Abraham: Welcome, strangers, to the tent of Abraham! If I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee! Let now a little water be fetched and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree; and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and this will strengthen your hearts; after that ye shall pass on.

The Three Strangers: So do as thou hast said, good Abraham.

[ABRAHAM turns to the servants who are standing near.]

Abraham: Haste ye, bring water; fetch a calf, tender and good. [Servants hasten away.] [To the strangers]: Sarah, my wife, will make ready three measures of fine meal and knead it into cakes.

First Stranger: Our host, Abraham, is a true servant of the Lord.

Second Stranger: We are indeed weary; journeyed far across the desert.

we have

[Servants appear with water and food. SARAH also brings food to them.]

Sarah: Drink thou this fresh milk, and refresh thyself with these dates, for ye look weary.

Third Stranger: This is indeed a rest.

[SARAH goes into the tent and the strangers finish eating. The strangers rise to go.]

Abraham: Tarry yet awhile with us.

First Stranger: We thank thee, good Abraham, but we must be on our way.

Second Stranger: We would speak with thee and thy wife, Sarah. Where is thy wife?

Abraham: Sarah, come hither.

[SARAH appears.]

Third Stranger: We bring you a message from the Lord. You shall have a son, and his name shall be Isaac. He shall be the father of many men, and thousands shall respect him.

Sarah: Surely, this cannot come to pass!

Abraham: Thanks be to God for this great gift!

[SARAH and ABRAHAM fall down on their knees before the strangers. The strangers stretch out their hands

to bless them.]

Three Strangers: The Lord will bless you, Sarah and Abraham!

[The strangers depart.

ABRAHAM and SARAH arise.] Abraham and Sarah: Surely these were angels from the

Lord!

END

As this play was very short, the suggestion was made that we might lengthen the program, as well. as make it more interesting, by having some of the children tell the audience just how we worked up the dramatization. The two older girls undertook this and decided entirely by themselves just what they would say. One of them wrote with great care a description of the method of procedure. She read it to the club for approval, then she learned it by heart and gave it in an interesting manner to the audience on the day the play was given. The other girl wrote a poem about it, and recited it just before the play was given. The description and poem are as follows:

THE INTRODUCTION

By MARGARET MILLER

The play which the children are now going to giveAbraham and the Three Guests-has been worked out and practiced at the dramatic club. This club meets every Sunday afternoon from three until four o'clock, and is composed of any of the children of the Sunday school who wish to belong.

The first Sunday Miss Miller told the story to the members, and then they, knowing it, acted it out, making up the parts as they went along. This they did several times until they knew the story perfectly.

The two oldest girls did not take part in the acting of the play, but became assistants and helped Miss Miller direct it. During the next week the assistants wrote out the speeches very much as the children had made them up. These were read before the club and discussed, and after a number of suggestions had been added by all the children present the scene was finally written as it now is.

The children each took home a part to learn, and the following Sunday they all tried the different speeches. Before the final characters were chosen each child was able to represent any one of them. The final characters were decided upon by the group and were chosen according to their preferences and their ability to enact the different parts.

Unfortunately, most of the costumes which the club had on hand were much too small for the children this year. We therefore held a sewing-bee during the week, and lengthened the old ones or made new ones where we found it necessary.

We have worked on this play for five meetings, which represents altogether five hours, except for a little work that the assistants did outside.

We have had much fun with this play, and we are hoping that you will enjoy it too.

POEM

By MELBA PYLE

Before you soon you shall see

The story of Abraham and the Strangers Three.
The partakers, they have worked;

The assistants, they have shirked-
But not as much as you would think,
For they have helped to join each link.
As day by day passed quickly away
We read the Bible and wrote the play.
Each child helped as best he could,
And thus we worked in brotherhood.
Word with word we did neatly join,
Then home we went, our parts to learn,
Next to the box where the costumes lay,
And straight to sewing and not to play.
And 'tis our happy aim, you see,
To make you joyous as can be!

CHAPTER IX

THE DRAMATIZATION OF DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN

The story of Daniel in the Lions' Den was dramatized by the members of the club according to the same methods as those which were used in connection with the story of Abraham and the Three Guests.

This play is given here in order to show how a story which deals with a miraculous event may be treated. When Daniel was thrust into the den of lions, he was in reality put out of the door which opens at the side of the stage. The children readily came to the decision that it was unnecessary to show Daniel actually in the den of lions on the stage. In telling the story no explanation was made or asked for concerning the miracle which happened. The children accepted it and enjoyed it as they would any other good story.

The final play which follows represents entirely the children's interpretation; the product is their

own.

DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN

SCENE I

PLACE: The court room of King Darius.

CHARACTERS: King Darius, Daniel, Four Conspirators, Soldiers, Servants.