The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-12-22
Holiday Pastimes.
PROVERBS IN ACTION.

Proverbs can be played IN impfomp
tn STYLE with pleasure and profit, anC
can also be drama,zed so as to anus,
crowded audiences of cultivated peo
pie. But they are, perhaps, funnicl
when done in the former manner, ant
the costumes are caught up from thu
entry and the properties from tn,
kitchen.
In this case the most eccentric turn
can be given to the sentiment and pro
nunciation Of the words used, and The
alternate scenes may be represented in
tableau, pantomime or charade. A
few specimens of each will be giycr
here from which even tho youngcs,
reader can gain ideas enough to enable
him to choose the proverbs and arrange
the action for himself.
A ROLLING STONE GATHERS No MOSS,
Scene IA cottage interior repre-
scented by any room. with wash-tub,
churn, ypinning-wheel. or any articles
of domestic use. The old dame sits in
a high-backed chair, and seems intent
on convincing her family of the i'm
portance of Keeping busily employed
ut home. Each one of her daughters
is at work ut some domestic labor.
Her son enters, dressed in walking
costume, with a plaid shawl over his
arm and bundle in his hand
Now, my dear boy" says tho old
lady, Il hope you will think better OF
your foolish plan of going out to ser
vice, and be content to help your
father in carrying on his farm, which
will be yours 5omc day if you attend
to il we'll
but, mother" says the boy, ~
want to sec the world
Tho world is poor place, my dear
boy. and full Of trouble"
Never mind, mother; you will re-
joicc to see me back again when | have
made my fortune"
Fortune will come to you, my son,
if You work hard at home"
Il hate Framework. mother, and
have made up my mind to 60. So
good-by all.
The son gaily marches of, and the
looks earnestly after him, waves her
handkerchief few times. then .ottcrs
to her chair and cries bitterly. The
girls all cry in concert. and then dry
their eyes and continue busily at work
until the curtain falls.
Scene 1.-THE same room with much
better furniture and adornments. The
old lady and her daughters in evening
dress arc engaged with fancy-work and
books, and ono young lady plays a
cheerful tune on the piano. The door
opens and gust of snow is blown into
the room by means of pairof bellows
and large quantity of very small
scraps of writing paper. A terrific
wind bowls without, the sound being
produced by blowing into glass bot
tie.
The son enters with rags and tatters
hanging from his clothes. His cheeks
are chalked at the sides, 50 that he
looks very much emaciated. He holds
out his right hand as if asking aims,
and leans heavily on n rough cane with
his left. No one recognizes him at
first, until he says
Don't YOU know me, mother? !
have come home destitute.
Tho mother PUSHES into his arms,
and the girls welcome him eagerly.
One runs out for provisions, another
spreads the table, and all try 10 show
their welcome aud sympathy. He sits
at the table aud eats raycnouSly, and
then SAYS
80 mother it is blessed thing to
have a home to 70 to, and have learn
ed the lesson that steady labor is far
better than n wandering life.
Another pretty entertainment is this:
FINE FEATHERS MAKE FINE BIRDS.
A fop enters and struts about with
eyeglasses and cane, seeming too proud
to speak to common people. A negro
girl enters carrying n basket of clothes
on her head, and the flop eyes her with
disgust ~ she passes him and knocks
off his hat accidentally with her basket.
He i, very angry and shakes his fist a,
her as she goes out OF sight
But his manner suddenly changes as
he sees lady with SNOWY bonnet. thick
veil and elegant cloak, and he makes
the lowest bow to her as she advances.
Inc lady, however, pays MN no atten-
ton, being very much annoyed at his
rudeness, but passes out of sight rap
idly.
The flop still fingers sucking the head
of his cane and putting on airs, when he
again behoids the same costume ap-
preaching. Gaining courage. he sidlcs
up and offers his arm to the lady, who
accepts it to his delight, and they walk
up and down together. He tries in
vain to get view of her face, which
she keeps avcrted but finally no lifts
her veil, when he beholds the same col
ored woman that he met at FIRST who
has put on the bonnet and cloak Of her
mistress. The mistress enters also now.
and both the women laugh at the dis
comfited fop. who sinks away in dis
gust rs the curtain falls.
Another proverb which affords an
OppOrtunity for action il the following.