Boston Common on a Summer afternoon, 1720.
The Common is an open grassy space, wide to the sun and sky. There are
trees right, left, and background. Their shadows fall like a wavering
tracery across the grass.
At the beginning of the scene this grassy space is deserted. It is the
far end of the Common, a place not much frequented by loiterers. The
first person to cross it is young Benjamin Franklin, who comes slowly
in from right. He wears knee-breeches, a loose white shirt, silver
buckles on his square-toed shoes, and a three-cornered hat on his head.
He is reading from a book which he holds in his right hand, while on
his left arm hangs a basket of tallow candles. Slung across his left
shoulder is a kite, its string trailing.
He walks slowly, pausing every now and then to turn a page. The old
woman enters from right, and comes quickly towards Franklin. She is
wonderfully keen-eyed and light of foot, and is clad in a green quilted
petticoat, with a green bodice, a touch of white at neck, and a green
double cape. A white cap is perched on her snow-white head. She also
carries a small market-basket, and a gold-headed cane. Her stockings
are scarlet, her low black shoes have gold buckles. She is, withal,
arrestingly picturesque, and there hangs about her a slight air of
mystery, that is well in accordance with her profession, which is that
of soothsayer.
Franklin is so deep in his book that she soon catches up with him,
passes him, looks back, and sees that he does not perceive her. Then
she stands still and lets him pass her, still staring at him. Then she
comes briskly up behind him, and taps him on the arm with her cane.
THE OLD WOMAN.
Fare not so fast, young sir. If your book makes you so blind to
customers, 'tis not many candles you'll be selling.
FRANKLIN
(at first somewhat startled, then looking up quite calmly).
And if I do not mind my books, 'tis naught but candles I'll be selling
all my life.
THE OLD WOMAN.
Well spoken, tallow-chandler's son. Whatever your calling, I see that
your wits are not made of wax. Give me a shilling's worth o' candles,
and tell me what good your toil is like to bring you.
FRANKLIN
(putting down book, kite, and basket, and selecting candles).
I have ambition to become a printer.
THE OLD WOMAN
(paying him and putting candles in her basket).
So!
FRANKLIN.
And if I do not apply myself, how am I like to learn? There are no
gains without pains, and heaven gives all things to Industry.
[Footnote: From "Poor Richard's Almanac."]
THE OLD WOMAN
(holding up her hands).
To hear him! (Chuckling to herself.) Keep on! Keep on! You'll ne'er be
sorry for it! Aha, Master Franklin, 'twill take no gazing in the
crystal to see that the future of a wise and industrious lad is made of
gold. What's that you're carrying as carefully as if 'twas your book?
FRANKLIN
(dropping book and basket, and showing kite).
My kite. To-day was a half-holiday, and I've been flying it on Beacon
Hill till the wind hath made me sleepy.
THE OLD WOMAN
(keenly).
You've fastened a little key to it.
FRANKLIN
(with a burst of candor).
Sometimes I think I'll fly it in a thunderstorm and gather up the
lightning.
THE OLD WOMAN
(tapping the ground vigorously with her cane).
Those are bold words, Master Benjamin Franklin. Are you not feared to
speak them? (Looks half-fearfully over her left shoulder.) Folk might
think you were in league with--with strange powers! (There is a touch
of the eighteenth-century beldame in her as she speaks these words).
FRANKLIN.
How is it that you know my name, and yet I do not remember you?
THE OLD WOMAN
(mysteriously).
Perhaps there are too many soothsayers passing, or perhaps you have not
looked well about you. Aha, aha! (Nodding and blinking.) There are many
things folk do not see.
FRANKLIN
(shrewdly and bluntly).
That's true. My father says that _all_ the witches were not hanged on
Salem Hill.
THE OLD WOMAN(finger upraised).
S-ssh! Never that word! Never that word, Master Franklin! Come, I am
for crossing the Common, and for your good-will, and because you are a
wise lad, I'll lend you my crystal.
[Gives it to him.
FRANKLIN
(putting book in basket with candles, and turning crystal to the
light).
How it shines in the sun!
THE OLD WOMAN
(with cane upraised and wand-like for a moment).
Look in it. Look deep in it. 'Twill give you dreams, Master Franklin,
all good, good dreams. Dreams o' the future, Master Franklin!
[Franklin stands still in background, looking at the crystal as the Old
Woman goes on her way. The branches of the trees under which he stands
cast wavering shadows about him. It is cool after the glare of the sun.
He yawns, stretches, and throws himself at foot of tree.
FRANKLIN
(musing aloud).
Of all the strange old women! (Looks at crystal again.) A pretty toy,
truly! All--shining--in--the--sun------ (Falls asleep.)
THE OLD WOMAN
(stealing back for a moment out of background, and raising cane as
before).
Dream! Dream deep!
[Tosses over him half of her double cloak, then makes her exit into
background, with finger on lip, and disappears from view. There is a
pause of some length, during which dream music is played, a soft,
swaying rhythm. Then comes the Dream.