Jacob:It is time my sons are returning with their flocks. See if thou canst see them coming.[Exit servant.]First Lady:Yes, they have been gone a long time. We have only Joseph and Benjamin with us.[Enter servant.]Jacob:What didst thou see?Servant:Master, I saw nothing of your sons.Jacob:I shall send Joseph after them. Bring Joseph hither. [Turns to another servant.] Bring a bag of food for him to take with him on his journey.[Servants leave.Jacoblooks away, hoping to see his sons.]Jacob:I do not see them. What can be the matter?[EnterJosephwith servant.]Second Lady:Joseph will be sure to find them.Jacob:Joseph, my son, I am sending thee after thy brethren. Take this food to Shechem and bring thy brethren back to me.Joseph:I will do as thou bidst.[Jacobstands and puts his hand on Joseph.]Jacob:May the Lord go with thee.End
Jacob:It is time my sons are returning with their flocks. See if thou canst see them coming.
[Exit servant.]
First Lady:Yes, they have been gone a long time. We have only Joseph and Benjamin with us.
[Enter servant.]
Jacob:What didst thou see?
Servant:Master, I saw nothing of your sons.
Jacob:I shall send Joseph after them. Bring Joseph hither. [Turns to another servant.] Bring a bag of food for him to take with him on his journey.
[Servants leave.Jacoblooks away, hoping to see his sons.]
Jacob:I do not see them. What can be the matter?
[EnterJosephwith servant.]
Second Lady:Joseph will be sure to find them.
Jacob:Joseph, my son, I am sending thee after thy brethren. Take this food to Shechem and bring thy brethren back to me.
Joseph:I will do as thou bidst.
[Jacobstands and puts his hand on Joseph.]
Jacob:May the Lord go with thee.
End
The third scene was written by a girl of eleven years and was as follows:
[All brothers look down the road.]All Brothers:What shall we do with him?Seventh Brother:I know; let's kill him!All except Reuben:Yea! Yea!Reuben:Nay, do not kill him; let's put him in a deep pit.Tenth Brother:Well, all right.[Josephappears; exitReuben.]Joseph:Ah, I have found ye at last, my brethren.[All grabJoseph.]Joseph:What have I done to deserve this?Fourth Brother:Get some rope![Exit sixth brother and brings some rope back with him. Eighth and ninth brothers bindJosephwith ropes. All take hold of him and push him into the pit.]Tenth Brother:But what shall we tell our father?Eighth Brother:Let's tell him that Joseph was killed by a wild beast.Ninth Brother:We will take his coat of many colors, which our father gave him, and dip it in the blood of a goat.All:Yea! Yea![Seventh brother sees some merchants.]Seventh Brother:I see merchants in the distance. Let's sell Joseph to them.[One brother goes after the merchants, while the others bringJosephfrom the pit. Merchants enter.]Tenth Brother:What will ye give us for this lad?Merchant:I guess we can give ye about twenty pieces of silver.[Merchants takeJosephwith them. Brothers go on their way. EnterReubenafter his brothers have gone. He runs to the pit.]Reuben:Joseph! Joseph! Where art thou? The lad is gone. Whither shall I go?[Reubengoes away, sobbing and wringing his hands.]End
[All brothers look down the road.]
All Brothers:What shall we do with him?
Seventh Brother:I know; let's kill him!
All except Reuben:Yea! Yea!
Reuben:Nay, do not kill him; let's put him in a deep pit.
Tenth Brother:Well, all right.
[Josephappears; exitReuben.]
Joseph:Ah, I have found ye at last, my brethren.
[All grabJoseph.]
Joseph:What have I done to deserve this?
Fourth Brother:Get some rope!
[Exit sixth brother and brings some rope back with him. Eighth and ninth brothers bindJosephwith ropes. All take hold of him and push him into the pit.]
Tenth Brother:But what shall we tell our father?
Eighth Brother:Let's tell him that Joseph was killed by a wild beast.
Ninth Brother:We will take his coat of many colors, which our father gave him, and dip it in the blood of a goat.
All:Yea! Yea!
[Seventh brother sees some merchants.]
Seventh Brother:I see merchants in the distance. Let's sell Joseph to them.
[One brother goes after the merchants, while the others bringJosephfrom the pit. Merchants enter.]
Tenth Brother:What will ye give us for this lad?
Merchant:I guess we can give ye about twenty pieces of silver.
[Merchants takeJosephwith them. Brothers go on their way. EnterReubenafter his brothers have gone. He runs to the pit.]
Reuben:Joseph! Joseph! Where art thou? The lad is gone. Whither shall I go?
[Reubengoes away, sobbing and wringing his hands.]
End
At the meeting when these were read the children began to criticize the length of the play. One little boy made the remark, "We keep telling the same things over; why can't we leave out that second scene? It is so short, and Joseph could tell his brothers in the third scene that he didn't find them at Shechem." This suggestion was readily accepted, and as a consequence the second scene was omitted. Then the entire group consciously worked on the play to see what parts were unnecessary. Several children had recently been to the theater and had seen some good plays. They told the others that there were few scenes and that there was much left to the imagination of the audience. The result was that this long-drawn-out play was cut down to three essential scenes. The first scene was placed at Dothan, and was much the same as the original scene iii. The second scene was placed at Pharaoh's palace where Joseph was brought to interpret the king's dream. The third represented the brothers coming to Joseph with Benjamin, the youngest, ending withJoseph's forgiveness of them and his sending for Jacob, their father.
After these three scenes were decided upon, the older children were asked to begin writing them out in final form.
At the fifth meeting of the club all the children sat in a circle with Bibles and pencils and paper and, together with the leader, they formulated the speeches, making them conform as nearly as possible to those in the Bible. The work that had been done outside was discussed and built upon. This part of the procedure did not take as long a time as it may seem, because the children knew so well what thoughts they wanted to express—they had lived the story so many times. They practiced after this, using the words they had decided upon.
For the next meeting or two the children acted out the play, trying each time to improve it by better interpretations of the parts. The fact that they had learned definite words did not in the least check the freedom of the action or cause the play to lose the spontaneity which first characterized it, for the reason that the story had quite become a part of the children before they decided upon the set speeches.
The question arose as to which children should take certain parts. In some instances several wanted to learn the part of one particular character. They were each given the opportunity oflearning it, and then at the next meeting each acted it as best he or she could before the group. The other children were judges and decided upon the one who seemed to represent the character best. Whenever this method of choosing characters has been employed there has never been any hard feeling on the part of a child because he was not chosen. The justice of the choice is quickly recognized when it comes in this way rather than from the leader.
There were many little children in this club who were scarcely old enough to learn a part or to say very much. They were easily worked into the caravan, or they took such parts as servants in Pharaoh's court. Each child was made to feel that one part was just as important as another and that those who had nothing to say were very essential elements because of their acting.
Eight or nine meetings were needed before the play was entirely finished. The children had very simple slips for costumes which they had been wearing at each rehearsal. Bright-colored sashes and headdresses they brought from home. Pharaoh was more gaily dressed than the others. The child who took the part made for himself many ornaments from gilt paper.
Very little attention was given to stage setting, what was used was extremely simple. A few of the older girls made designs from the Egyptianlotus to stand around the walls of Pharaoh's palace or to be carried by the servants. Colored illustrations of Bible stories by Tissot were suggestive helps in these details. The ten brothers made themselves shepherd staffs from limbs of trees. This small amount of stage setting and costuming was used at many rehearsals and was all that was necessary to produce the right atmosphere.
As soon as the children felt that the play represented their best effort they invited their parents and friends and presented it before them one Sunday afternoon at the time for the regular meeting.
It happened that a few days before the final presentation four of the principal characters were taken ill with measles and chicken-pox. Four others, who had not given special attention to these parts, but who had minor parts, assumed the important rôles and went straight through the play with no trouble whatever. The audience never knew the difference and the children thought that it was entirely natural that they should be able to do this. The play all the way through was characterized by a spirit of dignity and seriousness.
As direct results of this work in dramatization it was noted that all the children had acquired a certain freedom of expression, a self-confidence, without conceit or too much sureness, and the ability to work harmoniously with the group.One or two timid children learned to forget themselves, and one overconfident child was helped by seeing that others could learn to do the part even a little better than herself.
The children who took part in this little play ofJosephwill never forget it. Several years after the play was given they were frequently referring to it with great happiness. Joseph is one of their favorite characters because they have lived through his experiences with him.
The following is the play as it was given in its final form. It is not to be taken as a play which may be given to children to be learned as it is; it is given here that there may be some idea of the standard which may be reached.
Place:Dothan.Characters:Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Joseph, Several Ishmaelitish Merchants.[The ten brothers are sitting and lounging on the ground, eating bread.]Reuben:Shall we stay longer in this place? Our flocks have fed well in Shechem and Dothan. Let us return again unto Canaan and to the tent of our father, Jacob.Judah:Oh, why should we go back? Our father loveth us not! It is Joseph, our younger brother, that he favoreth!Levi:Yes, this Joseph! This dreamer of dreams! He thinketh he is greater than we. He thinketh he shall rule over us!Judah:Ye heard him when he said, "Hear this dream which I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and bowed down to my sheaf."Simeon:Ha! Shall he indeed reign over us? Or shall he have dominion over us?Levi:Yea, and he dreamed yet another dream, for he said, "Behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars bowed down unto me."Dan:What is this dream which he has dreamed? Shall his mother and father and eleven brethren indeed come to bow down themselves to him?Simeon:Joseph and his dreams are hateful unto me! I was glad when our father said to us, "Take the flocks to feed in Shechem," for now we are free of him.Levi:It seemeth to me that I see this Joseph, this dreamer whom we hate. He is yet afar off, but he surely approacheth us!Reuben:Can it be he?Dan:Yes, for I see the coat of many colors, the coat our father made for his favorite son.Levi:Why should he come to us? Cannot our father trust the flocks to our hands without sending this Joseph to spy on us?Dan:It is he! It is Joseph!Simeon:What shall we do?Judah:Our time is come. We despise him; let us slay him.Reuben:Nay, thou dost not mean to slay him!Several:Nay! Nay!Judah:We must surely slay him. We must rid ourselves of this dreamer. Think how he said he should reign over us! Let us be rid of him!Simeon:Yes, thou art right—we must slay him.Several:Yea, yea, slay him! Destroy him! He shall dream no more such dreams!Simeon:Behold, this dreamer cometh near! Come, now, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, "Some evil beast hath devoured him," and we shall see what will become of his dreams.Reuben:Let us not kill him. Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him.[Reubengoes away.][Josephruns up.Gadlays one hand roughly on his shoulder.]Gad:How comes it that thou art here? What is thy business?Joseph:My father commanded me and said, "Go, I pray thee, and see whether it be well with thy brethren and well with the flocks; and bring me word again." So he sent me out of the vale of Hebron, and I came to Shechem. And you were not there, and I came on after you and found you here. What troubleth you? Hath aught happened to the flocks?Simeon:Hear his tale! This dreamer of dreams! So he would reign over us, would he! Strip him of his coat of many colors! This favored son![Brothers bindJosephand cast him into the pit.]Joseph:What have I done to deserve this?[Brothers sit down again to eat their bread.]Gad:Behold, I see a caravan!Simeon:From what country?Gad:It is a company of Ishmaelites, from Gilead, with their camels, bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going down into Egypt.Judah:What doth it profit if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to these Ishmaelites and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.Several:So be it.Gad:Hail the caravan, and bargain with these men.Simeon[salutes the head man of the caravan; the brothers listen attentively;GadbringsJosephout of the pit]: What wilt thou give us in exchange for this lad? We would sell him.Merchant[looksJosephover, then consults with his men]: Twenty pieces of silver will we give for him.Simeon[to the brothers]: These merchants will give us twenty pieces of silver for this dreamer.All:Sell him! Sell him![Josephis taken over by the merchants and they all move on. The brothers are dividing out the money.]Gad:The lad is gone with the merchants, but what excuse shall we make unto our father?Simeon:Say unto him that a wild beast hath devoured him. Here is his coat of many colors—we will kill a goat and dip the coat in the blood! Then our father, Jacob, will grieve for his son!All:As thou sayest, so let us do![Brothers move off stage, discussing the money.Reubencomes back. He runs and looks in the pit. He tears his clothes when he finds thatJosephis not there.]Reuben:The child is not, and I, whither shall I go?
Place:Dothan.
Characters:Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Joseph, Several Ishmaelitish Merchants.
[The ten brothers are sitting and lounging on the ground, eating bread.]
Reuben:Shall we stay longer in this place? Our flocks have fed well in Shechem and Dothan. Let us return again unto Canaan and to the tent of our father, Jacob.
Judah:Oh, why should we go back? Our father loveth us not! It is Joseph, our younger brother, that he favoreth!
Levi:Yes, this Joseph! This dreamer of dreams! He thinketh he is greater than we. He thinketh he shall rule over us!
Judah:Ye heard him when he said, "Hear this dream which I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and bowed down to my sheaf."
Simeon:Ha! Shall he indeed reign over us? Or shall he have dominion over us?
Levi:Yea, and he dreamed yet another dream, for he said, "Behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars bowed down unto me."
Dan:What is this dream which he has dreamed? Shall his mother and father and eleven brethren indeed come to bow down themselves to him?
Simeon:Joseph and his dreams are hateful unto me! I was glad when our father said to us, "Take the flocks to feed in Shechem," for now we are free of him.
Levi:It seemeth to me that I see this Joseph, this dreamer whom we hate. He is yet afar off, but he surely approacheth us!
Reuben:Can it be he?
Dan:Yes, for I see the coat of many colors, the coat our father made for his favorite son.
Levi:Why should he come to us? Cannot our father trust the flocks to our hands without sending this Joseph to spy on us?
Dan:It is he! It is Joseph!
Simeon:What shall we do?
Judah:Our time is come. We despise him; let us slay him.
Reuben:Nay, thou dost not mean to slay him!
Several:Nay! Nay!
Judah:We must surely slay him. We must rid ourselves of this dreamer. Think how he said he should reign over us! Let us be rid of him!
Simeon:Yes, thou art right—we must slay him.
Several:Yea, yea, slay him! Destroy him! He shall dream no more such dreams!
Simeon:Behold, this dreamer cometh near! Come, now, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, "Some evil beast hath devoured him," and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
Reuben:Let us not kill him. Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him.
[Reubengoes away.]
[Josephruns up.Gadlays one hand roughly on his shoulder.]
Gad:How comes it that thou art here? What is thy business?
Joseph:My father commanded me and said, "Go, I pray thee, and see whether it be well with thy brethren and well with the flocks; and bring me word again." So he sent me out of the vale of Hebron, and I came to Shechem. And you were not there, and I came on after you and found you here. What troubleth you? Hath aught happened to the flocks?
Simeon:Hear his tale! This dreamer of dreams! So he would reign over us, would he! Strip him of his coat of many colors! This favored son!
[Brothers bindJosephand cast him into the pit.]
Joseph:What have I done to deserve this?
[Brothers sit down again to eat their bread.]
Gad:Behold, I see a caravan!
Simeon:From what country?
Gad:It is a company of Ishmaelites, from Gilead, with their camels, bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going down into Egypt.
Judah:What doth it profit if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to these Ishmaelites and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.
Several:So be it.
Gad:Hail the caravan, and bargain with these men.
Simeon[salutes the head man of the caravan; the brothers listen attentively;GadbringsJosephout of the pit]: What wilt thou give us in exchange for this lad? We would sell him.
Merchant[looksJosephover, then consults with his men]: Twenty pieces of silver will we give for him.
Simeon[to the brothers]: These merchants will give us twenty pieces of silver for this dreamer.
All:Sell him! Sell him!
[Josephis taken over by the merchants and they all move on. The brothers are dividing out the money.]
Gad:The lad is gone with the merchants, but what excuse shall we make unto our father?
Simeon:Say unto him that a wild beast hath devoured him. Here is his coat of many colors—we will kill a goat and dip the coat in the blood! Then our father, Jacob, will grieve for his son!
All:As thou sayest, so let us do!
[Brothers move off stage, discussing the money.Reubencomes back. He runs and looks in the pit. He tears his clothes when he finds thatJosephis not there.]
Reuben:The child is not, and I, whither shall I go?
Place:Egypt. In Pharaoh's palace.Characters:Pharaoh, Joseph, Wise Men, Chief Butler, Servants.[Pharaoh is sitting on his throne; many wise men come in and bow down before him.]Pharaoh:Arise, O wise men of Egypt! I have sent for you this day because of a dream which troubleth me.[Men stand up.]Wise Men:What is thy dream, O King?King:I dreamed, and, behold, I stood by a river, and there came up out of the river seven fat cows, and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ill-favored and lean. And the ill-favored and lean cows did eat up the seven well-favored and fat cows. Then did I awake, but the second time I slept and dreamed. And, behold, seven good ears of corn came up upon one stalk, and, behold, seven thin ears sprung up after them, and the seven thin ears devoured the seven full ears. And I awoke again, and, behold, it was a dream. Now, is there one among you who can tell me the meaning of these dreams, for my spirit is troubled because of them?[The wise men in turn come out and bow before the king and say]:First Wise Man:O my lord King, thy dream troubleth me, but I am not able to interpret it.Second Wise Man:O King, also, I cannot tell thee the meaning of thy dream.Third Wise Man:Most gracious King, I, also, am unable to interpret thy dream.Fourth Wise Man:O great Pharaoh, I regret that I am unable to help thee.Pharaoh[angrily]: Are ye called the wise men of Egypt, and yet are ye not able to interpret a dream?[The chief butler comes forward and falls before the king.]Butler:O great King, I am only thy chief butler, but I beg of thee allow me to speak.King:Speak, butler, what wouldst thou say?Butler:O King, I do remember my faults this day. When Pharaoh was wroth with his servants and put me in prison, both me and the chief baker, behold, we dreamed a dream in one night, and there was a young man, a Hebrew, and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dream. And it came to pass as he interpreted unto us, for I was restored unto mine office and the baker was hanged.Pharaoh:Send for this young Hebrew; bring him into my presence. [Servant goes out forJoseph.] Butler, who is this boy that interpreted thy dream?Butler:His name is Joseph, O King. He was brought down from Canaan by a caravan and was sold to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard. But he displeased Potiphar, so he was thrown into prison at the time thy servants were there.[EnterJoseph.He falls on his face beforePharaoh.]Pharaoh:I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it, and I have heard say of thee that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.[Josephrises.]Joseph:It is not in me; God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.Pharaoh:[Repeats his dream toJoseph.][Josephcomes nearer toPharaoh.]Joseph:What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh: Behold, there will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. And there shall arise after them seven years of famine. And all the plenty shall be forgotten throughout Egypt, and the famine shall consume the land, and it shall be very grievous. Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise and set him over the land of Egypt, and let him appoint officers over the land. And let them gather all the food of thosegood years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh. And let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be stored against the seven years of famine, that the land may not perish through famine.Pharaoh:This plan seemeth good unto me. Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the spirit of God is?The Wise Men:Nay, O King, he is most wise.Pharaoh:Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, thou shalt be over my house, and according to thy word shall all my people be ruled, only in the throne will I be greater than thou. See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. [To his servants:] Bring a golden chain, and fine raiment for this man.[He puts a ring onJoseph'shand. When the clothes are brought they are put around him, the chain on his neck, etc.]Pharaoh:Thou shalt ride in the second chariot and all my people shall bow the knee unto thee. [All people in the room bow.] I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.Joseph:May the Lord God give me power to do his will.
Place:Egypt. In Pharaoh's palace.
Characters:Pharaoh, Joseph, Wise Men, Chief Butler, Servants.
[Pharaoh is sitting on his throne; many wise men come in and bow down before him.]
Pharaoh:Arise, O wise men of Egypt! I have sent for you this day because of a dream which troubleth me.
[Men stand up.]
Wise Men:What is thy dream, O King?
King:I dreamed, and, behold, I stood by a river, and there came up out of the river seven fat cows, and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ill-favored and lean. And the ill-favored and lean cows did eat up the seven well-favored and fat cows. Then did I awake, but the second time I slept and dreamed. And, behold, seven good ears of corn came up upon one stalk, and, behold, seven thin ears sprung up after them, and the seven thin ears devoured the seven full ears. And I awoke again, and, behold, it was a dream. Now, is there one among you who can tell me the meaning of these dreams, for my spirit is troubled because of them?
[The wise men in turn come out and bow before the king and say]:
First Wise Man:O my lord King, thy dream troubleth me, but I am not able to interpret it.
Second Wise Man:O King, also, I cannot tell thee the meaning of thy dream.
Third Wise Man:Most gracious King, I, also, am unable to interpret thy dream.
Fourth Wise Man:O great Pharaoh, I regret that I am unable to help thee.
Pharaoh[angrily]: Are ye called the wise men of Egypt, and yet are ye not able to interpret a dream?
[The chief butler comes forward and falls before the king.]
Butler:O great King, I am only thy chief butler, but I beg of thee allow me to speak.
King:Speak, butler, what wouldst thou say?
Butler:O King, I do remember my faults this day. When Pharaoh was wroth with his servants and put me in prison, both me and the chief baker, behold, we dreamed a dream in one night, and there was a young man, a Hebrew, and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dream. And it came to pass as he interpreted unto us, for I was restored unto mine office and the baker was hanged.
Pharaoh:Send for this young Hebrew; bring him into my presence. [Servant goes out forJoseph.] Butler, who is this boy that interpreted thy dream?
Butler:His name is Joseph, O King. He was brought down from Canaan by a caravan and was sold to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard. But he displeased Potiphar, so he was thrown into prison at the time thy servants were there.
[EnterJoseph.He falls on his face beforePharaoh.]
Pharaoh:I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it, and I have heard say of thee that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.
[Josephrises.]
Joseph:It is not in me; God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Pharaoh:[Repeats his dream toJoseph.]
[Josephcomes nearer toPharaoh.]
Joseph:What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh: Behold, there will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. And there shall arise after them seven years of famine. And all the plenty shall be forgotten throughout Egypt, and the famine shall consume the land, and it shall be very grievous. Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise and set him over the land of Egypt, and let him appoint officers over the land. And let them gather all the food of thosegood years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh. And let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be stored against the seven years of famine, that the land may not perish through famine.
Pharaoh:This plan seemeth good unto me. Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the spirit of God is?
The Wise Men:Nay, O King, he is most wise.
Pharaoh:Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, thou shalt be over my house, and according to thy word shall all my people be ruled, only in the throne will I be greater than thou. See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. [To his servants:] Bring a golden chain, and fine raiment for this man.
[He puts a ring onJoseph'shand. When the clothes are brought they are put around him, the chain on his neck, etc.]
Pharaoh:Thou shalt ride in the second chariot and all my people shall bow the knee unto thee. [All people in the room bow.] I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
Joseph:May the Lord God give me power to do his will.
Place:Pharaoh's palace.Characters:Joseph, His Eleven Brothers, Servants, Pharaoh.[Josephis seated on his high seat. A servant comes in.]Servant:Master, the men that came down from Canaan to buy food of thee have returned and would have a word with thee.Joseph:Bring them in. [To another servant]: Go see that a feast is prepared for these men.[The brothers enter bringingBenjamin.They all fall on their faces.]Joseph:Arise! And have you returned bringing with you your youngest brother?Reuben:O sir, we have brought our youngest brother; he is here.[Benjaminis led forward.Josephgoes near and puts his hand onBenjamin.]Joseph:And is this your younger brother of whom ye spake unto me? God be gracious unto thee, my son! [To the brothers:] Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?Levi:Thy servant, our father [all bow heads], is in good health; he is yet alive.[Josephturns away and begins to weep; he leaves them abruptly and walks to the other side of the room.]Joseph[to the servants]: Cause every man to go out from me! [All begin to leave the room, brothers included.] [To the brothers. He walks quickly after them and holds his arms out toward them.] Stay! I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? Come near to me, I pray you. [They come somewhat nearer and fall to the ground.] I am Joseph, your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now, therefore, be not grieved nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me thither, for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land; and yet there are five years more. God hath sent me before you to save your lives. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, "Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt. Come down unto me, and tarry not. And thou shalt be near unto me, thou and thy children, and thy flocks, and thy herds and all thou hast. Oh, do you not see that I am Joseph that speak unto you?" [He weeps again and turns away.]Fig. 1—Pharaoh's courtFig. 1.—Pharaoh's courtBrothers:Joseph, our brother Joseph! Can he forgive us?[Pharaohenters here]Joseph:O King, these are my brethren, and from my father's tent.Pharaoh:Say unto thy brethren: "This do ye: Go back unto the land of Canaan and take your father and your household goods, and come unto me. And I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat of the fat of the land. Now ye are commanded: This do ye: Take ye wagons out of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come, for the good of the land shall be yours."One Brother:We thank thee, O great Pharaoh, and our brother Joseph. This is greater than we deserve. We will bring our father down straightway.Joseph:Praise be to God who has done this good thing!End
Place:Pharaoh's palace.
Characters:Joseph, His Eleven Brothers, Servants, Pharaoh.
[Josephis seated on his high seat. A servant comes in.]
Servant:Master, the men that came down from Canaan to buy food of thee have returned and would have a word with thee.
Joseph:Bring them in. [To another servant]: Go see that a feast is prepared for these men.
[The brothers enter bringingBenjamin.They all fall on their faces.]
Joseph:Arise! And have you returned bringing with you your youngest brother?
Reuben:O sir, we have brought our youngest brother; he is here.
[Benjaminis led forward.Josephgoes near and puts his hand onBenjamin.]
Joseph:And is this your younger brother of whom ye spake unto me? God be gracious unto thee, my son! [To the brothers:] Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?
Levi:Thy servant, our father [all bow heads], is in good health; he is yet alive.
[Josephturns away and begins to weep; he leaves them abruptly and walks to the other side of the room.]
Joseph[to the servants]: Cause every man to go out from me! [All begin to leave the room, brothers included.] [To the brothers. He walks quickly after them and holds his arms out toward them.] Stay! I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? Come near to me, I pray you. [They come somewhat nearer and fall to the ground.] I am Joseph, your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now, therefore, be not grieved nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me thither, for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land; and yet there are five years more. God hath sent me before you to save your lives. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, "Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt. Come down unto me, and tarry not. And thou shalt be near unto me, thou and thy children, and thy flocks, and thy herds and all thou hast. Oh, do you not see that I am Joseph that speak unto you?" [He weeps again and turns away.]
Fig. 1—Pharaoh's courtFig. 1.—Pharaoh's court
Brothers:Joseph, our brother Joseph! Can he forgive us?
[Pharaohenters here]
Joseph:O King, these are my brethren, and from my father's tent.
Pharaoh:Say unto thy brethren: "This do ye: Go back unto the land of Canaan and take your father and your household goods, and come unto me. And I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat of the fat of the land. Now ye are commanded: This do ye: Take ye wagons out of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come, for the good of the land shall be yours."
One Brother:We thank thee, O great Pharaoh, and our brother Joseph. This is greater than we deserve. We will bring our father down straightway.
Joseph:Praise be to God who has done this good thing!
End
When beginning dramatic work with a group of children who have never had the training before, it is always well to select as the first story to be dramatized one that is short, simple in structure, and full of action. If children undertake a long story which involves complicated situations, they easily become discouraged and lose the joy and spontaneity which are essential elements in successful dramatizations. Fables, such as "The Boy and the Wolf" or "The Fox and the Grapes," are excellent to begin with, because they contain the necessary qualities which make up a good short story. Situations as simple as those which are presented in these fables are entered into with great freedom, and they seem to pave the way for more ambitious dramatizations.
The story ofDavid and Goliathis short, simple, and yet contains vivid action. It was chosen as one of the first stories to be given to the dramatic club because of these qualities. After the children had gone through the experience of dramatizing it they had gained a self-confidence and a realization of their own power in interpreting a story through dramatization.
The methods employed in presentingDavid and Goliathwere much the same as those described in connection withJoseph.The point that must be kept in mind in all of this work is that the dramatization of a story begins with the action and that the words are developed. The play is never written first and acted afterward.
While telling the story the leader placed much emphasis upon the activities and ideals of the shepherd life of the Hebrews in the time of David. The children made their own armor—helmets, swords, shields—from cardboard and colored papers. Pictures and descriptions which they secured helped them to get correct ideas as to shapes and decorations.
The costumes were simple little slips that could be belted in at the waist, and came only to the knees. The children helped to plan and make them. David made his shepherd staff from a limb of a tree, and the soldiers made their spears by fastening gilded points to long sticks.
A question arose as to how the sling was made. The children found, upon looking up this point, that the sling was woven from different colored wools. From a good picture they constructed looms from cardboard and actually wove several slings like David's.Fig. 14shows a diagram of the loom as the children worked it out.
A very great value was derived from this construction work, in that it came entirely from the children; it was an outgrowth of their genuine interest in the subject. They were reliving the same experiences and solving the same problems that had confronted David.
The gentle spirit of David had a direct influence upon the whole group. It made no difference what part a child interpreted—whether that of Goliath or of one of the brothers—it was evident that David's high ideals and sweetness of character called forth admiration.
Fig. 2gives one of the scenes fromDavid and Goliath.The play follows as it was given.
Characters:David, David's Three Brothers, King Saul, Goliath, Israelite Soldiers, Philistine Soldiers.
Characters:David, David's Three Brothers, King Saul, Goliath, Israelite Soldiers, Philistine Soldiers.
Place:On the battlefield.First Brother:Have ye seen this Philistine who is come up, this giant who has defied the armies of the living God?Second Brother:Who has seen him?Third Brother:I have seen him; he is verily a giant. His height is six cubits and a span. He weareth an helmet of brass upon his head, and he is armed with a coat of mail, and he hath greaves of brass upon his legs, and the staff of his spear is like the weaver's beam; and one bearing a shield goeth before him. Our soldiers are truly afraid. They flee as he approacheth.Fig. 2.—A scene from David and GoliathFig. 2.—A scene fromDavid and GoliathGoliath[apart from the king and soldiers]: Why are ye come out to gather your armies to battle? Am I not a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? Choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then shall ye be our servants and serve us. I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.[Some of the soldiers turn and flee.]Saul:Hear the words of this Philistine. I know not what we can do. Have we no man among us with the strength or boldness to fight this giant? I will enrich him with great riches.Second Brother:In truth, he is a mighty giant, O King. Our soldiers are greatly dismayed; no one will accept this challenge.[The king and two soldiers go out. EnterDavid.He runs up to his brothers and salutes them.]First Brother:This is David, our younger brother! How cometh it that thou art here?Second Brother:I thought we left thee tending the sheep.Third Brother:What news dost thou bring of our father? Is all well with him?David:My father commanded me, saying, "Take now for thy brethren this parched corn and these ten loaves, and run to the camp of thy brethren; and carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare." And I rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and came as my father commanded.[Brothers take food fromDavid.]Goliath:Why are ye come out to gather your armies to battle? Am I not a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul?Choose you a man for you and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me and to kill me, then will we be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then shall ye be our servants and serve us. I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.[Davidlistens. The soldiers seem disturbed and frightened.]David:What meaneth this?Soldier[walks up toDavid]: Have ye seen this man who is come up? Surely to defy Israel is he come up. And it shall be that the man who killeth him the king will enrich with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.David:Who is this Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?First Brother[showing anger againstDavid]: Why camest thou hither? And with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thy heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.David:What have I now done? [He turns from his brothers and speaks to the people.] What shall be done with the man that killeth this Philistine and taketh away the reproach from Israel? For who is this Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? I will fight him, and if I prevail against him and kill him, then will the Philistines be our servants and serve us. The Lord God of Israel will deliver him into my hands.Soldiers:Saul, the king, shall hear these words!
Place:On the battlefield.
First Brother:Have ye seen this Philistine who is come up, this giant who has defied the armies of the living God?
Second Brother:Who has seen him?
Third Brother:I have seen him; he is verily a giant. His height is six cubits and a span. He weareth an helmet of brass upon his head, and he is armed with a coat of mail, and he hath greaves of brass upon his legs, and the staff of his spear is like the weaver's beam; and one bearing a shield goeth before him. Our soldiers are truly afraid. They flee as he approacheth.
Fig. 2.—A scene from David and GoliathFig. 2.—A scene fromDavid and Goliath
Goliath[apart from the king and soldiers]: Why are ye come out to gather your armies to battle? Am I not a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? Choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then shall ye be our servants and serve us. I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
[Some of the soldiers turn and flee.]
Saul:Hear the words of this Philistine. I know not what we can do. Have we no man among us with the strength or boldness to fight this giant? I will enrich him with great riches.
Second Brother:In truth, he is a mighty giant, O King. Our soldiers are greatly dismayed; no one will accept this challenge.
[The king and two soldiers go out. EnterDavid.He runs up to his brothers and salutes them.]
First Brother:This is David, our younger brother! How cometh it that thou art here?
Second Brother:I thought we left thee tending the sheep.
Third Brother:What news dost thou bring of our father? Is all well with him?
David:My father commanded me, saying, "Take now for thy brethren this parched corn and these ten loaves, and run to the camp of thy brethren; and carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare." And I rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and came as my father commanded.
[Brothers take food fromDavid.]
Goliath:Why are ye come out to gather your armies to battle? Am I not a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul?Choose you a man for you and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me and to kill me, then will we be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then shall ye be our servants and serve us. I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
[Davidlistens. The soldiers seem disturbed and frightened.]
David:What meaneth this?
Soldier[walks up toDavid]: Have ye seen this man who is come up? Surely to defy Israel is he come up. And it shall be that the man who killeth him the king will enrich with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.
David:Who is this Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?
First Brother[showing anger againstDavid]: Why camest thou hither? And with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thy heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
David:What have I now done? [He turns from his brothers and speaks to the people.] What shall be done with the man that killeth this Philistine and taketh away the reproach from Israel? For who is this Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? I will fight him, and if I prevail against him and kill him, then will the Philistines be our servants and serve us. The Lord God of Israel will deliver him into my hands.
Soldiers:Saul, the king, shall hear these words!
Place:Saul's tent.David[comes in and salutes the king]: Let no man's heart fail because of this giant; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.Saul:Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.David:Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and when there came a lion or a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after him and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I caught him by the beard and smote him and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear; and this Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. The Lord that hath delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.Saul:Go, and the Lord go with thee. [To soldiers]: Bring forth armor; this youth must be ready to meet the foe.[The soldiers bring armor.Saulputs the armor, a helmet and a coat of mail, onDavid.Davidputs on his sword, then walks a few steps. He suddenly throws the sword down and begins to take off the armor.]David:I cannot go with these, for I have not proved them. [He takes the armor off and keeps only his shepherd's staff and sling.] The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.[He bows to the king and goes out.]
Place:Saul's tent.
David[comes in and salutes the king]: Let no man's heart fail because of this giant; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
Saul:Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
David:Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and when there came a lion or a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after him and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I caught him by the beard and smote him and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear; and this Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. The Lord that hath delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.
Saul:Go, and the Lord go with thee. [To soldiers]: Bring forth armor; this youth must be ready to meet the foe.
[The soldiers bring armor.Saulputs the armor, a helmet and a coat of mail, onDavid.Davidputs on his sword, then walks a few steps. He suddenly throws the sword down and begins to take off the armor.]
David:I cannot go with these, for I have not proved them. [He takes the armor off and keeps only his shepherd's staff and sling.] The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.
[He bows to the king and goes out.]
Place:The battlefield.[Davidpicks up five smooth stones and puts them into his shepherd bag.Goliathcomes toward him. He is dressed in armor, and the man that bears his shield comes before him.Goliathlooks surprised and disgusted when he seesDavid.]Goliath:Am I a dog that thou comest to me with staves? Come to me and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air and unto the beasts of the field.David:Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thy head from thee; and I will give the bodies of the Philistines unto the fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the field, that all may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with the sword and with the spear, for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hands![Davidputs his hand into his bag and takes out a stone and slings it, so that it hits the giant in the forehead. The giant falls. The Philistines flee.Davidstands with his foot on the body of the giant.]Israelite Soldiers with David:The battle is the Lord's!End
Place:The battlefield.
[Davidpicks up five smooth stones and puts them into his shepherd bag.Goliathcomes toward him. He is dressed in armor, and the man that bears his shield comes before him.Goliathlooks surprised and disgusted when he seesDavid.]
Goliath:Am I a dog that thou comest to me with staves? Come to me and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air and unto the beasts of the field.
David:Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thy head from thee; and I will give the bodies of the Philistines unto the fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the field, that all may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with the sword and with the spear, for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hands!
[Davidputs his hand into his bag and takes out a stone and slings it, so that it hits the giant in the forehead. The giant falls. The Philistines flee.Davidstands with his foot on the body of the giant.]
Israelite Soldiers with David:The battle is the Lord's!
End
The method of presenting the story ofMoses in the Bulrushesdiffered somewhat from that employed withJoseph.There was little need to tell the story at the beginning, for every child already knew it in detail. Consequently the leader had the children tell most of it, while she supplemented and directed attention to important parts.
In this case the entire play was planned roughly before any of it was acted. The story was criticized by the children as to its organization and unity, and as a result they made up an ending (Act III) which they felt was needed to make the story complete. Experience with the other plays had led the children to feel the necessity for having a satisfactory ending after the climax.
At the second meeting several girls brought in the scenes as they had written them out. They had tried to embody the points which the children had decided upon as the general plan of the play. The final play varies very little from these scenes thus written by the girls themselves.
There was no difficulty in solving the problem as to what they would do for a baby in the firstpart of the play. Many dolls were brought in, and the choice fell upon the one that received the largest number of votes because of his likeness to the baby Moses. A woven basket served for the cradle of bulrushes. There were many rehearsals when there was no doll or cradle, but the children never felt the lack. Their imaginations can supply all needs.
A few big Egyptian designs were made for the first and last scenes, which were placed in the king's court. These were fastened on the walls and around the king's seat, as was done in the play ofJoseph.
Before the play was given before parents and friends the children decided to call itThe Childhood of Moses.An older boy in the church printed programs for the occasion that the audience might better understand the play. They read as follows:
The Childhood of Moses
Dramatized and Presented by the Children's Dramatic Clubof the Hyde Park Church of Disciples
CHARACTERS
PharaohKing of EgyptPrincessPharaoh's DaughterMosesA Hebrew BoyHebrew WomanMother of MosesMiriamSister of MosesAaronBrother of MosesWise MenAdvisers of PharaohSoldiers, Attendants to the Princess, Servants
SYNOPSIS OF SCENES
Act I.Pharaoh orders the killing of Hebrew boys.Act II,Scene 1. In the home of a Hebrew family.Scene 2. A Hebrew mother hides her child among the bulrushes.Scene 3. The child is found by Pharaoh's daughter.Act III.Moses is brought to Pharaoh's court.
The following is the play as it was given:
Characters:King, Wise Man, Chief Adviser, Queen, Maids, and Soldiers.King:Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come, let us do wisely with them lest they rise up and make war against us.Chief Adviser:What more can we do than we have already done? We have made their lives bitter with hard service, and we have made them carry our brick and mortar and work in our fields.Wise Man:O King Pharaoh, I beg thee to let me speak.King:Speak, Wise Man.Wise Man:O King, I pray thee to be kind to these people. When these Hebrews first came down from the land of Canaan, a young man named Joseph saved our land from great famine. These Israelites are his children's children and we should treat them kindly.King:Treat them kindly! We have been kind to them long enough; we must destroy them. I will command that every Hebrew boy baby be killed![ExeuntKingand courtiers followed by soldiers.]Princess:O most gracious father, have mercy upon them.
Characters:King, Wise Man, Chief Adviser, Queen, Maids, and Soldiers.
King:Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come, let us do wisely with them lest they rise up and make war against us.
Chief Adviser:What more can we do than we have already done? We have made their lives bitter with hard service, and we have made them carry our brick and mortar and work in our fields.
Wise Man:O King Pharaoh, I beg thee to let me speak.
King:Speak, Wise Man.
Wise Man:O King, I pray thee to be kind to these people. When these Hebrews first came down from the land of Canaan, a young man named Joseph saved our land from great famine. These Israelites are his children's children and we should treat them kindly.
King:Treat them kindly! We have been kind to them long enough; we must destroy them. I will command that every Hebrew boy baby be killed!
[ExeuntKingand courtiers followed by soldiers.]
Princess:O most gracious father, have mercy upon them.
Place:The home of a Hebrew family.Characters:Moses, Mother of Moses, Miriam, Aaron.[The mother is singing to the baby in her lap.Aaronis playing on the floor.Miriamruns in.]Miriam:O mother! The king has commanded that all the boy babies be thrown in the river! How can we save our baby?Mother:Where shall we take him? I have hidden him for these three months, but he is so big now and his cries are so loud that they will be sure to find him wherever we go.Miriam:Come quickly, mother; we will go to the river and hide him nearby. Pharaoh cannot find him there, for he will think that he has been thrown in the water.Mother:O my poor baby![The three run out.]
Place:The home of a Hebrew family.
Characters:Moses, Mother of Moses, Miriam, Aaron.
[The mother is singing to the baby in her lap.Aaronis playing on the floor.Miriamruns in.]
Miriam:O mother! The king has commanded that all the boy babies be thrown in the river! How can we save our baby?
Mother:Where shall we take him? I have hidden him for these three months, but he is so big now and his cries are so loud that they will be sure to find him wherever we go.
Miriam:Come quickly, mother; we will go to the river and hide him nearby. Pharaoh cannot find him there, for he will think that he has been thrown in the water.
Mother:O my poor baby!
[The three run out.]
Place:The river bank.Characters:Moses, Mother of Moses, Miriam.[The mother appears with the baby in her arms.Miriamfollows.]Miriam:O mother! We can hide him in these tall grasses!Mother:But I must have something to put him in. Gather these rushes and I will weave a little cradle for him.[They both pick bulrushes and the mother weaves the basket.]Mother:How can I leave him here alone? My little daughter, will you stay and watch and bring me word quickly if anything happens? We will hide the baby in this basket among the flags, here at the edge of the water.Miriam:Good! Mother, I will hide nearby and see that no harm comes to our baby.[The mother kisses the baby and puts him in the basket, then rises and turns away.]Mother:Keep watch until I return.[Exit mother;Miriamhides.]
Place:The river bank.
Characters:Moses, Mother of Moses, Miriam.
[The mother appears with the baby in her arms.Miriamfollows.]
Miriam:O mother! We can hide him in these tall grasses!
Mother:But I must have something to put him in. Gather these rushes and I will weave a little cradle for him.
[They both pick bulrushes and the mother weaves the basket.]
Mother:How can I leave him here alone? My little daughter, will you stay and watch and bring me word quickly if anything happens? We will hide the baby in this basket among the flags, here at the edge of the water.
Miriam:Good! Mother, I will hide nearby and see that no harm comes to our baby.
[The mother kisses the baby and puts him in the basket, then rises and turns away.]
Mother:Keep watch until I return.
[Exit mother;Miriamhides.]
Place:The river bank.Characters:The Princess, Her Maidens, Soldiers, Moses, Mother of Moses, and Miriam.[Several soldiers walk across the stage. EnterPrincessand her maids.]Princess[looking around]: What beautiful clear water for my bath!First Maid:Yea, Princess. Will you bathe here?[A baby's cry is heard.]Princess:What is it I hear? It sounds like a baby crying! Look about, maidens! Is there something here?[All look about.]Second Maid[finds baby; all come running up to her]: See what is here!Princess:A baby hidden in a basket! Bring him to me![Third maid hands basket toPrincess,who takes the baby out.]Princess:Oh, what a beautiful baby! He is mine, for I have found him! A Hebrew baby! His mother has hidden him in the bulrushes to save his life.[Miriamruns out.]Miriam:Lady, would you like a nurse for that baby?Princess:A nurse for him? Yes, I do need a nurse.Miriam:I can get you one very quickly.Princess:Go bring her, child; I will wait here.[Miriamgoes away running.]Princess:He is my boy, and I will call him Moses, for I drew him out of the water.[Enter the mother andMiriam.]Miriam:Here is the nurse, lady.Princess:Will you take good care of this baby for me until he becomes a youth? I will pay you wages. I am the Princess, King Pharaoh's daughter. I will see that he is educated as a prince in my father's court.[Princessand her maids go out.]Mother:My boy is saved! My boy is saved!
Place:The river bank.
Characters:The Princess, Her Maidens, Soldiers, Moses, Mother of Moses, and Miriam.
[Several soldiers walk across the stage. EnterPrincessand her maids.]
Princess[looking around]: What beautiful clear water for my bath!
First Maid:Yea, Princess. Will you bathe here?
[A baby's cry is heard.]
Princess:What is it I hear? It sounds like a baby crying! Look about, maidens! Is there something here?
[All look about.]
Second Maid[finds baby; all come running up to her]: See what is here!
Princess:A baby hidden in a basket! Bring him to me!
[Third maid hands basket toPrincess,who takes the baby out.]
Princess:Oh, what a beautiful baby! He is mine, for I have found him! A Hebrew baby! His mother has hidden him in the bulrushes to save his life.
[Miriamruns out.]
Miriam:Lady, would you like a nurse for that baby?
Princess:A nurse for him? Yes, I do need a nurse.
Miriam:I can get you one very quickly.
Princess:Go bring her, child; I will wait here.
[Miriamgoes away running.]
Princess:He is my boy, and I will call him Moses, for I drew him out of the water.
[Enter the mother andMiriam.]
Miriam:Here is the nurse, lady.
Princess:Will you take good care of this baby for me until he becomes a youth? I will pay you wages. I am the Princess, King Pharaoh's daughter. I will see that he is educated as a prince in my father's court.
[Princessand her maids go out.]
Mother:My boy is saved! My boy is saved!