GEORGE WASHINGTON

FOR SIXTEEN CHILDREN

AN ACROSTIC to be recited by sixteen primary or intermediate grade children, each wearing his letter on a card about his neck, with the wrong side of the card outermost. Each turns his card to display his letter with the first word of his recitation.

Great was the hero whose name we shall spell.
Eager to do his work nobly and well.
Orderly, too, in all of his ways.

Righteous was he to the end of his days.
Good, we are told, from his earliest youth.
Earnest his efforts for freedom and truth.

Wise with a wisdom sent from above.
Ardent his hope for the country we love.
Strong was his arm when in Liberty's fight.
Honest his purpose that right should be might.
Indomitable was his courage, we know.
Noble in thought his worthy deeds show.
Grand is the record that's left us to read.
True to his God and his country in need.
Obedient ever to duty's command.

None was so great in all of the land.

ALL: And now you may see, when our spelling is done, We give you the name of George Washington.

THE THREE GEORGES

A DIALOGUE FOR SIX BOYS

CLARA J. DENTON
Characters

LORD FAIRFAX, a wealthy Englishman living in Virginia.

GEORGE FAIRFAX, his cousin.*

BRICE, Lord Fairfax's overseer.

* THE author has tampered somewhat with the facts of history in making George Fairfax so near the age of George Washington, and

GEORGE BROWN, son of a widow living on the Fairfax estate.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, guest of Lord Fairfax.

JULIUS CÆSAR, negro slave of Lord Fairfax.

Costumes and General Directions

LORD FAIRFAX wears a powdered wig, after the manner of the times, ruffled shirt bosom and cuffs, knee breeches, low shoes with large buckles, cutaway coat, etc. In arranging this costume consult a good English or American history which gives full length portraits of notable men living in the eighteenth century.

GEORGE WASHINGTON and GEORGE FAIRFAX wear knickerbockers and jackets, such as are worn by boys of fourteen or fifteen.

GEORGE BROWN should be barefoot and wear cheap but clean clothes. A large patch on front of coat would be effective. BRICE wears a good, plain suit.

JULIUS CÆSAR wears overalls and jumper and a ragged straw hat. The character of Lord Fairfax should be taken by a large, stronglybuilt boy. Brice should be larger than the other boys but not so large as Lord Fairfax.

George Washington and George Fairfax may be about the same size, for although the latter is represented as somewhat older, George Washington was unusually large and strong for his age.

The part of George Brown should be taken by a small boy.

Scenery

THE scene is supposed to take place out-of-doors. It may, therefore, be given on a plain stage, with some plants or evergreen boughs as decorations to give it an out-of-door appearance.

At the right-front is placed an old-fashioned arm chair. Near by is a plain wooden bench, on which lie a gun, powder-horn and other hunter's paraphernalia, all as old-fashioned and ancient-appearing as possible.

LORD FAIRFAX [enters room, carrying open letter, comes down stage, stamping his feet and showing signs of anger]: This is too much for human nature to bear patiently: to be

in bringing him to Virginia at so early an age. To atone for this free handling, the facts are here given:

George Fairfax was eight years the senior of George Washington He came to the home of his cousin in early manhood and undertook to survey the vast Fairfax estate. In this he was assisted by the young George Washington, who had long been a favorite with the old lord and who was often a guest at his stately home, Greenway Court.

obliged to set off for Alexandria on one of the finest hunting mornings that the world has ever seen. [Sits in chair.] Now let me see what that old rascal means! [Spreads out letter.] I can't understand his claim at all, but, of course, I must look into it.

[GEORGE FAIRFAX enters at left; comes to bench.

GEORGE FAIRFAX: Ah! off for a hunt I see, good cousin. [Takes up gun and looks it over.] That is a fine huntingpiece, indeed! I wish I might be going with you on this fine morning.

LORD FAIRFAX [crossly]: "Going with me!" Where are your eyes? Do I look as if I were setting out for the woods?

GEORGE FAIRFAX [turning to him]: Well, well, very true, but why these preparations? [Lays down gun and points to other articles.]

LORD FAIRFAX: I did so intend, but a courier came through this way and brought me a letter from a rascally lawyer in Alexandria, who says a client of his, another and a bigger rascal mayhap, lays claim to some hundred acres of my goodly estate, and is about to cut down the trees and otherwise despoil it so I must needs make a trip to Alexandria and by an injunction put a stop to his proceedings.

GEORGE FAIRFAX: But he has no right to the land, surely? LORD FAIRFAX: Of course not! but haven't you lived long enough to know that people sometimes take things to which they have no right if they can get them? It behooves me therefore, to look after the matter. Also, I must see to having my lands surveyed. Hasten on with your studies and as soon as you and your friend George Washington are a little older I will set you at work here.

GEORGE FAIRFAX: That will be quite a while to wait, good cousin. Would it not be well to send to England for a competent surveyor to do this important work?

LORD FAIRFAX [angrily]: And lose half my estate by the rascality of a stranger? No, you ought to be ready in two years, and I know you will look well after my interests. George, who is a little younger than you, will be ready in that time to assist you, and I know that he is honest and that no rascal's gold would tempt him to lay the line out of its true course.

GEORGE FAIRFAX: Indeed, good cousin, those are true words.

LORD FAIRFAX: Heigho, but this is a strange world. It seems a quiet country gentleman cannot be left in peace. Some rascal is always trying to steal my land or to snare my game, until, I fear, if nothing is done to stop them, I shall be left in my old age penniless and

GEORGE FAIRFAX: With nothing to shoot.

LORD FAIRFAX: Yes, that is it. I wonder if they have discovered anything yet about the one who has set those snares for my rabbits.

GEORGE FAIRFAX: I have heard nothing. It seems very strange that anyone should molest anything belonging to you, who are so kind and generous to the people of the whole country round.

LORD FAIRFAX: So it does, so it does. I mean to harm no one and would gladly give a rabbit, or a pheasant, or even a deer to anyone who is needy. [Loud talking behind scenes.] What is that? What is going on now, I wonder? GEORGE FAIRFAX [rising and looking off]: Why, it is Brice, dragging a poor boy up here. What on earth can he be doing that for?

[Enter BRICE dragging GEORGE BROWN by the coat-collar. Speaks to boy as he comes to front.]

BRICE: Now, you thieving little rascal, we'll see if you'll go on this way any longer. We'll have you at the whipping

post, and then in the jail for a while. There, you young beggar, stand up here and answer the Lord's questions. [Gives him a jerk which places him close to LORD FAIRFAX. Releases him and waits.]

LORD FAIRFAX [sternly]: What does all this mean?

GEORGE FAIRFAX: Why, good cousin, 'tis little George Brown. A good lad, too, is he.

LORD FAIRFAX [turning to BRICE]: Why have you brought

the lad here?

BRICE: For snaring your rabbits, my Lord.

LORD FAIRFAX: Snaring my rabbits! That child?

BRICE:

He may be young in years, but he is old in cunning, my Lord.

LORD FAIRFAX [kindly]: How is it, my boy? Speak up: hast thou snared my rabbits?

GEORGE BROWN: No, my Lord, I have not.

BRICE: I caught him in the woods, my Lord, peering about under the bushes where the snares have been found.

[GEORGE WASHINGTON enters at left and comes down slowly.]

LORD FAIRFAX: What is thy name, lad, and where's thy home?

GEORGE BROWN: My name's George Brown, my Lord, and my mother rents your cottage.

LORD FAIRFAX: O, ho, that is who thou art! Thy father was an honest man.

GEORGE WASHINGTON [turning toward BROWN, seemingly unaware of his predicament]: What is the matter with thee, little George? Didst find thy turkey and her brood? LORD FAIRFAX: What is this, George Washington? Do