Prepared by Bessie O'Hagen, Teacher of Fourth Grade, Bangs Avenue School, Asbury Park
Characters: Spirit of Cotton, Little Girl, Maiden from India, Maiden from Egypt, Maiden from America, Spirit of Eli Whitney.
Little Girl (coming into the room in bad humor). I hate this old cotton dress. I wish I had a silk one. I don't see why we have to use cotton anyway. We have to have cotton dresses, cotton sheets, cotton stockings, cotton everything. I just hate cotton! I'm not going out to play or anything. (Finally sits down.) I am so tired. I wish I had a silk dress. I hate this cotton dress. (Falls asleep.)
Spirit of Cotton (skipping into the room). Heigh ho! Ho heigh! Here am I, the Spirit of Cotton. I heard what you said, little girl. Did you ever see cotton grow?
Little Girl (frightened). Why, no.
Spirit of Cotton. How do you know whether it is interesting or not? I will tell you the story of my life. In the early spring the planter gets the ground ready for me. As soon as the frost is out of the ground, he plants me.
Little Girl. What happens then?
Spirit of Cotton. The good earth gives me food. The sun and rain make me grow, and soon—
Heigh ho! Ho heigh!
There am I,
A tall plant of cotton.