图书图片
PDF
ePub

UNCLE SAM. This is a fitting close to our delightful circle. These tributes will in the years to come be enjoyed by grateful millions. And now, as our time is up, we part to meet a year hence. [All shake hands. Curtain.]

ACROSTIC EXERCISE.

FOR SEVEN COUPLES.

[Seventh couple-boy and girl-advances to picture of Lincoln on stage. Girl hands green bouquet, bearing "L" in white paper roses, to boy who places it in loop on netting-frame. The two recite first stanza and step back into line. Each couple places "a tribute," until "Lincoln" surrounds the picture. "L" and last "N" are near bottom. "C" is above; bow of red, white and blue at bottom of wreath.]

Lincoln, liberator of the race

Doomed to toil from day to day

Under a cruel master's lash

With only threats and blows for pay.

In every age, in every clime

Seach the records of all lands
Among the noblest names of earth
The name of Lincoln proudly stands.

No conquering hero could do more
Than Lincoln, "Our Martyred President."

He guided our nation during the war

And safe, through days of gloom, it went.
Could the air of our nation float two flags?
The Union be severed? Our liberty lost?
Could secession be lawful; slavery exist?
"No," said Lincoln, "whatever the cost."

Orator, statesman of the West,

Faithful and true to duty's call,

Striving to do a Christian's part

"With malice towards none, and charity for all."

Long will the name of Lincoln be loved
For his kindness toward high and low,
From bonds four million slaves he freed

To whom life had been but grief and woe.

Never will Booth's dark deed be forgotten,
In sixty-five, April, the fourteenth day.
The whole world mourned; grief-stricken,
When Abraham Lincoln passed away.

HALL OF LIBERTY.

EXERCISE FOR 8 GIRLS AND 10 BOYS.

CHARACTERS: Girls-GODDESS OF LIBERTY, GODDESS OF FAME,
SERIOUSNESS, FAITH, SYMPATHY, MERCY, SIMPLICITY,
KNOWLEDGE.

Boys-2 PAGES, HONESTY, WIT, COURAGE, TEMPERANCE,
PURITY, PERSEVERANCE, DUTY, PATRIOTISM.

COSTUMES: Girls-GODDESS OF LIBERTY-White flowing Greek
gown; long red, white and blue sash draped from left shoul-
der, caught under right arm and hanging to hem of gown;
small star-studded diadem; carries United States shield.
GODDESS OF FAME-White flowing gown; silver crown;
carries roll of paper. SERIOUSNESS-Simple gray gown.
FAITH-White gown with silver pendant on chain about
neck. SYMPATHY-Light pink gown.
MERCY-White
gown. SIMPLICITY-Plain and simple gown. KNOWL-
EDGE-Student's gown, mortarboard cap.
Boys-PAGES-Regulation satin or fancy-colored page-cos-
tume. HONESTY-Blue costume; carries scale. WIT-
Garbed as jester; carries bauble. COURAGE-Red cos-
tume; helmet; carries shield. TEMPERANCE-White cos-
tume; carries white shield. PURITY-White costume; car-
ries shield shaped like large white heart. PERSEVERANCE-
Light green costume. DUTY-Blue costume. PATRIOT-
ISM-Red costume; carries United States shield.

STAGE SETTING: Set to represent Hall of Liberty, with busts, flags, and placards with names of heroes. At center on

dais is GODDESS OF LIBERTY attended by two pages. LIBERTY [soliloquizing]. To-day we celebrate Lincoln's birth. Among the names on Liberty's walls no name shines with greater luster. [Beckons to PAGES.] Bring in the picture of Lincoln. [PAGES bring easel on which is large portrait of Lincoln and place it in center of stage.] Ah, there he is. What a thoughtful face! What rugged pathos! Lincoln's face shows a soul tried by affliction.

[ocr errors]

[Enter GODDESS of Fame.]

FAME. Greeting, fair Liberty! This is a day to be remembered. High on the roll of fame is Lincoln's name inscribed.

LIBERTY. What made Lincoln great? Not his birth, for he was of humble origin.

FAME. It was not his circumstances. He had great difficulties to contend with. We may well ask the question, What made Lincoln great?

[Enter HONESTY.]

HONESTY [bowing]. Honesty made Lincoln great. He loved truth. He always spoke the truth. He won the confidence of everybody. It was that which made him great.

FAME [extending hand]. Honesty certainly did much to make Lincoln great.

[Enter SERIOUSNESS.]

SERIOUSNESS. Seriousness of purpose brought Lincoln to the top. He gave serious attention to every detail, and was deeply in earnest.

[Enter WIT.]

WIT. Wit made Lincoln great. Have not instances of his wit come down to us through all these years? He was great because he was a great story-teller.

LIBERTY. Yes, Lincoln was full of humor and fond of good

jokes. But at the same time he was very serious—never joked on serious subjects. These are some of the qualities that helped to make him great.

[Enter FAITH.]

FAITH. Faith claims credit for Lincoln's greatness. He believed in God and in man. He had faith that right would triumph

over wrong.

LIBERTY. True, faith was Lincoln's strong anchor in stress and danger. He held fast to his faith. If I mistake not, here comes Faith's inseparable companion-Courage.

[Enter COURAGE.]

COURAGE. TO Lincoln I came in strength and power and hand in hand with Faith. I helped him over hard places from boyhood to manhood. You ask what made Lincoln great. I'll answer'twas Faith and Courage. [Takes FAITH's hand, both bow before LIBERTY and FAME.]

FAME. Blessings on you both. The gratitude of the oppressed and heavy-burdened the world around is yours.

[Enter SYMPATHY, who stands a moment in silence.] LIBERTY. I recognize you, Sympathy. What would the hard, cold world do without your gracious warmth! Welcome!

FAME. I also know you, Sympathy. No doubt you were one of the inspirers of Lincoln's endeavors, just as you have been of a host of noble men from the beginning of time.

SYMPATHY. I did my best for Lincoln. I touched his great heart and from it flowed the mighty forces of mercy to cheer the downtrodden and disconsolate.

[Enter MERCY as preceding sentence is spoken.]

MERCY. At Lincoln's word I came in behalf of those in bondage and heavy-burdened. By exercising mercy Lincoln came to

be one of the world's great heroes.

FAME. The powers of mercy are great. They helped to make Lincoln great.

[Enter TEMPERANCE.]

LIBERTY. Lincoln's strong ally was Temperance. Very properly does Temperance come to-day to exemplify what this virtue did to make Lincoln great.

TEMPERANCE.

From his youth I aided Lincoln. He never ignored my admonitions. As a result, you see his greatness of

character.

FAME. The world should more generally know what Temperance did to make Lincoln great.

[Enter SIMPLICITY.]

SIMPLICITY. Perhaps I did not do so very much, but I think no one will deny that I was essential to Lincoln's greatness. I was part of him throughout life. Even in the height of his eminence, his whole conduct was marked by simplicity.

FAME. You're right. I, for one, am willing to place Simplicity high among the attributes that made Lincoln great.

[Enter PURITY.]

PURITY. I came to Lincoln often, and was his bodyguard at all times. When purity reigns in the heart nothing bad can get hold of it. Perhaps I cannot claim credit for making Lincoln great, but I know I helped to make him good. Who can be great without being good?

FAME. None. True greatness is based on goodness. Purity, the world owes you a debt of gratitude. May your influence extend.

LIBERTY. In purity are rooted many of the noble attributes; for, unless they are planted in the soil of purity, they will wither and decay. You not only made Lincoln good, Purity, but you made him great.

[Enter PERSEVERANCE.]

PERSEVERANCE.

I am Perseverance. I held on when Lincoln needed me. Often, when heavily burdened and his strength seemed about gone, the temptation would come to lay down his burden, then it was that I was at hand.

« 上一页继续 »