History Plays for the Grammar Grades Part 7

Indian lying on floor springs to feet and gives terrible war whoop. The dancing stops. Women scream and men rush toward Clark).

CLARK: Go on with your dance but remember you dance under Virginia and not under Great Britain.

(British General goes up to Clark).

CLARK: I ask you to surrender in the name of Virginia.

BRITISH GENERAL: I surrender. (Hands his sword to Clark).

(French talk in corner. Father Gibault and other men come up to talk with Clark).

FATHER GIBAULT: We beg of you, Colonel Clark, to spare our lives and the lives of our families.

CLARK: Father, your lives are safe. America makes war on no church and will protect you all from insult. The King of France has made a treaty with the United States and is sending s.h.i.+ps and soldiers to help us. All we want you to do is put up the American Flag.

FATHER GIBAULT: We are glad to hear this news. It makes us all very happy indeed. I will go to Vincennes and tell the good news.

_End of Clark Act._

ANDREW JACKSON

INTRODUCTION:

Andrew Jackson was born in North Carolina in 1767. His parents were Scotch Irish.

Schools were few and poor and Andy learned more from the woods than from books. As a boy he was full of fun and mischief and fond of sports, but he was very hot tempered.

When he was thirteen he learned what war meant for it was the time of the Revolution. Colonel Tarleton killed more than a hundred of Jackson's neighbors and friends, among them Andy's own brother. He never forgave the British.

At fourteen he was taken prisoner by the British.

The first act will be Andrew Jackson and a British officer. Enter soldiers dragging Andrew. Officer at desk. Men salute officer.

MEN: We have found this young fellow acting in a suspicious manner around the camp, Colonel.

OFFICER: Well, well, a young rebel eh!

ANDREW: Yes, a rebel.

OFFICER: We'll see what you are good for, boy. Clean these boots.

JACKSON: I will not. I am a prisoner of war and expect to be treated as such.

OFFICER: You won't! Won't you! (Draws sword and strikes boy on head).

(Soldiers drag him from room).

_End of Act I._

ACT II.

INTRODUCTION:

At Camden smallpox killed his remaining brother and left Andrew poor and sickly looking. His mother also lost her life in caring for American prisoners. Jackson was left an orphan of the Revolution. He studied law and at twenty was admitted to practice in the courts of the State.

Stories from Tennessee made him long to see that beautiful country, so in company with nearly a hundred men, women and children he crossed the mountains into Tennessee.

The next Act will be Jackson and others sitting around a camp-fire, telling stories of the Revolution.

JACKSON: This beautiful country of Nolichucky Jack's is worth the trouble we have had in coming. Something in the stillness of the night makes me think of those dreadful Revolutionary days. What a time it was and what a lot of great heroes our country had.

ONE OF MEN: Yes, those were stirring days. Well do I remember that day on the Boston Common. On the slopes of the hill where the State House now stands there was a fine place to skate and slide. We fellows learned our spelling those days for if we didn't we couldn't skate.

One day after school we hurried to the hillside. We found the ice broken everywhere. We knew the British Redcoats had done the damage.

They thought it fun to make the Yankees angry. We went to General Gage and told him what his soldiers had done. He said "You are plucky boys.

If my soldiers bother you again, let me know."

ONE OF THE GIRLS: Have you ever heard the story of Lydia Darrah?

No, tell us.

Lydia was my grandmother. She lived in Philadelphia with her husband and younger children. General Howe's adjutant took up his quarters and secured a back room in which private councils could be held. Just before one of these my grandmother was told to retire early as the British officers would require the room at seven o'clock and would remain late. Lydia suspected that something against the patriot army was to take place. She sent the family to bed and taking off her shoes crept down the stairs and listened at the door. She learned that all the British troops were to march out and surprise General Was.h.i.+ngton and his army. She knew it lay in her power to save the lives of thousands of people. She decided to find a way of telling the news.

Going to the mill for flour, she left her sack to be filled and hurried on to the American camp where she told one of the officers she knew. He galloped off to Headquarters and informed General Was.h.i.+ngton.

The British officers never knew who gave Was.h.i.+ngton the information.

JACKSON: She was a brave woman. There were many brave women and men.

MAN: And that fight at Bunker Hill. Of course we lost because we didn't have enough powder but how our brave boys did fight, as long as the powder held out. They cut down whole ranks of the British army as they advanced up the sh.o.r.e.

JACKSON: Well folks, I think we better go to bed. We have a hard journey ahead of us. I will keep watch.

(Jackson leans up against tree, smoking corncob pipe).

(Suddenly the sound of an owl is heard in the distance).

JACKSON speaks to the man with him: "A little too natural that owl.

I fear it is Indians. We must arouse the people and go."

(Goes and arouses people who get ready to leave.)

_End of Act II._

ACT III.