Patriotic Plays and Pageants for Young People Part 26

THE CROWD (alternately surging close to her, and falling back).

A-aaah! To the pond with her! To the pond!

JOHN GILES.

If she sinks she is a witch, if she swims----

GOODY GURTON.

Have mercy----

GOODWIFE HUBBARD (with a shiver).

The water in the pond is deep and cold.

WINTHROP.

Here come Caldwell and Blackthorne with a ducking-chair. (Blackthorne and Caldwell carry between them a rude chair fashioned hastily from wood on which the bark still clings.) Well and swiftly fashioned, Blackthorne!

GOODY GURTON.

Mercy! Mercy! Gentle sirs, neighbors, goodwives! I am no witch! I swear it. I had naught, naught to do with Barbara Williams.

BRADFORD.

A last chance, Goody. Call up your evil powers. Bring back the child, and it shall be the stocks; but not the pond. Call! Call!

GOODY GURTON.

I have no words. I cannot bring her back. Mercy! Mercy!

BRADFORD (curtly).

To the pond!

GOODY GURTON (in a tremulous shriek as Blackthorne and Caldwell begin to bind her in the ducking-chair).

Oh, no, no, no! I am no witch! I swear it! Will no one speak for me-- will no one----

[Philippe Beaucoeur, who has approached from right but a moment before, and been partly hidden from view by those in front of him, now steps forward boldly. The knife in his red sash-belt glitters in the sun. His dark face is a-light with interest. His bearing is gallantly determined.

PHILIPPE BEAUCOEUR.

I will speak!

RENOUNCE.

It is Philippe!

PHILIPPE (boldly).

Stand back, Master Bradford. Be not so swift with your ducking-chair, Goodman Caldwell. By what right have ye bound this poor old woman?

BRADFORD (angrily).

By what right can a Jackanapes confront his elders?

PHILIPPE (coolly).

By the right of free speech in a free country. By the right of seeing defenseless age that lacks a champion.

GOODY GURTON (her voice sunk to a low moan).

Mercy! Mercy!

PHILIPPE (gallantly alert, hand on knife).

You have said your say against her. Is there one who hath spoken a word for her?

BRADFORD (bl.u.s.tering).

He has no right to confront us. He is not of Salem.

[Nevertheless, since Philippe is the only one armed, none step forward to seize him.

PHILIPPE (with light scorn).

The worshipful Bradford speaks true. I dwell in a kinder place. The forest accuses neither man nor woman. Nay, do not frown at me, Holdfast Bradford. My hand is as well matched as yours.

JOHN GILES.

By all the signs she is a witch. The moon rose red, and the wind----

THE CROWD (not to be cheated).

Aye! Aye!

PHILIPPE.

What if the moon rose red? What if the wind wailed in the chimney? Are ye children round the nursery fire that such things should be to you as signs? Ye have seen the same a thousand times before. Is this all ye can say against her? Is there naught ye can say for her--ye who have known her kindness? John Giles, who sat with thy brother when he had the fever? Goodwife Anne Brown, who helped thee keep watch the night thy father's ship was lost at sea? Tabitha Brett, who healed thy childish hurts, and drove away thy tears with sweetmeats? Thrice shame upon you all! The poor old woman!

GOODWIFE WILLIAMS (wildly).

Let her give back my child! Here is the cap that I found on her door- sill.

PHILIPPE.

Let me look at the cap, Goodwife Williams. (Turns it inside out.) There is a name embroidered on the band. (Reads.) "Hester Wordell." Not thy child's cap at all.

[Hands it back.

GOODWIFE WILLIAMS.

'Tis more witchcraft!

PHILIPPE.

And is that witchcraft, too?

(A child's voice in the woods at right is heard singing:)

"In May I go a-walking to hear the linnets sing, The blackbird and the throstle a-praising Queen and King: It cheers the heart to hear them, to see the leaves unfold, The meadows covered over with b.u.t.tercups of gold."

GOODWIFE WILLIAMS.

'Tis Barbara's voice! 'Tis Barbara! (Enter Barbara, fleet as a shadow, from right, followed by Fawnfoot. Both take the unconsciously tripping steps that belong to the wild freedom of youth.) It is my child!

Barbara! Where hast thou been since yesternight?

BARBARA.

With Fawnfoot yonder. She taught me to play games, and angle for fish, and----What be they staring at?

BRADFORD (dryly).

Goodwife Williams, for children that rouse a village there is but one remedy.

GOODWIFE WILLIAMS (humbly).