History Plays for the Grammar Grades Part 9

PRESIDENT: You have had some wonderful experiences. And now, Mr.

Fremont, I would like you to go on a third expedition--to explore the Pacific Coast.

FREMONT: Very well, Mr. President.

_End of Act II._

ACT III.

INTRODUCTION:

Fremont did not know about the war with Mexico. On his way to the north, he heard that Mexicans were planning to kill every American in California. Jose Castro was a Mexican general. The Mexicans had one hundred and fifty horses. The Americans captured these horses.

That was the first victory in the conquest of California.

The Bear Flag Rebellion.

The Americans were indeed a rough looking lot. Mounted on horseback, wearing leggings, and carrying pistols and guns. If the Americans had known that war was going on, they would have raised the Stars and Stripes. But not knowing it they decided to make a flag of their own.

The next act will be the forming of the California Republic.

(Men and soldiers around room).

MAN: We are now a Republic, and must have a Declaration of Independence.

OTHER MAN: Yes, and we must have a flag. Here is one. Mr. Todd made it. A bear is drawn on it, and a star. Underneath are the words, "California Republic."

OTHER MAN: We will raise this flag on the flagstaff of Sonoma. Now we are an independent Republic.

_End of Act III._

ACT IV

INTRODUCTION:

The conquest of California came when a treaty was signed at the Rancho de Cahuenga. (Ca-wen-ga). The next act will be the Californians and Fremont at the Rancho de Cahuenga.

FREMONT: General Flores, General Vallejo, General Pico, and Californians: You know why you have been called to this meeting?

GENERAL FLORES: Yes, Captain Fremont, we know why we have been called.

If we sign a treaty, and promise not to take up arms against the United States we will be pardoned for revolting.

FREMONT: Yes, you will be pardoned under those conditions. Do you promise?

CALIFORNIANS: We promise.

FREMONT: Very well, sign here.

(They sign.)

FREMONT: That will do, you are pardoned. Good afternoon, gentlemen.

CALIFORNIANS: Good afternoon, Captain Fremont.

WEBSTER, CLAY _and_ CALHOUN

INTRODUCTION:

We are going to tell you the story of Webster, Clay and Calhoun.

Daniel Webster was born in New Hamps.h.i.+re in 1782. He was a very weakly child, no one thought that some day he would have an iron body. He spent most of his time playing in the woods and fields. He loved the animals that he found there. He had a brother named Ezekiel. One day as they were walking through the field, they noticed that some of the cabbage had been eaten so they planned to catch the thief.

The first act will be the story of the woodchuck.

ACT I

(Daniel and Ezekiel find woodchuck in trap).

EZEKIEL: Well Daniel I see that we have caught the woodchuck.

DANIEL: What shall we do with him?

EZEKIEL: I think that we should kill him.

DANIEL: I think we should take him into the woods and let him go.

EZEKIEL: Let us take the matter to father and let him settle it.

(Go to father).

DANIEL: Father, we have caught the woodchuck and we do not know what to do with him. We have brought the matter to you to settle. Ezekiel wants to kill him and I want to let him go.

FATHER: Well boys, we will hold a court. I will be the judge and you will be the lawyers. One defend the case and the other prosecute.

Ezekiel you may speak first, you are the prosecutor.

EZEKIEL: I think we should kill the woodchuck. If we let him go, he will be just as much trouble as ever, while if we kill him he can't eat any more cabbage and we can sell his skin for at least ten cents and small as that sum is it will help pay for some of the cabbage that he has eaten, so in either way he is of more value dead than alive.

FATHER: Very good, Ezekiel. Now Daniel we will hear from you.

DANIEL'S SPEECH: G.o.d made the woodchuck. He made him to live in the bright sunlight and the pure air. He made him to enjoy the free air and the good woods. The woodchuck is not a fierce animal like the wolf or the fox. He lives in quiet and peace. A hole in the side of a hill and a little food is all that he wants. He has harmed nothing but a few plants which he ate to keep himself alive. The woodchuck has a right to life, to food, to liberty, for G.o.d gave them to him.

Look at his soft pleading eyes. See him tremble with fear. He cannot speak for himself and this is the only way he can plead for the life that is so sweet to him. Shall we be so cruel as to kill him? Shall we be so selfish as to take from him the life that G.o.d gave him?

FATHER: Ezekiel, Ezekiel, let that woodchuck go!