St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-08-14
AS WE LIKE IT.
pIay Written for the COmiug CeIebra-
ton by Mrs. Mary II. p. Hatch
of Hanover, N. HI,

Second pilgrim. / faith tits never far
where one doth want to go, and tits
ever far, deem we the time spent loss in
Going far, yet though the JOY at the end
doth well repay the pilgrim for his foot
Third pilgrim. Go you to Saints
Rest? So call l Saint Johns where so
many pilgrims meet the morrow.
First Pilgrim. Marry go there. All
roads lead to Johns. The tide of travel
hath set toward that noble town where
doth dwell the salt of all the earth, most
noble stranger.
First pilgrim. Ay, but much of that
salt hath lost its flavor, l do hear It's
said.
Third pilgrim. IT'S said with malice
then. Salt is for the world. 'Twere
wrong to keep it all in Johns. So, know
ing this, many have Jared forth from
Saints Rest with all their SAVIOR bout
them like down about thistle.
Second pilgrim. Ay, marry, come up,
down about a thistle, say you, leaving
the thistle home.
Third pilgrim. Nay, l said not so.
Fared forth from Johns, to sow broad
cast such crops OF noble deeds that them
they left behind show poor compare,
mayhap. The world would burst were
all the like of these that fare forth from
Iohns'. Some have gone to teach in halls
of learning, some to preach in heather
lands, some forsooth to inform the
world about her laws, the which hard
err task was never set for heather folk to
learn. Marry, friends, thou an we are
nowhere, is't not so?
First pilgrim. Speak for thyself fair
stranger, or speak in better part. No.
where is not a mile near Saints Rest.
But do disagree with you. These that
stop at home be the better half, say l.
Second pilgrim. So? Well it's ever
the part of the better half to bide at
home and spend their graces side the
hearth, | ween. An euow think me
ont, tbs indeed the better half that bide.
It's true, and pity it's, It's true, that
we fare abroad can but little do such
kindness to requite as greets us on the
morrow.
First pilgrim. There be them that on
the morrow day will sound forth praise
in verse and song and speech.
Third Pilgrim. Ay, but not half enow.
Where find we, thou and me, such noble
folk such fair and valiant men, such
maids and matrons?
First pilg grim. Nowhere, an speak you
truly.
Third pilgrim. Where find you such green
and fragrant hilsides, such noble trees
and sward, such clear and sparkling
water?
First pilgrim. Too much is said
of flaws and too less of virtues,
be they of earth or heaven, fair.
Where vast l, pilgrim, when thy speech
took my thoughts on that carping
sword of thine, thy tongue?
Second pilgrim. / the water. H.
Third pilgrim. Nay twas thou took
to the water. Twas the ladies that l
spake of last. Twas them left.
Second pilgrim. Last, first and al
ways Nay, | know thee. Twas they
left you, not you left them, l member.
Second pilgrim. l member naught
but that loved them all. Here's to the
lair, may we and them fare well as we
fare forth and fare them we'll at parting.
Long life and sweetest cares to them.
Second pilgrim. Long life! IT'S the
same to them as many years. Who e'er
did know a woman to desire many
years? Not l. Were it so why fare
they on so slow and halt before twice
twenty till another twenty slips them
by?
Third pilgrim. Wilt thy carping never
cease? Are they not fair! are they
not learned, these noble maids and ma
irons?
First pilgrim. Fairer and nobler cen
than Portia. Hundreds OF them to read
the Had; hundreds more to cipher
Euclid and as for poesy, the lore OF law,
and all right good knowing, grant you
there is not their match a thousand
miles around. This very year the
stocking blue has come to be the fashion,
twas so set to be by Saints Rest ladies.
Third pilgrim. Nay it's true. l doubt
it not. oft have unused on the reason
fort, but found none.
Third pilgrim. Why it's plain as it's
thy face is plain. Stay mean not that.
did but mean to say plain on the face
oft.
Second pilgrim, Well what is't so
plain this reason, yet halt thou so in
giving?
Third pilgrim. Nay halt not. The
reason is lucy SdHuot hSiP ~ hNiN -
Johns. The air they breathe from early
childhood makes for learning; tits the
ozone OF wisdom and Of all useful knowl-
edge. They can breathe no other air,
for no other air there be to breathe.
Breathe it or die.
Second pilgrim. Some early Jared
them forth to 'scape it, this deadly
ozone, as did thou, my friend.
Third pilgrim. Heed him not we two.
ls't good reason, l have give?
First pilgrim. Twill stand for better
could thought of better an l tried as
hard.
Third pilgrim. give thee time. Try
thy wits whilst attend.
First pilgrim. lis the men.
Second pilgrim. The men, say you.
IT'S the converse of all that hath been
said. The garden snake did say long
time agone in Eden, IT'S the woman.
Now say you, It's the man.
First pilgrim. The men do like their
women to be learned. have it from the
best of them. They like their women so to
match themselves.
Second pilgrim. Poor fools! 1s't pos
sible?
First pilgrim. IT'S lonely in the win
ter tides; they sit full long about the
hearth, and so their wives and daughters
are set to charm them erudition.
Second pilgrim. Poor fools, say
again.
First pilgrim. Nay not fools but wise