and two girls. Our first flag. See also First Amer- ican flag; First flag; Making a flag; Making of the First Amer- ican flag; Our flag. Our flag. LUB, v. 1, p. 173. A school exercise consisting of two short scenes showing how our flag was planned in Cambridge and made in Philadelphia, followed by tributes to the flag by nine speakers and closed by the singing of the 76 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Star Spangled Banner. The two scenes call for eight boys and three girls. Our flag. See also First American flag; First flag; Making a flag; Making of the first American flag; Our first flag. Our mutual friend. See At "J^^^y Wren's"; Bella Wilfer's return; Mr. Venus's shop; Silas Wegg's stall. Over the hill. SKB, p. 174. Poem by George Macdonald arranged for two parts. Over the hills and far away. DR, Dec, 1920, p. 80. A Mother Goose play in three acts by Florence Kiper Frank. Costumes and set- tings by Norman-Bel Geddes. The play ends as King Cole and his queen recover their children stolen ten years before by the Old Woman who lived in the Shoe. Afifords opportunity for elaborate produc- tion if desired. For sixteen or more char- acters. Directions. Owl and Grasshopper green. SKB, p. 19. The owl finds a way to stop the grass- hopper's song. A very short dialogue for two little children. Pageant of hours. MAE, p. 129. "Hidden well by trees and flowers 'Tis the Garden of the Hours !" Here a child watches and listens as the Hours pass by and tell of the gifts they bring. For fourteen girls. Grecian cos- tumes. Plays twenty minutes. Pageant of patriots (Indoor) MAG, p. 105. The "Nation's youth" is seen portrayed in nine scenes and a prologue. From fifty to two hundred boys and girls from six to eighteen years of age. Some of the actual words of Lincoln, Washington and Frank- lin are used in the dialogue. Full direc- tions. Pageant of patriots (Outdoor) MAG, p. 7. "Youthful the scenes that we shall here devise On which the beads of history are strung." The first children's patriotic pageant ever given in America. From two hundred to five hundred boys and girls from eight to eighteen years of age are needed for the full production. Consists of a Prologue and eight episodes from American history. Full directions. Pageant of sunshine and shadow. MX. Little Ellen has a dream in which Knowl- edge, Joy and Play contend with Greed, Fatigue and Ignorance. When Public Opin- ion summons Legislation and strikes off his chains the Children of the Shadow are made free and become Children of the Sun- shine. For thirteen children and extras. Directions given. May be used only for the benefit of the National Child Labor Com- mittee. Pageant of the Illinois country. RY. Five parts : The courage of Tonty ; The freeing of Illinois; Battling against slav- ery ; The fringe of flame ; the West's first shot. A sixth part is suggested for pre- senting a scene from the local history of the community using the pageant for the celebration of the centennial of Illinois. For many characters. Directions. Pandora. COA, p. 3. How a swarm of ugly Troubles are let loose when Pandora opens a forbidden box, and how Hope, also released, is to make amends for them. Two scenes for five boys and three girls. Pandora. DU, p. 157. "For all things are made possible through Hope." A two-act play in verse for two older boys and two older girls. One song. Cos- tumes suggested. Directions given. Pandora. SK, p. 166. In narrative form. Pandora's box. KN, p. 125. .Another version of the same story adapt- ed from Hawthorne's Paradise of Children and arranged for one boy and two girls. Pandora. See also Magic chest; Paradise of children. INDEX TO PLAYS 77 Paradise of children. BUB, p. 91. A one-act play with full directions. Paradise of children. FRC. The story of Pandora (see above), ar- ranged from Hawthorne's Paradise of Chil- dren by members of the fifth grade of the Francis W. Parker School, Chicago. Char- acters are Quicksilver, Hope, Epimetheus, Pandora, Troubles. One act. Simple di- rections. Paradise of children. LAS, p. 11. Another arrangement in three scenes for one boy and two girls. Simple directions. Paradise of children. MA, p. 51. The same story arranged in one act, with prologue and epilogue, for one boy and two girls. Paradise of children. See also Magic chest; Pandora. Passing of Hiawatha. H, p. 97. "Fare you well, O much-loved people, As I pass you will pass also When the Sunset Spirits call you." A play in one act for thirteen boys, four girls, and extras. Includes dances. Cos- tume illustrations. Directions given. Paul Revere's ride. HX, p. 66. How Paul Revere, minute man, spread the alarm from Boston to Concord. A short play in one act for four boys and others in the third or fourth grade. Peace egg. See Three little Christ- mas waits. Pearl in Coral Hall. BUB, p. 151. The King of Coral Hall fails to win as his bride the earth maiden. Pearl, who has fallen into the sea. In verse. One act. For four boys, three girls, and a chorus of nymphs. Includes a number of songs. Directions for costumes and setting. Peasie and Beansie. LAN, p. 75. A Punjab story of a hard, quarrelsome elder sister, and a kind, agreeable younger one who was also a most dutiful daughter. In narrative form. Pen and the inkstand. ST, bk. 4, p. 1. Whether the poet gets his poems from one or the other is a subject for quarrel between them. For eight or more children. Persephone. ST, bk. 4, p. 98. "When Springtime comes, with breezes blowing. There's brightest sunshine softly glow- ing; Then turtle-doves begin to coo ; Then skies take on a brighter blue, When Springtime comes, when Spring- time comes." Persephone is carried away to Pluto's realm, but returns to restore Spring to the barren earth. Three scenes for six boys, six girls, and many extras. Plays forty- five minutes. Persephone. See also Pomegranate seeds; Proserpina. Perseus. BUB, p. 357. Arranged and adapted from Kingsley's Heroes. Three acts. For eight boys, ten girls and extras. Directions for costumes and setting. Plays about an hour and a half. Perseus and Andromeda. COA, p. 128. How Perseus finds the maiden Andro- meda chained to a rock, and how he saves her from the sea monster about to devour her. Two scenes for four boys and two girls. Perseus and Atlas. COA, p. 125. How inhospitable Atlas, hugest of men, is turned by Perseus into a mountain. One short scene for two boys. Perseus and Medusa. COA, p. 118. The story of Perseus's quest for the Gor- gon's head, and of how Polydectes and his courtiers are turned to stone. Three scenes for ten boys and one girl. Perseus and Medusa. See also Gor- gon's head. Peter and the magic goose. NI, p. 15. Simple dramatization of the story of the Golden Goose for second grade children. For eight boys, three girls, and extras. Peter Grief. BUB, p. 251. A "moral play" concerning the Pluperfect family, and the marvelous change brought about in their behavior by the supernatural being, Peter Grief. One act. For two PLAYS FOR CHILDREN boys and seven girls. Directions for cos- tumes and setting. Peter the Great's school. ST, bk. 4, p. 45. The wicked schemes of the princess Sophia to gain the crown are brought to naught by Peter's energy and diligence, and the nobles decide to make him Emperor of Russia without delay. Two scenes for eleven boys and one girl. Phaethon. COA, p. 23. Phoebus reluctantly permits Phaethon to guide his fiery chariot for one day's journey through the sky. Four scenes for five boys and one girl. Philemon and Baucis. COA, p. 50. Jupiter and Mercury visit the humble home of Philemon and Baucis, partake of their hospitality, and promise them that death shall not divide them. For three boys and one girl. Philemon and Baucis. See also Marvelous pitcher; Miraculous pitcher. Piccola. NO, p. 104. A little chimney swallow in Piccola's wooden shoe seems to her good Santa's Christmas gift. Three short acts for eight little girls. Pickwick papers. See BardelJ v. Pickwick; Bob Sawyer's supper party; Jingle's wooing of the spinster aunt ; Mr. Pickwick at Dingley Dell; Sam Weller and the Bath footmen. Piece of cheese. ST, bk. 1, p. 10. White cat and black cat quarrel over a piece of cheese, and monkey undertakes to be judge. For three little children. Short. Pied piper. DO, p. 130. This and the following plays are from the poem by Robert Browning, in which a piper plays the rats away, but is refused his reward by the men of Hamelin. Then he pipes another tune, and Hamelin loses its children. A very simple arrangement for seven children and any number of ex- tras. Pied piper. HOA, p. 56. Two short scenes for fifteen little boys. Pied piper. BUB, p. 301. Characters : The pied piper, Mayor of Hamelin, Corporation of Hamelin, citizens, rats, cats, dogs, boys and girls of Hamelin, halberdiers, and the poet, himself. Plays one hour. Full directions. Pied piper. STF. The entire action of the play takes place in the council chamber in the town hall of Hamelin. Whenever possible the exact lines of the poem have been used. One act. Cast requires for from twenty to fifty children. Detailed description of stage plan, fur- niture, and costumes with illustrations and cost. Music for choruses and dances given. Plays forty minutes. Pied piper of Hamelin. DUN, p. 135. "He smiles a little smile As if he knew some magic sleeps In his quiet pipe the while." A simple dramatization in two scenes. For three boys, townspeople, councilmen, and children. Simple directions. Pied piper of Hamelin. G, p. 51. In both narrative and dramatic form. Two scenes for sixteen boys and extras. Pied piper of Hamelin. LAS, p. 32. Another dramatization in four scenes for six boys and many extras. Simple direc- tions. Pied piper of Hamelin. NO, p. 74. Two short acts for five little children and many extras. Pied piper. See also Piper; Return of the spring. Pigs and the giant. BRY, p. 79. How three little pigs escape from a giant in the woods. Arranged from Howard Pyle for seven little children. Pilgrims in Holland. TU, p. 64. A story of the stay in Leyden. — Contents. For two boys and two girls. Very short. Pilot. WOO, p. 130. James Fenimore Cooper's story of the American revolution arranged in five acts for class use. INDEX TO PLAYS 79 Pine tree. GO, p. 23. Neither leaves of gold nor of fresh green make happy the little pine, which rejoices when it is dressed once more in its beau- tiful green needles. For three boys, two girls, and extras as fairies. Costumes, music and dances suggested. Also photo- graphs of costumes. Simple and short. Pine tree. See also Discontented pine tree. Pinocchio. LA, p. 154. The remarkable adventures of a wooden marionette who wanted to be a real live boy. Eight scenes in narrative form from Collodi's story, with helps for dramatiza- tion. Pinocchio. NI, p. 61. Five short scenes simply arranged for second grade children. Includes : The origin of Pinocchio ; Pinocchio and the speaking cricket ; Pinocchio and Fire-eater ; The field of miracles ; The consultation. From two to six characters. Pioneer boys and girls. RX, no. 3. Hank and Hannah, two New England children, make the acquaintance of some children who live in a pioneer settlement in Illinois in the year 1814. One of the Illinois Centennial plays. For four boys and four girls. Suggestions given. Pioneers. MAH, p. 13. "The powers of the Forest The powers of the River Ye shall subdue. They shall be to ye Fire for the winter, Shelter and roof-tree Skins for thy covering. And for thy harvests Moisture abundant." An historical pageant-play in one act for six speakers and many extras. Music sug- gested. Directions given. Pioneers. OP. "There lies the West, A breath of Earth all fallow and unused. Where we may build the vision we have seen." An interpretation of the Spirit of Amer- ica as seen in a "plain tale of '49." A play by James Oppenheim, first produced at La- nier Camp in Maine. Two scenes, prologue and epilogue. For five older boys, two older girls and many extras. Plays forty- five minutes. Piper. PE. "What breath and blood — what are the hearts of children To Hamelin — while it heaps its money- bags ?" Poetic and beautiful dramatization of Browning's Pied Piper. Four acts. For fifteen boys and nine girls. Plays a full evening. Piper. See also Pied piper; Return of the spring. Playing house. NO, p. 97. Two little boys and two little girls play that they are grown up. Plea of the midsummer fairies. See Fairies' plea. Pocahontas and Captain Smith. ST, bk. 2, p. 99. The Great Spirit breathes His courage into Pocahontas and helps her to save Cap- tain John Smith. Two short scenes for eight boys, six girls and extras. Pocahontas and Captain Smith. See also John Smith; Narrow escape; Princess Pocahontas. Pocahontas in London. TU, p. 68. A story of how the lords and ladies of the court treated Pocahontas as the princess daughter of the Emperor Powhatan. — Con- tents. For four boys and four girls. Short. Pocahontas saves Jamestown. ST, bk. 2, p. 107. Pocahontas warns the white men of an Indian attack, and helps to make peace between them. Two short scenes for seven boys, one girl, and extras. Pomegranate seeds. KN, p. 131. The story of Proserpina adapted from the Hawthorne narrative and arranged for four boys and four girls. Pomegranate seeds. See also Perse- phone; Proserpina. Pool of answers. CR, p. 327. An idyllic play with a pastoral setting, in which wondrous fortunes with hidden 80 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN meanings are read in the Pool by the Mother Gypsy. For five older boys, five older girls, and extras. Costumes described. Directions given. Poor little boy. OLA, p. 135. While wandering across the World, one day Earth-Mother finds a poor little boy sleeping, wan and weary on the hillside, and calls her children The Spirit of the Flowers and the Spirit of the Trees and the Spirit of the Fruits and the Spirit of the Waters and bids them make the poor little boy well again. Then they whisper to him their wonderful secret — of — How to make a Gar- den! — Program. "A play of Garden Pro- duction" in one act for one boy and five girls. Costume designs and simple direc- tions. Poor man and the rich man. LAN, p. 51. A poor man feigns dumbness in order to make a rich man unwillingly testify against himself before the judge. For three boys. Poor old dog. CX. Based on a Russian story of a dog who, being considered useless in his old age, is turned out of his home to die in the woods, but by following the friendly advice ot a wolf he proves his value and is taken back with honor. — Contents. Three scenes for four children. Illustrations of costumes and setting. Property list and stage directions. Plays twenty minutes. Poppy seller. GX, p. 25. Death, in the guise of a poppy seller, brings release to the occupants of a be- sieged castle. One act for five persons. Post office. R. By the Hindu poet Tagore. This simple, fanciful play may have a hidden symbolism, but it is apparently only a pathetic story of a little sick boy who sits at an open win- dow and gives voice to his longings for life and freedom in friendly talks with those who pass. A. L. A. Booklist. Two acts. For nine boys and a girl. Setting is pres- ent day India. Plays one hour and a half. Pot of broth. Y. By the Irish poet Yeats. A wandering beggarman matches his wits against the stinginess and stupidity of Sibby Coneelly. Celtic humor. One act. For two boys and one girl. Directions given. Plays twenty- five minutes. Pot of gold. ST, bk. 2, p. 63. Three lazy boys are induced to dig in their vineyard by the promise of a pot of gold. Three short scenes for five boys. Power of Loyalty. DOR. To Margaret, an everygirl of 1918, who frets because now "everything is for the war," is given a vision in which Truth re- veals to her how weak America would be without the aid of Sacrifice and the power of Loyalty. A play in one act for seven boys, ten girls and extras. Written for school use. Power of Purim. KR. The "power of Purim" proves to be the magic word which rescues from the gypsies several children kidnapped on the eve of Purim. One act. For four boys and seven girls. Full directions for costumes and setting. For Jewish religious schools. Plays thirty minutes. Prayer of the forest spirit. OL, p. 95. Sad news is brought to the forest because Kay, the woodcutter lad, is hastening that morn to cut down the great Oak for his cot- tage fire. Robin Redbreast is the sad mes- senger. Mournfully the Spirit of the Wil- low and the Spirit of the Maple and the Spirit of the Pine beg her life in vain. At last the Spirit of the Oak with her gentle prayer for safety touches Kay's heart and the trees of the forest are safe forever. — Program. A "play of fairies," in one act for two boys, four girls and "any number of Tree Spirits." Costume designs and simple directions. Precocious piggy. DO, p. 104; SKB, p. 52. Poem by Thomas Hood arranged for seven children. Princess and a churn. OLA, p. 153. Princess Rosalinde grows weary of the Palace and its gilded splendour, and runs away to the cottage of Barbara the peasant maid. There, the royal maiden learns to value the happiness that her own life gives. — Program. "A play of human fitness" in one act for two girls. Costume designs and simple directions. INDEX TO PLAYS 81 Princess and the pixies. MAE, p. 187. The little apprentice Rosadew proves by her deeds of kindness and love that she is a true princess. One act. For five boys, three girls, and extras. Full directions. Plays twenty minutes. Princess and the swineherd. D, p. 39. How a swineherd who was rtally a prince traded a porridge-pot for a hundred kisses from her Highness. One act for two boys, four girls, and extras. Illustra- tions suggest costumes. Simple directions. Princess Fragoletta. SY, p. 47. "Happy Fragoletta, She has found at last, Magic she has sought so long, All her sorrow's past, Happy little Princess Fragoletta !" A spoiled little Princess of Fantasia finds the real world dull and cannot live without the enchantment made for her each day by a powerful wizard. Prince Ivor, her lover, helps to break the spell which binds her, and together they find true magic. A two- act play for four boys, ten girls, and many extras. Simple directions. Princess Moss-Rose. MEB, p. 125. "Hear the merry spin-wheel's song : Wake ! Day's begun ! Thread comes short and thread comes long. Spin, spinning, spun !" An interesting play in one act "for every child's birthday," based upon the story of the Sleeping Beauty. For eighteen char- acters and extras. Directions. Princess Moss-Rose. See also Briar Rosebud; Sleeping beauty. Princess on the road. GX, p. 61. The princess finds it difficult to prove her identity to a group of angry villagers. One act for a princess, a juggler and labor- ers, women and children. Princess Pocahontas. MAG, p. 12. The romantic and picturesque incident of the rescue of Captain John Smith is inter- preted mainly by action. Dialogue for two boys and a girl is slight. Thirty or more characters. Includes Indian ceremonies and several dances. Music suggested. Full di- rections. Plays thirty minutes. Princess Pocahontas. See also John Smith; Narrow escape; Pocahon- tas and Captain Smith. Princess Tenderheart. SO, p. 77. A "chit of a Princess with a biscuit-china heart, and a broken one at that" is won by a page whose father was a glazier. Two acts. For four boys, one girl, and extras. Col- ored illustrations suggest costumes. Simple directions. Plays thirty-five minutes. Priscilla, Myles and John. MEC, p. 7. John Alden does his honorable best for Captain Myles Standish, but speaks better for himself and thereby wins his cause. One act. For two boys and two girls. Sim- ple directions. Plays forty-five minutes. See also Courtship of Miles Standish; Maid of Plymouth; Miles Standish; Stan- dish of Standish. Professor Frog's lecture. SX, p. 57. Bobby is lying on a hillock near a pond. He is drowsily looking at the white clouds drifting across a deep blue sky. Presently, a number of frogs and toads hop into view and take places on a mossy log. The leader. Professor Rana, a large green frog wearing goggles on his nose, hops up to Bobby and examines him. Suddenly, Bobby feels perfectly helpless and he hears voices. In a little while he discovers that Pro- fessor Rana is to give a lecture on the human tadpole and Bobby is to serve as a specimen. The Professor in his lecture points out how useless and cruel boys are, and how helpful to man frogs and toads are. Finally, Bobby is allowed to plead his own cause. After promising to mend his ways and in the future to treat frogs and toads kindly, Bobby is freed. He jumps to his feet, and sees the frogs and toads hopping away and hears a warning voice telling him to remember what has been said. — Plot of the Play. Adapted from a story by Mrs. M. A. Lane. For three boys, one girl, and extras. Simple suggestions. Proserpina. COA, p. 58. Pluto seizes Proserpina and carries her off to the underworld, from which she is rescued by Mercury and permitted to re- 82 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN turn to the upper world for six months of every year. Five scenes for five boys and four girls. Proserpina. SE, p. 9. A simple narrative version illustrated with many photographs of children in Greek costume posing in the scenes from the myths. To be acted in pantomime or dram- atized from text and pictures. Suggestions to teachers. Proserpina. See also Persephone; Pomegranate seeds. Proud ring-finger. ST, bk. 2, p. 36. Ring-finger finds that it cannot work alone. For ten little children. Prudent Hans. LA, p. 51. Each time he visits Grethel, Hans care- fully follows his mother's advice for the time before. At last his stupidity makes him put a rope around Grethel's neck, lead her home, and tie her to the manger. And Grethel runs away. In narrative form with helps for dramatization. Puppet princess. STB. How the puppet princess wins for her- self a real heart in place of the wooden one which squeaked. A play in one act by Augusta Stevenson. For six boys, seven girls, and extras. The costumes illustrated were designed by the Denison Manufactur- ing Co., and made entirely from paper. Directions. Puritan Christmas. C, p. 121. The little Puritan family, hearing from their young mother of happy Christmas in Old luigland, decide on a celebration of their own. The Colonists, surprising them, are very angry, and inclined to severe pun- ishment, until a little Indian boy, who has been befriended by Mistress Delight and her children, shows that, for the sake of her kindness to him, the settlement has been spared a dreadful Indian raid. The peace and good will of Christmas touch the stern hearts of the Puritans, and they end by a friendly sharing of the festival. — Contents. Suggested by a story by S. J. Prichard. Two acts. For twelve boys and eight girls. Puritan costumes. Notes on staging. Plays forty-five minutes. Puritan Christmas. OLB, p. 67. Dorcas, the lovely little Puritan maid, plans to give her invalid mother an old- time English Christmas in the new land. But her brother Roger forbids it, for he deems it a worldly sin, and yet — when the hearth is decked with green and holly boughs, the strict, austere Elder Goodman blesses the spirit of Christmas in the Puritan home, and 'tis all because Good- wife Mercy visits her neighbors that Christ- mas Eve. — Program. Two acts. For two boys and two girls. Designs for costumes. Simple directions. Purloined letter. SI, third year, p. 59. How M. Dupin solves the mystery of the letter when the Prefect of Police in Paris fails. Arranged for High School use from Poe's story. Two scenes for three boys. Puss in boots. RI, p. 81. "Goodness me! Why. what was that? Silent be! It was the cat!" A jolly little operetta in three scenes based on the old tale and to be sung to familiar airs. For four boys, two girls and extras. Illustrations suggest costumes. Pussy-cat. JO, p. 9. Pussy goes to London to visit the queen, then comes home again. Three very short acts for five little children. Pussy-cat's visit. BRY, p. 64. Pussy-cat tells of his journey to London to visit the queen. For three little chil- dren. Pygmahon. BUB, p. 326. Aphrodite grants the gift of life to Pygmalion's statue, Galatea, but turns the lovers both to stone when the sculptor neg- lects her worship in his new-found happi- ness. Two acts. For two boys, one girl, and chorus. Directions for costumes and setting. Quakers in New England. TU, p. 20. A story of early Salem in the days of witchcraft. — Contents. For two boys and five girls. Short. INDEX TO PLAYS 83 Quarreling tiger and lion. PR, p. 92. While tiger and lion fight over which one shall have the lamb they have killed, fox comes up and steals it avi^ay. Two very short acts for four little children. Quarrelsome children. PR, p. 83. A father tries to teach his children that in working together there is strength. For four little boys. Queen and emperor. MED, p. 95. A short play about the portrait of the much-loved Queen Louise, by Gustav Richter. For four boys, two girls, and extras. Directions. Queen Elizabeth and Sir Walter Raleigh. LA, p. 192. The young cavalier spreads his cloak over the mire that the queen may step over it dry-shod. From Scott's Kenilworth, with suggestions for dramatization. Queen Elizabeth and Sir Walter Raleigh. See also Sir Walter Raleigh. Queen Flora's court. SY, p. 127. On Midsummer day Queen Flora comes to hold her court. The seasons are sum- moned to attend the queen whe welcomes them and asks to see the flowers of Spring and Summer, the fruits of Autumn, and all the Snowflakes of cold Winter's fashioning. A masque of flowers for many children. "Oyez ! Oyez ! Oyez ! The Masque is ended. Long live Queen Flora !" Queen of hearts. BL, v. 1, p. 25. A very short version in rhyme of the familiar story. For eight little boys and girls. Simple directions. Queen of hearts. HAB, p. 130. The characters are the King, Queen and Knave of Hearts, the cook and the kitchen- maid. Costumes described. Directions given. Short. Humorous. Queen of hearts. KRO. "Being an account of the fell punishment bestowed on the Knave, whose greediness led him into evildoing." Four scenes. For seven boys, two girls and extras. Costumes described. Directions given. Plays forty minutes. Queen's coffer. DU, p. 111. James H, boy king of Scotland, con- cealed in an oaken chest, is rescued from Edinburgh Castle and brought to his mother at Stirling by the brave William Douglas. A two-act play written in verse for two older boys and two older girls. Costumes described. Stage directions. Quentin Durward. See Galeotti's escape from death. Quest of the doll. SMI, p. 61. The little gnome prince, Garnet, bravely ventures among mortals to seek for his twin, the gnome-land Princess Ruby, the "thing with eyes and hair and feet and little hands, — the thing you village children call a doll." A Christmas play in two acts for three boys, three girls and many extras. Music for songs and dances suggested. Simple but complete directions. Rabbit's message. SKB, p. 145. Lady Spring sends messages to the chil- dren to tell them that she is here. For ten or more children. Race of the hare and the hedgehog. SK, p. 15. Mrs. Hedgehog helps her husband to out- wit the hare. In narrative form. Race of the hare and hedgehog. See also Hare and the hedgehog. Rat princess. BRY, p. 54. How the gray rat wins the hand of the beautiful daughter of King Rat. A Japanese tale. For six little children. Rat's daughter. SK, p. 66. The same in narrative form. Rats in council. PR, p. 35. All the rats meet to decide how to get rid of their enemy, the cat, — but not one of them is willing to tie a bell around her neck so that they may hear her when she comes. For several little children. Rats in council. See also Belling the cat. Red Cross policeman. RE, Jan., 1918, p. 63. A story of little Andrew, his strange vis- itors, and his friendship for the Policeman 84 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN with the Red Cross on his breast. A sim- ple play for seven younger boys and one younger girl. Red Riding Hood. BE, p. 91. A play in three scenes for one boy and three girls. Both the traditional and an alternative "happy" ending are given. Songs with music. Costumes suggested. Direc- tions given. Red Riding Hood. SMI, p. 169. A pantomime for three boys and three girls arranged in three scenes from the French version of the story, in which Red Riding Hood is saved from the Wolf by two woodcutters. Red Riding Hood. U, p. 1. A simple version for school use, in which Red Riding Hood is rescued by her father. One song for chorus. For two boys and three girls. Simple directions. Red Riding Hood. See also Little Red Riding Hood: Red shoes. ST, bk. 3, p. 62. The little shoes which vain little Karen wanted so badly are turned into dancing shoes which never stop until she repents of her naughtiness. Four scenes for ten boys and four girls. Reforming a bad boy. LUA, p. 207. Written for the Civic league of a New York city school. Characters are David, the bad boy ; the Commissioner of street cleaniug department ; Civic league mem- bers; and men who bear David a grudge. Four short scenes, ending with a parade and drill. Rescue. HAB, p. 123. For two children, Marie de Vervey, a little aristocrat, and Jacques, a peasant boy. Time : the French revolution. Costumes described. Directions given. Short. Rescue of the Princess Winsome. J. "A fairy play for old and young" in which may be found a witch, an ogre, and other fearsome characters. By Annie Fel- lows Johnston. Three acts. Written in verse. For five boys, five girls, and chorus of fairies and six flower messengers. Resolutions of Anychild. PAC, p. 1. How Dr. Curem, with his salts, "Try Again," revives the New Year's resolutions which Anychild has broken only eight days after making them. A morality play for one boy and six girls. Simple directions. Return of Odysseus. FRD. "Lo, I, all as I am, after sufferings and much wanderings, have come in the twen- tieth year to mine own country." Adapted by the fifth grade of the Francis W. Parker School, Chicago, from Butcher and Lang's Odyssey. For twelve boys and two girls. Plays forty-five minutes. Return of Spring. SKB, p. 105. Columbine, Pantaloon and Clown break- fast on Mt. Olympus with Spring, and en- courage her to come back to the world to finish her work. Arranged from D. C. Cal- thorp for four little children. Return of the Douglas. FRE. "But even though wronged, I love my king, I'll stand by him through everything; My life, my honor, and my cause, I tender free to Scotland's laws." Arranged in three acts from Scott's Lady of the Lake by pupils of the eighth grade of the Francis W. Parker School, Chicago. For eleven boys and one girl. Simple di- rections. Return of the Spring. ST, bk. 1, p. 109. Suggested by Robert Browning's Pied piper. An added scene tells how the mayor and people of Hamelin throw their silver and gold at the foot of the mountain which opens to free the piper and the children who disappeared a year ago. Two scenes for thirteen little children, and many extras. Return of the Spring. See also Pied piper; Piper. Revolt of the holidays. HA, p. 2. "A Christmas gambol" in which all the holidays take part. Contains songs, music and dance for three ballets. Calls for six boys, four girls, and extras. Full direc- tions. Short. Revolution. GOA, bk. 4, p. 57. The seven bishops who defy King James II are brought to trial and freed, the king INDEX TO PLAYS 85 flees to France, and William and Mary, Prince and Princess of Orange, accept jointly the crown of Great Britain. Three scenes. For twenty-seven boys, one girl and extras. For class-room use. Rhoecus. NO, p. 79. Rhoecus meets a lovely wood nymph, but forgets to keep his tryst with her. Three short scenes for five little children. One song. Rich citizens. PAA, p. 195. A short play for young people, emphasiz- ing some of the blessings of good govern- ment. May be used for Lincoln's birthday. — Contents. For one boy, ten girls and extras. Costumes suggested. Simple di- rections. Short. Rich man's guest. LAN, p. 98. A rich man learns from his king that a man is more than his clothes. An Oriental story arranged for three boys. Rip Van Winkle. LAS, p. 36. Poor old Rip Van Winkle comes home after twenty years' sleep in the mountains. A short arrangement of Irving's story in two scenes for seven boys, two girls, and extras. Rip Van Winkle. See also When Rip Van Winkle came home. Robert Morris and the revolution. TU, p. 122. A story of how the revolution was financed. — Contents. For three boys and two girls. Short. Robin Goodfellow. SY, p. 1. "And can the magician a fortune divine • Without lily, germander, and sops in wine? With sweet briar And bon-fire, And strawberry wine And Columbine?" Robin, part sprite, part mortal, contrives to outwit the foolish wisdom of old age and by giving to Audrey Fortune and her lover their hearts' desire assures them that fairy folk have better gifts than fairy gold. A play in three acts for nine boys, five girls, and others as sprites and fairies. Simple directions. Robin Hood. D, p. 77. Richard Coeur de Lion, in the garb of a monk, visits Sherwood Forest, and finds faithful followers in Robin Hood and his merry men. One act. For nine boys, two girls and extras. Simple directions. Robin Hood. FRF. Arranged from Howard Pyle's Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by the eighth grade of the Francis W. Parker School, Chicago. Two acts. For sixteen or more boys. Simple directions. Robin Hood. MAB, first series. "Here is the tale of Robin Hood, Whose court was in the gay green-wood, Whose merry men went to and fro More than six hundred years ago." A three-act play for fourteen boys and eight girls, to be given, if possible, out-of- doors. Costume illustrations. Music sug- gested. Full directions. Robin Hood and his merry men. HAB, p. 1. The outlaws relieve Simon of Lincoln of his gold and welcome his daughter Rosa- mond as a new comrade. For five boys and two girls. One act. Costumes described. Directions given. Short. Robin Hood and Mother Hobbes. SKC, p. 137. Mother Hobbes helps Master Robin to escape from the Bishop of Hereford who promises "never again to seek to do Robin Hood harm." Five scenes. For six boys and one girl. Simple directions. Illustra- tions suggest costumes. Robin Hood and the Banbury tinker. SKC, p. 111. "I have a warrant from the King To take him where I can, Oh !" Tom Potts loses the King's warrant but wins a place in Robin Hood's band of yeo- men. Five scenes. For nine boys. Simple directions. Illustrations suggest costumes. Robin Hood and the sad knight. HOA, p. 139. How Robin Hood saves Sir Richard of Lea from leaving England and gives him money to redeem his land. Two scenes for eight boys and one girl. 86 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Robin Hood and the unfortunate knight. SKC, p. 179. The same incident in five scenes. For thirteen boys and two girls. Simple direc- tions. Illustrations suggest costumes. Robin Hood and the widow's three sons. COR. The main incidents of the play are based on the old ballad, in Ritson's collection, of Robin Hood rescuing the Widow's Three Sons from the Sheriff When Going to Be Executed. Three acts for three girls, eleven boys and many extras. Robin Hood ballads. SI, first year, p. 47. "Two dramatic adaptations based on the ballads, Robin Hood and Little John, and Robin Hood and Allin a Dale." For High School use. Includes songs. For seven boys, one girl, and extras. Robin of Sherwood. CRA. "Play your part well and carefully and we shall have a good ending of what seems a bad beginning. There arc doors to the strongest castle and wit or gold can open them." — Robin Hood. A comedy in three acts by J. R. Craw- ford in which Lady Marian is rescued from the castle of Nottingham and Robin is re- warded by King Richard for his loyalty. For twenty-two boys, three girls and many extras. Stage directions. Plays a whole evening. Robin Hood. See aLso In the good green wood; King Richard and Robin Hood; Nottingham shoot- ing match; Robin of Sherwood. Roman. GOA, bk. 1, p. 9. Caractacus, led in the triumphal proces- sion through the streets of Rome, wins the admiration of the lordly Romans by his fearlessness, and is set at liberty. Two scenes. For thirteen boys, one girl, and extras. For class-room use. Roman road. LUB, v. 3, p. 151. A story of the Knights' road that leads to Rome, from Kenneth Grahame's Golden Age. Dramatized for school use. For two boys and one girl. Romancers. ROS. "Costumes light and Easy rhymes . . . Old wall, lovers, scented thymes." "The scene is laid where you will, pro- vided the costumes be pretty." A comedy in three acts by Edmond Rostrand. For five older boys, one older girl, and extras. The first act may be given separately. Di- rections given. Plays a full evening." Rose and the ring. SO, p. 17. A little play from Thackeray's Fireside Pantomime. Two acts. For five boys, three girls, and extras. Elf costumes illus- trated. Simple directions. Rose o' Plymouth-town. DIX. Rose de la Noye, a curly-haired Hugue- not lass of seventeen is wooed and won by the "better man" in spite of treachery and cowardly lies. \ romantic comedy in four acts. Place: Plymouth in New England in 1622 — 1623. For four older boys and four older girls. Puritan costumes. Directions given. Plays a full evening. Royal toy-mender. SX, p. 203. King Justforfun declares the children of men are growing too careless witli their playthings. It is impossible for the brownies to mend all that come into the Land of Lost Toys, where all broken playthings are taken care of. The Fairy Godmother is sent to bring Sam and Dot Brown to the King's court, where they are to be tried for care- lessness and the wilful destruction of toys. Some of the children's broken playthings suggest tit for tat punishment. Teddy Bear jumps up and says he was always treated very kindly. He calls attention to the fact that Sam is an expert mender of toys and pleads to have the boy appointed Toy- mender to the King. This will lessen the number of playthings that come to the Land of Lost Toys. The King agrees to accept Teddy's plan and allows the children to go home, where Sam, assisted by Dot, is to mend all the neighboring children's toys. —Plot of the play. Suggested by an incident in a story by Mrs. Ewing. . For five boys, two girls, and groups. Simple suggestions. Ruler of the forest. OLB, p. 27. There is fear in the hearts of the Forest Animals because Kwasind, the Indian chief, hunts daily in the Forest with his sharp and shining arrows. Then in desperation INDEX TO PLAYS 87 Mokwa, the Ancient Bear, calls to council Wabasso the Fleet-footed, Wonks the Wise One, Ahdeek the Deer, and all the other Forest Folk to plan to slay Kwasind. But the story tells how all their wit and cunning fail and still the man is the Ruler of the Forest. — Program. Three acts. For five boys and extras. Designs for costumes. Simple directions. Rumpelstiltzkin. BE, p. 49. "His name is Rumpelstiltzkin Which nobody can deny !" The power of this strange little man is broken when the princess guesses his name. A dramatization in five scenes for older children. For seven boys and one girl. Songs with music. Directions for costumes and setting. Rumpelstiltskin. N, p. 57. How Kitty Cornflour becomes the Prin- cess Catherine. Five scenes for four boys, three girls, and extras as elves. Simple directions. St. Nicholas. A, p. 39. In the guise of St. Nicholas, patron saint of sailors and children, Joris Romeyn comes back to his little family in Holland after three years of absence at sea. Written in verse. Two scenes. For two boys and two girls. Illustrated. Music for songs and a dance. Directions. St. Valentine's house. WIC, p. 45. "Laughter and gladness But never of sadness. That's what valentines are made of." A child who visits St. Valentine's house learns that one can give real valentines every day in the year. For one boy, one girl, and many extras as elves, fairies and imps. Suggestions for staging and cos- tumes. Salon Carre fantasy. MED, p. 17. The subjects of two portraits, The young man with a glove and The woman at her toilet emerge from their frames to the be- wilderment of several visitors to the Louvre. For four boys, seven girls, and extras. Humorous. Full directions. Sam Weller and the Bath footmen. PER, p. 107. The gentlemen in livery invite Sam to a "friendly swarry," consisting of a boiled leg of mutton with the usual trimmings. One scene from Pickwick Papers for seven boys. Two costume plates. Stage direc- tions. Samuel Morse's telegraph. HX, p. 166. The trial message of the first telegraph, and what it won for Samuel Morse, its mventor. One-act play for third and fourth grade children, for three boys. Sandalwood box. ST, bk. 4, p. 56. Because of his kindness to a Moor, Pedro Gil, a water-carrier, is rewarded with won- derful treasure buried in a tower of the Al- hambra. Suggested by Irving's Legend of the Moor's Legacy. Three scenes for five boys, five girls, and extras. Santa Claus. JO, p. 35. A good little girl and naughty litle boy are each properly rewarded by Santa Claus. Two short acts for two little boys and two little girls. Sara Crewe. See Little princess. Saturday night in New England. TU, p. 154. A story of colonial manners and customs. —Contents. For three boys and two girls. Very short. Saxon. GOA, bk. 1, p. 24. The Britons decide to ask Hengist and Horsa to help them drive out the Picts and Scots, and to give them the Isle of Thanet in payment. One scene. For six boys and class. Short. Saxon and Norman. MAB, second series. "Broken, shield and axe ! All, all was in vain ! Senlac! Senlac ! Oh, Harold is slain !" How William, Duke of Normandy, be- came the Conqueror of England. A four- act play for sixteen boys and five girls. Some of the parts may be doubled. Cos- tume illustrations. Music suggested. Full directions. ScandaL LAN, p. 14. "Now don't tell anybody, Because if you do, My secrets, the next time, I'll not tell to you !" 88 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN A very short dialogue in verse for two little girls. Scout's honor. LI. Tom Winters, a second class scout, de- serts camp because of jealousy of Billy Palmer, a first class scout. Billy falls in the lake and Tom rescues him. Tom re- fuses to be made a hero, and confessing his desertion, is allowed to start fresh as a tenderfoot. One act for thirteen or more boys. Full directions. Plays about forty- five minutes. Seasons. BRY, p. 94. Poem by George Cooper arranged for five little children. Secret garden. LUB, v. 3, p. 1. How the garden and its magic changed disagreeable little Mary Lenox into a cheer- ful happy child and Colin Craven from a helpless cripple to a "fine well lad." Seven scenes arranged for school use from Mrs. Burnett's story. For five boys and four girls. Seeing the world. LAN, p. 28. A little pig who wants to see the world comes back after visiting the farmyard and tells his mother about its wonders. For four children. Seeing the world. SK, p. 11. The same story in narrative form. Selfish man. SKB, p. 79. A man who seeks his fortune is told by a Wise Man to live no longer for himself but for others. For four little children. Selfish woman. ST, bk. 2, p. 11. A woman who would not give finds that she cannot have. For two little children. Servant of all. SK, p. 45. Carl the swineherd is made king of the city. Narrative from A. and E. Keary. Settling of Boston. HX, p. 34. William Blackstone, who grew tired of Plymouth and found a new home in Shaw- mut, invites Governor Winthrop and his company to settle there. Later at the town meeting, the settlement is named Boston. Three short acts for five boys and extras, to be used in third or fourth grade. Seven old ladies of Lavender town. BUG; BUD, p. 67. Seven lovely brides of quarrelsome tem- per are punished by being turned into seven old ladies condemned to roam the world in search of their husbands whom they find at last as figures in the Great Mechanical and Conversational Agglomeration of Wax- works. For nine boys and eight girls. Scene in Kate Greenaway land, at the time of Once-upon-a-time. Operetta in two acts. Music by Oscar Weil. Full directions. Seven sleepers of Ephesos. MEB, p. 79. A one-act play about the awakening of the seven sleepers when the "temple-keeper" city of Ephesos has renounced the festival of Artemis in favor of the celebration of Easter. For twenty-three older boys, one girl, and extras. Costumes suggested. Sevenoaks. WOO, p. 69. J. G. Holland's story of Robert Belcher capitalist, whose evil deeds receive their due rewards, arranged in five acts for class use. Sheik Chilli. LAN, p. 96. He lived in the Simla district in India, and one day as he was walking along with a vessel of oil on his head, he dreamed of all the wealth the oil was to bring him. But the vessel was broken, and the oil spilled, and Sheik Chilli would have been the loser had it not been for the Rajah. In narrative form. Short. Shepherd boy who called wolf. ST, bk. 2, p. 22. Villagers who run to help the boy find that it is a joke, and so do not come when they are really needed. Three short scenes for six little children. Shepherd boy who called wolf. See also Wolf! wolf! Shepherd wolf. PR, p. 30. Mr. Wolf dresses himself like a shepherd in order to get some fine fat sheep for himself, but his voice betrays him and rouses the shepherd boy and his dog. For four little children. Shingebiss. SK, p. 72. North Wind finds that he cannot freeze a brave little duck called Shmgebiss. In narrative form. INDEX TO PLAYS 89 Sick deer. ST, bk. 1, p. 18. A deer's animal friends come to talk with him, but eat every blade of grass within his reach. For five little children. Sick dolly. BRY, p. 52. Poem arranged for two little children. Siege of Calais. BUB, p. 291. Queen Philippa saves the lives of the six burgesses who have offered themselves to the English King to save the starving folk of Calais. Founded on Froissart's Chron- icles. One act. For eighteen boys, two girls, and extras. Full directions. Siege of Calais. See also Burghers of Calais; Keys of Calais. Siegfried. MAT, p. 191. "A story of enchantment old, A forge, a cave, a Nibelung's bright gold." "The scene is meant to be simply a frag- ment of Siegfried's youth." For three boys and two girls. Costumes described. Direc- tions given. Silas Marner. SI, third year, p. 15. Arranged for High School use from George Eliot as "a four-scene play showing the transformation of Silas through the coming of the golden-haired Eppie, in place of the lost gold." For nine boys, three girls and extras. Silas Wegg's stall. BRO, p. 175. Mr. Boffin, retired dustman, finds that Silas is "a literary man — with a Wooden leg — and all Print is open to him." One scene from Dickens's Our Mutual Friend for one boy and one girl. Directions given. Plays twenty-two minutes. Silly old man. LAN, p. 110. A ballad about an old man, a gentleman thief, and a fine portmanteau filled with silver and gold. Silly peacock. PR, p. 75. The peacock hopes that if the other birds envy his feathers they may forget that he is too clumsy to fly. A very short dialogue for two little children. Silver thread. MAI. Cubert, a miner lad, rescues the Princess Gwenda from the Goblins, and by means of the Silver thread guides her to safety. A Cornish folk play in three acts. For four- teen boys, five girls and extras. Costumes described. Directions given. Plays two hours. Single-handed McAuley. F, p. 184. Never a man had been taken by an officer from Long Philip's camp, until McAuley secured Felix Theriault, outlaw, by winning the men to the side of law and patriotism. Dramatized from a story by Holman F. Day. Two scenes. For four boys and extras. Simple directions. Sir Bumble. LAN, p. 114. A wee one-span manikin who buzzes about with a boom ! bim ! boom ! helps a soldier's son and the Princess Blossom to live happily ever after. A Punjab tale given in narrative form. Sir Gareth of Orkney. D, p. 1. Gareth, the kitchen boy, is knighted by King Arthur, and goes forth to rescue the Lady Lyonors from the Castle Dangerous. Three acts. For six boys, two girls, and extras. Illustrations suggest costumes. Simple directions. Sir Percivale, the boy knight from the forest. ST, bk. 4, p. 163. The lad who wishes to become a knight presents himself at the court of King Arthur, who tests him and tempts him and finds that he fails in nothing. From the Mabinogion. Three scenes for eighteen boys, three girls, and many extras. Sir Walter Raleigh. BI, p. 79. A number of episodes in the life of Ra- leigh, youth, adventurer, courtier and knight. Five scenes for ten boys and two girls. Sir Walter Raleigh. See also Queen Elizabeth and Sir Walter Raleigh. Sixteenth-century Christmas. S, p. 139. "The purpose is to reproduce a Christ- mas scene of Shakespeare's time, both for its own sake and as an attractive setting for the delightful old Christmas carols." For five boys, three girls, and extras. Il- lustrations of costumes. Music suggested. Simple directions. 90 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Sketch book. See Rip Van Winkle ; When Rip Van Winkle came home. Sketches by Boz. See Horatio Sparkins; Mrs. Tibbs's boarding- house. Skimish at Rensselaerswijck. TU, p. 92. A story of New York in colonial days. — Contents. For five boys and three girls. Short. Skylark's spurs. SK, p. 114. How the skylark saves the eggs in the nest by means of his long spurs. Adapted from Jean Ingelovv, and given in narrative form. Sleeping beauty. BE, p. 301. "The wicked fairy's evil thought, Never fear ! oh, never fear ! We surely soon will bring to nought — Never fear ! oh, never fear !" An arrangement of the familiar story of the princess who slept a hundred years, in four scenes for four boys, nine girls and extras. Costumes suggested. Directions given. Sleeping beauty. DO, p. 108. A simple arrangement for twenty-five or more children. Sleeping beauty. DU, p. 129. " 'Tis an enchanted castle, where the flower Of all fair maidens, under magic spell. Is waiting for a prince to set her free." A poetic dramatization in three acts for eleven girls and five boys. Three songs. Di- rections for costumes and stage setting. Sleeping beauty. DUN, p. 1. "As the fairies have said, so the charm it shall be!" May be given simply or developed more elaborately. Three scenes. For two boys, sixteen girls, and extras. Planned for third and fourth grade children. Simple direc- tions. Sleeping beauty. GO, p. 99. "As we circle round the princess, All in our fairy ring W'e weave for her a magic spell, And fairy blessings bring." Dramatized in three simple scenes for six boys and fifteen girls from six to ten years of age. Costumes, music and dances sug- gested. Photographs of costumes. Direc- tions given. Sleeping beauty. JO, p. 136. Arranged in three short boys and fifteen girls. acts for four Sleeping beauty. RI, p. 103. "Ha ! she pricks her finger. Slow the distaff twirls. Hundred years she'll linger, Drowsiest of girls." The lines of this little operetta are sung to familiar airs. Three scenes. For two boys, six girls and extras. Costume illus- trations. Sleeping beauty. U, p. 5. A simple version in three scenes for school use. Four songs for the fairies. For three boys and eleven girls. Simple direc- tions. Sleeping beauty. SA, p. 147. A five-act play somewhat modernized. For four boys, six girls, and extras, or all the parts may be taken by girls. Includes a dance. Costumes suggested. Directions given. Plays thirty minutes. Sleeping beauty. See also Briar Rosebud; Princess Moss-Rose. Snake. PR, p. 90. A snake returns a peasant's kindness with ingratitude. A very short dialogue for two little children. Snow Queen. BUB, p. 238. How Gerda rescues Kay from the tall white lady with cold blue eyes and glitter- ing hair, who catches hold of disobedient children and carries them off to her great ice-palace at the North Pole. Arranged from Hans Christian Andersen's story in one act for eight boys, nine girls, and ex- tras. Includes a carol and a Christmas tree tableau. Directions for costumes and set- ting. Snow-White. SCB, p. 43. How a little princess is sent into the wild forest by a queen, how she is cared for by seven little dwarfs, and how at last the queen is punished and Snow-White mar- INDEX TO PLAYS 91 ries the prince. Eleven short scenes ar- ranged for eight boys and four girls. Snow-White. See also Snow White and the seven dwarfs; Snowdrop and the seven dwarfs. Snow White and Rose Red. GO, p. 54, Four short and simple scenes telling the story of a wicked dwarf, a bear who proves to be a prince, and two little girls who be- come princesses. For children from six to ten. Costumes described and illustrated. Directions given. Snow-White and Rose-Red. SMI, p. 195. A pantomime for two boys and three girls arranged in four scenes from Grimm's Household Stories. Snow-White and Rose-Red. U, p. 12. A simple version in two short scenes for school use. Two songs for chorus. For three boys and three girls. Simple direc- tions. Snow White and the seven dwarfs. GO, p. 79. "Mirror, mirror on the wall Who in this land is the fairest of all !" The familiar tale dramatized in seven simple scenes for ten boys and three girls from six to ten years of age. Costumes de- scribed and illustrated. Music suggested. Directions given. Snow White and the seven dwarfs. WH. The wicked Queen Brangomar learns that the only way to be beautiful without magic is to be good. A fairy tale play by Jessie B'. White based on the Grimm story and ar- ranged in seven scenes for elaborate pro- duction. Used at the Little Theater. Music by Edmond Rickett. For twelve boys, eleven girls and extras. Plays a full eve- ning. Snow White and the seven dwarfs. See also Snow White; Snowdrop and the seven dwarfs. Snow witch. MAI, p. 217. A Russian folk play in one act which "is a weaving of several Russian folk tales," and teaches that "it is better to be just one's self, with one's own burdens." For two boys, four girls, and extras. Costumes de- scribed. Directions given. Contains a folk dance. Plays half an hour. Snowdrop and the seven dwarfs. BUB, p. 190. A dramatization of the familiar story of Snow White in one act. In verse. For fifteen boys and nine girls. Directions for costumes and setting. Snowdrop and the seven dwarfs. U, p. 37. A simple version in eleven short scenes for school use. Four songs. For nine boys, five girls, and extras as fairies. Simple di- rections. Snowdrop and the seven dwarfs. See also Snow White ; Snow white and the seven dwarfs. So-so. KN, p. 25. Instead of obeying her mother, naughty little Joan follows what she thinks will do "just as well," and so trouble comes. Adapted from Juliana Horatia Ewing's story with this title. For four parts. Soap-box orator. PAA, p. 159. A very short play, showing the rise and fall of a would-be anarchist hero. — Con- tents. For five boys, three girls, and extras. Costumes suggested. Simple directions. Soft-soap day. HX, p. 29. How four Pilgrim women beat the In- dians by throwing soft-soap in their faces. A very short play in one act for third and fourth grade children. For six boys, four girls, and extras. Sohrab and Rustum. SI, third year, p. 7. Two episodes dramatized for High School use from Mathew Arnold's poem; Sohrab's plea and The recognition. For three boys. Sojourners. DR, July-Aug.-Sept., 1920, p. 357. A picture of Puritan life in the city of Leyden in the year 1620, just before the Speedwell sailed for England, carrying pas- sengers to the good ship Mayflower about to sail for America. A play in one act by 92 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Anna Hartwell and Isabelle Meeker. For five boys and two girls. For High School use. Directions. Soldier's horse. PR, p. 99. A mule envies a horse with a silver sad- dle, but after a year in the army the horse now ill and lame works side by side with the mule. Two short acts for two little children. Some wise men of Gotham. SCB, p. 11. When the king's men come the wise men of Gotham act like fools and so escape pun- ishment for blocking the road of his Majesty. For twelve or more boys. Some wise men of Gotham. See also Wise men of Gotham. Somewhere town. SKB, p. 21. Poem by Kate Greenaway arranged for two parts. Son of the Yemassee. ST, bk. 5, p. 205. Occonestoga, son of Chief Sanutee, is seized as a traitor by the braves of his tribe because of his relations with the English who are trying to secure more land. Based on episodes in William Gillmore Simms's novel, The Yemassee. Four acts for four- teen boys, two girls and many extras. Plays forty-five minutes. Song in the heart. ST, bk. 3, p. 109. Flat-foot, Hanging-lip and Broad-thumb spin three rooms full of flax that their niece may marry the prince. But he chooses her, after all, for the songs in her heart. Two scenes for one boy and six girls. Song of Hiawatha. HOB. Beginning with the message of peace sent by Gitche Manito the mighty, the story of Longfellow's poem is followed until Hia- watha bids farewell to Nokomis and his people. Nine scenes, arranged with slight changes of text. For nine boys, three girls, and extras. Figures of wearing apparel and utensils given from Remington's drawings. Music for songs. Simple directions. Southwest Wind's visit to Gluck. SKB, p. 134. The story of the strange little old gen- tleman arranged from The King of the Golden River for four boys. Southwest Wind's visit to Gluck. See also Destruction of Treasure Valley ; King of the Golden River ; Story of Gluck; Strange visitor. Spanish Armada. GO A, bk. 3, p. 37. The English captains enjoy a game on the bowling green at Plymouth, consult together outside the harbor of Calais after the fight, and are received by Queen Eliza- beth at the court. Three scenes. For nine boys, one girl and many extras. For class- room use. Sparrow and the bush. BRY, p. 8. How a sparrow persuaded a bush to give him a swing. For ten little children. Sparrow and the crow. LAN, p. 8. A Punjab tale of a sparrow who insisted that a crow make himself clean before he could have his share of kedgeree. In narra- tive form. Sparrows in the hat. ST, bk. 1, p. 26. Naughty Hans catches sparrows in the woods, and is reproved by the king. For five little boys and five little girls. Two short scenes. Spell of Christmas. C, p. 179. The old belief that at midnight on Christ- mas Eve the family portraits come to life, step down from their places, and join hands in a stately dance, leads the children to slip out of their beds at an unwonted hour, and so to take a hand in the adventures of their elders, quite beyond their ken. — Con- tents. Two scenes. For eight boys, six girls, carol singers. Notes on costume, music and setting. Plays forty-five min- utes. Spider and the fly. JO, p. 44. How a little fly walks into the prettiest parlor that ever he did spy. For four little children. Spinning lesson. MAG, p. 27. "Life among the Pilgrim folk is seen — Thrifty Priscilla, Maid o' Plymouth- Town In Puritanic cap and somber gown !" "A Plymouth interlude" in which thirteen characters represent Pilgrim lads and lasses, Indian maidens, a squaw and a INDEX TO PLAYS 93 young brave. One act. Full directions. Plays thirty minutes. Spirit of New England. PAA, p. 95. A pageant of the Pilgrim Fathers, in five episodes, showing the influence of Stern Morality upon Modern History. Especially written for the three hundredth anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims to be cele- brated in the fall of 1920.— Contents. May be given out of doors. Episodes may be performed separately. For many children. Costumes suggested. Simple directions. Spring fantasy. SI, third year, p. 75. The idea of Spring is here visualized by a series of tableaux accompanied by de- scriptive readings, song and dance, the whole being woven into a fantasy. The following poems are read wholly or in part: Herrick's To Daff^odils and Corinna's May- ing; Tennyson's The Brook and The May Queen ; Longfellow's Spring, The Return of Spring, and The Brook; Wordsworth's The Daflfodils ; Emerson's May-day ; and Browning's Song from Pippa Passes. — Prefatory note. Springtime fantasy. COI. "The time has come, O Birds, and Bees, and Flowers To crown Spring Queen o'er all the earth and sky." An allegorical play in one act for fifteen boys, twenty-six girls and extras. May be given by nine boys and eight girls. Direc- tions given. Plays thirty minutes. Spy. LAS, p. 108. A dramatic interview between Washing- ton and Harvey Birch, taken from Cooper's novel. For three boys. Simple directions. Spy. See also Washington and the spy. Stag. PR, p. 87. How a stag's beautiful antlers cost him his life. Two very short acts for three little children. Stag and the fawn. ST, bk. 2, p. 19. The same story. For three little children. Standish of Standish. WOO, p. 1. Scenes from Jane G. Austin's story of the Plymouth settlement arranged in five acts for class use. The fifth act tells of the Captain's wooing. Standish of Standish. See also Courtship of Miles Standish ; Maid of Plymouth; Miles Standish; Priscilla, Myles and John. Star dollars. G, p. 99. How a little girl's kindness to others was rewarded and the stars that fell in showers became silver dollars that could buy every- thing she might want. In narrative and dramatic form. For three boys and three girls. Star in the east. SKA, p. 205. Dramatized version in verse of the sa- cred story. The scenes are laid on the hills outside Jerusalem and at the manger. The characters are the three shepherds, the three kings, Joseph, Mary, and choruses of angels and children. Songs are familiar carols. Short. Few directions. Star-spangled banner. HX, p. 101. A story of the attack on Fort McHenry and of how our national song came to be written. One act play for five boys. For third or fourth grades. Steadfast princess. ME. Ursula, adopted daughter of the Toy- master, learns that she is a princess and must rule a kingdom. Although she finds this no gentle task, she bravely keeps her promise, "To be a true queen, steadfast to the end." A poetic play in two acts by Cornelia Meigs. For eleven boys, three girls, and many extras. Directions given. Drama League prize play for children, 1915. Stolen charm. WI, p. 84. An ogre steals a charm given to a little boy by a foam fairy. But a fox cub, a puppy, and a rat who are the boy's best friends get it for him again. A story from the Japanese arranged in seven parts for primary grades. Stone in the road. LA, p. 66. A duke who wished to know whether his people were willing to do hard things had a large stone placed in the middle of the road. But no one would take the trouble to move it, and so none found the bag of gold hidden underneath. In narrative form, with helps for dramatization. 94 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Stone in the road. SK, p. 35. A farmer, an old woman, and a soldier pass by the stone in the middle of the high- road, but a farmer's boy rolls it out of the way and finds a bag of gold. In narrative form. Stone of gratitude. LAN, p. 134. A snake, out of gratitude to a king who has given her protection, brings to him the topaz stones which restore to him his sight. Arranged from an Oriental legend for six parts. Stormy scenes in the Varden house- hold. BRO, p. 47. Mrs. Varden, of uncertain temper, dis- misses Miggs, her former comforter in trouble, whom Mr. Varden considers to be all the plagues of Egypt in one. Three scenes from Barnaby Rudge for four boys and three girls. Costume illustration. Full directions. Plays twenty-eight minutes. Stormy times. TU, p. 137. A story of the rebellion in early New York. — Contents. For three boys and ex- tras. Very short. Story of Ali Cogia. ST, bk. 3, p. 78. A dishonest merchant steals a thousand pieces of gold which Ali Cogia has left with him concealed in a jar of olives. Two scenes arranged from the Arabian Nights for nine boys and one girl. Story of Circe. MA, p. 90. How Ulysses, protected against her en- chantments, enters the palace of Circe to set free his companions whom she has changed to swine. Arranged in four scenes from Hawthorne for three boys and one gjrl. Story of Gluck. DUN, p. 151. How Gluck, the youngest brother, re- deems the Treasure Valley through mercy and unselfishness. Dramatized in four scenes from The King of the Golden River by John Ruskin. For eight boys. Simple directions. Story of Gluck. See also Destruc- tion of Treasure Valley; King of the Golden River; Southwest Wind's visit to Gluck; Strange visitor. Story of Joseph. DUN, p. 67. The story of the young dreamer who be- came "ruler over all Egypt," dramatized from the Bible. Five scenes. For fifteen boys and extras as merchants and servants. Simple directions. Story of the Armada, series. MAB, first "Here shall you see set forth before you How English sailors Spain's Armada broke." A three act play about the days of good Queen Bess. For twelve boys, four girls, and extras. Costume illustrations. Music suggested. Full directions. Story that had no end. LA, p. 10; WI, p. 55. How a story-teller won a princess and a kingdom. In narrative form with helps for dramatization. In narrative form for use in primary grades. Story that had no end. See also Endless tale. Strange friendship explained. SK, p. 22. The other animals of the forest wonder why the lion and elephant are such strong friends. In narrative form. Strange lands. SKB, p. 56. Poem by Laurence Alma-Tadema ar- ranged for four parts. Strange visitor. LA, p. 173. The most extraordinary looking little gentleman Gluck had ever seen knocks at his door. Narrative from the King of the Golden River, with helps for dramatization. Strange visitor. See also Destruc- tion of Treasure Valley; King of the Golden River; Southwest Wind's visit to Gluck; Story of Gluck. Stranger's visit. BRO, p. 70. Barnaby's father, a wanderer upon the earth, visits Mrs. Rudge's cottage, sees Barnaby and threatens vengeance unless they use him well. One scene from Barn- aby Rudge for two boys and one girl. Cos- INDEX TO PLAYS 95 tume illustration. Full directions. Plays twenty minutes. Strategy of Director Kieft. TU, p. 50. A story of how the money was raised for the building of the first church in New Amsterdam. — Contents. For six boys, one girl, and extras. Very short. Strongest: who? or which? WI, p. 30. Mr. Rabbit tries to find something stronger than the ice on the pond. A southern folk tale in narrative form adapted for use in primary grades. Sun and the wind. PR, p. 46. The wind wishes to prove itself stronger than the sun, but is forced to learn that blowing and blustering are not always the signs of great strength. For three little children. Sun Goddess. MAD, p. 149. "Oh, weather be clear ! Oh. weather be clear ! Sun goddess, draw near! Sun goddess, draw near !" The mirror which reflects the beauty of some little Japanese maidens so that they forget the approach of the Sun Goddess and fail to worship her, is used by the poet O Ku Re to entice the Goddess from her retreat and to induce her to restore sun- light to the earth. A "masque of old Japan" for five older boys, eleven older girls, and many extras. The Mikado music may be used. Costumes described. Directions given. Sun Goddess. See also Flight of the Sun Goddess. Sunbonnet babies. NO, p. 10. A little frolic for the Overall boys and Sunbonnet babies who have a picnic over in the grove. For twenty or more little children. Sunbonnets and overalls : a dramatic reader and an operetta. HO. "The presentation of this operetta re- quires from ten to twenty little boys and girls under the age of seven years. If de- sired, some of the little plays and verses in the reader also may be used in the operetta." For eight principal characters, four boys and four girls. The thirteen songs have simple words and melodies. Costumes as shown in illustrations. Full directions. Plays about one hour. Susie's dream. SK, p. 26. Susie falls asleep and dreams that the farm animals come to see whether they want to trade their babies for her own little sister. In narrative form, adapted from Sydney Dare. Swan, hold fast. SK, p. 134. How a magic swan helped Peter, the youngest brother, to make the princess laugh, and so to win her and half the king- dom. Narrative adapted from Grimm. Swan, hold fast. See also Golden goose. Sweet red rose. BRY, p. 24. A tiny poem for two little children. Sweetbriar: a pastoral with songs. BR. "Heigh for the green wood in the Spring ! What better life can the seasons bring?" A poetic May day play in four acts by D. G. Browne. For six boys, three girls, and extras. Time about the year 12 — . Il- lustrations by Edith Calvert suggest cos- tumes. Tables turned. HA, p. 91. An idle wish turns MoUie and Jack into dolls, and gives Punch and Judy a chance for revenge. For three boys and two girls. Full directions. Humorous. Short. Tale of two cities. SI, second year, p. 47. Four scenes arranged from Dickens for High School use: The honest tradesman at home; Knitting; Still knitting; The knitting done. For eleven boys and three girls. Tales of a traveller. See Adventure of my aunt. Tales of a wayside inn. SI, third year, p. 42. Arranged in two scenes for High School use from Longfellow. The first is a series of stage pictures showing the Squire's guests, with descriptions from the poem given by a Reader. In the second, the Landlord, the Musician and the Poet relate 96 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN their tales. For seven boys. Directions given. Talisman. FIB. Brief dramatization of the novel of the name, using as far as possible the language of the book. Intended for class room use rather than for actual presentation. In eleven scenes for eleven boys and four girls. Talisman. LAS, p. 63. The action of this short scene from Scott's novel of Richard, king of England, and the third crusade takes place in the tent of King Richard, when Sir Kenneth is condemned to death and his execution is stayed by Hakim's appeal. It is intended that the dramatization should be preceded by an account of the story up to this point. For six boys and two girls. Simple direc- tions. Talisman. LUB, v. 1, p. 98. The meeting of Sir Kenneth and the Saracens forms the first of six scenes ar- ranged for school use from Scott's novel, the last being the combat at Saladin's pal- ace. Four fourteen boys, and many other characters without spoken parts. Talisman. WOO, p. 220. Arranged from Sir Walter Scott's novel in five acts for class use. Tempest. LAS, p. 97. Three scenes adapted from Shakespeare. Two songs with music. For two boys and two girls. Simple directions. Tertulla's garden. MEB, p. 25. "The miracle of good St. Valentine," a priest of the Christian church in Rome, but called by him a miracle of youth and love. Founded on a legend. One act. For four older boys, three older girls, and extras. Directions for costumes and presentation. Testing of Sir Gawayne. MEB, p. 209. "Takes place at King Arthur's court in merry Carlisle, on the Eve of All-Hallow- mass when strange things happen ; . . when the wicked crafts of sorcery work havoc with knightly adventure, and when en- chantments bring about marvelous endings in affairs of love." One act. For nine boys, four girls, and extras. Directions. Thankful heart. WIC, p. 151. "Thanksgiving children" from other lands visit Elsie, a little cripple, tell her how they celebrated their harvest feasts, and find that she has the best gift of all,— the thankful heart. For three boys and five girls. Sug- gestions for staging and costumes. Thanksgiving day — 1696. LUA, p. 183. "The Thanksgiving about to be celebrated is the first for four years, as New England has been suffering on account of the super- stitious belief in witches." Characters are a Puritan mother, her five daughters, a little Quaker girl, a little Dutch girl, children in witch dance, classes of children. Two short scenes. Thanksgiving dream. HA, p. 121. The fairies and the Genius of Thanks- giving with his attendant sprites. Rosy- cheeked apple. Red Cranberry, Golden Pumpkin, Miss Mince Pie and others, visit a tired little girl in her sleep. The dream is a happy one and so is the awakening. One act. • For five boys and twelve girls. Theft of Thistledown. B. Thistledown, a fairy, steals a neglected earth baby and brings it to fairyland. He is then doomed by the fairy queen to fill that "place of pain" until "The world growing better, mankind Shall give to its children one half Of the care that's now lavished on gold." For six boys, nine girls, and extras. Cos- tunics illustrated. Directions given. Short. Their Christmas party. C, p. 73. Dick and Dot, a lonely little brother and sister, decide to share their Christmas with two poor children, while several older friends, hearing the cliildren's wish for a Christmas party, plan, independently of each other, to arrange one. The result is a Christmas surprise for everyone. — Contents. Two acts. For four boys, five girls, and . one man as Santa Claus. Easy costuming. Notes on setting. Plays thirty-five minutes, Theseus. COA, p. 149. How Theseus found his way through the labyrinth and slew the Minotaur. Six scenes for eleven boys and five girls. INDEX TO PLAYS 97 Theseus. MA, p. 77. The same story arranged from Haw- thorne in four scenes for five boys and three girls. Thickhead. BUB, p. 35. Burgess, a village lad called Thickhead, sails to the Moorish coast vi^ith some wreck- ers in search of plunder. In verse. Three acts. For sixteen boys and four girls. Songs and a May-pole dance. Full direc- tions for costumes and setting. Humorous. Three bears. NO, p. 93. How Goldilocks visits the bear's house in the woods. Three short acts for four little children. Three bears. RI, p. 59. "Now, if you think this play is true It's very, very, very dull of you." The lines of this little frolic are sung to the air, "The Duke of Lee." Characters are the three bears and Little Silverhair. Short. Three bears. U, p. 15. A simple version in one scene for school use. Five songs for chorus. For two boys and two girls. Simple directions. Three bears. See also Goldilocks. Three little Christmas waits. DUN, p. 117. Robin, Dora and Nicholas find a grand- father and the Old Gentleman in the Blue Cloak finds through them a happy Christ- mas. Dramatized in four scenes from The Peace Egg by Mrs. Ewing. For three boys, three girls, and carolers. Simple directions. Three little kittens of the land of pie. BUD, p. 1. The princesses Kitty, Malta and Angora betrothed to princes of neighboring king- doms decide to give them the mitten. King Grimalkin, their father, declares that unless they take the mitten back, they shall never share in the division of Treasury Pie, and will have to eat mustard tart the remainder of their lives. Operetta in two acts. Music by Oscar Weil. For six boys, three girls, and extras as courtiers and ladies-in-wait- ing. Full directions. Three little pigs. See House of brick. Three men of Gotham SCB, p. 8. Hodge and Peter quarrel over nothing, and James displays his foolishness in show- ing them that they have no wit. For three boys. Three men of Gotham. See also Wise men of Gotham in Lansing^s Quaint old stories to read and act, p. 1. Three wishes. BE, p. 249. "From far-distant valleys, behind the Great Mountain Undreamt of by mortals, I hither have come. Afloat on the moonbeam that shines in the fountain. My silvery path from my fairyland home." Singing this song, a Fairy comes to visit Peter, a wood-cutter, and his wife, Rachel, in their poor little cottage. Songs with mu- sic. Costumes suggested. Directions given. Three wishes. MAI, p. 153. A French folk play in one act, in which Andre Renaud and his wife learn that "it is better to have enough of anything than too much." For two boys and one girl. Costumes described. Directions given. Plays about fifteen minutes. Through the looking glass. LUA, p. 51 ; LUB, V. 1, p. 23. "To the Looking-GIass world it was Alice that said, 'I've a scepter in hand, I've a crown on my head; Let the Looking-Glass creatures, whatever they be. Come and dine with the Red Queen, the White Queen and me !' " A dramatization from Lewis Carroll's story by the dramatic club of a New York City public school. Eight scenes. For five boys, eight girls and Reader. Plays thirty- five minutes. Through the looking-glass. NI, p. 123. Five short scenes arranged for second grade children. Includes : The garden of live flowers ; Alice and the Red Queen ; Looking-glass insects ; Tweedledum and Tweedledee; Alice and the two queens. From two to six characters. 98 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Through the looking-glass. See also Alice in Wonderland; Mad tea- party; Through the looking-glass; Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Tiger and the Brahman. SKB, p. 159. How a jackal's cleverness saves a Brah- man from an ungrateful tiger. For six little children. Tiger and the Brahman. See also Brahman, the tiger, and the six judges. Tight corner. HAB, p. 92. A Jacobite refugee hiding in a Campbell household is helped out of many a tight place by Alison Graham and her brave little brother and sister. Four scenes. For five boys and five girls. Costumes de- scribed. Directions given. Time and the seasons. HOA, p. 162. Father Time calls his children, the sea- sons, together to give them order for the New Year. For one boy and four girls. Timid hare. SKB, p. 22. A little acorn falls upon a leaf and makes a noise which frightens a little hare who tells all her friends that the sky is falling. For seven little children. Timid hare. See also Flight of the beasts. Tina's images. OLB, p. 51. Tina, the little Italian maid, has lost her wax figures which she is taking to the city to sell. She does not know that the old Beggar passed by as she was sleeping. She only thinks that the Blessed Virgin is angry and has taken the Images away. Heartbroken she follows the Procession to the church to pray, and behold ! she finds her Images waiting for her there. — Pro- gram. Two acts. For two girls and any number of peasants, — men, women and children. Designs for costumes. Simple directions. Tinder-box. BE, p. 213. "You little know, As forth you go, What magic thing lies hid below ! The tinder-box, of power untold, More precious far than gold !" How a soldier wins a princess through magic. Four scenes for five boys and three girls. Songs with music. Costumes sug- gested. Full directions. To save his country. KR, p. 93. A lad's devotion to Bonaparte and his return home, wounded, on the afternoon before Pesah. Contains many allusions to Passover customs. One act. For six boys and four girls. Full directions. For Jew- ish religious schools. Plays thirty minutes. Toinette and the elves. C, p. 31. Toinette, pretty, dreamy, and self-ab- sorbed, tries the elves' Christmas-Eve gift of fern-seed, to make her invisible, and learns that the little brothers and sisters do not love an impatient and unkind older one. Much grieved, she tries through the year to correct her faults, but is almost afraid to repeat the experiment when the elves again bring their gift. The friendly elves urge her, and the result is so happy that Toinette and the elves have a gay little celebration all by themselves. — Con- tents. From the story by Susan Coolidge. Two acts. For six boys, three girls, and one woman. Notes on costume and setting. Plays thirty minutes. Tom and the lobster. SKB, p. 117. Tom helps a lobster to get out of a lobster pot. For two little children. Tom, the piper's son. JO, p. 93. How Tom learns to play Over the Hills and Far Away. Two short acts for three little girls and three little boys. Tom Tit Tot. LAN, p. 84. "Nimmy. nimmy not, Your name's Tom Tit Tot." Old English folk tale arranged in five short scenes for two boys and two girls. Tom Tit Tot. WI. A similar arrangement intended for use in primary grades. Tom's plan. C, p. 53. Tom, hearing that Santa Claus will bring sticks or ashes to children who are bad, INDEX TO PLAYS 99 can think of no way to test the disturb- ing statement, except to be as naughty as he knows how. But Santa Claus explains matters. — Contents. Two acts. For four boys, four girls, and one man. Ordinary costumes except for Santa Claus. A home setting. Plays twenty-five minutes. Torch. TY, p. 35. "Bow your heads, ye powers of evil. Strife and Greed and Enmity. We do not stand as one against you Bound forever ye shall be Till the Light shall banish darkness, And its truth shall make us free." With this Song of Service on their lips the People give to Democracy a precious oil which poured upon the living spark guarded by Liberty makes it a flame to make light and safe the World for De- mocracy. Simple directions. For many characters. Tom dresses. ST, bk. 1, p. 94. How Daniel Boone rescued some little girls stolen by the Indians. Three short scenes for four little boys and three little girls. Tortoise and the hare. NO, p. 46. How slow and steady can win the race every time. For three little children. Tortoise and the hare. See also Hare and Tortoise. Town meeting in Botetourt, Vir- ginia, 1860. LUA, p. 83. Several schoolboys are studying about the Civil war and the assigned lesson is "states' rights." They decide to act the town meet- ing. From The Long Roll by Mary John- ston. Two scenes. For nine boys, and extras as members of Assembly. Short. Town musicians. BRY, p. 88. Donkey, dog, cat, and rooster travel through the forest together and frighten some robbers away from the house. For seven little children. Town musicians. See also Bremen town musicians. Toy shop. BL, v. 1, p. 33. The toys come to life at the midnight hour, and long to be bought and go out in the world. For twelve or more little boys and girls. Short. Simple directions. Toy shop. I. The toys in the shop of Timothy Tack- hammer, toymaker, come to life at the touch of Bright-Eyes, a fairy. By F. S. Isham and E. Weitzel. Number of char- acters entirely discretionary. Stage very simple. Costumes as much like toys rep- resented as possible. Plays thirty minutes. Toy-shop. P. "This is the Toy-shop adventure : Sure as the darkness, the Fairies arrive ; Slowly the clock strikes the midnight ; Instantly all of the dolls come alive. But at the five o'clock warning, (Everything ends with the coming of , day.) Dolls become dolls again, night becomes morning, Puck and his fairies go speeding away." An operetta in one act by Mary Packer. For five boys and fourteen girls. Costumes described. Music for songs and dances. Tracks to the den. ST, bk. 1, p. 44. The fox is much too clever to be trapped by the lion and his mate. For seven little children. Transformation of lo. CO A, p. 16. For jealousy Juno sets Argus, the hun- dred-eyed, to guard lo whom Jupiter has changed into a heifer. Mercury destroys Argus, and lo becomes a nymph once more. Four scenes for three boys and one girl. Trap. HAB, p. 17. A strong resemblance between Catholic count and Huguenot courtier serves to save the life of a Huguenot maiden on the Eve of St. Bartholomew in 1572. Six scenes. For seven boys, four girls, and extras. Costumes described. Directions given. Traveler and the camel. SK, p. 120. A lone traveler on the desert tells some merchants how to find their lost camel. Adapted from Maria Edgeworth, and given in narrative form. Travelers and the hatchet. LAN, p. 109. He who will not share his prize cannot share the danger when accused of theft. Arranged from Aesop for three boys. Short. 100 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Travelers and the hatchet. ST, bk. 5, p. 1. Another adaptation of Aesop's fable for three boys. Treason of Benedict Arnold. ST, bk. 5, p. 251. How General Arnold gives the plans of West Point to Major Andre, who is inter- cepted in his llight by three patriot farmers, how Arnold's treason is discovered by General Washington, and how Andre is condemned to suffer death as a spy. Five acts for twenty-nine boys, one girl, and extras. ^ Treasure Island. SI, first year, p. 7. Two scenes arranged from Stevenson : In the enemy's camp and The way out. For seven boys and extras. For High School use. Trial trip of the Clermont. HX, p. 161. How the first steamboat made its trial voyage down the Fludson River. A play in one act for third and fourth grade chil- dren. For five boys and extras. Tribute to America. LUA, p. 261. This short dramatic exercise and one fol- lowing, called an Apostrophe to the Flag, were arranged for morning assembly in a school made up largely of children from foreign lands. Triumph of Democracy. PAA, p. 49. A pageant of representative government, in five episodes, showing the trial of three forms of government (Communism, Autoc- racy, and Democracy) and the final triumph of Democracy. — Contents. May be given out of doors. Episodes may be presented separately. For many children. Costumes suggested. Simple directions. Troll magic. MAI, p. 125. Yolande breaks the evil spell of the trolls and learns that "to those who strive with- out fear, all things are possible." A Nor- wegian folk play in one act for eight boys, three girls, and extras, scribed. Directions given. Costumes de- Troll of the mountains. OLB, p. 87. Lisbeth while wandering near the forest is stolen by Bat Brother and Mole Brother and other Trolls and Goblins and is held captive in their caverns deep beneath the earth. At last she is rescued by Hugo, the Count's noble son, who finds the crimson magic cup of the Troll-King who is forced to give him the captive maiden, to win back his elfin cap. And Lisbeth returns to the Mountains once more. — Program. Three acts. For four boys and one girl, "and many other Goblins and Trolls who live in the Mountains." Designs for cos- tumes. Simple directions. Troubles on land and sea. STA, p. 96. A picture of the Pilgrims in Holland, on board the Mayflower and in America, end- ing with the treaty with Massasoit. Three acts. For forty-one boys, thirteen girls and extras, but parts may be doubled. Simple directions. True Thomas. FRG. "Dost thou see yon sword and horn? He who is of pure soul and fearless heart and who shall draw the sword and blow the horn shall be king of this land." Thomas of Ercildoune, rhymer and prophet, chooses thus by the law of Faery a King who fears not when his country standcth at the goal. For three boys, one girl, and extras. Short. Simple directions. Tune of a tune. DR, Feb., 1920, p. .184. "A tune of a tune, that's magic itself. That changes a lass from a lass to an elf — From an elf to a faun — a faun that is free — 'Tis a tune that I learned at me wild moth- er's knee." Egan, a children's peddler, whistles the tune and Sheila O'Griffen follows him away to freedom, leaving Mr. Barstow, a country gentleman, to find out that he wants Sheila's aunt. Miss Pringle, to become a Barstow instead of Sheila herself. An Irish playlet, written by Dan W. Totheroh. For two older boys and two older girls, or for adults. Di- rections. INDEX TO PLAYS 101 Tweedledum and Tweedledee. DUN, p. 21. \ "Tweedledum and Tweedledee Agreed to have a battle; For Tweedledum said Tweedledee Had spilled his nice new rattle. "Just then flew down a monstrous crow, As black as a tar barrel; Which frightened both the heroes so, They quite forgot their quarrel." Dramatized in one scene from Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass. For four boys and one girl. Costumes from il- lustrations. Simple directions. Tweedledum and Tweedledee. See also Through the looking-glass. Twelfth night festivities. WIS, p. 25. The Twelfth Night Festival is of Old English origin. It receives its name from the fact that it comes the twelfth night after Christmas and terminates the observance of the Nativity of Our Lord. Originally, a festival of great solemnity, it finally became one of jocularity when all laid aside their dignity and gave free play to the general spirit of fun. This little festival attempts to make use of some of the more popular old English customs in such a way as to provide opportunity for a real community party. — Introductory Note. For many characters. Directions given. Twelve months. SK, p. 91. Twelve old men of the forest help gentle little Katrinka, and punish her idle and lazy elder sister, Dobrunka. A Bohemian tale in narrative form. Twice told tales. See David Swan. Twig of thorn. WAR. For love of Oonah, the "rose of the world," Aileel, a wandering poet, takes upon himself the curse of the magic thorn and yields himself to the Faery Hosts of the Air, while Oonah and Aengus, a peas- ant, celebrate their marriage feast. A po- etic play filled with the spirit of Irish tradition. Two acts. For six older boys and seven older girls. Melodies for three songs given. Directions. Plays one hour and ten minutes. Twisting of the rope. GRE, p. 200. Red Hanrahan, wandering bard from Connacht, tries to coax Oona from her mother and her lover with his "share of songs." But Sheamus O'Heran by means of a ruse shuts the door on his rival and releases Oona from his spell. One act. For two boys, three girls, and extras, in- cluding a piper for the dance. Two bad fairies. GX, p. 91. In their efforts to thwart each other, two bad fairies who were not invited to the christening of the little princess uncon- sciously heap more blessings upon her head. One act for three persons. Two countrymen, ST, bk. 3, p. 109. Two city wags play a joke on two coun- trymen by telling them that in the city they will forget who they are. Two scenes for five boys. Two friends. PR, p. 50. A bear comes upon two men in the for- est, one of whom runs away, and the other decides that cowards are incapable of friendship. Two very short acts for three little children. Two holes. ST, bk. 1, p. 1. An old lady who has two holes in her door for her cats learns to her surprise that the small cat can get through the large hole. A very short dialogue for two little girls. Two little kittens. DO, p. 7. Fluff and Muff quarrel over a mouse. Adapted for four parts from a poem with this title. Two millers. ST, bk. 2, p. 40. Peter the stupid and Jacob the wise deal very differently with a wicked fox. Two short scenes for four children. Two questions. ST, bk. 2, p. 90. King John pardons an abbot for the sake of a shepherd's clever answers to his ques- tions. Three scenes for seven boys and extras. Two questions. See also Faithful shepherd; King John and the ab- bot. 102 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Two sisters. DO, p. 44. Mother Holle rewards the younger sister with gold and the elder with pitch accord- ing to their deserts. Adapted from Grimm for eleven parts. Ugly duckling. SCB, p. 199. The ugly duckling finds that it matters nothing if you were born in a duck-yard, if only you have lain in a swan's egg. Seven scenes for thirty parts. Ugly duckling. ST, bk. 3, p. 48. The same story in three scenes for twen- ty-three children. Ulysses. See Odyssey; Return of Odysseus. Ulysses Simpson Grant. WAB. Eight scenes in chronological order from the life of Ulysses S. Grant. From three to seven characters and extras. More prac- tical for school-room use than for actual dramatization. Uncle Tom's cabin. D, p. 91. Miss Ophelia learns that Topsy just "growed," and Topsy learns that Miss Eva really cares and wants her to be good. One scene. For three girls. Simple directions. Underground railroad. RX, no. 4. Some boys and girls, who lived in Illi- nois about the year 1840, help Billee, a runaway slave boy, to hide from his mas- ter who comes in search of him. One of the Illinois Centennial plays. For four boys and four girls. Suggestions given. Undine. DU, p. 245. A poetic dramatization of the story of the lovely water nymph who wins a soul by becoming the bride of a mortal. A five-act play for four boys and four girls. Several songs. Costumes described. Stage directions. Unexpected meeting. BRO, p. 103. Young Mr. Martin Chuzzlewit encounters Mr. Montague Tigg at the money lenders, and finds great difficulty in persuading him that he does not desire the honor of his company. One scene from Martin Chuz- zlewit for three boys. Costume illustration. Full directions. Plays ten minutes. Vain jackdaw. ST, bk. 2, p. 45. Jackdaw learns that fine feathers do not make fine birds. For seven or more little children. Vain weathercock. WI, p. 122. A weathercock learns that he is not so important after all. For five children in primary grades. Vanishing race. MAH, p. 71. A one-act historical pageant-play of early Dutch New York. "Many of the words spoken by the characters are taken ver- batim from old letters, diaries, and his- tories of the time." — Prefatory note. Four Indian and four Dutch characters, with extras as Indians. Music suggested. Cos- tume illustrations. Directions given. Vasco Nunez de Balboa. BI, p. 19. Balboa discovers the blue Pacific from "a peak in Darien" and takes possession of it in the name of the king of Spain. Five scenes for nine boys, one girl, and extras. Venus and Cupid. SY, p. 117. A sketch for a ballet in two parts. The coming of Venus and the education of Cupid. Vicar of Wakefield. SI, fourth year, p. 7. A number of situations from Goldsmith's story arranged in one scene for High School use under the title of A Pleasant Evening with the Vicar. For five boys, four girls and extras. Victory of the good citizen. PAA, p. 171. A very short play, showing the struggle between a small citizen and some of the evils which threaten the health of his city. — Contents. For eight children. Costumes suggested. Simple directions. Viking. GOA, bk. 1, p. 33. How the people of Wessex fared under the rule of Ethelred, the Unready, and how at last they revolted and slew the Danes who came to rob them of their gold. Ten short scenes. For seventeen boys, one girl and many extras. For class-room use. Village shoemaker. SX, p. 167. A wizard shoemaker comes to the village where Ralph has made shoes for years. The INDEX TO PLAYS 103 stranger succeeds in taking Ralph's trade. By means of magic he captures some of the village children in order to make them work for him. While the villagers search for the lost children, the Fairy Godmother tells Siegfried how he can destroy the wizard's magic and rescue the stolen chil- dren. — Plot of the play. Based on an incident in a story by Ann de Morgan. For four boys, six girls, and groups. Simple suggestions. Virginia children of long ago. TU, p. 150. A story of plantation days. — Contents. For one boy and three girls. Very short. Vision of Columbus. PAB, p. 1. A pageant picturing the upward struggle of Democracy through the centuries until at last at the time of the Great War Autoc- racy learns that the world has done with her. For many characters. Directions given. Vision splendid. GX, p. 49. While the Three Old Men sit in the shade drinking, the Young Man answers the call of the Rider to cross the ford and storm the enchanted castle. He loses his life but finds the flower of Fame and the wreath of Vic- tory. One act for five persons. Plays fifteen minutes. Visit to the water babies. LA, p. 24. Tom meets Mrs. Be-done-by-as-you-did. Narrative from Charles Kingsley, with helps for dramatization. Visit to the water babies. See also Water baby. ) Votes for fairies. DE. A playlet in one act for two boys and two girls. The skepticism of the modern age reduces the fairies to a sad plight until the "bump of prejudice" has been pulled. Full directions. Wampum belts. TU, p. 60. A story of Roger Williams in the Pequot war. — Contents. For five boys and extras. Very short. Washington and the spy. LA, p. 200. Harvey Birch, faithful and unrequited servant of his country, receives from Wash- ington a certificate of honor. From Coop- er's Spy, with helps for dramatization. Washington and the spy. See also Spy. Washington's birthday. NO, p. 29. A very simple little celebration by a group of little children, introducing the salute to the flag and the singing of America. Washington's birthday pageant. MEC, p. 33. Washington Irving sits in his easy chair in the library at Sunnyside, while, in his fancy, three scenes from the life of Wash- ington take place. For sixteen boys, seven girls and extras. Simple directions. Washington's message to Anychild. PAC, p. 27. Mistress History shows to Anychild a scene from Washington's boyhood. For three boys and five girls. Water baby. WI, p. 133. Toin searches for the babies in the sea, scr that he may have someone to play with. Narrative from Charles Kingsley for use in primary grades. Water baby. See also Visit to the water babies. Weather hen. SK, p. 104. How the weather hen rules the winds although the weather cock gets the credit. Story by D. C. Calthorp. Wedding of Robin Redbreast and Jenny Wren. DO, p. 59. King and queen give Robin little Jenny Wren for his wife. Adapted for eight parts from Elizabeth Grierson's Scottish fairy tales. Wedding of Robin Redbreast and Jenny Wren. See also Marriage of Wee Robin; Wee Robin's Yule song. Wee Robin's Yule song. SK, p. 77. Wee Robin flies away to the king to sing him a bonnie song, and finds Wee Wren for his wife. In narrative form. X04 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Wee Robin's Yule song. See also Marriage of Wee Robin; Wedding of Robin Redbreast and Jenny Wren. Well babies. LUA, p. 217. Written for the annual entertainment of a Little Mothers' League in a New York city school. For five girls and extras. Well of the world's end. WI, p. 47. A frog who helps a girl to carry home water from the well of the world's end turns into a prince. Arranged for four children in primary grades. Welsh, The. GOA, bk. 2, p. 36. To the Welsh chieftains who demand a prince of their own, born on the soil of Wales, King Edward I presents his infant son, lately born in Carnarvon Castle. Four scenes. For twelve boys and many extras. For class-room use. What mother says is always right. DO, p. 66. Five little mice disobey mother and are held fast when they run into a trap. For eleven parts. What the goodman does is always right. LAN, p. 61. The goodman exchanges his horse for a cow, the cow for a sheep, the sheep for a goose, the goose for a fowl, the fowl for a bag of rotten apples, — and still his wife says that what the goodman does is always right. Simple arrangement for four parts. What the goodman does is always right. ST, bk. 3, p. 20. Another arrangement of this story from Hans Christian Andersen in three scenes for six boys and one girl. What the seven did. See How the little Smiths got their Fourth-of- July money; Mrs. Bangs's pies. What they do. DO, p. 12. Poem by Christina G. Rossetti arranged for two parts. What was her name? SK, p. 108. A lady in green wakes to find that she is the Spring. Story by Laura E. Richards. What was in Mrs. White Hen's nest. BRY, p. 13. Something big and white in the white hen's nest proves to be only a kitty. For four little children. When courage was needed. STA, p. 177. Lord Howe tells Franklin in London that the Continental Congress must be given up ; Some Tories make plans at a city inn in Philadelphia ; and the Continental Con- gress meets at Carpenter's Hall. Three acts. For twenty-six boys, five girls and extras, but parts may be doubled. Simple direc- tions. When Heine was twenty-one. FRN, p. 33. Heinrich Heine learns that his cousin Molly, the inspiration of his first volume of poems, does not return his affection. One act. For six boys and two girls. Simple directions. Plays less than an hour. When Liberty calls. TY, p. 23. "In all the world who strikes at Liberty Strikes us. . . ." Thus America enters the palace of Jus- tice to stand with those who oppose Force, the deadly foe of Liberty. Simple direc- tions. For thirty-two characters, adults or older children. When Rip Van Winkle came home. LA, p. 148. Rip wakes to find that he is a stranger to nearly everyone in the village. From Washington Irving's Sketch Book. Narra- tive with helps for dramatization. When Rip Van Winkle came home. See also Rip Van Winkle. When Santa Claus comes. BRY, p 87; DO, p. 137. A little poem arranged for three little children. When the sun rises. BRY, p. 25. Owl, bat, mole, firefly, Jack-o'-lantern, and glowworm try to frighten the sun away, but the sun grows brighter just the same. For six little children. INDEX TO PLAYS 105 When the toys awake. BW, p. 55. White Christmas. H. p. 11. A child, awakening at midnight, finds her toys life-size, quite human and enjoying a revelry all their own. In answer to her in- quiry, they inform her that such is their nightly custom, from twelve until the clock strikes four. She comments upon their happy life — their days of ease, their nights of frolic — and, much to her surprise, they declare emphatically that such is not the case ; that they have troubles of their own. Upon suggestion, they declare a Court of Grievances, with the child as judge; she hears their complaints, passes sentence and, at the last, joins in the general joy and jollity. — Story of the Play. For fifteen boys and five girls. Costumes are suggested and all stage directions given. Plays about twen- ty-five minutes. Where do all the daisies go? DO, p. 74. Poem arranged for four parts. Where love is God is. WIS, p. 13. The story of Martin Avdeitch, Russian cobbler, who, like the shepherds of Judea, watches on Holy Christmas for the com- ing of a King. Dramatized for a com- munity Christmas celebration from Tolstoi's narrative. Two acts for seven older boys and three older girls. Simple directions. Which shall be king? SA, p. 29. Father Time's children, the months of the year, agree to present their claims to sovereignty to a group of school children, who decide in favor of "Dear December." A Christmas play in one act for thirteen boys, six girls, and opportunity for many extras. Costumes described. Directions given. White aprons. LUB, v. 3, p. 60. The story of Bacon's rebellion as por- trayed in Maud Wilder Goodwin's novel with this title is here arranged in nine scenes for dramatic presentation in school. For five boys, three girls and many extras. White canoe. ST, bk. 4, p. 21. Seneca, sachem's daughter, is sacrificed to the wrathful Spirit of the Falling Waters at Niagara to save the land from famine. Adapted from William Trumbull's story with this title. Three scenes for nine boys, eleven girls, and extras. As the three wise men rode on that first Christmas night to find the Manger-cra- dled Babe of Bethlehem, they bore gifts on their saddlebows. Gifts of gold, frank- incense and myrrh. And so the spirit of Christmas giving crept into the world's heart. — Prologue. A Christmas morality play with Mary and Joseph, shepherds, and Wise men as characters. One act. For eight boys, six girls and choir. Songs and carols. Cos- tume illustrations. Written especially for Sunday School use. Plays about one hour. White magic. SYR, p. 69. The Princess Philomene learns how to overcome wickedness and witchcraft with the magic of the fairies. One act. For three boys, four girls, and extras. Cos- tumes suggested. Directions given. Who holds up the sky? SKB, p. 110. Poem adapted and arranged for six little children. Who likes the rain? WI, p. 28. Poem by Clara Doty Bates arranged for five children in primary grades. Who stole the bird's nest? DO, p. 53. "To-whit! to-whit! to-whee! Will you listen to me. Who stole four eggs 1 laid? And the nice nest I made?" Poem by Lydia Maria Child arranged for ten parts. Who stole the bird's nest? SCB, p. 37. The same poem. Why animals fear fire. SK, p. 146. The Fire Spirit protected the animals once, but will never be able to do so again. Nar- rative from Margaret Bemister. Why the bear sleeps all winter. WI, p. 69. Brother Rabbit and his friends shut Brother Bear tight in a hollow tree. Adapted from an old Southern folk tale in six parts for use in primary grades. 106 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Why the chimes rang. MAC. A play in one act adapted from the story of the same title by Raymond MacDonald Alden. Full descriptions of the scenery, lighting, costumes, properties and music for the play ; plates showing the scene ; il- lustrations of the costumes. Characters : Three boys, an old woman, lords and ladies. Time : Dusk of a day of long ago. Scene : The interior of a wood-chopper's hut on the edge of a forest. Why the evergreen trees keep their leaves. WI, p. 61. The trees that are kind to a little bird with a broken wing thereafter keep their green in summer and in winter, too. Ar- ranged in nine parts for primary grades. Why the evergreen trees keep their leaves. See also Bird with the broken wing. Why the jellyfish has no shell. SKB, p. 119. Osa, the sea queen, punishes the jellyfish for meddling. An Oriental fable for seven or more children. Why the tip of the fox's tail is white. SK, p. 61. The fox is punished for betraying his trust as shepherd. In narrative form. Wilfred the Young. CHA, p. 95. A terrible devouring dragon, the curse of a kingdom, is overcome by a brave and true knight, Wilfred the Young of Over- seas. A three-act play in verse for nine older boys, three older girls, and extras. Wild animal play for children. SEA. The author, Ernest Thompson Seton, says "this sketch was written for some chil- dren who wanted to play the characters in my books : Wild Animals I Have Known, The Trail of the Sandhill Stag, and The Biography of a Grizzly." For ten boys and seven girls. Alternate reading for very young children. Music by Daniel Gregory Mason. Costumes described and illustrated. Directions given. Plays thirty minutes. Wild swans. ST, bk. 3, p. 90. A little princess breaks the spell cast over her eleven brothers by spinning and weav- ing eleven magic coats for them. Four scenes for eighteen boys, three girls, and extras. William Penn. BI, p. 233. King Charles grants the Quakers a tract of land in America; they take possession of New Castle, the key to the Delaware; and the famous treaty with the Indians is signed under the great oak. Three scenes for ten boys and many extras. William Penn's treaty with the In- dians. TU, p. 7. A story of the Quakers. — Contents. For six boys, two girls, and extras. Very short. William Tell. HOA, p. 152. How Tell, the Swiss patriot, shoots an arrow from the head of his little son. Two scenes for four boys, two girls, and extras. William Tell. KN, p. 227. "And remember, The country's never lost that's left a son To struggle with the foe that would en- slave her !" Two scenes from the play with '.nis title by Sheridan Knowles. For nine older boys. William Tell. LAS, p. 50. A short dramatic arrangement in two scenes for four boys and many extras. Simple directions. WilHam Tell. ST, bk. 4, p. 31. Four scenes for thirteen boys, one girl, and many extras. Wind. BRY, p. 37. Poem by Robert Louis Stevenson jr- ranged for three little children. Wise crow. ST, bk. 2, p. 7. How the crow found a way to drink the water in the bottom of a pitcher. For two little children. Wise men of Gotham. LAN, p. 1. Two drolls. The first concerns itself with two men who quarrel about hov/ they will bring home the sheep they have not yet bought, and a third who thinks them fools. The second tells of twelve men of Goth- am who went fishing, and who fear that one of their number may have been drowned. A courtier who comes riding by counts to twelve, and relieves their anxiety. INDEX TO PLAYS 107 for each one who counted forgot to count himself. Wise men of Gotham. ST, bk. 2, p. 81. The seeming foolishness of the men of Gotham proves a sure defense against the king and his soldiers. For nine boys, one girl, and many extras. Wise men of Gotham. See also Some wise men of Gotham; Three men of Gotham. Wish-bird. ST, bk. 2, p. 26. How a little prince learned that he must work and work and never ask too much. For three little children. Wishing. WI, p. 72. Poem by William Allingham arranged for two boys and two girls in primary grades. Wishing man. H, p. 129. "I'm the friend of all the children, And I'll help you if I can. Just tell me what your wishes are, For I'm the Wishing Man." The strange adventures of three small folk who pay a Christmas visit to Wishing Land. Three acts. For seventeen boys and seven girls. Songs with music. Costume illustrations. Directions given. Plays about forty-five minutes. Wolf and the goat. PR, p. 13. Mr. Wolf fails to entice Mrs. Goat from the top of a high rock. For two little children. Wolf and the horse. ST, bk. 2, p. 4. The horse calls his master and the wolf is caught at last. For two little children and extras. Wolf and the lamb. ST, bk. 2, p. 9. How the wolf tries to pick a quarrel with a lamb. For two little children. Wolf of Gubbio. PEA. Brother Wolf tells St. Francis how he longs to be a Man. After a bitter struggle with his wolfish nature, he lays a lost babe as his offering in the empty manger where the babe's own mother and father, as Ma- donna and Holy Joseph, take part in the feast of the Blessed Nativity. A comedy in three acts for fourteen boys, nine girls, and extras. Time : The day before Christmas, 700 years ago in Italy. Stage directions. Plays a full evening. Wolf! Wolf! PR, p. 77. A boy who for fun calls for help when it is not needed finds no one will come to the rescue when a wolf attacks his sheep. Three short acts for five little boys. Wolf! Wolf! See also Shepherd boy who called wolf. Won. BUB, p. 111. "We know nothing about fairies We know nothing about elves ; We're crammed so full of 'ologies, We hardly know ourselves !" This is the song of the book-worms, who are won at last to a belief in fairies through the offices of Oberon, Titania, Bo-peep, Old King Cole, and others. One scene. For ten boys, five girls, and extras. Full direc- tions. Wonder-Hill. OLA, p. 103. This is the story of Maid Elizabeth who sat in her English cottage a-stitching coats, and of Meda, her little friend, who begged her to go a-merrymaking to the Wonder- Hill, and how at twilight two wee Wonder- Men stole down the Fairy Hill, and crept into the cottage , kitchen, weeping because they had no coats ! And the story tells how their tears were dried — and of the gentle maid's industry — and of shining golden dollars lying on the cottage floor! — Program. "A play of industry" in one act for two boys and two girls. Costume de- signs and simple directions. Wonderful rose. SYR, p. 135. A "tiny play" about a prince, a maid, and a magic rose. Scene : a big kitchen in a farmhouse. For one boy, three girls, and extras. Costumes described. Directions given. Wonderful story of Illinois. OW. Consists of The Masque of the Ele- ments, three episodes centering about dra- matic happenings in the history of the State linked together by descriptive lines, and The Masque of a Hundred Years. — Preface. Written for the celebration of the cen- tennial of Illinois. For many characters. Directions given. 108 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Wonderful tea-kettle. SMI, p. 91. "He can whistle and he can sing ; He can play on the violin ; He can dance like a daffodil, And handle a gun in a soldier's drill." The story of the exploits of the magic kettle adapted from a Japanese folk-tale in three acts for six boys and many extras. Simple but complete directions. Japanese costumes. Woodcutter and the fairy. LAN, p. 21. An honest woodcutter wins his reward, while a greedy man loses even what he has. Arranged from the fable for three parts. Woodcutter and the fairy. See also Honest woodcutter ; Honest wood- man. Wooden shoe, or, St. Valentine's day. BUB, p. 388. To a little peasant girl come a lover, a mother, and a fortune, and the token is the wooden shoe. One act. For three boys and four girls. Several songs. Full direc- tions. Woodstock. LUB, v. 2, p. 1. King Charles II, as Louis Kerneguy, visits Woodstock, and escapes when Crom- well searches the palace. Four scenes ar- ranged from Scott's novel for school use. For nine boys, two girls, and extras. Work. SK, p. 132. Poem by Mary N. Prescott. Wrath of Achilles. FRH. "And here sits Achilles, nursing his wrath." A play in five acts made and acted by the fourth grade of the Francis W. Parker School, Chicago. For sixteen or more boys. Plays twenty minutes. Yotcheka. K. Yotcheka, adopted by the Oneidas after the annihilation of the Erigas, proves his right to remember his own brave people, though it was forbidden for the Five Tribes to do so. An Indian play in one act by Helen P. Kane for four boys and one girl. Indian music from the collection of Alice Fletcher. Simple directions. Yuletide rose. LO, p. 131. How Tomte, a brownie or Nis, who is visible only for three magic hours on the eve of Yule, helps Aslog, a little Norwegian girl, to realize her perfect wish, which is that she may see the flowering of the Yule- tide rose which grows far up on the steep mountain and which blossoms only at the midnight hour on Yuletide eve. A Christ- mas miracle play in three scenes. For three boys, four girls and extras as elves. Folk dance and elf dance. Directions. AUTHOR LIST OF BOOKS INDEXED WITH KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS A Arkwright, R. Brownikins and other fancies. Stokes. AS Ashby, E. Miles Standish. Elkin Mathews. B Baird, G. M. P. Two morality interludes for children. National Association for the study of tuberculosis. BA Bates, K. L. Fairy gold. Button. BE Bell, Mrs. F. E. E. (O.) Fairy tale plays and how to act them. Longmans. BI Bird, G. E. and Starling, M. Historical plays for children. Macmillan. BIS Bishop, G. May-day< interlude. Campden. BL Black, C. Kindergartenjplays. 2 v. R. Brimley Johnson (Carpet plays) BR Browne, D. G. Sweetbriar; a pastoral with songs. Elkin Mathews. BRO Browne, H. B. Short plays from Dickens. Scribner. BRY Bryce, C. T. Child-lore* dramatic reader. Scribner. BU Buckton, A. M. Eager Heart. Methuen. BUA Buckton, A. M. Masque of Beauty and the beast. Hodgson. BUB Bullivant, C. H., ed. Home plays; a collection of new, simple, and eflfective plays for boys and girls. Dodge. BUG Bunner, H. C. Seven old ladies of Lavender town. Harper. BUD Bunner, H. C. Three operettas. Harper. BUE Burnett, Mrs. F. (H.) Little Lord Fauntleroy. French. BUF Burnett, Mrs. F. (H.) Little princess. French. BUG Burrill, E. W. Master Skylark. Century. BW Barbee, L. Let's pretend. Denison. BX Bates, E. W. Christopher Columbus. Woman's Education Association. BY Bynner, W. The little king. Mitchell Kennedy. BZ Bregy, K. Little Crusaders. Peter Reilly. C Carter, E. H. Christmas candles; plays for boys and girls. Holt. CH Chapman, J. J. Four plays for children. Moflfat. CHA Chapman, J. J. Neptune's isle. Moffat. . CO Colum, P. A boy in Eirinn. Dutton. COA Comstock, F. A. Dramatic version of Greek myths and hero tales. Ginn. COB Comstock, F. A. Dramatization of Longfellow's The Courtship of Miles Standish. Educ. Pub. Co. COC Comstock, F. A. Dramatization of Sir Walter Scott's Lady of the Lake. Educ. Pub. Co. COD Comstock, F. A. Dickens dramatic reader. Ginn. COE Cooke, M. B. The case of Sophronia. Dramatic Pub. Co. COF Cooke, M. B. The fairy ring. Dramatic Pub. Co. COG Cooke, M. B. The first Thanksgiving dinner. Dramatic Pub. Co. COH Cooke, M. B. In the good green wood. Dramatic Pub. Co. COI Cooke, M. B. A springtime fantasy. Dramatic Pub. Co. COR Comeau, P. B. Robin Hood and the widow's three sons. Drama League of Chicago. CR Craig, Mrs. A. A. (T.) The dramatic festival. Putnam. CRA Crawford, J. R. Robin of Sherwood. Yale Univ. Press. CX Conger, M. L. Folk story plays for children. McCarm. D Dalkeitii, L. Little plays. Dutton. DE DeMille, W. C. Christmas spirit; Votes for fairies. John Martin's House. DI Dix, B. M. The enemy. American School Peace League. DIX Dix, B. M. and Sutherland, Mrs. E. G. (B). A Rose o' Plymouth-town. Dramatic Pub. Co. DO Doheny, M. A. Play awhile; a dramatic reader for the second school year. Little. DOR Dorsen, H. Power of Loyalty. Moflfat. DR Drama, a monthly review. Drama League of America. DU Dugan, C. A. The king's jester. Houghton. DUN Dunn, F. W. What shall we play? Macmillan. E Ethical Culture School, New York. America the wonderland. F First flag and other patriotic plays and exercises. Educ. Pub. Co. 109 no PLAYS FOR CHILDREN FI Findlay, M. I. Alice in Wonderland. Oxford University Press. FIA Findlay, M. I. Ivanhoe. Oxford University Press. FIB Findlay, M. I. Talisman. Oxford University Press. FO Fogerty, E., ed. Scenes from the great novelists. Sonnenschein. FOU Foucher, L. C. Effie's Christmas dream. Little. FR Francis W. Parker School. Brotherhood. FRA Francis W. Parker School. Ivanhoe. FRB Francis W. Parker School. Lionel of Orkney. FRC Francis W. Parker School. Paradise of children. FRD Francis W. Parker School. Return of Odysseus. FRE Francis W. Parker School. Return of the Douglas. FRF Francis W. Parker School. Robin Hood. FRG Francis W. Parker School. True Thomas. FRH Francis W. Parker School. Wrath of Achilles. FRN Frank, M. M. Short plays about famous authors. Holt. G Gardner, M. Dramatic reader; the land of make-believe. Educ. Pub. Co. GA Gamett, Mrs. L. (A.) Master Will of Stratford; a midwinter night's dream, in three acts with a prologue and an epilogue. Macmillan. GE Gertenberg, A. AHce in Wonderland ; a dramatization of Lewis Carroll's AUce in Wonderland and Through the looking glass. McClurg. GL Glassie, A. B. The meadowgold. University of Wisconsin. Extension Division. GO Goodlander, M. R. Fairy plays for children. Rand. GOA Gothorp, Mrs. B. Dramatized history. 5 bks. Cassell. GOB Gould, E. L. The "Little men" play. Little. GOC Gould, E. L. The "Little women" play. Little. GR Gregory, A. (P.) Lady. The golden apple. Putnam. GRE Gregory, A. (P.) Lady. Poets and dreamers. Hodges, Feggis. GRI Griffin, C. S. The headless horseman. Penn. GX Greene, Kathleen C. Little boy out of the wood and other dream plays. John Lane. H Hare, W. B. White Christmas and other merry Christmas plays. Denison. HA Harper's book of little plays; for home and school entertainments; with an intro- duction by M. D. Bamum, Harper. HAB Harris, F. H. Eight plays for the school. Dutton. HAC Harrison, Mrs. C. (C.) Ahce in Wonderland. Dramatic Pub. Co. HI Hill, R. John Joseph Pershing. Badger. HO Hogate, E. C. and Grover, E. O. Sunbonnets and overalls; a dramatic reader and an operetta. Rand. HOA Holbrook, F. Dramatic reader for lower grades. Amer. Bk. Co. HOB Holbrook, F. Dramatization of Longfellow's Song of Hiawatha. Houghton. HU Hutchinson, M. F. The masque of the woodlands. Blackie. HUT Hutchinson, M. F. Masque or pageant of English trees and flowers. Blackie. HX Hubbard, E. Little American history plays for little Americans. Sanborn. I Isham, F. S. and Weitzel, E. The toy shop; a drama for children. French. J Johnston, Mrs. A. (F.) The rescue of the Princess Winsome. Page. JO Johnston, E. L. ancJ Bamum, M. D. Book of plays for little actors. Amer. Bk. Co. K Kane, H. P. Yotcheka. French. KN Knight, M. Dramatic reader for grammar grades. Amer. Bk. Co. KR Kraft, I. The power of Purim. Jewish Pub. Society. KRO Krohn, J. E. The queen of hearts. Drama League. L Lamkin, N. B. America yesterday and today. Denison. LA Lansing, M. F. Dramatic readings for schools. Macmillan. LAN Lansing, M. F. Quaint old stories to read and act. Ginn. LAS Laselle, M. A. Dramatization of school classics; a dramatic reader. Educ. Pub. Co. LI Lisle, C. A scout's honor. Penn. ^ LO Lord, K. Little playbook. DuffielJ. LU Luetkenhaus, Mrs. A. M. (I.) Master Skylark. Century. LUA Luetkenhaus, Mrs. A. M. (I.) Plays for school children. Century. LUB Luetkenhaus, Mrs. A. M. (I.) arid Knox, M. Story and play readers, 3 v. Century. BOOKS INDEXED WITH KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS 111 LX Lamkin, N. B. Gifts we bring. Denison. M McBrien, J. L., ed, America first; patriotic readings. Amer, Bk. Co. MA McCarthy, G. D. Plays from the Wonder-book and Tanglewood tales. Educ. Pub. Co. MAB Macdonell, A, Historical plays for children. Series 1-2. George Allen & Co. MAC McFadden, E. A. Why the chimes rang. French. MAD Mackay, C. D. Forest princess and other masques. Holt. MAE Mackay, C. D. House of the heart and other plays for children. Holt. MAF Mackay, C. D. Memorial day pageant. Harper. MAG Mackay, C. D. Patriotic plays and pageants for young people. Holt. MAH Mackay, C. D. Plays of the pioneers. Harper. MAI Mackay, C. D. Silver thread and other folk plays for young people. Holt. MAJ Mackaye, P. New citizenship; a civic ritual. Macmillan. MAL McLaren, J. M. aMJlu* HA ^ • TU Tucker, L. E. and Ryan, E. L. Historical plays of colonial days. Longmans. TUR Turner, G. and others. Com silk. University of North Dakota. TX Thorp, J. Bonds of liberty. Womans Press. TY Thorp, J. and Kimball, R. Patriotic pageants of today. Holt. U Underwood, K. Fairy tale plays for infants and juniors. Arnold. W Wade, Mrs. M. H. (B.) Abraham Lincoln. Gorham Press. WA Wade, Mrs. M. H. (B) Benjamin Franklin. McClurg. WAB Wade, Mrs. M. H. (B.) Ulysses Simpson Grant. McClurg. WAC Walker, A. J. Little plays from American history. Holt. WAD Walker, E. H. Christmas in olden times and in many lands. Welch. WAR Warren, M. J. The twig of thorn. Baker. WE Wessex, J. Masque of the seasons. Minster Press. WH White, J. B. Snow white and the seven dwarfs. Dodd. WI Wickes, F. G. Stories to act. Rand. WIC Wickes, F. G. Child's book of holiday plays. Macmillan. WIG Wiggin, Mrs. K. D. (S.) and Ingersoll, H. The Birds' Christmas Carol. Houghton. WIS Wisconsin. University. Extension Division. Bureau of Community Develop- ment. Plays for community Christmas. (Wisconsin University bulletin serial No. 1010, gen. ser. No. 794.) WO Wohelo; a magazine for girls. January, 1915. Camp Fire girls. WOO Wood, P. B. Dramatic reader. Longmans. WX Wade, Mrs. M. H. (B.) George Washington. Badger. WY Walker, A. J. Lafayette; Columbus; Long Knives. Holt. Y Yeats, W. B. The hour-glass and other plays. Macmillan. PLAYS FOR SPECIAL DAYS NEW YEAR'S DAY Baby New Year Captured year Cave of the fates Father Time and his children Gift of time Glad New Year New New Year New Year (2 plays) Resolutions of Anychild Time and the seasons TWELFTH NIGHT Twelfth night festivities LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY Abe Lincoln and Little A. D. Anychild learns from Lincoln At the White House, 1863 In Boston, 1864 Little life of Lincoln Mr. Lincoln and the little girl On a plantation, 1863 Rich citizens See also titles beginning Abraham Lin- coln. VALENTINE'S DAY Grandmother Cupid St. Valentine's house Tertulla's garden Wooden shoe WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY Ferry Farm episode First in war Great general's lesson to the little corporal Hardships at Valley Forge Man who bore the burden Mrs. Murray's dinner party Spy See also titles beginning Washington and George Washington APRIL FOOL'S DAY April fool EASTER Easter lily Easter rabbit (2 plays) Flower of the ages Seven sleepers of Ephesos ARBOR DAY Anychild helps the Baby Tree Arbor day Baucis and Philemon Birds' story of the trees. Crowning of the dryads Dryad's awakening Edge of the wood Masque of conservation Prayer of the forest spirit Rhoecus MAY DAY OR SPRING Fairies' plea First May baskets Greatest gift Hawthorne pageant In bells and motley Masque of Pomona Masque of the woodlands May-day May-day interlude Merrymount Miss Pansy's May party Nick Bluster's trick Nottingham shooting match Persephone Rabbit's message Return of Spring Robin Hood Spring fantasy Springtime fantasy Sweetbriar MEMORIAL DAY Anychild meets Memory Dulce et decorum club Memorial Day Memorial Day pageant FOURTH OF JULY See Patriotic COLUMBUS DAY Christopher Columbus (4 plays) Columbus helps Anychild Discovery of America Little girl who helped Vision of Columbus HALLOWE'EN Goblin stone Lucky Hallowe'en On AH Souls' eve Testing of Sir Gawayne Troll of the mountains THANKSGIVING DAY Anychild's vision of blessings At the Gate of Peace Courtship of Miles Standish Day before Thanksgiving Dream of freedom 113 114 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN Enterprise of the Mayflower First Thanksgiving day (3 plays) First Thanksgiving dinner Good Thanksgiving Little people of Autumn Little Pilgrim's progress Maid of Plymouth Masque of Pomona Miles Standish Mill that ground hot porridge Minister's dream Mrs. Bangs's pies Priscilla, Myles and John Spinning lesson Standish of Standish Thankful heart Thanksgiving day, 1696 Thanksgiving dream Troubles on land and sea CHRISTMAS DAY Anita's secret Anychild preparing for Christmas Babouscka Babushka Bird's Christmas Carol Bob Cratchit's Christmas dinner Canvas Christmas Children and the evangelists Christ-candle Christmas mystery Christmas tree joke Cratchit's Christmas dinner Dolls Dream of gold Dream-toy shop Eager Heart Ebenezer Scrooge's Christmas Eflfie's Christmas dream Elves and the shoemaker False Sir Santa Claus First Christmas eve First Christmas Tree Gift of time Gifts we bring Greatest gift Health, wealth and happiness Her Christmas hat Holy night House of Santa Claus How Christmas was saved Hundred Little Christmas Tree Lost toys Magic trunk Masque of Christmas Minty-Malviny's Santa Claus Mistletoe and holly My lady's Yule tide Nativity Night before Christmas Old toys On Christmas eve Piccola Puppet princess Puritan Christmas (2 plays) Quest of the doll Revolt of the holidays St. Nicholas Santa Claus Sixteenth-century Christmas Snow queen Spell of Qiristmas Star in the east Steadfast princess Their Christmas party Three little Christmas waifs Toinette and the elves Tom's plan When Santa Claus comes Where love is God is Which shall be king? White Christmas Why the chimes rang Wishing man Wolf of Gubbio Yuletide rose Sec also titles beginning Christmas OTHER PLAYS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS BOY SCOUTS Scout's honor CAMP FIRE Arrow-maker's daughter Healing spring Onida's dreams SOME HUMOROUS PLAYS Adventure of my aunt Alice in Wonderland (4 plays) Alice's adventures with the queen Anita's secret Christmas in rhyme-land Christmas with the Mulligans Course of true love Emperor's new clothes Feathertop Foolish Jack Her Christmas hat Mad tea-party Melon thief ^listake at the manor Queen of hearts PLAYS FOR SPECIAL DAYS 115 Salon Carre fantasy Through the looking-glass (3 plays) Tune of a tune Tweedledum and Tweedledee Wishing man JAPANESE PLAYS Bibi Flight of the Sun goddess Sun goddess KING ARTHUR Gareth and Lynette Good King Arthur How England found her king Lancelot and Elaine Lionel of Orkney Sir Gareth of Orkney Sir Percivale, the boy knight from the forest OUT-OF-DOORS Abraham Lincoln episode At the Gate of Peace Bag o' dreams Benjamin Franklin (4 plays) Course of true love Daniel Boone, patriot Day Will Shakespeare went to Kenilworth Dekanawida Dream lady Dryad's awakening Edge of the wood Elf child Enchanted garden Ever-Ever Land Fairies' plea Ferry Farm episode First May basket Forest of Every Day Forest spring Fountain of youth George Washington's fortune Golden birds Golden star Gooseherd and the goblin Grasshoppers and the ants Greatest gift Hansel and Gretel Hawthorne pageant Healing spring Highway of the King If Don't-Believe is changed into Believe In witchcraft days June magic Katjens garden Little boy out of the wood Little folk in green Masque of conservation Masque or pageant of English trees and flowers Masque of the woodlands Meadowgold Memorial day pageant Merrymount Pageant of hours Pageant of patriots Passing of Hiawatha Persephone Pioneers (2 plays) Pool of answers Princess on the road Princess Pocahontas Queen Flora's court Robin Hood Robin Hood and his merry men Robin Hood and the widow's three sons Siegfried Son of the Yemassee Song of Hiawatha Spinning lesson Spirit of New England Triumph of democracy Troll magic Vanishing race Vision of Columbus White magic Wild animal play PATRIOTIC America America, the wonderland America, yesterday and today Answer Anychild and her flag At the Gate of Peace Benjamin Franklin (4 plays) Bonds of liberty Boston tea party (2 plays) Brave deed by brave men Call to the Youth of America Continental Congress Conversion of Mrs. Slacker Dame Greel o' Portland town Daniel Boone Daniel Boone, patriot Dekanawida Dolly Madison Dora, her flag First American flag First flag Fourth of July Golden star Hats off Hiding of regicides Highway of the King How the little Smiths got their Fourth-of- July money 116 PLAYS FOR CHILDREN How they saved the fort In Betsy Ross's time Independence day John Joseph Pershing Lafayette Lafayette the friend of America Lafayette's toast Light Little citizens making a new America Little Homemaker (Food conservation) Little maid of Concord town Little patriot Little rebels Long Knives in Illinois Making a flag Making of the first American flag Man without a country (3 plays) Nathan Hale New citizenship Onida's dreams Our country and our flag Our first flag Our flag Pageant of patriots (Indoor and Outdoor) Pageant of the Illinois country Poor little boy (Garden production) Power of Loyalty Single-handed McAuley Soap box orator Spirit of New England Torch Treason of Bendict Arnold Tribute to America Triumph of democracy Victory of the good citizen Vision of Columbus When courage was needed When Liberty calls For other patriotic plays see lists under Lincoln's birthday, Washington's birthday, Memorial day and Red cross. See also reference list of Books of interest under Langdon, W. C. Suggestions for the cele- bration of the Fourth of July by means of pageantry. Many other plays of American history in this list may also be used. PEACE Crowning of peace Enemy Healing spring Nation's stronger weapon RED CROSS Goody Grumble's cottage Opposite end of the world Red cross policeman SHAKESPEARE Day Will Shakespeare went to Kenilworth Fairies' plea Master Skylark Master Will of Stratford Midsummer dance dream SPECIAL FORM ACTING BALLADS Lord UUin's daughter LIVING PICTURES Giant picture book OPERETTAS Babes in the wood Beauty and the beast Bluebeard Bobby Shaftoe Cinderella Fairy changeling Good King Arthur Land of Nod Mother Goose operetta Puss in boots Seven old ladies of Lavender town Sleeping beauty Sunbonnets and overalls Three bears Three little kittens of the land of pie Top-shop PANTOMIMES Christmas Mystery Day Will Shakespeare went to Kenilworth Elves and the shoemaker Famine Goldilocks and the three bears Handful of clay - Hats off Hiawatha Hiawatha's childhood Red Riding Hood Snow-white and Rose-red PUPPET PLAY Chevalier Jessamine and the Princess Eglantine SHADOW PLAYS Ballad of the oysterman Egyptian cat Modern and mediaeval ballad of Mary Jane TABLEAUX Christmas garland Christmas in old England Christmas with the children UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY BERKELEY Return to desk from which borrowed. This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. FEB 1 1948 APR 30 06 1889 "10 AM 6]an'57PW DEC • 6 1958 LD 21-100m-9,'47(A5702sl6)476 U.C. BERKELEY LIBRARIES YD '12885 CQDb7b37flb UNIVERSITY OF CAUFORNIA LIBRARY lip ;miit!iiiiii;