The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Thanksgiving Dream: A One Act Play for Primary Children

This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: A Thanksgiving Dream: A One Act Play for Primary Children

Author: Effa E. Preston

Release date: October 9, 2016 [eBook #53236]

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Emmy, MFR and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
produced from images generously made available by The
Internet Archive)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A THANKSGIVING DREAM: A ONE ACT PLAY FOR PRIMARY CHILDREN ***

A Thanksgiving Dream

cover

decorative line
Song Specialties for Your Entertainments

Teachers are discovering that no matter how much novelty there is in their entertainment, how well it is arranged, how thoroughly drilled, if they want to hold the active interest of the audience they must use the best of songs. The songs must be real novelties. The words must be interesting as well as decidedly clever. The music must be catchy and abounding in rich melody. With these things in mind we have prepared this list of superior song novelties for our patrons. All are in regular sheet music form.

Price, 35 cents each; 5 for $1.25

WELCOME SONGS

CLOSING SONGS

decorative line

Paine Publishing Co., Dayton, Ohio

decorative line

[1]

A Thanksgiving Dream

A One Act Play for
Primary Children



By EFFA E. PRESTON


PAINE PUBLISHING COMPANY
DAYTON, OHIO


[2]

A Thanksgiving Dream

CHARACTERS

Jack—A small boy.

Pilgrim Maids—Five girls in colonial costume.

Indians—Two boys in Indian costume.

Pumpkins—Any number small boys and girls having huge paper pumpkins pinned on them.

Turkeys—Five children with paper turkeys pinned on them.

Goblins—Any number of small boys wearing hideous false faces.

After each group has spoken it goes off stage. After Jack’s last speech he leaves stage and all the others return and sing the closing song.

If desired the costuming may be elaborate, but it is not at all necessary.


[3]

A Thanksgiving Dream

Jack:
I had the grandest dinner—
Pudding and cake and pie—
Turkey and mashed potato
Ice cream—it makes me sigh
To think that anything was left
Of all that dandy meal,
But I couldn’t eat another bite
So very full I feel.
I guess I’ll take a nap till supper time.
[Yawns, stretches, lies down and sleeps.]
Enter Pilgrim Maids.
All:
We’re Pilgrim Maids of long ago
When all this world was new,
And stories of that far off time
We shall relate to you.
First:
Our fathers came from England here
Across the stormy sea,
And many hardships they endured
To gain their liberty.
Second:
The Indians were our trusty friends
And taught us many things—
To plow—to plant—to fish—to hunt—
And what each season brings.
Third:
A harvest bountiful we gleaned
In 1622
And called the Indians to a feast.
Such fun you never knew.
This was the first Thanksgiving Day—
A day of earnest praise
For peace and plenty granted us
[4]After our weary days.
Fourth:
When I was a little, little girl
My parents went away
And left me to mind the babies.
An Indian came that day
And I pushed the frightened babies
Who were playing on the floor
Under two big brass kettles.
They both began to roar.
It scared the Indians very much
When he saw the kettles run
And he loudly roared “Kettles alive!”
And threw away his gun.
I shot him as he ran away,
They found him just outside.
I kept the kettles many years
And told the tale with pride.
Fifth:
My sister and I scared the Indians away
One night many long years ago
By changing some pumpkins to Jack-Lanterns bright
And waving them to and fro.
In the darkness they thought they were ghosts
And yelling in fright and alarm
They fled to the forest as fast as they could—
So our Jack-Lanterns saved us from harm.
Enter Indians.
Together:
I’m Massoit.
I’m Samoset.
First:
The first Thanksgiving Day
We feasted with the Pilgrim folks
[5]And jolly games did play.
Second:
We brought them turkeys, oysters, deer,
And stayed to eat them all,
And Elder Brewster said we’d have
Thanksgiving Day each fall.
Enter Pumpkins.
All:
We’re the pumpkins your family made into pies
And we really must say that a boy of your size
Ought to be so ashamed of himself—for you ate
Till there wasn’t a piece of pie left on the plate.
We hope you have a stomach ache—an awful stomach ache.
Enter Turkeys.
All:
Gobble, gobble, gobble,
Turkeys sad are we.
This glad Thanksgiving season
Does not with us agree.
First:
Boys talk about Thanksgiving and make an awful fuss—
The feast that is so fine for them is always death for us.
Second:
This boy looks nice and tender, friends—he’s plump as plump can be.
Let’s have a feast ourselves today and eat him fricassee.
Jack:
No-no-don’t eat me—don’t I beg—
Third:
[6]Why not?—You find us tasty.
Jack:
Don’t eat me—think what that would mean,
Oh, please don’t be so hasty.
Fourth:
Don’t listen to his tale of woe—our friends all gobbled loudly.
His father just chopped off their heads and ate them up so proudly.
Fifth:
Oh, let him go. I can’t be cruel. Yes, let him go. Don’t cry.
Second:
You chicken-hearted turkeys, you’ll be sorry by and by.
Enter Goblins.
All:
We are the Thanksgiving Goblins.
We’ll get you unless you take care.
We’re after such greedy young people
So youngster you’d better beware.
We’ll give you such pains in your tummy
You’ll wriggle from sunset till morn,
We’ll pinch you and poke you and pound you—
You’ll wish you had never been born.
Jack:
Please don’t hurt me.
First:
After all that dinner he doesn’t want to be hurt.
Second:
[7]Tell us what you ate.
Jack:
I didn’t eat much—just some turkey—
A leg—and the back—and the wing—
Potatoes and turnips and cranberry sauce,
Ice cream, cake, pie, everything.
Third Goblin:
Come, brothers, let’s pinch him.
[They gather round Jack and pinch him—he screams.]
Mother [calling]: Jack—Jack.
Goblins run. Jack awakes—rubs eyes, yawns.
Jack:
I must have been sleeping—I dreamed funny things
About goblins and turkeys, and pies,
And Pilgrims, and Indians, and all sorts of things,
They were right here in front of my eyes.
I hope that my supper is ready—I’m hungry as hungry can be
I think I dreamed that I ate too much—
But I won’t let a dream worry me.

[He leaves stage in answer to his mother’s calls and the Pilgrim Maids, Indians, Pumpkins, Turkeys and Goblins return in the order named, form group and sing:]

Song—Air: OLD BLACK JOE
1.
We’ve come to warn all the greedy girls and boys.
Heed our advice though your feelings it annoys.
Don’t be like Jack o’er the Gobble-uns and pies
And turkeys, too, will soon appear before your eyes.[8]
Chorus:
Be careful—be careful—
Listen well to what we say
And guard your appetite this glad Thanksgiving Day.
2.
We are but dreams, alas, ’tis all too true,
When you awake we must vanish far from view.
But aches and pains we will bring you while we may
If you are greedy and devour our friends today.


CURTAIN

Entertainments for All Occasions
decorative line
Special Day Entertainments
BEST CHRISTMAS PANTOMIMES—Irish$0.40
CHOICE CHRISTMAS DIALOGUES AND PLAYS—Irish.40
CHOICE CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS—Irish.40
CHRISTMAS AT McCARTHYS’—Guptill.25
CHRISTMAS AT PUMPKIN HOLLER—Guptill.25
CHRISTMAS EVE AT MULLIGAN’S—Irish.25
CHRISTMAS SPEAKIN’ AT SKAGGS’ SKULE—Irish.25
IN A TOY SHOP—Preston.25
THE PRIMARY CHRISTMAS BOOK—Irish.40
PUMPKIN PIE PETER—Irish.25
THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH—Irish.25
SNOWBOUND FOR CHRISTMAS—Preston.25
A STRIKE IN SANTA LAND—Preston.25
A THANKSGIVING CONSPIRACY—Irish.25
A THANKSGIVING DREAM—Preston.25
A TOPSY-TURVY CHRISTMAS—Guptill.25
Dialogues and Children’s Plays
ALL IN A GARDEN FAIR—Wilbur$0.25
DOLLS ON DRESS PARADE—Preston.25
A PARTY IN MOTHER GOOSE LAND—Preston.25
SNAPPY HUMOROUS DIALOGUES—Irish.40
Recitations and Pantomimes
CATCHY PRIMARY RECITATIONS—Irish$0.30
OLD TIME SONGS PANTOMIMED—Irish.40
Plays
THE DEAREST THING IN BOOTS—MacKenzie$0.25
THE GREAT CHICKEN STEALING CASE OF EBENEZER COUNTY—Richardson.25
THE GREAT WHISKEY STEALING CASE—Richardson.25
MISS JANIE; OR, THE CURTAILED COURTSHIP—Bonham.25
THAT AWFUL LETTER—MacKenzie.25
THE UNEXPECTED GUEST—MacKenzie.25
Monologues
AS OUR WASHWOMAN SEES IT—MacKenzie$0.25
ASK OUIJA—MacKenzie.25
THE COUNTRY COUSIN SPEAKS HER MIND—MacKenzie.25
GLADYS REVIEWS THE DANCE—MacKenzie.25
I’M ENGAGED—MacKenzie.25
SHE SAYS SHE STUDIES—MacKenzie.25
SUSAN GETS READY FOR CHURCH—MacKenzie.25
decorative line
PAINE PUBLISHING CO.             Dayton, Ohio

Entertainments for Christmas
decorative line
CHOICE CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTSBy Marie Irish
For children of all grades. Contents: 50 recitations, 8 monologues, 11 plays and dialogues, 5 drills and marches, 8 tableaux, 4 pantomimes, 8 pantomimed carols, 8 songs, etc. Price, 40 cents.
THE PRIMARY CHRISTMAS BOOKBy Marie Irish
For children under ten years of age. Contents: 68 recitations, 12 exercises, 7 songs, 6 drills, 12 dialogues and plays, 9 pantomimes. Price, 40 cents.
BEST CHRISTMAS PANTOMIMESBy Marie Irish
Twelve pantomimes, each accompanied by complete words, directions and music. Some are serious and some are in a lighter vein. Price, 40 cents.
CHOICE CHRISTMAS DIALOGUES AND PLAYSBy Marie Irish
Ten dialogues for Primary Grades, 10 dialogues for Intermediate Grades and 8 plays for Grammar Grades. Price, 40 cents.
CHRISTMAS AT McCARTHYS’By Elizabeth F. Guptill
Brimful of fun and Christmas spirit. For any number of young folks and children. Time, 30 minutes. Price, 25 cents.
CHRISTMAS AT PUMPKIN’ HOLLERBy Elizabeth F. Guptill
The old-fashioned school is rehearsing for the Christmas entertainment. Funny from beginning to end. Time, 30 minutes. For any number of children. Price, 25 cents.
CHRISTMAS EVE AT MULLIGAN’S By Marie Irish
For all grades. 4 males, 5 females. Time, 30 minutes. A most unusual play. Plenty of wit and humor as well as more serious episodes. Sure to be a success. Price, 25 cents.
CHRISTMAS SPEAKIN’ AT SKAGGS’ SKULEBy Marie Irish
A back woods school entertainment is featured. Easy to prepare and plenty of fun. For 6 boys and 8 girls. Time, 30 minutes. Price, 25 cents.
IN A TOY SHOPBy Effa E. Preston
In rhyme. For 12 or more small children. A clever little play that will please. Time, 20 minutes. Price, 25 cents.
THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCHBy Marie Irish
For upper grades. 5 males and 6 females. Time, 30 minutes. Plenty of fun and a great surprise. Price, 25 cents.
SNOWBOUND FOR CHRISTMASBy Marie Irish
For 4 boys and 4 girls. For mixed grades. Time, 25 minutes. The older children play Santa Claus for the younger ones. Price, 25 cents.
A STRIKE IN SANTA LANDBy Effa E. Preston
In rhyme. 8 boys, 7 girls. Time, 20 minutes. Very easy but effective. Price, 25 cents.
A TOPSY-TURVY CHRISTMASBy Elizabeth F. Guptill
Humorous. For any number of children under fourteen years of age. Time, 30 minutes. Price, 25 cents.
decorative line
PAINE PUBLISHING CO.             Dayton, Ohio

Transcriber’s Note: Obvious punctuation errors repaired.