h all your life, success will smile upon you. Here are the marks
of battles. Here are the lines of hardships and of victories. And all
these little lines--see, marches, marches, marches! You'll be a
colonel, and perhaps a general. You laugh? Some day you'll see! 'Twill
all come true! You'll fight in a great cause.
WASHINGTON
(puzzled).
What cause is there to fight for?
RED ROWAN.
That I do not know. But here 'tis clearly written. And you will win.
Your name will be on all men's tongues. 'Tis a long road, and all up
hill. But at the summit--triumph! Remember that. Upon the summit is
triumph.
WASHINGTON
(half-soberly).
And for the rest?
RED ROWAN.
You'll be upon a farmstead with great, rolling acres.
WASHINGTON.
Forest or farmstead, I care not which. That part is true enough,
Mistress Rowan. There was a time when I wished to go to sea; but now I
hope to spend my life at Ferry Farm.
RED ROWAN
(rising).
Part of it will be spent far otherwise. Remember that I told you.
WASHINGTON
(courteously). Aye, I'll remember, tho' 'tis but a jest.
RED ROWAN
(pausing).
Aye, a jest wrought of gipsy magic. I wish you well, Master Washington,
and I thank you for your hospitality.
FRONTIERSMAN'S VOICE
(calling from right).
Rowan!
RED ROWAN
(answering).
I'm coming, father. (To Washington.) Remember, Master Washington, that
I told you.
[Exit Rowan, quickly and lightly.
WASHINGTON
(smiling to himself).
Remember! Why, 'tis the merest jest.
CAREY
(from background).
Time's up, George! There's wondrous sport. Are you not coming?
WASHINGTON
(to Carey).
Aye, I am coming. (To himself.) But the merest jest! "To fight in a
great cause--!" "A long hill, and a hard, and at the summit--triumph!"
(Shaking off the spell the words have cast on him). The lads would
laugh, did I but tell them! (Calls, in answer to impatient steps, and
crackling of leaves in background.) I come!
[He makes his exit into background, running blithely, and the play
ends.
COSTUMES
GEORGE WASHINGTON. Frontiersman's suit, modeled on Indian lines. The
suit is tan-colored, supposedly made of dressed deerskin. The breeches
and tunic are fringed, Indian fashion. There is neither paint nor
beading upon the suits. Moccasins. The other lads wear suits of the
same kind. The material can be cotton khaki. The moccasins can be
made of the same, and beaded.
RED ROWAN. Dress of leaf-brown homespun made rather short, and quite
plain, o
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