There is much of this incident that should be left out in the telling; by no means should it be read directly from the Bible to children. The story may be told so that the following points are emphasized:
Abraham is sitting at the door of his tent. Three men appear; he runs to meet them and bows to the ground. He invites them to rest under the shade of the tree and offers to get food and to have their feet washed. The strangers sit and talk together, then Abraham comes with the food. They all eat and are rested, and as they rise to depart they ask for Sarah, Abraham's wife. The strangers tell Sarah and Abraham that they are to have a son whose name shall be Isaac and whom God shall bless and who shall be the father of many people. Abraham and Sarah are greatly astonished and pleased. They fall upon their knees to thank God, and when they arise they find that the strangers have departed. The scene closes with their exclamation, "Surely these were angels from the Lord who have visited us!"
This story was dramatized by the children of the dramatic club after they had had experience with many other dramatizations. During the first hour after the story was told the children succeeded in getting the play into very nearly its final form. Two of the older girls, undertaking to write out the scenes as they thought they should be, brought in their versions at the second meeting. Each one was read aloud, the other children being asked to remember the parts that seemed especially good. Then by combining, adding to, or taking from, a composite result was obtained. Several children wrote down the final decisions at the dictation of the group.
Below is given the version which one child worked out by herself, and following that is the final form of the play which the group as a whole decided upon. The leader purposely left this play entirely in the hands of the children; the product is wholly their own.
THE PLAY EXACTLY AS ONE CHILD WROTE IT
Abraham: The day is hot and I am weary. I will rest myself from the heat of the day. [He seats himself in the shade of the tent.]
Sarah: It is indeed hot, and I will bring thee food and drink that thou mayest refresh thyself. [Sarah retires into the tent.]
Abraham [rises to his feet and shades his eyes with his hands]: Sarah, come hither! Yonder are strangers who are in need of rest. [Sarah comes out, and she and Abraham kneel before them.] Welcome, strangers, seat yourselves that ye may rest. My wife, Sarah, will bring you food, and water that you may wash your feet.
First Stranger: The Lord bless thee, Abraham. [Sarah and the servants withdraw, and Abraham and the three men seat themselves before the tent. Sarah returns with water and food. The strangers wash their feet and eat.]
Sarah [offering them food]: Drink thou this fresh milk, and refresh thyself with this fruit, for ye look weary. [They finish eating and Sarah and the servants retire.]