Derived Text You are viewing a derived text.
      CHARACTERS
    • LINK TADBOURNE, ox-yoke maker .
    • POLLY, his grandniece .
The Place is country New Hampshire, at the present time .
SCENE . — A woodshed, in the ell of a farm house .

The shed is open on both sides, front and back, the apertures being slightly arched at the top . [ In bad weather, these presumably may be closed by big double doors, which stand open now — swung back outward beyond sight .] Thus the nearer opening is the proscenium arch of the scene, under which the spectator looks through the shed to the background — a grassy yard, a road with great trunks of soaring elms, and the glimpse of a green hillside. The ceiling runs up into a gable with large beams .

On the right, at back, a door opens into the shed from the house kitchen. Opposite it, a door leads from the shed into the barn. In the foreground, against the right wall, is a work-bench. On this are tools, a long, narrow, wooden box, and a small oil stove, with steaming kettle upon it .

Against the left wall, what remains of the year's wood supply is stacked, the uneven ridges sloping to a jumble of stove-wood and kindlings mixed with small chips on the floor, which is piled deep with mounds of crumbling bark, chips and wood-dust .

Not far from this mounded pile, at right center of the scene, stands a wooden arm-chair, in which LINK TADBOURNE, in his shirt-sleeves, sits drowsing. Silhouetted by the sunlight beyond, his sharp-drawn profile is that of an old man, with white hair cropped close, and gray mustache of a faded black hue at the outer edges. Between his knees is a stout thong of wood, whittled round by the drawshave which his sleeping hand still holds in his lap. Against the side of his chair rests a thick wooden yoke and collar. Near him is a chopping-block .

In the woodshed there is no sound or motion except the hum and floating steam from the tea-kettle. Presently the old man murmurs in his sleep, clenching his hand. Slowly the hand relaxes again. From the door, right, comes POLLY — a sweet-faced girl of seventeen, quietly mature for her age. She is dressed simply. In one hand, she carries a man's wide-brimmed felt hat; over the other arm, a blue coat. These she brings toward LINK. Seeing him asleep, she begins to tiptoe, lays the coat and hat on the chopping-block, goes to the bench and trims the wick of the oil-stove, under the kettle. Then she returns and stands near LINK, surveying the shed .

On closer scrutiny, the jumbled woodpile has evidently a certain order in its chaos: some of the splittings have been piled in irregular ridges; in places, the deep layer of wood-dust and chips has been scooped, and the little mounds slope and rise like miniature valleys and hills .

Taking up a hoe , POLLY — with careful steps — moves among the hollows, placing and arranging sticks of kindling, scraping and smoothing the little mounds with the hoe .

As she does so, from far away, a bugle sounds .

LINK
snapping his eyes wide open, sits up ].

Note: Contains 6 words in 3 sentences using 34 chars.

POLLY.

Note: Contains 6 words in 2 sentences using 69 chars.

Laying the hoe down, she approaches

Note: Contains 3 words in 2 sentences using 43 chars.

LINK
giving a final whittle to the yoke-collar thong ].

Note: Contains 49 words in 6 sentences using 285 chars.

POLLY.

Note: Contains 3 words in 2 sentences using 18 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 34 words in 3 sentences using 520 chars.

POLLY.

Note: Contains 4 words in 2 sentences using 23 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 5 words in 2 sentences using 55 chars.

[POLLY takes from LINK the collar-thong, carries it to the work-bench, shoves it into the narrow end of the box, which she then closes tight and connects — by a piece of hose — to the spout of the kettle. At the further end of the box, steam then emerges through a small hole
POLLY.

Note: Contains 6 words in 2 sentences using 30 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 43 words in 4 sentences using 232 chars.

POLLY
cheerfully ].

Note: Contains 8 words in 2 sentences using 39 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 37 words in 3 sentences using 231 chars.

POLLY
pointing to the ox-yoke ].

Note: Contains 8 words in 2 sentences using 94 chars.

LINK
briskly ].

Note: Contains 25 words in 4 sentences using 153 chars.

POLLY.

Note: Contains 18 words in 3 sentences using 115 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 34 words in 9 sentences using 183 chars.

POLLY.

Note: Contains 6 words in 2 sentences using 36 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 53 words in 5 sentences using 287 chars.

POLLY.

Note: Contains 36 words in 4 sentences using 170 chars.

LINK
looking up at her proudly ].

Note: Contains 9 words in 3 sentences using 50 chars.

POLLY
caressing him ].

Note: Contains 29 words in 3 sentences using 144 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 9 words in 2 sentences using 45 chars.

POLLY.

Note: Contains 20 words in 3 sentences using 95 chars.

She kolas ready for him the blue coat and hat
LINK
looking up ].

Note: Contains 3 words in 2 sentences using 14 chars.

POLLY.

Note: Contains 3 words in 2 sentences using 35 chars.

She helps him on with it
LINK.

Note: Contains 77 words in 5 sentences using 510 chars.

[LINK looks up suddenly — a strange light in his face. Again, to a far strain of music, the bugle sounds

Note: Contains 4 words in 2 sentences using 57 chars.

POLLY.

Note: Contains 8 words in 2 sentences using 52 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 73 words in 7 sentences using 356 chars.

POLLY
goes to the work-bench, where the box is steaming ].

Note: Contains 10 words in 2 sentences using 91 chars.

LINK
absently ].

Note: Contains 5 words in 2 sentences using 82 chars.

POLLY
coming over to him ].

Note: Contains 16 words in 3 sentences using 105 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 4 words in 3 sentences using 92 chars.

Surveying the woodpile reminiscently, he nods

Note: Contains 6 words in 2 sentences using 147 chars.

POLLY.

Note: Contains 5 words in 2 sentences using 27 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 9 words in 3 sentences using 43 chars.

POLLY
taking up the hoe ].

Note: Contains 1 word in 2 sentences using 58 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 5 words in 2 sentences using 30 chars.

POLLY
points with the hoe toward the left of the woodpile ].

Note: Contains 8 words in 2 sentences using 77 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 26 words in 4 sentences using 158 chars.

POLLY.

Note: Contains 6 words in 2 sentences using 45 chars.

She points to different heights and depressions, as LINK nods his approval

Note: Contains 9 words in 1 sentence using 57 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 4 words in 2 sentences using 29 chars.

POLLY
continuing ].

Note: Contains 13 words in 2 sentences using 114 chars.

LINK
pointing to the little flag ].

Note: Contains 16 words in 3 sentences using 109 chars.

POLLY.

Note: Contains 5 words in 2 sentences using 53 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 18 words in 3 sentences using 78 chars.

POLLY.

Note: Contains 20 words in 3 sentences using 135 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 43 words in 5 sentences using 239 chars.

[POLLY hands him the hoe. From his chair, he reached with it and digs in the chips

Note: Contains 11 words in 3 sentences using 69 chars.

[POLLY does so with her foot

Note: Contains 14 words in 2 sentences using 105 chars.

He hands back the hoe to her

Note: Contains 44 words in 4 sentences using 290 chars.

POLLY.

Note: Contains 6 words in 2 sentences using 67 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 43 words in 4 sentences using 235 chars.

POLLY.

Note: Contains 6 words in 2 sentences using 38 chars.

LINK
nodding, reminiscent ].

Note: Contains 39 words in 3 sentences using 228 chars.

POLLY.

Note: Contains 14 words in 3 sentences using 82 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 183 words in 20 sentences using 1005 chars.

POLLY.

Note: Contains 9 words in 2 sentences using 43 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 28 words in 4 sentences using 217 chars.

POLLY
quietly ].

Note: Contains 8 words in 2 sentences using 45 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 5 words in 2 sentences using 31 chars.

He takes the hoe and points with it

Note: Contains 92 words in 8 sentences using 541 chars.

POLLY
smiling proudly ].

Note: Contains 5 words in 2 sentences using 68 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 87 words in 4 sentences using 489 chars.

In the distance, a bugle sounds, and the low martial music of a brass band begins. Again LINK'S face twitches, and he pauses, listening. From this moment on, the sound and emotion of the brass music, slowly growing louder, permeates the scene
POLLY.

Note: Contains 16 words in 3 sentences using 79 chars.

LINK.

Note: Contains 9 words in 2 sentences using 93 chars.

He stirs the chips and wood-dirt round with the hoe-iron

Note: Contains 65 words in 4 sentences using 334 chars.

Patting her hand, which rests on his hoe

Note: Contains 70 words in 3 sentences using 359 chars.

[LINK clutches the sides of his chair, staring. The music draws nearer . POLLY touches him soothingly
POLLY.

Note: Contains 11 words in 3 sentences using 57 chars.

LINK
relaxing under her touch ].

Note: Contains 96 words in 9 sentences using 510 chars.

With smoldering fire

Note: Contains 4 words in 1 sentence using 21 chars.

His face convulses and he cries out, terribly — straining in his chair to rise

Note: Contains 12 words in 3 sentences using 82 chars.

POLLY
going ].

Note: Contains 14 words in 4 sentences using 99 chars.

Glancing back anxiously , POLLY disappears outside. The approaching band begins to play "John Brown's Body ." LINK sits motionless, gripping his chair
LINK.

Note: Contains 136 words in 10 sentences using 774 chars.

To the music outside, the voices of children begin to sing the words of "John Brown's Body." At the sound , LINK'S face becomes transformed with emotion, his body shakes and his shoulders heave and straighten

Note: Contains 5 words in 3 sentences using 57 chars.

Wresting himself mightily, he rises from his chair, and stands

Note: Contains 39 words in 3 sentences using 200 chars.

Following the music with swaying arms

Note: Contains 19 words in 4 sentences using 116 chars.

Joining with the children's voices, he moves unconsciously along the edge of the woodpile. With stiff steps — his one hand leaning on the hoe, his other reached as to unseen hands, that draw him — he totters toward the sunlight and the green lawn, at back. As he does so, his thin, cracked voice takes up the battle-hymn where the children's are singing it:

Note: Contains 32 words in 1 sentence using 157 chars.

Suddenly he stops, aware that he is walking, and cries aloud, astounded:

Note: Contains 10 words in 3 sentences using 74 chars.

Shaking with delight, he drops his hoe, seizes up the little flag from the woodpile, and waves it joyously

Note: Contains 13 words in 3 sentences using 98 chars.

With tottering gait, he climbs the little mound in the woodpile

Note: Contains 11 words in 3 sentences using 63 chars.

Swinging the flag

Note: Contains 3 words in 4 sentences using 50 chars.

Outside, the music grows louder, and the voices of old men and children sing martially to the brass music .
With his final cheer , LINK stumbles down from the mound, brandishes in one hand his hat, in the other the little flag, and stumps off toward the approaching procession into the sunlight, joining his old cracked voice, jubilant, with the singers:

Note: Contains 10 words in 2 sentences using 130 chars.

[THE CURTAIN.]
CC-BY-4.0
Lizenzvertrag
Holder of rights
Mathias Göbel
Citation Suggestion for this Object
TextGrid Repository (2024). American Drama. Gettysburg. Gettysburg. American Drama Corpus. Mathias Göbel. https://hdl.handle.net/21.11113/0000-0014-A436-4