he has heard spoken here today, but you ought to know, for you. are aware that I have lived long in England; that I was educated and took holy orders there, in beautiful, glorious England, the garden of all the earth. You know that my education was at the cost of the great Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, which Society has has been so greatly aided by grants from the Parliament you so glibly decry; you are aware that this very parish was organized, and that its pastor is in large part paid by the munificence of this great Society.

Oh, such ingratitude! It's sharper than the serpent's tooth. And then(Cossit is here interrupted by the approach in front of Tousa, an Indian, emitting grunts and guttural sounds.)

Cossit: Good day to you, Tousa. We hope you have good luck hunting and fishing 'these beautiful summer days. (Tousa emits more grunts and guttural sounds) What would you say to us, Tousa?

Tousa: Umph-Ugh-Heap big wigwam, white man make-UghUmph-Manitou wigwam-UmphGreat Spirit no like big wigwam. Tousa no like- Deer no like-Umph -Ugh-Here Tousa's hunting-ground Ugh. White man scare deer, kill beaver. Tyler make big mill, make big noise at fish place.

White man have much land 'cross big water-Umph-white man go 'way-much far far off-leave Tousa 'lone-all 'lone. Tousa like more be 'lone-Umph-Ugh. Tousa say,

white man no come 'cross little sweetwater river. Tousa say, white man come, Tousa kill.

Timothy Atkins: (interrupting) Don't you, Parson Cossit, be wastin' none o' your time listenin' to such as him. Leave him to me. I'll take care of him, an' any more like him that come loafin' roun' these parts.

Goody Cole: I suspec' Tousa's

one of the foxes that steals my chick

ens

Cossit: Timothy Atkins, this Indian is entitled to the full protection of the law. I warn you against any violence not compelled in self defence.

(Meanwhile Tousa, scowling at Timothy Atkins and Goody Cole, slowly withdraws, disappearing behind the pines.

An old man with long, gray hair and beard, a child on one shoulder, leading another by the hand, is seen approaching from the background.)

Cossit: (addressing his parishioners) A stranger approaches(turning to the stranger) What What is your name, good stranger?

Stranger: I have no name. Cossit: Whence do you come, good stranger?

Stranger: From yonder mountain the Indians call Ascutney.

Cossit: And what do you there? Stranger: I study omens-I study the thunder and the lightning, the rains and mists. I study beasts and fowl and growing things. I play with little children of the valley when the sun is getting low.

Cossit: What more do you, good stranger?

Stranger: I ponder upon the past and look far into the future.

Cossit (aside to his parishioners) This poor man must be demented, but let us learn what weird fancies fill his distraught brain, (turning to the stranger.) The past we know; what, good sir, can you tell us of the future?

Stranger: (shades his eyes with uplifted hand, gazes into the distance, and says, very slowly at first) I see great wars-I see great ships come filled with fighting men-I see great battles I see this land made free, free to make its own laws, good or bad, for which the people will have only themselves to praise or blame.

I see these people spreading from

Stranger: In the far distance I see a tragedy greater than any this world had ever seen before. A great war growing out of lust for power, into which all the nations of the earth are drawn. A war in which millions of men, women and children will perish. A war fought on land and sea, under the sea, and in the air; for men will then build great machines to fly higher and swifter than the swiftest bird can fly.

Goody Cole: Dr. Meiggs, Dr. Meiggs! Bleed him-bleed him. Do something to relieve the pressure on his poor brain.

(Dr. Meiggs hastily gets his instruments, rusty saws and knives out of a clumsy box and approaches the stranger, who, with folded arms, looks calmly on.)

your hand. In time of which I tell men of your profession will do all to save every drop of good red blood and naught to spill it.

(Dr. Meiggs withdraws, the stranger continues.)

Beyond all this I see a time when the British Empire and the Great Republic of the West will join in might invincible to make peace, justice and good-will prevail throughout the world.

Of that which I foresee no man shapes the end, but a Power greater than any of us can understand. Great laws of growth and change will work as they have ever worked since time began.

Man's intellect can no more comprehend than can the meadow mouse that scampers at his approach.

Fare thee well, Reverend SirFare thee well, Good People-I return to the mountain whence came. (withdraws)

I

Jones: Of the far future, of which the stranger tells, I know not; but this I know: That soon, as he predicts, this country will be free-our own. Not by merely wishing for it, but by fighting for it.

It will be long, hard, bloody work, but I, for one, stand ready.

(A stir among the people)
Voices: And I, and I, and I.

Cossit: (covers his eyes with his hand, then raises his arms to heaven, saying) From battle and murder, and from sudden death, Good Lord, de