Henner Hoffman,—An old neighbor who believes in the good old times of “Lang Syne.”
Wm. Shwinefelt,—Insurance agent for the Yubee Co. and other wild cat life insurance companies.
Augustus Eslinger,—A young store clerk of the village. Sallie’s lover and Shwinefelt’s rival.
Dr. Fraud,—Examining physician for the Yubee Co.
Abe Brownschweiger and Ike Brownschweiger,—Sallie’s brothers, school boys.
Yokle ought to have about three yards of plaited corn husk, i. e., half of an unsewed door mat, and, as the curtain rises he is plaiting, seated on a stool or chair, while Ike picks corn husks out of a basket and hands them to his “dawdy” as the latter needs them. Perhaps a spinning wheel for Frany would be better than sewing, or darning big woolen stockings. The costumes ought to be suitable. For Yokle, Frany and the rest of the family, farmers’ ordinary clothes, but not ragged nor dirty. Shwinefelt should be loudly dressed—large stand up collar with a red necktie, big cuffs, etc. Gust, like a clerk, not quite so flashy. Sally ought to be the well dressed beauty of the play.
DIE INSHURANCE BUSINESS.
ACT I.
Scene I.— Brownschweiger’s sitting-room and kitchen. A family scene. Yokle smoking pipe and plaiting corn husk mat. Ike on the right picking and handing husks to him. Frany, in the center sewing, dressed in cap and white handkerchief pinned across her breast. On left, Grandmother Aunshitz in huge white cap and spectacles seated in arm-chair, scraping an apple and eating it. To her left, Sallie crocheting. Seated on the floor to the left, Abe is covering a ball. Empty chair between Yokle and Frany. Grandmother coughs a great deal.
Yokle. Hurry up Ike und mach die wish net so dick. War der huxliter hide do, mam?