USA > Maine > Cumberland County > New Gloucester > The bicentennial of New Gloucester : being an account of the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the coming of the first settlers > Part 3
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MRS. MASON. I hope so. At times I feel so troubled about Jonas. You know the last we heard, the Indians were pretty bad.
DAVID. Yes, I know, mother.
[Steps are heard outside and SILAS HASKELL enters-
the Masons overjoyed to see him. MRS. MASON kisses him twice, saying.]
MRS. MASON. One for you, Silas, and one for Jonas. .
DAVID [shaking SILAS's hand]. Well, well, Silas, I'm glad to see you. I just said to mother here that it was pretty nearly time for the boat to get in, and I hoped some of you would be on it.
SILAS. Yes, Jonas and I drew lots and I won. I've come with a plan. I expect it will take your breath away, as it did the others'. Deborah and I are to be married here, then take Sally with us on our return; and at North Yarmouth Jonas and Sally will be married. We may have to stay there for a time, anyway, as the Indians are on our trail. We shall know when we meet Jonas. He said you would be disappointed to have us leave the town, but I think it will be the safer way. When things are a little more settled, we can go back.
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MRS. MASON. But Silas, you do take my breath away! Two weddings! How does your mother feel about it. Will she let Sally go?
SILAS. Well, she was so relieved to see me and find that the Indians hadn't got my scalp, that she gave her consent, re- luctantly, I'll admit. Sally is crazy to go. Deborah's father and mother couldn't see it at first, but now it is settled and, as I said, we expect to go back in two weeks.
MRS. MASON. Two weeks? Well, your mother and Mrs. Parsons will be busy.
SILAS [rising]. Well, I must be getting back. There's quite a lot to be done in two weeks. I'll see you again. Good night. [Exit SILAS.]
MRS. MASON. Well, things do move fast now.
DAVID. They certainly do. If ever this war is over, I think they can go back to New Gloucester, for then the Indians will go north again.
MRS. MASON. I am glad the Haskells are letting Sally go. I shall feel so much happier about Jonas, to have Sally with him, and to have Deborah there too.
DAVID. Well, mother, it's time to go to bed. I'll put the cat out.
[Both exeunt.]
SCENE IV
Two weeks later. MR. and MRS. MASON seated in their sitting-room, as before. Enter SILAS and DEBORAH, her mother and father-SALLY with MR. and MRS. HASKELL-all with their wraps on. They are taking the boat back to the Province of Maine. There can be conversation fitted to the occasion-a bit of hubbub, with all talking.
DAVID [taking SALLY's hand]. A new country, my dear, a new home. May God's blessings go with you, Sally, we welcome you into the family. Jonas has won a prize, the same as you have, Silas. Some day, when you are settled in the new home, mother and I may drive the mare down and see the new town-child of our beloved Gloucester.
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MR. HASKELL. I think, David, they can soon go back to New Gloucester. The French and English will soon make a settlement and then the Indians will quiet down. The French have made them their allies and are egging them on to do all the dastardly things they have done. They will need to build a block house and perhaps live there for a time.
SILAS. Well, we must be on our way.
[Good-byes may be said to fit the occasion and all exeunt.]
END OF ACT I
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[To be read before ACT II]
In 1753-1754 the block house was built, places were made for the different families. Life was difficult, for with the Indians lurking about, they could not go far to cultivate the land. Hunting and fishing were precarious work, so at times rations were very meagre. Those who had built cabins on the cleared land were at times forced to take refuge in the stock- ade on very short notice, leaving their household goods behind. Many times those places were sacked and burned by the Indians.
John Millet had cleared land and built a cabin, up toward the Androscoggin River. Mr. Millet, his son and a young man working there, all of whom have been in the nearby fields, are coming in to supper. Inside the cabin, Mrs. Millet and her daughter are preparing the evening meal. As the men are washing at the bench, a woodsman comes toward them. He is also a hunter who learns the movements of the Redmen and reports to the settlers. He is called Scout, and is always welcome at the cabins in the clearings.
The characters for Act II are:
MR. MILLET
. Omar Frances
MRS. MILLET
Agnes Sinclair
THE SCOUT . Clayton Tufts
ANNIE MILLET Miss Audrey Nelson
GEORGE MILLET Keith Williams
THE INDIAN Ralph Chamberlain
HENRY WORTHLEY Ronald Berry
ACT II
SCENE I
There are two basins on a bench, with towels on a nail. MR. MILLET and HENRY WORTHLY washing their faces and hands. GEORGE MILLET glancing back, sees the SCOUT-a dog follow- ing him would be nice.
GEORGE. Hey, pa, here's the Scout. [He goes to meet him,
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shakes hands.] We were speaking about you the other day, saying you hadn't been round here for some time.
[MR. MILLET and HENRY step out to meet him.]
MR. MILLET. Well, well! We are glad to see you, Scout. Some time since you have been around. I smell supper-stop and have some.
SCOUT. Not tonight, Mr. Millet. ... Is that your corn over there? [Walks toward the corn, followed by MR. MILLET. When a little way from the house door they pause and the SCOUT continues.] I came to warn you that the Indians are being rather too near for comfort. I feel sure they are planning some mischief. I think you had better move to the block house-not tonight, as I am a day ahead of them-but not later than tomorrow morning. They have been pretty bad to the south of us-a man in Yarmouth shot from his horse -and as I came along I found John Woodman's body-shot and scalped. A little farther on, another man so badly cut up I couldn't tell who he was.
MR. MILLET. Oh! We'd been free for some time and I hoped they had gone north again.
SCOUT. I stopped at the block house as I came along. John Stinchfield and John Megquier went hunting two days ago and haven't returned, so it is feared they may have met the same fate. In Falmouth it has been bad, very bad. I will go now and warn the other settlers.
MR. MILLET. Well, thank you, Scout. We won't delay but will go in the morning. Good night.
SCOUT. Good night.
[MR. MILLET stands for a moment in deep thought.
MRS. MILLET runs out of the house to him. Puts her hand on his arm.]
MRS. MILLET. Oh father, what did the Scout have to tell you? We have been so happy here. . . . I just know the Indians are threatening us again. . . . Is it not so?
MR. MILLET [puts his hand on her shoulder]. Yes, mother, we move to the block house in the morning. Scout thinks they are planning a raid of some kind, but they have only
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one kind-murder and pillage. He is a day ahead, so we don't need to go tonight, but we must start early in the morning. [As they walk slowly back, the son GEORGE, the daughter
ANNIE, and HENRY WORTHLEY come through the door. ANNIE goes up to her mother.]
ANNIE. Oh, mother, what is it? When the Scout didn't stay for supper, I know it is bad news. . . . Oh, what is it? MRS. MILLET. The block house, my child. We must pack now, for we go in the morning.
MR. MILLET. I think it won't be very long. They will probably sack this place and then leave. I only hope they won't burn the cabin. They have been in Falmouth and in Yarmouth-shot a man from his horse-Jim Taylor, maybe. He rides a good deal. Megquier and Stinchfield went hunting from the blockhouse two days ago, and there are fears for their safety. They got John Woodman and another man that the Scout couldn't tell who he was. . .. Now we must get to work.
[All exeunt.]
ACT II
SCENE II
This scene is at the block house. They have been there some three weeks. As yet they have seen nothing of the Indians.
[MRS. MILLET is hanging out clothes in the yard. GEORGE and ANNIE come out.]
ANNIE. Oh, mother, can't George and I go over to the cabin? I want to get my patchwork. You know we came away in such a hurry, I forgot it; and we haven't heard any- thing about the Indians since we left and the Scout hasn't been round to tell us any news. Please let us go.
MRS. MILLET. Oh, my dear, I don't know what to say. Your father is down to the river and Henry is with him. I do not know.
GEORGE. Annie does want to go so bad, mother. I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll take my gun and if we are molested I will fire two shots and that will show them what to do.
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MRS. MILLET. Well, be careful and hurry back. I shall worry until I see you-and I don't know what your father will say. Go and ask Mr. Snow, George. [Both exeunt.]
[GEORGE and ANNIE return.]
GEORGE. Mr. Snow doesn't really know what to say, but he thinks if I fire the gun as agreed, we can be saved.
ANNIE. Oh, yes, mother, we will be back in no time, and with the gun I know it will be all right. Good-bye, mother dear. [Both exeunt.]
MRS. MILLET [picking up her basket]. Oh, I don't think I should have said Yes. I wish Henry was here; he is so wise, and I know he is in love with Annie.
[An Indian lurking in the shadow of the block house hears the conversation of GEORGE and ANNIE, reports
it, and when halfway to the cabin, GEORGE and ANNIE are taken prisoners.]
[Two shots are heard. HENRY comes around the corner
into the yard and MRS. MILLET comes out.]
HENRY. Mrs. Millet, what does that mean? Where is Annie?
MRS. MILLET. Oh Henry, she and George have gone to the cabin. I never should have consented, but you weren't here, neither was John. That shot was George's signal if they were molested. Henry, you must save her! [clasps her hands in an agonized manner].
HENRY. Indeed I will. Never fear, Mrs. Millet.
[Exit HENRY.]
[MRS. MILLET leans against a post. HENRY rushes back.]
HENRY. Mrs. Millet, the Scout is here and is going with us, so have no fear.
[A pause here-two days elapse.]
[Voices are heard and MR. MILLET appears round the corner, quite excited.]
MR. MILLET. Mother, the children are all safe.
[MRS. MILLET, with several women and men, appears
just as GEORGE, ANNIE, HENRY, young EVELETH and SNOW come around the corner, with the Scour in
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the rear-and a dog, if feasible. There are greetings all round, then MRS. MILLET goes up to the SCOUT.] MRS. MILLET. Oh, Scout, you have saved our children and our happiness! What should we have done without you?
SCOUT. Well now, mum, they were a pretty brave lot. Even Annie here kept her head. We found a piece of her dress and then she dropped a neck ribbon, so we followed. I saw the canoes, George in one and Annie in the other, behind. I was afeared for him for he had shot one of the varmints, and you know they don't forget. I knowed where they would camp, so the four of us cut through the woods. But Brave, my dog, knows what to do better than I. He ferreted out the wigwam where George was. So I cut him free and Brave took him down to Eveleth and Snow and their canoe. They were followed by Indian canoes but Eveleth's aim was good and when one varmint fell he tipped the canoe and the other two couldn't recover in the falls. George's hand was steady and in spite of a wicked shot in his thigh he guided the canoe through the falls, praise be! I knew where their wigwams and the supplies were, so I touched those off. I knew there would be a lot of excitement then. That Henry might know where Annie was, I showed him that first. He cut her free and they were off. One of 'em most got me, but Brave took care of that - so here we be.
MRS. MILLET. Oh, oh! How can we thank you?
[HENRY stands beside ANNIE, holding her hand.]
SCOUT. Huh? Just invite me to the weddin'.
HENRY [looking at MR. and MRS. MILLET]. May I have her? [MR. MILLET takes HENRY's hand.]
MR. MILLET. My boy, you have been my choice for some time. [His voice breaks.]
MRS. MILLET [a bit teary]. Yes indeed, we do invite you all-but come in now and have supper-all of you. Such a day! Such a day!
[HENRY goes to GEORGE.]
HENRY. Lean on me, George you valiant youth !
[All exeunt.]
END OF ACT II
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[To be read before ACT III.]
The Indians in this section were the Saco, or Sokokis, as they were sometimes called, and belonged to the Algonquin stock. They occupied all the most desirable locations of southwestern Maine along the coast and lower sections of our rivers. Wars, disease, and the coming of the settlers drove many northward and greatly decreased their numbers. As the years rolled on and settlements increased, a strong desire arose for a separation of the Province of Maine, and the plan was much discussed even as early as 1784 and 1785.
In these closing scenes we are presenting the separation of Maine from Massachusetts. The time is about 1819. The next scene takes you to the home of General Allen, with the following characters:
MRS. ALLEN
Mrs. Lewis True
GENERAL ALLEN Donald Chandler
GENERAL FESSENDEN Howard Emery
MAJOR EVELETH Asa Hodgkins
THE MAID Miss Louise Chamberlain
ACT III
SCENE II
[GENERAL ALLEN sits at a table. A MAID enters.]
MAID. General Fessenden and Major Eveleth to see you, sır.
GENERAL ALLEN. Show them in, Mary, then bring the decanter and the glasses.
[Exit MARY. Enter the GENERAL and MAJOR. They
greet GEN'L ALLEN, put their hats on the table, and all sit.]
GENERAL ALLEN. Just back from Boston, I hear, Sam. Well, what is all this poppycockery about the Province be- coming a state? We are well enough as we are. We are all right as we are, as I see it. Why not let well enough alone?
GENERAL FESSENDEN. No, William, I do not agree with
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you. Massachusetts keeps us to help feather her own nest, so to speak. Now in the late war, for instance, did she help us? No. She took away our militia and left no one to defend our frontier. Maine belongs to us, William, separate and in- dependent from Massachusetts.
GENERAL ALLEN. Sho, now, Sam. What has happened to change your mind? Something new to hear you talk like this.
GENERAL FESSENDEN. Yes, William, I have changed my mind. I have given the matter serious thought. We should be an independent state. We should not be controlled by power outside the state, and steps are being taken to bring about a separation.
[GENERAL ALLEN pours from the decanter which MARY
has brought in and put on the table while the men were
talking; passes the glasses, and they all drink.]
GENERAL FESSENDEN. Pretty smooth, William. I could almost drink to the new state in that. It's coming-I know it-and very soon now we shall be called upon to vote on the measure.
[They all rise, put their glasses on the table. GENERAL
FESSENDEN and MAJOR EVELETH pick up their hats.]
GENERAL ALLEN. Well, I can't see it yet, gentlemen, but I may-I may.
MAJOR EVELETH. You have to admit this, William-that all her work was put into Boston, and Portland was left to shift for herself. Sam has convinced me and I feel sure he will you.
[They shake hands and exeunt.]
[GENERAL ALLEN sits in a pensive mood. Presently his wife enters, sits.]
MRS. ALLEN. Well, what did Sam and the Major want, father?
GENERAL ALLEN. Well, what do you think, Rachel? Sam came to say that he wants Maine to be a state, independent of Massachusetts-to come out and shift for herself. I feel sort of stunned. They both think I will come to see it as they do. I wonder .
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RACHEL. But William, do you think we have able men enough, equal to running a state?
GENERAL ALLEN. I am a bit doubtful, but Sam seems to think it should be, and will work out all right. A meeting will be called in all the towns to vote on the proposal and that will decide the question.
[The MAID comes to the door and calls to supper.]
[All exeunt.]
[To be read before ACT III, Scene II.]
On October 11, 1819 a convention met at Portland to frame the constitution for the new state. There was a contest over the name, but MAINE had the preference by a great majority. And, as a result of the Missouri Compromise, President Monroe signed the Maine Bill, on March 3, 1820; and on March 15 the final separation papers were signed.
ACT III
SCENE II
Some months later: MRS. ALLEN sits, knitting. The GEN- ERAL enters.
GENERAL ALLEN [while removing hat and outside coat]. It's pretty cold out. Thermometer runs pretty low. I met Sam just now and he is feeling pretty discouraged over the situa- tion.
MRS. ALLEN. Why, William, what is the trouble now? Didn't we vote last July to be a state, and weren't over two- thirds of the voters for it? Then they met and adopted a constitution and then applied to Congress for admission. Where is the hitch now?
GENERAL ALLEN. Slavery, mother, slavery.
MRS. ALLEN. Slavery! Why, what do you mean? We have no slaves here.
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GENERAL ALLEN. I know, Rachel, but you see, it's this way: Missouri, a territory, has applied for admission at the same time, but having many slaves she wished to get in with- out any conditions against slavery. The supporters of slavery are very crafty, so they coupled the Territory and the Dis- trict and brought them before Congress in the same bill, that each might share the other's fate. The bill has been held up there for some weeks and people are a bit discouraged. If it isn't admitted before the 15th of March, we shall be only a territory. The third of March was the date and it is past that now.
[A knock is heard on the door and the GENERAL opens it, admitting GENERAL FESSENDEN.]
GENERAL FESSENDEN. William, open your best bottle and let us drink to the twenty-second state in the Union.
GENERAL ALLEN. Sam! Is it true? When did you hear?
GENERAL FESSENDEN. Yes, soon after I left you the word came. We shook Missouri and came in after all, as a state, on March the third. We made history on that day.
MRS. ALLEN. Come into the dining room. We will cele- brate by both drinking and eating.
GENERAL FESSENDEN. I told you, William, it would surely come.
GENERAL ALLEN. Yes, Sam, and I have come to see it your way.
[All exeunt.]
THE END
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