THE COUNTRY SCHOOL.
_______________
INTRODUCTION.
T
HE
curtain should rise upon an introductory front scene depicting the pupils on their way to school, singly, or in groups of two or three, swinging book-bags or dinner-pails; one group of girls play bean-bag; a group of boys play marbles; one boy tries to fly a kite; some skip, others walk sedately, or jump rope, drive hoop, etc.
(Enter BOY, whittling.)
BOY. Say, Seth, old Hickory’s coming! Got your hands all waxed, sonny? ’Cause you’ll have to ketch it hot and heavy this morning. Teacher’s awful mad about your stealing Squire Green’s apples.
SETH CRANE (who has book-bag, etc.). Don’t care. I ain’t going to school to-day, anyway. I’m going to play hookey.
BOY. Did your ma say you might?
SETH. Bet your life she didn’t. I’m not tied to my ma’s apron strings, Bubby; I’m no baby!
BOY. Here he comes! Run, Seth, or he’ll ketch you.