In order to make this play practicable for general use, the scenery and stage-directions suggested have been made as simple as possible. Regarding costumes, it may be said the play can be effectively produced when the children wear ordinary clothes, the Puritan costume being suggested by white caps and deep collars and cuffs for the women characters, and broad-brimmed hats and wide collars for the men. These accessories can be easily made of very inexpensive material, and copied from any of the well-known Puritan pictures. The Indians may either appear in the Indian costumes possessed by so many boys, or, in case these are unavailable, they may be draped in gay blankets and wear feather head-bands, which may be easily imitated.
JOHN WINTHROP, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. WILLIAM PIERCE, Captain of the ship _Lyon_. THOMAS DUDLEY, Deputy-Governor of the colony. JOHN WILSON, } ROGER CLAP, } Colonists. MRS. FREEMAN, } MRS. GARRETT, } PATIENCE FREEMAN, aged 8, daughter to Mrs. Freeman. SAMUEL GARRETT, aged 10, son to Mrs. Garrett. Chief of the Narragansett Indians. Young Narragansett brave. Man-servant to Governor Winthrop.
A room in Governor Winthrop’s house in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The front door of the house opens at center back of stage, and has small windows on each side of it. A door on the left opens into the next room. The room is very plainly furnished, and is evidently used for transacting business. On the right of the front door is a settee, with a chest standing near it, and on the left of the door is a chair. Near the front of the stage, on the right, stands a flour barrel, and beside it, a table with weighing-scales. On the left side of the room there is a chair before a desk covered with papers, etc. Several portraits and old prints hang on the walls.
[_A knock is heard on the front door. Enter_ SERVANT, _at the left, who crosses to front door, and opens it, disclosing_ MRS. FREEMAN _and_ PATIENCE. MRS. FREEMAN _has a basket on her arm_.]
SERVANT. Yes, madam; he has just come in.
MRS. FREEMAN. Will you let him know that I am here?
SERVANT. Directly, madam. Please be seated. [_Motions them to settee, and exit, left_; MRS. FREEMAN _and_ PATIENCE _sit down on the settee_. PATIENCE _breathes on her hands, to warm them_.]