The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-10-04
CHARLOTTE'S PLAY,
ny FLORENCE BROCK.

Ihe ten Birch grandchildren had done ev-
erything imaginable to have good time.
They had made fudge and tatfy in the camp
kitchen, and played store, mock trial, guess.
ing games, magic games and romping games.
Had given charades and silhouettes, had
read and listened to stories that grandfather
and Aunt Martha had told.
The fourth day they woke to hear the
same drp--drip-drip on the canyas roofs
and they knew that for another day they
would have to scamper from tent to tent
under an umbrella.
They were not disconsolate, however, for
in spite of the rain there had not been one
dull moment.
After breakfast, as they pushed back their
chairs, George voiced the general query:
What shall we do to-day?"
Il know said Charlotte, turning lit.
tie red. Give written play--and we are
going to dress up and act it. 1t has all Of
us in it,"
"doody!' shouted the girls
'Hooray!" shouted the boys, for all the
children loved to act -.
Did you write it all yourself, Charotte."
asked Josephine, with wde-open eyes
Every word" said Charlotte
" "hat ID II llhe. Len us qulck! CTlcQ
Alice. why didn't you tell me what you
were doing yesterday af,ernoon?' she added,
in grieved voice.
Because wasn't sure | could write it,
and thought Id try it first
/ The table was cleared and the children all
sat around it while Charlotte produced
pile of manuscript neatly written 1--WE
been sitting on it all through breakfast" she
said 81 was afraid some of the sheets
would get lost
There was breathless silence while Char
lotte in an embarrassed way gave little
cough aud began: The title OF the play"
she said, is here she paused impres.
sively, while the children stared" The
Last Drop in the Bucket, or Who MIXED the
Cow"
80. o. shouted Howard What a name
for play. Who is to be the cow?'
Nobody said Charlotte with dignity;
the title does not have anything to do with
the play. Titles never do. 1t was the first
one thought of. Now, if you will be quiet,
will 80 on
~"Drve ahead" said Russell. "You dry
up, Howard
The scene is a gray castle--that's this
dinlng.fnom. II is OH a Scotch loch, that's
our lake Now for the characters Princess
Alicia, Wilhclmina Fitz de Moutmoreucy
st. CLAIR"
"Whoa-up," cried George.
''That's Alice" continued Charlotte,
adding sweetly, Il made you the heroine be.
cause you wanted to know what | was doing
SO badly Yesterday
That's lovely" said Alice, "but | think
it will take all day for me to learn my own
name. Please give me the sheet of paper
with it on. so | can be studying it,
80, you don't have. to know your own
name,' said Charlotte, airiy. "The rest of
us have to know that Prince Hugh AIger.
non Roseville Terwillger, of Bayonne-"
Say! interrupted Kenneth "didn't you
put any short words in for Marshall and
me"
Yes. III come to them in minute.
Prince Hugh is Howard He is the hero"
I'D have to be to live up to that name,"
said Howard.
Queen Coumbinetta--and so FORTH"
continued Charlotte, seeing that Betty and
Helen were getting restless That's myself,
but III not read it all. Pm Alice s mother"
"Ho, Alice, she'll make you stand round,'
said George.
King Vernon"
"Don't read the rest of his name, said
Josephine.
Well, that's George. He is Alice's
father and my husband
The family gggled,
Russell is King Thornton and so forth.
He is Howard's father and Josephine is
Queen lsadore Howard's mother, And
Betty is my maid of honor, and Helen is
Josephine's maid of-honor--'
"'Pon my word an honor." sang Betty,
who is only five.
Russell and Marshall are pages
"Pages" snified Marshall pages are
things with reading on inside OF books.
don't want to be page. Do you, Ken"
20, no" explained Charlotte. Pages are
very little boys who go on errands."
Il hate to 70 on errands, said Kenneth.
"We want to be kings, don't we, Marsh"
80, but these are nice errands, said Char
lotte. And you open doors for kings and
hold up queens trains"
"Trans are great big cars with engines"
grumbed Marshall Il don't know how to
hold them up
"Trans are also long trails on queens
dresses"
Trails are paths through the woods.
Grandpa said SO, said Kenneth, positively.
20. well" said Charlotte, patiently.
"You'll see what fun the play vii! be-
"Tell us the plot said Howard.
''Well Prince Hugh, that is you, Howard.
is in love with Princess Alicia, that is Alice
80. o." cried the children.
Il don't have to act silly, do II" inquired
1J,u,rI apyinu.ly
"No; this play isn't silly. You have to
fight for her.
Howard doubled up his fists.
"Hcr fathcr-that is you, George-says
that Howard must fight and win battle
with a dragon-that is Russell, dressed up.
You see, some of Us have to be more than
one thing. Howard also has to fight with
witch-that is myself dressed up--and then
he has to make the solemn muses--thosc are
Kenneth and Marsh and Bet and Helen
all laugh at once. When he does all these
things then he Is allowed to marry Alice.
And he does marry her and we have the wed.
ding right on the stage in the play. IL Is
very exciting.
80, see" cried Betty, "sun shines''
And so it did and The children. Charlotte
included. all rushed out of the dining room
to see the sun shining over the lake, and
the little diamond raindrops sparkling in
the sun
1t finally took them week TO rehearsc and
get their costumes ready for Charlotte's
play, but when they finally gave it for the
benefit of the grown folks. grandfather and
Aunt Martha and Milly and Rose, the two
maids, laughed and laughed right in the
most exciting parts. They laughed so much
that even the dead dragon snickered from
beneath his armor.-Bostou Globe.
4 budding Chesterflcld.
A ,bl kar hsn