EVERYCHILD
By Content S. Nichols
(A School Morality)
How Everychild sought for a companion on her quest for Goodness and Beauty, and having at length chosen, received also certain treasures.
CHARACTERS
Everychild.
Joy.
Mathematics.
Latin.
Idleness.
Service.
Gaiety.
Discipline.
A Page (if necessary).
No stage setting except a chair.
[Enter Everychild.]
Everychild. Were there not voices here? I came to see
If this could be my chosen company.
For I am growing now, and seek to come
Where Goodness, and where Beauty, have their home.
I am alone; but Everychild, they say,
May choose what friends she’ll have upon her way.
[Thinks.]
I’ll call for Idleness, she is so soft!
She will not make me climb, nor scold me oft.
Idleness! Idleness! come!
[Enter, slowly, Idleness, in soft robes, with large fan and box of chocolates.]
Idleness. [Languidly.] Beautiful dreams
And chocolate creams
Are all I desire of the world as a boon.
No heat, and no strife;
The pleasantest life
Is to swing in a hammock the long afternoon.
[Sinks into a chair.]
Everychild. But will you talk with me, and guard me well,
And guide where Beauty bright, and Goodness, dwell?
Idleness. No heat and no strife;
The pleasantest life
Is to swing in a hammock the long afternoon.
Beautiful dreams—
Everychild. But will you, Idleness,—
Idleness. Beautiful dreams
And chocolate creams
Are all I desire of the world—
Everychild. I cannot bear you! Lazy thing! away!
I will have friends that laugh, and run, and play!
[Idleness goes languidly out, fanning herself.]
Everychild. I’ll call for Gaiety! She is so fleet.
Her bright wings fly beyond our mortal feet,
And she has passed all shores, and knows full well
Where radiant Goodness, and where Beauty, dwell.
Gaiety! Gaiety! come!
[Gaiety runs and dances on, in light costume, with wings. She flies to and fro across the stage, while Everychild runs after her, crying, “Take me!” but is left behind. Gaiety slaps her and runs off.]
Everychild. [Sobbing.] She slapped me just because I could not fly,
And now she leaves me all alone to cry!
What shall I do? How shall I ever come
Where Beauty bright, and Goodness, have their home?
—I’ll call for Joy! She has bright hair of gold,
Sweet songs, and dancing footfalls, so I’m told.
Joy! O Joy! [No answer.]
“Haste thee, Nymph, and bring with thee
Jest, and youthful Jollity;
Quips and cranks, and wanton wiles,
Nods and becks and wreathèd smiles,
Such as hang on Hebe’s cheek
And love to live in dimple sleek;
Sport, that wrinkled Care derides,
And Laughter, holding both his sides!”
Joy! Joy! come! [No answer.]
She will not come. Alas!
[Enter Latin, in dark gown, with blue veiling over hair and shoulders, carrying heavy volumes.]
Everychild. Oh, who are you? you don’t look very nice.
Latin. Stella, stellae, stellae, stellam, stella:
Amo, amas, amat, amamus, amatis, amant.
Everychild. But what’s your name! How old are you!
Latin. My name is Latin. Ages old am I,
And many a state have I seen rise and die.
I reigned alone in Europe many a year;
Barbarians trembled when my voice drew near.
To Dante, Latin was his other tongue;
In Latin, Milton, as in English, sung;
And many a child have I trained up to see
How different Tweedledum from Tweedledee!
Everychild. Oh, I don’t know! You look so old and blue.
And must I study those great books all through?
Latin. Yes, that you must. But take my hand and come,
For I have treasures in my mountain home:
Right habits, carefulness, foundations firm
For every language that the moderns learn,
Choice words, the source of English sound and pure.
How say you? Can you follow, and endure?
Everychild. But can you play with me, and guard me well,
And guide where Beauty bright, and Goodness, dwell?
Latin. Aye, that I can. I know their home on high—
[As Everychild puts her hand in Latin’s and advances a step, enter Mathematics, also in dark gown, with head covered, carrying slate or compasses.]
Latin. Hail, Sister!
Mathematics. Hail!
Everychild. But who is this? And must she with us go?
Your family are all so dark and slow!
No, I don’t think I like you. What’s your name?
Mathematics. In every tongue my symbols are the same.
2 × 1 are 2, 2 × 2 are 4, 2 × 3 are 6—
My name is Mathematics. Many a year
We’ll doubtless be acquainted—never fear.
Everychild. But you look stiff and stern.
Why don’t you sing,
And smile, and wear soft robes?
Mathematics.A mighty king
I serve, and it is mine to teach and train.
A trinomial is a perfect square when two of
its terms are perfect squares and positive,
and the third term is twice the product of
their square roots.
Everychild. [Who has put her fingers to her ears
during the definition.]
No, I don’t like you! I won’t take your hand,
For you have nothing that I want.
[Turns away.]
Mathematics. Nay, stand!
Stand thou and listen! Royal gifts have I,
Gifts men have sold their mortal lives to buy.
’Tis I that build the house, that count the tide;
I lay the rails, I span the waters wide;
I teach how planets sail the ether high;
I guide the aëroplane that dares the sky;
I tunnel deep where mighty rivers roll;
I plant the stars and stripes upon the pole!
Lo, this is I!
Everychild. Oh, let me go with you! and can you tell
Where radiant Goodness, and where Beauty, dwell?
Mathematics. Their servant am I. I can lead you—Stay!
[As they begin to go off together, enter Discipline, in black gown and cap, with bunch of switches, arms folded, frowning.]
Everychild. Oh, I’m afraid—I think I’ll run away.
You naughty thing! How dare you! Go away!
Discipline. Control yourself.
Everychild. I won’t. I want to do just as I choose!
Latin. [After a pause.] Then you must leave us.
Ah—do not refuse
To follow Discipline, for he is good;
He tames the insolent, informs the rude.
He frowns, but he will let you run and grow
If but his precepts you incline to know.
Discipline. Let kittens play, but men must toil and soar;
Honor thyself, but honor others more.
No vulgar aim to monarchs do I bring;
Rule well thy mind, for in it thou art king!
Latin. Through Discipline alone canst thou attain to be
Thyself, thy highest self, eternally.
Everychild. Yes, I was silly. I will take his hand.
He too shall guide me into Beauty’s land.
[She advances to take his hand. As he says the next lines, he throws down his switches, or, if a girl, throws off dark gown and veil, and draws forth a box of treasures. At the same time, Latin and Mathematics throw off their dark gowns and veils, and appear in light garments, with flowers, fillets, or wreaths on their heads. The Page may give Latin a wreath, Mathematics a lighted lantern, and gather up the gowns.]
Discipline. O strong young child, since you have followed me,
No longer ugly Discipline I’ll be.
A fairer self I show to each brave soul:
In Beauty’s land they call me Self-control.
Mine are these stores of treasures manifold.
[Pouring into her hands.]
My silver rusts not, nor my well-tried gold.
Latin. O thou dear child, that chose with me to come,
Now shall we reach the heights of Beauty’s home.
He that has climbed shall breathe the mountain air;
He that has learned shall read the pages fair,
Shall understand, shall learn himself to speak.
Fair are the flowers on the mountain peak!
[Crowning her with the wreath.]
Beautiful words, and noble thoughts, are these,
Fine feelings, witty sayings, grace, and ease!
Mathematics. O thou dear child, since thou wert not afraid
Of my slow step, dark dress, and heavy tread,
To thy small hand entrust I now this light [gives lantern],
Through all the ages ever burning bright.
Clear thoughts be thine, and Truth shall keep the flame,
For from her altar at the first it came.
[Enter Joy and Service, quickly, hand in hand; in bright floating dresses, with wings. Joy with wreath of flowers, a star on her head and a wand; Service with Greek fillet, scattering flowers.]
Everychild. Why, aren’t you Joy?
Joy.Oh, yes! I could not stay,
Where Service goes, I follow. That’s our way.
[They kiss, and circle in a little dance, which may end in a kiss.]
Latin. To guide the child they come, on high command.
Service and Joy go ever hand in hand.
Service. In our bright home I heard the spirits say
A child was seeking me this very day.
Gladly I hastened when I heard them speak;
Who seeketh Service hath not far to seek.
Then followed Joy, the loveliest of our band:
Service and Joy go ever hand in hand.
[They repeat the dance and kiss.]
Service. Now on our happy journey let us come
To that bright land where Goodness is at home,
Where Beauty is, where we desire to dwell.
Joy. Farewell, ye mortals all! Farewell!
[Going.]
Discipline. Farewell!
Latin, Everychild, and Mathematics.
Farewell!